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ProMark Offroad Blog

ATV Forum Reviews on the ProMark ATV Winch

Written By: esther
January 28th, 2011 | Filed under Winch Reviews | No Comments »Tags: , , ,
Winching out

Winching out a UTV

When our noses start to itch, we know people are talking about us on the forums. Here are just a few tidbits of what we’ve been hearing lately:

From the RhinoTalk.net Forum:

Question:
“Does anybody have any knowledge of these winches? They used to be Gorilla Winches. They look good and have a real good price. Just trying to find some folks that have used them.”

Responses:
“I’ve got a Gorilla winch on my Rhino and have NOT had trouble with it. It seems to be very sturdy built. I don’t use it a lot or very hard but it has done me a good job so far. I feel they are definitely worth the price.”
- “Gdawg”

“I have used the ProMark Outback 4500 pound winch a few times and it works great. It is very smooth and powerful. I used the plug in rocker switch as well. I would give it a strong look.”
- Don

From PolarisATVForums.com

2500 lb winch with synthetic rope

2500 lb winch with synthetic rope

Question:
“Anyone ever use a ProMark winch?”
- “kybagger” from Kentucky

Response:
“Hey kybagger, I have a ProMark 2500 winch with synthetic rope and I love it; I’ve pulled a few of my friends out of mud and snow and it will actually pull my sporty 500 if I’m not careful. For the price I paid I think it’s worth it even if it lasts a few years. But it’s got plenty of power and runs pretty flawlessly.

Good luck with your purchase.”
- “LiftedxChevy” from Massachusetts

From HondaATVForums.net:

Question:
“I have a 2010 Rancher 4x4es and was wondering what everybody thinks of these winches [ProMark 2000 lb XT Series]. Thinking about putting 1 of these on.”
- “FordTech90″ from Louisiana

Response:
“I have a 3000# Gorilla and it will out pull the Warn all day long. You sure can tell the power difference! I did not care for the synthetic line at all so went with steel. The only reason mine broke is due to how I mounted it. I used a winch plate made for a Superwinch, which by the way is total junk. They use a 2 bolt mount and the Gorilla has the same as a Warn! 4 bolt—anywho I modified the plate to work but the two back bolts pulled out of the plate (long story) and caused the cable to wrap around the outside of the spool. But they worked with me every step of the way and gave me free parts to fix it even when it was my screw up! They also told me I could send it to them and they fix it for me and only pay shipping if I chose. Don’t believe everything you read other than me. It has been a great winch and I would be willing to buy another one—heck a 3000# is only $100 on eBay…you can’t touch a Warn for that!”
- “Votaguy” from Texas

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Jeep Winch Mount Bumper Tube Installation

Written By: esther
January 25th, 2011 | Filed under Truck & Jeep Winches | 1 Comment »Tags: , , ,
Jeep grille guard

A Jeep winch mount bumper tube offers an aggressive look and rugged protection.

Want an aggressive look for your Jeep without the cost and hassle of installing a new bumper? A winch mount bumper tube is quick and easy to install. Plus it’s functional for holding lights and will help protect your front end in case of a minor impact. The bumper tube bolts right to your winch mount—no drilling or cutting required.

The Jeep TJ winch mount bumper tube from ProMark Offroad installs in minutes. Just follow the instructions below:

  1. Fasten the 4 carriage bolts to the winch mounting plate with the round bolt head at the front side of the mount plate and the nut at the back side of the plate. Do not tighten the bolts.
    2. a
  2. Attach the grille guard tube to the carriage bolts by sliding the tube mount brackets over the bolt head. To seat the bracket, rotate the carriage bolts until they lock into the corresponding slot on the grille guard.
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  3. Finish the installation by fully tightening the carriage bolts and nuts to 42-47 ft/lbs.
TJ grille guard installation

How to install a TJ grille guard

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Posted in Truck & Jeep Winches | 1 Comment »

10,000 lb Jeep Commander Winch

Written By: esther
January 20th, 2011 | Filed under Customer Testimonials, ProMark Garage, Winch Installation | 2 Comments »Tags: , , , , ,

Take a look at these pictures from a customer who bought a 10,000 lb ProMark winch and 2″ multi mount for his Jeep Commander. The Jeep owner used a quick connect setup that allows him to remove the winch and mount when they are not being used. The photos were originally posted on JeepCommander.com.

10,000 lb Jeep winch

10,000 lb Jeep winch

Jeep winch and accessories

Comes with all accessories (except the dog)

Multimount receiver

2 inch multimount receiver

Winch in multimount

Winch and multimount setup with quick connect wiring

Winch mounted on Jeep Commander

Winch mounted on Jeep Commander

Front view of winch

Front view of Jeep winch and mount

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Posted in Customer Testimonials, ProMark Garage, Winch Installation | 2 Comments »

ATV Plow Kit Review

Written By: esther
January 17th, 2011 | Filed under ATV Snow Plows, Customer Testimonials | No Comments »Tags: , , , ,
Eagle ATV Plow

The Eagle Original ATV plow makes plowing in deep snow fast and easy.

We love hearing from our customers, whether it’s a suggestion for a new product, feedback on our existing products, or just to let us know how things are working out. The following comment is from one of our customers who bought an ATV plow kit. After using the kit to plow out after some heavy snowstorms, he contacted us to let us know how the plow was holding up under harsh winter conditions.

“Hello. I recently purchased an ATV plow kit from you. All too often we hear nothing but negative comments from people when things go wrong, and seldom positive when things are right. Well, after installing the plow kit and now using it in rather deep snow, I must say that I’m impressed with it. The blade angle adjustment is well engineered, yet simple and very effective. I’m very satisfied with my purchase of this kit and the quality of the kit, not to mention it’s priced right. My neighbor also has a 4×4 ATV and was shocked when he saw the amount of snow I was moving in a very short period of time. He is now considering purchasing a plow kit. If so, it will be from your company… Great product.”

- Bob Litzinger

Bob bought the Eagle Original ATV snow plow kit, starting at just $360 with free shipping to the lower 48 states.

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Posted in ATV Snow Plows, Customer Testimonials | No Comments »

Using ATV Tire Chains

Written By: esther
January 14th, 2011 | Filed under ATV Tire Chains | No Comments »Tags: ,
ATV Tire Chains

ATV Tire Chains give you traction on snow, ice, and mud.

ATV tire chains can make a huge difference when it comes to getting out on the ice for ice fishing, plowing your driveway, or riding offroad when traction is poor.

Tire chains can get you more places, give you traction and control, and help you stop quickly when needed. Here are a few tips for using ATV tire chains safely and effectively.

  • Install your ATV tire chains before you get stuck. It’s much easier than trying to install them afterwards.
  • Protect your hands with thick gloves when handling icy chains. Avoid touching the chains with your bare hands in extreme cold.
  • Tighten chains as much as possible by hand. After driving a short distance, retighten chains. Loose tire chains will greatly reduce the life of your chains.
  • Remove extra chain lengths, or tie them back securely to prevent them from tearing up your plastics.
  • Drive slowly and deliberately. Avoid spinning your tires or locking the brakes.
  • Scan the trail ahead for hidden obstacles under the snow.
  • Never drive faster than 30-35 mph (or max speed recommended by the manufacturer) with ATV chains installed.
  • Never drive with broken chains. They can tear up everything in your path, as well as damage your tires and bike.
  • Store the ATV chains properly to prevent them from getting rusted and tangled. Spray the chains with WD-40 after use, and hang them up or store them in the case.

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Posted in ATV Tire Chains | No Comments »

Tips for Plowing Snow with an ATV

Written By: esther
January 12th, 2011 | Filed under ATV Snow Plows | 1 Comment »Tags: , , , ,
ATV snow plow

For deep snow, plow in layers.

Plowing Deep Snow with an ATV

For heavy snowfall, plowing with the storm is the best way to go. But we know that doesn’t always happen. So when there’s already 10 inches on the ground and you’re just breaking out the plow, here are a few tips to make sure your ATV plow setup can handle the job.

For plowing deep snow, only lower the plow half the depth of the snow. For example, if there are 10 inches of snow on the ground, only lower the plow 5 inches. Plow the top layer of 5 inches, and then lower the plow to the ground and remove the bottom 5-inch layer of snow.

When plowing at an angle with deep snow, only plow half the width of the plow to prevent the snow from spilling off the side of the plow.

When plowing a snowbank, square up the ATV to the snowbank and plow across the bank. Don’t plow with your blade or ATV at an angle to the snowbank. The force of hitting a snowbank at an angle can break your plow.

Other ATV Snow Plow Tips

We recommend installing a second winch on the rear of your ATV in case you get stuck in a snowbank, high centered, etc. For aggressive plowers, a rear winch is a big deal if you happen to get stuck.

One of the trends we’re starting to see for plowing is replacing the winch line with a 2-inch strap or seat belt. The wider strap spreads out the stress and saves your winch line for recovery use only. We recommend doing this if you have problems with your winch line breaking.

Winch Line Stopper

A winch line stopper keeps your hook from getting winched into the fairlead.

Recommended Plow Accessories

There are a few ATV plow accessories that can make your life easier. You’ll find some of them on your own, but here are three that we recommend:

  1. Large bottom roller fairlead

    2. Constant use at a sharp angle can make your winch line wear out faster. A large bottom roller can reduce the stress on your winch line.

  2. Winch line stopper

    3. Since you can’t see the winch line while you’re plowing, a rubber stopper prevents you from winching the hook into the fairlead.

  3. Plow wings

    4. They make your plow job cleaner, faster, and easier by keeping snow from spilling off the sides of the plow blade.

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Posted in ATV Snow Plows | 1 Comment »

Winter Offroading Picture

Written By: esther
January 7th, 2011 | Filed under Offroad Recovery, ProMark Garage | No Comments »Tags: ,

Offroad riding in the snow is an adventure! Thanks to one of our customers for submitting this photo of his UTV (“Big Bird”) about to get winched out with a ProMark Offroad UTV winch.

Big Bird stuck

Big Bird stuck in the snow

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Choosing an ATV Winch for Snow Plowing

Written By: esther
January 5th, 2011 | Filed under ATV Snow Plows, Choosing a Winch | No Comments »Tags: , , , ,
Eagle Original Mount ATV plow

A winch with a mechanical brake is better for plowing because it prevents the line from bleeding out.

In order to use your ATV plow, you need some type of lift mechanism. The three options you can choose from are a manual hand lift, a 12V electric winch, and an electric lift system. Some plow kits—such as the Cycle Country plow and Eagle Gen II plow—require an electric winch or lift, in which case a manual lift is not an option.

Why Use an ATV Winch for Plowing?

Since a large number of ATV owners already have winches installed on their machines, an electric winch is the simplest and most affordable option for lifting your plow. And if you don’t have a winch installed yet, it still might be one of your best options because of the fact that you can use it for offroad riding, landscaping, yard work, and plenty of other applications. A winch is good for more than just plowing.

1500 lb Winch

The 1500 lb XT winch comes with a mechanical braking system that's ideal for snow plow use.

Which ATV Winch Is Best for Plowing?

Some ATV winches are better for plowing than others. One of the differences between winches involves the type of braking system: mechanical or dynamic. A mechanical brake is a physical brake that works similar to the way the brakes work on your car. The mechanical brake stops the drum from turning when there is a load on the cable. A dynamic brake is built in to the winch. It uses the resistance from the winch motor to prevent the drum from turning. Hoisted weight may cause the winch line to bleed out on a winch with dynamic braking.

Winches with mechanical brakes are better at holding a load, which makes them a better option for plowing snow. With a mechanical brake, you won’t experience the plow slipping or line bleedout that you might experience with a dynamic brake.

What Size ATV Winch for Plowing?

Generally, almost any winch capacity will work for plowing. Even a light duty 1500 lb winch has more than enough power for most plow setups. If you plan to use the winch for more than just plowing, check out our article on choosing an ATV winch for tips on figuring out what size winch you need.

A mechanical brake is the key factor in choosing an ATV winch for plowing snow. The following ProMark Offroad winches come with mechanical braking systems:

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Posted in ATV Snow Plows, Choosing a Winch | No Comments »