NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH!
Yes, we did get both jobs done. BUT….. Mine was sooooo much easier and sooooo much faster!! I couldn’t believe it.
The Warn was very well built, nice HD this steel mounting plate (I think it was painted but he says no, it’s powder coated, guess time will tell.). The worst part of the whole Warn install was this: We had no choice but to take an hour extra "long cut" if you will, because the pre-bent and pre-drilled mounting plate DIDN’T FREAKIN LIKE UP……LIKE AT ALL!!! Surprising for such an overpriced unit. We had to take everything back out and spend an hour or so taking it down to my shop where I have a HUGE oversized bench vise (crucial to bending the thick steel)! It had two bends that needed to be worked in order for the upper rear bolt hole to line up close enough. But then once we made the bends (without the torches thankfully), we then had to get a sick Cobalt bit and drill out/elongate that one bolt hole so the bolt itself could finally catch some threads!!!!! Wshewwwwweee oh my god, finally!!! Jesus Christ, what unnecessary nonsense from what is supposedly the premier winch for Grizzlies. Once the mounting plate bolts were able to catch threads it was smooth sailing. Color coordinated cables and terminal posts make the wiring the easy part. Total time of install 2:45 mins.
Now the for what in MY OPINION, is by FAR THE ABSOLUTE BEST AND ONLY WAY TO GO, for buying and installing a winch yourself. KFI PRODUCTS Mad Dog 3500lb
Yes, the directions aren’t as elaborate as the Warn, BUT, if you have a 70 I Q + , I’m certain it won’t be of any issue whatsoever. The mounting kit also doesn’t come with exactly the perfect hardware, but if you have four 3/8 (preferably treated) 1"- 1-1/4" bolts with small washers and lock washers just for mounting the solenoid to the rear of the main mounting bracket, again, you’ll be just fine. Easy breezy 12 3 boom done. Total time from start to finish, an 1hr20mins (and that’s just cuz I went home to my shop to get those corrosion proof solenoid mounting bolts. So if you have them, figure literally one hour TOPS…..WHY???? CUZ IT FREAKING FITS LIKE ITS SUPPOSED TO. That’s all.
Mad Dog is less than half price. But they powder coated their stuff for lifetime good looks. Theirs is stronger (3500-2500Warn). Their wires and cables are if the same HD gauges, their solenoid is sealed and mounts out of the way just like Warn. The rocker switch is even easier to mount, run and connect with its special male/female screw tight connection that with dielectric grease and screwed shut tight, is both easier to install and will be weatherproof as opposed to the Warn.
In conclusion it is definitely a NO BRAINER when choosing a winch for your GRIZZLY! ***DO NOT BY THE JUNK FROM HARBOR FREIGHT***. **DO NOT WASTE YOUR $$$ ON A WARN.
KFI PRODUCTS Mad Dog 3500lb (or bigger) is now the ONLY WAY I’ll go from here on out.
(Ok ok yessssss, Christ, of course if it ends up crapping the bed down the road, I will gladly come back and update this thread immediately.)
Don’t hold your breath though cuz this is one amazing piece. Get one. Mount it. Use it. Then be sure to jump on this thread and help to make me famously right!! Maybe someday after these 40 years of ATV/MC/Sled experience I’ll be able to find a retirement platform/career blog or show or whatever, where I can help save all you guys the aggravation that I’ve already learned from!!!
Heck, maybe these companies (should I get enough of an audience with your help) will smarten up and start to sponsor/send me their stuff for me to hammer on and write write up reviews for!!!!
*Please*!!!!!!! Anyone who agrees or even disagrees, please thread on with your bad selves and let us all know your experiences! I would love to ride/test/write for a living at some point. Call me the Howard Stern of the off road world!!! If you want the truth no matter what, I’m your guy.
Thanks for you time! Hope I could save somebody some hard earned cash.
PEACE!!!!!
