There are a wide range of reasons why you may need to purchase a winch, whether it’s for off-roading or simply having one handy to pull large objects. The process of choosing the best winches for you isn’t easy, however, as there are a host of different options. Along with determining which off-road winches fit your vehicle without extensive modifications, you’ll want to choose a product that offers the capacity you need. This is normally determined by its pull rating, measured in pounds. You will also need to choose what type of rope or cable you prefer. The two typical choices are wire and synthetic and we’ll explain the differences on those further below.
Another aspect to consider when shopping for the right winch is whether you’ll come in contact with lots of water. If so, you’ll want a winch that offers water sealing so you can take the winch through water crossings without worrying about damaging it. We’re going to look at the best winches on the market today as well as the pros and cons of each.
Things to Consider When Shopping for and Using a Winch
We’ve detailed the main features and specifications to look for when shopping for a winch, but there are a few other things to take into consideration when shopping for and using the best winches for off-road driving. For starters, most winches will run off your vehicle’s battery, which means it needs a certain amount of power to operate well. You’ll want to make sure your vehicle’s battery isn’t old and weak and that it can handle the load a winch uses. Although your alternator isn’t as important, you’ll want to make sure it can at least keep up with recharging your battery as it drains from winch use.
Knowing that, you’ll also want to make sure connections to your vehicle’s battery are solid, meaning both the battery’s terminals are clean and not corroded. A bad connection could mean power loss for your winch, which will make it less effective.
For the most part, the saying “bigger is better” applies to winches. You’ll want to avoid a situation where you wish you had a bigger or more capable winch. Along with offering more power, bigger winches are less likely to overheat and stall, as well as needing less time to cool down after use.
Determine what you plan on needing a winch for, and choose the product accordingly. Not everyone needs maximum pulling power, but you’ll never know when it can come in handy.
Table of contents
1. Editor’s Pick: WARN Zeon Platinum Winches
WARN just might be the biggest name in off-road winches and the new WARN Zeon Platinum lineup is the brand’s flagship. WARN calls it the most technologically advanced winch in the industry and boasts it is twice as durable as anything else it makes.
There are four variants of the WARN Zeon Platinum: Zeon Platinum 10K, 10K-S, 12K, and 12K-S. The “S” versions come with 100 feet of Spydura synthetic rope, while the standard versions feature 80-feet of wire rope. And as you might have guessed, the 10K versions offer up 10,000 pounds of pull rating, while the 12K models have a 12,000-pound pull rating.
At the heart of the WARN Zeon Platinum winch family is a new high-speed motor with stronger gears that can deliver 20% faster line speed.
Another key feature is WARN’s advanced wireless remote. This remote allows users to control the winch and up to two accessories while providing feedback on battery charge and winch motor temperature.
Designed for long life, the WARN Zeon Platinum is built with an aluminum structure with flat black powder-coated finish and stainless steel fasteners for next-level corrosion resistance. According to WARN, this set up has a corrosion resistance exceeding 400 hours of salt-spray testing.
WARN backs up the Zeon Platinum winch lineup with a limited lifetime warranty on mechanical components and a seven-year warranty for electrical components.
We did a full review of the WARN Zeon Platinum 12K-S and our tester noted that “Zeon Platinum 12K-S has more than refined the off-road winch. And it may have taken a step towards revolutionizing them.” Simply put, this is one of the best winches available today.
2. Best Light Duty Winch: Champion Winch Kit (13004)
If you don’t feel like comparing multiple variants of a product, take a look at the Champion Winch Kit. This winch uses a 1.3-hp permanent magnet motor and offers a 3,000-lb max rated line pull and includes a mounting channel, a roller fairlead, and a remote control.
This winch uses a 46-foot by 3/16-inch galvanized, super-duty aircraft cable that the company says is less prone to fraying, even when it’s being used in highly abrasive terrain, such as rocks, mud, or sand. The cable is guided onto the 1.5- by 3.2-inch drum through the roller fairlead, helping maximize the life of the cable.
Sporting a 3-stage planetary gear system, this winch also features a free-spooling clutch and a handlebar-mounted remote control for easy control while winching. Dynamic braking of the winch drum offers the stopping power necessary for the job. The 3-stage planetary gear has a reduction ratio of 171:1, giving the winch a line speed of 4.3 feet per minute with a full load, or 8.9 feet per minute with no load.
This winch includes a clevis hook, hook strap, mounting channel, roller fairlead, and remote control. Champion offers a 2-year limited warranty and free lifetime technical support with this product.
With an overwhelming number of positive reviews, owners of this Champion winch praise how easy it is to use and how powerful it is. Owners are mixed when it comes to operation noise, with some saying the winch is fairly quiet, while others say it’s noisier than competitors’ winches. One common complaint is that the included remote is bulky.
3. Best Portable Winch: WARN Handheld Portable Drill Winch
If you’re looking for a portable winch, you can’t go wrong when it comes to the WARN product line. While the WARN Handheld Portable Drill Winch isn’t strong enough to pull your truck or Jeep out of a nasty mud hole, it does prove to be helpful when you have heavy lifting that needs to be done. Especially handy with lifting engines and other such items. The portable drill winch features a 40′ long steel cable and industrial hook and utilizes a swivel anchor hook on the opposite end of the unit. What’s nice about this is that it is powered with your portable drill, so there’s no need to worry about extra battery packs for the winch.
This winch is ideal for owners looking for a light-duty unit that is portable.
4. Superwinch Terra Winches
Available in a variety of different models, the Superwinch Terra lineup is one of the most popular and highly rated family of winches available on Amazon. There are a total of six variants to choose from: Terra 25, Terra 25SR, Terra 35, Terra 35SR, Terra 45, and Terra 45SR. The “SR” version for each model uses a synthetic rope instead of a cable.
Differentiating each model is the type of motor and steel wire or synthetic rope it uses. The Terra 25 and Terra 25SR both feature a high efficiency, low-amp draw sealed 1.3-horsepower permanent magnet motor, while the Terra 35, 35SR, 45, and 45SR variants have a 1.6-hp permanent magnet motor. The 25 and 25SR use either a 50-foot 1/4-inch steel wire or synthetic rope, while the 35 and 35SR come equipped with a 50-foot 13/64-inch steel wire or synthetic rope. The range-topping 45 and 45SR models offer 55 feet of ¼-inch steel wire or synthetic rope.
The model number for each of the Superwinch Terra winches indicate the pull rating. The 25 and 25SR have a 2,500-pound pull rating, while the 35 and 35SR have a 3,500-pound pull rating. As you can guess, the 45 and 45SR are capable of pulling up to 4,500 lbs.
Every winch that’s part of this lineup uses an all-steel planetary gear that utilizes machined-in, oil pocket bronze bearings for smooth, uncompromised movement. Additional features on every model include an ergonomic cam action freespooling clutch that allows users to quickly disengage the motor and manually draw out as much winch rope as necessary, a handlebar-mounted switch, a four-way roller fairlead, a heavy duty latched hook with thimble, and a limited lifetime warranty.
This lineup of winches has the most number of positive reviews out of all the winches we’ve looked at, with owners saying the Terra winches are powerful, quiet, fast, operate smoothly, and are easy to use. There are a small number of complaints that the included hardware could use an upgrade, along with some complaints about the instruction manual, making it a bit difficult to mount and install the winch.
5. Smittybilt XRC Winch (97495)
Powered by a 6.6-hp amphibious motor and a 3-stage planetary gear system, the Smittybilt XRC winch offers a 9,500-pound load capacity and is completely IP67 waterproof with a state-of-the-art 500-AMP solenoid. This winch has a corded remote and comes complete with all wiring necessary for installation. It is on the short list of the best winch for your Jeep.
This Smittybilt winch uses a sliding ring gear clutch and an automatic in-drum brake, while a 93.5-foot, 5/16-inch diameter wire rope provides plenty of reach for all sorts of situations. The winch itself features a textured black finish and measures 20.88-inches long, 6.3-inches wide, and 7.4 inches tall, while tipping the scales at 78 lbs.
Smittybilt includes a limited mechanical lifetime warranty with the XRC Jeep winch and a 3-year electrical warranty.
One of the most reviewed winches on Amazon, this product has an overwhelming number of positive reviews. Owners are extremely happy with its performance and build quality, adding that it’s very easy to install and use. Some users did complain that there are plastic pieces that are prone to breaking on this winch. There are a number of complaints of failure after minor use, so it’s possible there are some quality control issues.
Steel Cable/Wire vs. Synthetic Rope
Some winches will offer you the choice between a steel cable/wire or a synthetic rope. Typically, the steel cable/wire option is cheaper since it has the possibility of rusting, kinking, or potentially even breaking. And if you’ve ever gotten slivers in your hand from an older wire cable, you know how much of a pain that can be.
Although steel/wire cables are strong and reliable, some winch owners prefer a synthetic rope even though it’s more expensive. The synthetic rope is also strong and reliable, but only if it’s properly cared for so it does require more maintenance than a steel cable/wire. The material can also suffer from abrasion and doesn’t like heat. The good news is that caring for a synthetic rope typically entails a bucket of water and a quick rinse and wipe down of the rope after it has been used.
What is the Best Size Winch For a Jeep?
Figuring out what the best size winch is for your Jeep comes down to a couple of key factors. First on this list is what you plan on using your Jeep (and the winch) for. If you like to test the limits of man and machine and figure you might need help getting out of some really tough spots, you should probably look towards the upper limits of winch pull ratings. But if you are looking for a winch to help pull up your fishing boat onto your trailer to some other lighter duty uses, you can get away with a smaller winch.
Another key factor is how much can you afford. For us, a winch is one of of those things where we suggest you get the best you can afford. As a winch might be relied on to save your bacon if you get stuck far away from help, this is not where you want to cut costs. You will never regret having too much power available out of your winch, but you sure as heck might question your decisions if you don’t have enough when you need it.
Ultimately, we’d suggest something in the 10,000-pound pull rating and up if you ever plan on doing some serious off-road exploration or go on some adventures by yourself.
Obviously all of the aforementioned winches can’t be used for vehicle recovery. What purpose do they serve?
If you’re a hunter, you can use one of the portable winches, like the WARN Portable Handheld Drill Winch, to hoist your game for cleaning. Additionally if you have the proper setup in your shop/garage, you can use some of these to help lift things like engines, bumpers, hard tops, and the list goes on and on.
Additional Resources
- Synthetic Winch Lines: The Good and The Bad
- How To Install A UTV Winch
- WARN Zeon 12-S Platinum Review
Recent Updates
4/18/2022: Updated product links, added WARN portable handheld drill winch, added faq
11/07/2022: Updated product links, removed discontinued product, added new product (warn handheld portable drill winch)
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Updated 07/08/2021: Ranked product, removed out of stock item, added new product (WARN PullzAll), added Additional Resources