Maasdam rope winch, less weight, more compact, versatile.

 

A permanent mount is not recommended when you need just to get unstuck, i've pulled mine forward, backward, side ways, lifted it in all positions, better stored or easily removed to attach anywhere makes the most sense, the 2000lb 12v warn is fairly popular around here but as Skywagon suggest the rope puller is the best non electric powered method

 

I do the " rope in the track " trick when i get stucked....No need for a winch.

 

I am a little nervous relying on the rope track trick, just because I am a bit afraid of damaging the track. I certainly wouldn't hesitate to use it if that was my only option though.

 

As already stated, I wouldn't go with a permanent mount.

I do have a winch, with a mount front and rear. It has come in handy once or twice, but both times the rope through the track trick would've worked just as well.

If you are going to have a winch stored on the sled somewhere, make sure you have a good storage system so the winch doesn't get beaten up before you have a chance to use it. Nothing worse than lugging a winch around for months only to have it not work when you finally need to haul it out.

 

The rope around the track will work in some cases but not all, if alone & your sled is flipped upside down, sideways in a crevice, nosedived in a crack, half submerged in water, a hand or electric winch is the best option imo

 

The rope around the track will work in some cases but not all, if alone & your sled is flipped upside down, sideways in a crevice, nosedived in a crack, half submerged in water, a hand or electric winch is the best option imo

Agreed, 100%. The rope on the track trick works when you have a functional sled that is upright and can move straight ahead to extract itself. There are lots of times when that is not the case. It's worth having, but I wouldn't describe a winch as a necessity.

 

The best winch is one you never have to use. However, if you need to use it, it is best to be prepared with a variety of gear to with it and have experience putting it to use. Straps, shackles, snatch blocks, etc are all good to have as well. 50ft or 100ft of a good high tensile rope is always good to have on board, just in case your anchor point isn't within reach of the winch. It could also double as emergency cordage if the need should ever arise.

I have the electric winch that came with the sleds back in 2011. I used it when I first got my sled stuck and realized it wasn't as easy as my previous narrow track. I was very disappointed with the straight pull of that winch and have since started to carry all the previously mentioned gear. Luckily, that day was a not life or death and was more of a trial for the new gear that I had. I don't believe I've used it since but always have that little safety net there in the back of my head.

 

I have the 1500 warn sno winch that came with my spring order in 2013.
Nice and small, it fits under the passenger seat so no digging through the box to find it if needed.
Couple times in creeks/slob it never had enough power but I also have 2 8000lb snatch blocks from Canadian tire.(also small) works perfect.
I usually just dig out when I know it's an easy stuck but honestly I'm sure I use it a good 5-10 times a season.
Used it to haul broke sleds onto trailers rather then working like a dog. Another time to move a moose around for cleaning, not always just for a stuck situation. Worth its weight forsure for me anyways.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I bought a capstan winch last year, and after having used it several times, I'd not personally consider an electric at this point.

It is clunky and heavy, likely clunkier and heavier than an electric/cable winch, but versatility is off the charts - I've got a 550' length of rope, the winch can be ~500 feet away, in theory. Or, I can use several snatchblocks and slow things down, or pull it around corners, or hoist snatch blocks up into trees so the rope is pulling up and forward or or or you name it.

I also have a massdam rope puller, which is awesome. A massdam + long snobunjie will do a LOT, if you're pulling forward and can use the motor to assist - dig, make a ramp, whatever - attach snobunjie to anchor, massdam to sled, rope to bunjie, tension the hell out of bunjie, use throttle and push, that'll often pop it out. Or, just use the massdam and drag it out - if you're pulling up a steep hill, using the motor is a gamble - if the track spins, it'll dig a wall in front of itself and make it REALLY hard to pull up and over.

Anyway - imho, consider a capstan. If you're going to drag an anchor around, capstans are, imho, way, way more versatile than electric/cables. I initially wanted a two stroke, figuring I'd be doing funky things at funky angles, but the one I got is a 4t Honda motor with some goofy oiling system that lets it run at weird angles. It is easy to start when "cold" - cold for me is -15F, so not COLD, but it is small enough you could easily bring it inside overnight then put it in a bag wrapped in a blanket & keep it warm for a few hours at least, it is efficient on fuel, plenty strong, eh? I love it. It took some learning, and I've found that I like to use at least one snatch block no matter what, often two - not because it needs it, but to slow it down. I like two better - I'll anchor the the rope to the bumper of the sled, go up to the tree/anchor, rig two snatch blocks, then grab the rope between the two, pull that chunk back down, put it into another block on the sled - the rope has to be flaked well to get that to work. Then, take the remaining leg, run that into the winch, and there's three blocks - winch to block 1 on tree, back down to block on bumper, back up to block on tree, back down to anchor on bumper. Hop on sled, typically start sled and let it idle to make it roll that much easier, put tension on rope, it starts pulling, keep tension on rope, try to feed rope onto rack behind me/not into track, keep sled level, etc etc etc until at the top.

It is not moving very fast, but it turns into a bit of a circus. That said, it is effective, if you need to make roads up steep stuff you can't get up on your own and don't want to stomp out with snowshoes and wait and hope you make it after it sets up.

.02c!

Iain

 

I've used the factory winch once. Glad I had it.

 

How does the "rope around the track" trick work? Do you thread the rope through the openings in the track and tie it off to itself? Then drive either forward or reverse? Never thought of that.

 

How does the "rope around the track" trick work? Do you thread the rope through the openings in the track and tie it off to itself? Then drive either forward or reverse? Never thought of that.

From one opening in the track to a tree or anything that can be used as an anchor.

A 1in. flat strap with loops at the ends works really good for the portion under the sled. For the long portion, any types of long rope will work.

In low gear, you only go a few feet to get you out. Works in reverse too.

I agree that there can be times that only a winch would do the job but that never happened to me yet.

 

How does the "rope around the track" trick work? Do you thread the rope through the openings in the track and tie it off to itself? Then drive either forward or reverse? Never thought of that.

Yes, tie to a window opening in the track, tie off to a tree or something solid ahead of you, and go gentle on the gas. The track cannot spin, so the only thing to really watch out for is burning your belt. On a two speed sled, use low range for sure.

Generally, you just want to pop the sled out of the hole it's in, so you're only going ahead a few feet before untying and driving away under it's own power.

 

I never had to tie into the track window yet, if it ever comes to that it would be a last resort thing, also i'd make sure that the rope has made at least 1 full rotation on the track to minimize the stress on the bar

 

I have the brp - multi-mount 2500 winch Part 860200992, new with 2016 Expy LE. added synthetic rope at dealer, a must have. used mostly for pulling a new sauna, logs and one dead polaris, only a couple self rescues which it worked well. very strong. some non-scientific observations... mount system with 2" male for fit to receiver is very heavy, should be aluminum or slimmed down, its an anchor. the tunnel mounted 2" receiver/holder works well and keeps high & dry. even works with passenger. however, seems to me that mounted on tranny side of sled contributes to tranny side tippiness. on my list to switch to other side to see if better. holder also seems over-built and heavy. wish expy had front 2" receiver, i use a short sling, on heavy duty bumper for front pulls. i usually travel and work alone so would not go without it, but for $1200... not mandatory equipment in Yellowknife conditions for most riders. I agree a portable capstan would be more versatile, with and without the sled, but not sure how the 4 stroke honda driven capstans start in our winter climate, my guess is not well. i also have a Warn 110V Portable, not that strong, but handy (with a gen). Waiting for DeWalt to build a portable battery operated winch

 

The oem winch is definitely lighter, but a cheap snatchblock gives me all the pull I'll ever need (didn't need it when I used it) and I keep a lightish tow strap too. The tow strap gets used drastically more than the winch.

Ps. The time I used the winch, the rope to the track eye method wouldn't have worked.

 

The oem winch is definitely lighter, but a cheap snatchblock gives me all the pull I'll ever need (didn't need it when I used it) and I keep a lightish tow strap too. The tow strap gets used drastically more than the winch.

Ps. The time I used the winch, the rope to the track eye method wouldn't have worked.

I had my big V800 SWT half way through the ice at 45 degree on a river edge one time. I didn`t think the old trick would work.

It got out of there like nothing....Sometime, you just got to give it a try.

 

I had my big V800 SWT half way through the ice at 45 degree on a river edge one time. I didn`t think the old trick would work.

It got out of there like nothing....Sometime, you just got to give it a try.

X2

I first used the trick when I was working, operating Bombardier Muskeg's, similar to this...

I've also used it with a trail groomer that was stuck in a swamp after breaking through the ice.

I used it a bunch of times with my old Nytro, when I was hopelessly stuck, and no amount of digging would get me out.

If you're stuck really bad, and can get out by pulling yourself straight ahead, the rope through the window is a genius trick.

 

X2

I first used the trick when I was working, operating Bombardier Muskeg's, similar to this...

I've also used it with a trail groomer that was stuck in a swamp after breaking through the ice.

I used it a bunch of times with my old Nytro, when I was hopelessly stuck, and no amount of digging would get me out.

If you're stuck really bad, and can get out by pulling yourself straight ahead, the rope through the window is a genius trick.

This looks like a "modified" J5?

 

This looks like a "modified" J5?

That's just a photo I pulled off the internet, but it's not a modifies J5.

The J5 has the drive axle and 3 single wheels per side. A muskeg has the drive axle and 4 double wheels per side. They were available in two different styles, with a center, single seat, just like a J5, or with forward controls, driver on one side, passenger on the other. That opens up the rear of the machine for cargo.

I'm no expert on all the various models, as I used to call the double wheeled, center seat versions "J7's", and I don't know if that was actually a thing. The center control, or side control machines were very, very similar, and extremely capable in soft ground.

 

I had my big V800 SWT half way through the ice at 45 degree on a river edge one time. I didn`t think the old trick would work.

It got out of there like nothing....Sometime, you just got to give it a try.

anchor points were about 45degrees off to the side, but maybe I could have run the rope through the bumper if I thought of it. I didn't think of it when I made the post.The tail was buried deep too. I had to more than a bit of digging to attach the winch. Lets just say the winch made it dramatically easier.

 

I have this warn snowmobile winch and prefer it to mounted winches. I've been able to do some rolling of sleds that were almost impossible to roll upright without it and it will of course pull forward and backward like a mounted winch.

 

Versatile little kit. Just can't forget to leave it in SxS or vice versa ???

 

Does doo sell the SE winch and brackets? It's nice how it fits perfectly under the seat. the s