This is a Warn XT30 (3000 lbs) with nylon line and wireless remote. The Grizzly weighs 750 lbs with all of its accessories and stuff.

Haven't done this test with my RZR yet, but have seen other recommendations saying 3000 lbs is plenty.

The thing you have to remember is that the ground is still holding up most of the weight of your RZR when you're winching it up a hill.

 

warn 3000 is stronger than any china made 3500 or 4000.

 

Also, the cheap made-in-China ones tend to not have good seals. So when you don't use it and test it regularly, and then you need them most, they don't work. I used to buy the $50 2000-lb ones for my ATVs from Harbor Freight with the $8 1-year no-hassle replacement plan. I'd bring them in when they stopped working and get another one for free, and re-up the $8 replacement plan on the new one.

Got tired of unbolting them all of the time, and having to figure out which ATV had a working winch when it was needed.

Started buying Warn winches, and then stopped buying winches. No failures yet. There is a good reason Warn winches are expensive. They're worth every penny when you need one. Now the winches tend to outlast the ATVs. We sell the ATV and get something else, but keep the winch.

 

Thanks for all the reply's "so far"! Anything good/bad to say about the Viper winch? Are these made in China also? Do the seals hold up?

 

No experience with them. Suggest Google searches looking for user reviews.
Also look at the warranty closely.

Just spent a couple minutes looking for the Viper website. Didn't find it. 'Nuff said.


Here's the warranty for the Warn XT Series:
http://www.warn.com/corporate/images/908/65269A3_rs.pdf


Warn Industries - The Importance of Winch Sealing

The Importance of Winch Sealing
Well-sealed winches provide increased reliability, performance

Powersports winches see a wide variety of conditions including water, mud, dirt, and sand. These outside forces are constantly trying to get inside your winch - the more that gets in, the less reliability, durability, and performance the winch has.

The best way to keep the elements out of your winch is to buy a product that is well sealed. For example, the WARN RT/XT 25, 30, and 40 series winches are designed from the ground up with full sealing to provide the best protection from the worst that Mother Nature can throw at you.

WARN places eight specifically designed seals at locations where water and debris are prone to enter, allowing the winch to operate at its peak performance. Some areas, such as the winch drum, are even double sealed for extra protection. These features ensure that WARN Powersports winches are the most weather-resistant, reliable, and best-performing winches you can buy.

Maybe you've heard about companies claiming to have waterproof powersports winches. While a winch that is impervious to water sounds impressive, just how "waterproof" are these winches? By definition, "waterproof" means "...impervious to water, covered or treated to prevent permeation by water." A product making this claim should also carry a rating designating the level of protection provided against the intrusion.

A Web site selling these winches claims their products are waterproof. However, the product descriptions and FAQs only say the units have "waterproof motors." Inspection of one of these winches found the winch only had one seal in the entire product. This means the majority of the winch is vulnerable to water, mud, sand, and other debris that can cause the winch to be less reliable, perform poorly, or worse - leave you and your vehicle stranded.

When you're looking to buy a winch, don't fall for claims of waterproofing. You want a product that is designed and engineered for the ultimate in performance, reliability, and durability. Get the best-sealed and highest-performing winches on the market: Get a WARN winch and Go Prepared!

 

Moto Alliance sells the Viper winch. I was leaning toward the 4000 or 4500 in that model. I think they may be a site sponsor??? I also googled Smittybilt and they have a 2.9 HP motor in the 3000 series. Just not sure. No experience in the winch field.

 

Looked at the Moto Alliance website.

I found this:
Moto Alliance - Viper ATV Product Information
"Many VIPER ATV accessories are made in our 31,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Minneapolis, MN."
however...
"As we are a world-wide alliance, we also import some of our VIPER accessories from manufacturers overseas."

They don't say which ones are which.

They don't say how the waterproofing is done or what waterproof rating it meets. There is an exploded diagram of them though:
Moto Alliance - MotoAlliance VIPER ATV Accessories

I see two seals in there. Warn says their winches have eight.

Here's the exploded diagram for Warn winches, in which I located 8 seals:
http://www.warn.com/truck/ReplacementParts/parts/187/76686A2.pdf

So really, it's all about what kind of riding you do and how much money you want to spend. Maybe the Viper is good enough for you, and it certainly is less expensive.

For me, I forgot about the extra money I spent within about two weeks, and more than a year later am still quite pleased when I pull that winch line out and the winch operates instantly, smoothly, and quietly, even though I blast through mud puddles every chance I get.

 

I used a 3500lb Viper on my RZR and it didn't cut it. It wouldn't pull me out when I got high centered in a creek. I purchased a 4500lb viper and it's been great so far, pulls good! That being said, I still have a Warn 2500 off my 2006 Outlander and it still works great, but I wouldn't mount it on the RZR.

 

I used a 3500lb Viper on my RZR and it didn't cut it. It wouldn't pull me out when I got high centered in a creek.

Terry, Keep a good snatch block with you. I have this $40 unit from Tractor Chinese Supply....works good. Doubles your pulling power.

Champion Power Equipment Snatch Block, 16000 lbs. - 1834177 | Tractor Supply Company

 

I ran nothing but Vipers on my last two quads 2006 Arctic Cat H1 and 2008 Brute 750 and used them several times per week. Never had an issue with them. O had them under water frequently and muddy often. I would not hesitate to buy one.

 

I have the Mile Marker VMX 3.5 and i havent had a problem out of it yet... Ive only had it about 6 months tho...

Solid state electronics and variable speed controls... like $364.99 @ winchdepot.com

 

Do a search.. Tons of people on here run Vipers.. I'm happy with mine and it has been used at least a couple dozen times in two years.. It will pull a RZR up a hill sideways.. I think mine is either 4000 or 4500. What every the 280 dollar one moto sells..

 

Are you all useing the steel cable or synthetic?

 

Love my Viper 4000lb., carry a snatch block (that came with it) as a just in case....never needed it. I'm running the synthetic line, which is WELL worth the money. No frayed cable to stab into your hands, no oiling it down, and most important....no stored energy if something went wrong and it broke. Try standing in the path of a steel cable when it snaps under a load!

As far as buying a Viper over a Warn....I guess it's just a matter of which you like better...China or Mexico?

 

I'm running a Polaris 3500# winch with synthetic rope and haven't had a problem with it yet. It has done every thing i have needed it to do. I also carry a snatch block with me just in case.

 

I need to test the XT30 on my RZR. I'm trying to think of a test that would be sufficiently dramatic, and record it with the GoPro. I could lift it via the tree branch like the Grizzly, I suppose, and maybe drag it across the gravel driveway with the tranny in Park and me sitting in it as well. Maybe there's a ravine down the street with a telephone pole at the top.

X2 on the synthetic line. There were some break tests done, to see what the synthetic line would do when overloaded and snapped. The results were... ...anticlimactic. Here's one:

 

luv my viper elite 5000 with the Amsteel Blue synthetic cable...............

 

I run the Polaris 3500 with synthetic. Ive pulld multiple buddies rzrs out... One had his S in a coal revine burried to the edge of seats. The rzr had died and would start, so i tied off to a tree and pulld him out with his in neutral.. No problems.

 

I ordered the Viper Max 4500 today. One reason as to why I purchased a Viper is it's 1 or 2 days shipping for the winch or parts, the other is the price. It was 224.99 to my door. I chose not to upgrade to the Amsteel Blue Cable at this time. If I find myself using the winch more often than I thought I would I will upgrade latter. I just want it for that insurance thing if I should get hung up or stuck on the trail without help around! Only time will tell how well I like the Viper! Thanks for all your opinions guys! This is a great site.........:redrzr::ride: er

 

I know the decision's been made and the purchase is done, but I wanted to run this test for myself anyway. Figured I might as well post a vid.

http://www.rzrforums.net/general-rzr-discussion/44096-warn-xt30-strong-enough-rzr.html#post555663

 

I did some research about the promark and for the price ended up going with 4klb winch with steel cable.I'll be installing probably next week so I'll know more.This will prob.only be used for snow plowing maybe couple dozen times in the winter.

 

Cool! Great video!.......Just think what I can do with the 4500 lb Viper. Probly pull the tree over and still have extra money in my pocket. LOL
My second option would have been the 3500 Viper with the blue rope but I went with the 4500 because of the power and the dynamic and mechanical brake. If the Warn wasn't so expensive I would have considered it!
Oh.... and I ordered my winch yesterday and it's in my shop today! Thanks Moto Alliance for the quick delivery.

 

Im purchasing a winch this weekend, gonna go with the promark 4500 (formerly gorilla winches) they are fully waterproof as well and ive heard nothing but good reviews about them, still debating on the synthetic rope vs. cable, how does the synthetic rope hold up to water, sunlight, dirt? does it slowly break the material down? not trying to hijack the thread just thought id throw that in there thanks!

 

Seems to me the thread is ripe for the hijacking, since the person who started the thread has made the decision and purchase.

My vote is for the synthetic rope because it is a lot safer. When it does fail, it won't cut anyone's head off or gouge stainless steel slivers into their muscles. All other considerations are secondary, in my opinion.

However, I wouldn't mind reading someone's experience and/or research on the long-term durability questions.

 

I don't have a problem with hijacking or off topic questions at this point. I'm interested in anything related to winching as it's not something I know a lot about, other than my old 1996 Polaris 6X6 is still on it's first cable and the winch still works fine! It will poke ya once in a while but a leather glove takes care of that.
Keep in mind guys, the winch is for my own piece of mind! Just want to be able to get out of a jam if need be. I'm not a bogger and like I stated earlier, I can always upgrade to a synthetic cable latter......:ride:

 

I think a winch is like the two main things you have to have when you take out a women for the first time. What are they you ask? Well lets start with "Money" you don't want not to have enough and ruin the night out. Second "Love making tool" just in case you get lucky, you don't want to come up short here either so in conclusion it's better to have more than you need and not use it than not have enough.... :rofl3:

 

I just mounted a smitybuilt xrc3.0 $150 looks just like the viper on the 1st page.I have used smittybuilts on my jeeps and had great luck with them hope these are just as good?super atv has a mount for like $30 .so i have got a winch for just incase situations under $200.maybe check em out might be what your lookin 4?anyone tested these out in the mud?