A truck winch is an essential device that is equipped with a truck for hauling or lifting purposes. It is a device that everyone has seen but technically has no idea about it! The truck or the vehicle that it is attached is called the recovery vehicle. Most of the modern winches that are available nowadays include a cable or a rope which is incidentally powered by a motor. A situation may arise when you find yourself stuck in a case where the need to haul a massive object out of a ‘muddy’ situation arises. The chances are that the intervention of human strength is impossible in that situation, so the winch is the answer to your misery. The winch assures that you never have to wait for a tow truck in the middle of nowhere!
Reviews of the Best Truck Winches
**Below, you’ll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
How Do Truck Winches Work?
Speaking from a practical point of view, the winch is a versatile device which can not only support trucks but can support jeeps as well as larger vehicles. The parts that make up a winch are its motor which will be equipped with its cable or rope of any material, the gear train for running the whole motor and the drum. The cable of the winch can have a length of anywhere from 40 feet to 150 feet. The shape of the winch is circular which allows the wire to wrap around it because of its geometry. And the drum includes a spool as well for wrapping the cable in and out.
The motor of the winch is the driving force for turning the drum. This action helps in wrapping the cable by itself to the winch drum. Though not all of the traditional winches have their motors, some people like to modify on their own, and some are satisfied with the manual crank that comes with it. The gear is useful for providing the torque to the motor so that it can perform the hauling action by itself without any human intervention!
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Things To Consider When Buying A Truck Winch
Generally speaking, if anyone is an owner of a truck, there is a 95% chance that the truck was bought for performing heavy duty jobs. Like the ones that are usually involved in tree pulling or acting as recovery vehicles. If that is the case, you are probably looking for a winch that provides you with all the necessities. Every truck owner has their agendas in mind, and depending on the built and size of their vehicles, the choices for winches would vary. But before stepping into the store, there are four rules to consider before you install one of those devices onto your truck!
Quality of the cable:
Most of the modern winches that are available in the market come with their cables to the motor. Usually, they come in two variants, and that is synthetic and steel. Of course, everybody will have their preferences, but most users have a leaned towards synthetic cables. Synthetic cables are more flexible, and they have high tensile strength. It does not need any maintenance and is safe for bystanders in case there is breakage. Synthetic cables can pull up to a massive weight of 9500 pounds. If your motor comes with its cable, they can be replaced with synthetic cables in easy steps.
Seal proof:
The fact that you are getting a winch installed is a tell-tale sign that you will be involved in harsh terrains and be getting your hands dirty with jobs that are not delicate. It is important that the motor is protected from all kinds of external and natural factors to avoid it from malfunctioning in the middle of a job. Dysfunction of a motor has also resulted in various on-site accidents, so as a duty to yourself, it is mandatory that you get a winch with a motor that is sealed. Having a sealed motor protects it from snow, rain, mud and even moisture which are often the basis for creating corrosion on the metallic parts. So if you are aiming to buy smart, follow this advice.
Pulling Capacity:
Accidents often occur when the winch is involved in pulling weights that are larger than its capacity of pulling. The next thing that happens is that the cable snaps and inertia take its course. This sort of event ends up damaging more stuff, and in some unfortunate cases, there could be human casualties. So, while you are considering buying a winch for your truck, it is good to invest an extra amount of money and purchasing one that has a high weight pulling capacity. Customers usually get one that can pull 6500 pounds and above.
Easy accessibility:
Again, I would stress on spending an extra amount of money while investing on a truck winch. Some truck winch does not come with additional accessories like the spool in the drum or remote controllers for activating and deactivating the winch. There are good quality models that come with all the accessories required for operating the winch along with detailed manuals. So it is advisable that the winch is user-friendly, easy to install and work as well as cost-effective.
Top 12 Reviews of Best Truck Winches
Hopefully, the points mentioned above have given you an idea of what type of winch you would want to install on your truck. And I have made a list of the 12 best truck winches in this article. So, read through them and pick out one that you find it best for your truck.
1. Smittybilt 97495 XRC Winch – 9500 lbs Load Capacity
This model is one of the best mid-range winches that you could get in the market out there. It is super reliable and can perform very well under pressure. It is a heavy duty device that is cost-effective as well a satisfactory for customers. I may as well add that this is one of the best winches that you could purchase at this price because it is waterproof as well. Thre are not a lot of winches that are waterproof at this price.
The key features are:
Construction:
The motor runs on 6.6 horsepower. The gear system has an impressive three gear system which is a planetary type. The motor also has a 500 Amp solenoid attached to it.
Water-resistant:
As I have mentioned earlier the motor is waterproof and has an IP67 rating, which is quite impressive.
Easy accessibility:
Nobody likes to run around to purchase extra parts for the new device. Therefore, this Smittybild device arrives with all the parts and wiring required for installation. In this case, this is a relief for most and goes a long way toward saving some extra money.
Service:
Smittybild has offered a lifetime warranty for all the steel products. Now that has ensured my confidence in this product.
2. Superwinch 1135220 Terra 35 Winch – 3500 lbs Load Capacity
The Superwinch Terra is a monster in itself because it has the capacity of pulling a weight over 3500 pounds. With this winch, any truck owner would be confident of it enough to show it off. This is also one of the best winches out there that is within the mid-price range. On top of that, it performs to the fullest without any complaints.
The key features are:
Efficiency:
This is a winch that does not lack in efficiency because the motor is fitted with a permanent magnet. This makes the motor a thing of a heavy duty machine which is not expected to fail at all.
Ergonomic design:
The motor has a free spooling clutch for easy access to the cable. The steel wire cable has a 50 inch of 13/64 inch wire rope, which is the right amount for pulling heavyweights.
Construction:
The gear is made up of the highest quality steel, and they are twice as big as the contemporary gears that are available in the market. The bearings of the gear are oiled bronze.
Protection:
The solenoid is sealed and protected from all external factors which are connected to a fairlead for the motor. The circuit breaker is also protected as well.
3. X-BULL 12V Steel Cable Electric Winch – 12000 lb Load Capacity
The winch does not break under pressure at all even if it under the stress of pulling a 12000-pound weight. Yes, you heard me right, this model has a weight pulling capacity of over 12000 pounds, and that is one of the selling points for a winch. Besides that, this winch is also super affordable. And that would make this a strong combination of the two best attributes.
The key features are:
Remote Controllers:
This product includes two remote controllers which are hand-held as well as waterproof. I do not know how this winch can get better than this. The hand controllers allow the user to operate the winch from a safe distance getting him or her out of harm’s way
User-friendly:
The motor is connected to a clutch. While of course, the motor can e operated from one of the given hand controllers, a spool is attached to the clutch as well. His free spool allows the user to manually turn the cable in or out in case there is a problem.
Capacity:
This winch weighs about 60 pounds only, but it is a stark contrast to how much weight it can haul. The motor has an inbuilt cable made out of stainless steel which is out 26 meters long.
Water-proof and corrosion resistant:
And the last feature which is the best of all, the winch is water resistant as well as anti-corrosive.
4. Smittybilt 98512 X2O Waterproof Synthetic Rope Winch – 12000 lbs Load Capacity
The Smittybilt is built for state-of-the-art performance, and it is one of the most practical systems for every winch owner. This model has a large capacity and is built to overcome any task. With a great set of features, this version of a Smittybilt winch is a must-buy for all potential winch buyers who are into affordability as well as performance.
The key features are:
Construction:
The motor runs on 6.6 horsepower. The gear system has an impressive three gear system which is an epicyclic type like the other Smittybild winch that is listed at the top. Besides that, the drum for the gear produces lesser heat which is about 50% lesser than most contemporary winches that are available in the market
Water-resistant:
The motor is also waterproof and has an IP67 rating, which is quite impressive. This attribute leads to long-lasting usage and longer shelf life.
Easy accessibility:
Nobody likes to run around to purchase extra parts for the new device. Therefore, this Smittybild device arrives with all the parts and their synthetic line required for installation. In this case, this is a relief for most and goes a long way toward saving some extra money.
Service:
Also, like the previous Smittybild winch listed above, Smittybild has offered a lifetime warranty for all the steel products in this model as well.
5. Master Lock Electric Portable Winch – 12Volt DC Electric Winch
This model is one of the most versatile units in this list. Not only is this designed for trucks, but you can attach it to a variety of other vehicles like a jeep, a trailer or even a boat. The winch can be mounted on any location of the vehicle provided that it serves the convenience of the owner. It also has a large weight pulling capacity on any terrain, and it is set to impress you with its power!
The key features are:
Accessibility:
The size of the winch is about 12 inches only which makes it super portable. Because of this reason, it makes it easy to carry it around and installing it on different vehicles at the same time. The winch also arrives with its cable which is a 30ft steel cable. The cable is connected to a hook to make it safe too.
Ease of use:
This winch is equipped with its remote controller which helps the user operate the winch from a distance. It also comes with a crank in case the user wants to operate it manually.
Capacity:
Despite the small size of the winch, it has incredible power. This winch has power for pulling a weight of 6000 pounds. If in case the user wants to operate it from a boat, the maximum size of the boat should be 18 ft, and the maximum weight of the boat should be 5000 pounds.
Support:
Most users have complained about the unavailability of a detailed user manual with their devices, but this winch comes with all of them. Also including the parts and wiring that are required as well.
6. WARN 26502 M8000 Winch – 8000 lbs Load Capacity
This winch is an outstanding value for trucks, sport utility vehicles and Jeeps. It features a 4.8 Horsepower series wound motor for a three-stage planetary gear set. Now, what does that mean to you and me? It means that this winch has a fast pull rate of eight feet per minute and a great duty cycle. All of these are packed in this portable winch that weighs about 74 pounds only. The M8000 is also available with an 80 foot or a 100-foot recovery line, and you can get to choose between a hose and a roller fairlead.
The main features are:
Design:
Because of its mobility, the winch is a super low profile and adds more to its portability. The control box is separated from the motor which means that it gives the winch a wide choice for mounting it on different locations depending on the user’s convenience.
Capacity:
The winch is 12 inches in size, and it arrives with a motor of a combined power of 4.8 Horsepower. This makes it possible for the winch to have a pulling capacity of 8000 pounds.
Efficiency:
Like most high-end winches available in the market, the gear set is equipped with a three-stage planetary gear as well. The brake system is also automatic with a direct drive cone feature.
Accessibility:
The Power can load in and out through a 100 ft of 5/16 inches of wire rope. As you can see, the motor is electrically generated.
7. WARN 96810 VR 10 Winch
The Warn winch is a great recovery winch. If you want a standard duty winch that is efficient to the maximum, you might want to go for this model. The centre packs and the control packs are reloadable. It is run by an Albright contractor for reliability. It has a 7-year warranty but a lifetime of warranty for the mechanical parts. The model also has a standard ring gear on here as far as sliding ring gear for the engagement of the clutch. It comes with a steel fairlead. Most of the features are almost similar to the Warn M8000, so you will see a lot of similarities between them.
The key features are:
Design:
The design is the same as the Warn M8000. It is portable and lightweight and offers a massive range for mounting options.
Efficiency:
Like most high-end winches available in the market and like its counterparts, the gear set is equipped with a three-stage planetary gear as well. The brake system is also automatic with a direct drive cone feature.
Waterproof:
It is waterproof and can withstand about 2 ft of water. This attribute gives a longer life to this model as this prevents from easy corrosion of this device.
System:
It has the best-in-class gear and brake system. This allows for superior control of the motor and ease of use to the user.
8. NEW Vortex Recovery Winch – 8000 lbs Load Capacity
The New vortex features great quality which is designed to provide only the most efficient service. This model has a dead pull capacity of 8000 pounds. This means that the rolling capacity or marine capacity would be more. It also comes with two remotes. One of them is a standard wired remote controller, and the other one is a bonus wireless remote controller. These come with warranties so anyone can buy them with confidence. This winch is an industrial recovery winch which performs much better than the travelling tool show type winches.
The key features are:
Capacity:
This winch has an overall strength of pulling a weight of 8000 pounds. This means that the motor has a large power capacity which is always a plus point when looking to purchase a winch.
Power:
The motor has a 5.5 horsepower with a power of 3.8 KW. This is a high magnitude performing motor, and it ensures only the best performance.
Remote controller:
As mentioned above, this product comes with two additional remote controllers. That is, one of them being wireless and the other being the traditional wired remote controller. This enables a user to perform the maximum amount of tasks even from a distance.
Service:
The company offers a full one year warranty on all mechanical and electrical parts.
9. OFFROAD BOAR Synthetic Rope Waterproof Winch – 13000 lbs Load Capacity
The Offroad Boar is a state-of-the-art truck winch which is designed to be powerful and an efficient device. It is a functional and a reliable model to which users have no complaints to this date. It has a maximum capacity of pulling 13000 pounds of weight, and no winch has gotten more impressive than that.
The key features are:
Waterproof:
This device has acquired an IP67 rating of waterproof. This means that it is foolproof to all kinds of extreme weather.
System:
Like its high-end counterparts, this model includes a three gear planetary system as well.
Brake:
The brake system is an incredible marvel because it has automatic as well as the manual braking system. Talk about having choices!
Capacity:
As mentioned above, it has an impressive pulling capacity of 13000 pounds at once with its 85 ft of synthetic rope.
10 VIPER Winch 12000lb, Steel Cable, Wireless Remote, Integrated Contactor
The Viper Winch is made from the highest military grade materials. These have been certified and tested over various tests. Because of this thoroughness, there is an overbearing of the Viper winches, and they are shown to perform better under high pressure.
The key features are:
Construction:
The motor has an IP67 waterproof rating. The motor does not break under pressure due to this which is the most important point of all and can exceed limits when it is set to perform tasks.
Capacity:
After learning the impressive quality of the motor, it is only fair to assume that it has a large pulling capacity as well. This model does not fail in that department as well. A large job can be completed at one go since this winch has a capacity of pulling 12000 pounds worth of weight.
Construction:
The winch is made up of only the highest quality steel. Besides the motor having an integrated contractor, the motor is run on the permanent magnet as well.
Remotes:
This winch is completed by being accompanied by two controllers. One of them is an 11-inch onsite, remote controller, and the other one is a wireless controller to enable the user to operate the winch from a distance.
11. Champion 4500 lbs ATV/UTV Wireless Winch Kit
This is an affordable winch which is designed for economic purposes. It has a two-year warranty on all parts. Besides the budget, this winch can do more than what you have paid for and overtime, there have been no complaints from users.
The key features are:
Convenience:
The Winch can be operated from a maximum distance of 50 miles through the wireless remote control that is provided along with the truck winch. Also, the winch automatically powers off on its own when the winch is not in use.
Efficiency:
The winch has a maximum pulling capacity of 4500 pounds, and the motor is powered with 1.6 horsepower.
Complete installation:
The winch includes a wireless remote controller along with an antenna, a channel for mounting, a roller fairlead and a wiring kit as well
Reliability:
The winch comes with a 2-year limited warranty and a lifetime of free technical support.
12. Liteway 12 VDC Winch – 3500 lbs Load Capacity
This Liteway 12 VDC winch has an efficient motor that has the capacity for high usage. Users are technically impressed after purchasing and using this model. The waterproof feature and the pulling capacity is the main selling point of this truck winch. This is the absolute machine that is suitable for any rough jobs as users have claimed that they have never reverted to a different product ever since they have come across this model.
The key features are:
Protection:
Winches are usually used in rough terrains, so it is only fair that this winch comes with a motor that is sealed. This makes it completely resistant to mud, snow, rain and dust.
User-friendly:
The winch is completely easy to install even for beginners alike as it comes with a detailed manual.
Control:
The brake system is of superior quality so that it provides only the best control winch system. It also includes an additional winch mounting plate.
Reliability:
The motor is of high strength and is extremely reliable for pulling a massive weight of 3500 pounds.
Final Verdict
As a consumer, I would weigh in the pros and cons of owning a winch, and I would decide on one based on its versatility, long lasting life, cost and efficiency. I would recommend the Smittybilt 97495 XRC Winch and the Superwinch 1135220 Terra 35 Winch because it checks all the major points of a winch. Both the models have high horsepower and are waterproof. They are both cost-effective as they fall under the mid-range winches but can perform in the capacity of high-end winches.