Electric ATV Winches
Electric ATV Winches
Blog Article
When you find yourself knee deep in mud or stuck in some other situation that requires an assisted recovery, electric ATV winches can be the most important tools to help get you back on the road. These winches work by rolling in or out around a drum a length of cable, strap or rope which is attached to your ATV. An electric motor, which is powered by your vehicles electrical system, turns the drum to wind the cable in or out. When the cable is spooled out, an electric clutch or brake, powered by the same motor, prevents it from being pulled free and the winch is activated. Once active, the electric motor pulls the cable wire to recover or tow your vehicle and whatever else you may be towing.
There are a variety of different types and sizes of winches available. The best winch for your ATV will depend on the kind of terrain you tend to ride on, how much your ATV weighs and the minimum line pull rating you need. You'll also need to have a way to mount your winch and a way to power it, which will require some modifications to your ATV.
Most winches use a DC electric Electric ATV winches motor which needs to be connected to your vehicles battery to operate. You can either rig your winch to operate off of a separate dedicated battery or you can use a relay box, which connects to the vehicles main electrical system to power the winch. A winch operating off a trucks electrical system receives more power than when it operates from a separate battery and this can result in a longer working cycle for your winch and a better chance of keeping your winch motor in good condition.
If you decide to use a relay box to power your winch, you'll need a 12V, DC power supply that can handle the current load. This isn't your average blister pack power adapter found at Tandy, this is a hefty DC converter that can handle hundreds of amps. If you're not sure what size to buy, consult the manual for your ATV to determine how many amps it will draw when using a winch.
You'll also need to mount the contactor, which is the relay box, to your ATV. This will likely involve drilling and filing the ATV to run wires from the winch to the contactor, which must be mounted in a place that is protected against vibration or exposure to water. Many ATV owners choose to mount the contactor under the drivers seat.
You'll also need to decide what type of cable you want for your winch. Synthetic cable is lighter and stronger for pulling than steel, but it can be damaged by heat and doesn't hold up as well in rough terrain. Most winches come with both steel and synthetic options, so you'll be able to match the strength of your winch to the terrain that you typically ride on.
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