One of the problems we hear about with ATV plows is wear and tear on the winch rope. It’s a problem that extends across almost all plow setups, no matter what brand or make of rope you use. Fact is, plowing with an ATV winch puts a lot of strain on the winch rope. Part of the problem lies in the fact that it’s not a straight pull but almost a 90 degree angle.
Thread the loose end of the strap through the loop on the end of the winch rope.
There’s more than one way to rig up a solution, but here’s one idea that was suggested by one of our customers.
Solution:
Add a 2″ webbed strap to the end of the winch rope specifically for use while plowing.
What You’ll Need:
2″ web strap (for example, a boat transom strap)
Installation:
- Remove winch hook from rope.
- Thread the loose end of the webbed strap through the rope loop.
- Wrap the strap around the drum until it will be secure, even with the plow lowered.
- Attach the winch hook to the end of the webbed strap.
Wrap the strap around the drum.
Helpful Tips
Make sure you use a heavy duty strap. A cheap quality strap will not hold up well. A 2-inch wide boat transom strap should be sturdy enough to serve its purpose well, even for lifting a heavy plow blade.
Ideally, one end of the strap has a winch hook on the end for plowing and the other end of the strap is loose. Installation takes only a couple of minutes. Just wrap the loose end of the strap around the drum enough times so that it will not slip even when the plow is fully lowered. There should be at least 3 to 4 wraps left on the drum when the plow is lowered.
You just need to make sure there’s enough room on the spool for the winch rope plus the strap. With enough room on the spool to keep your regular winch rope plus the strap, you can still use your winch to get unstuck for winter riding and ice fishing.
Attach the hook to the end of the strap, and you're ready to plow.
