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When you're off-roading, it is important to have some safety features along for the ride. Naturally, you'll want to have a great first aid kit and some jumper cables. You may also want a great winch kit.
Whether you’re riding trails on the weekend or navigating through heavy snow and ice in bad weather, keeping winch accessories around can help you succeed.
We have compiled a complete buyer's guide to several different types of winch accessory. Along with this guide, we review the eight best winch accessories on the market for you. This way, you can purchase your winch accessories with confidence, knowing your product has been thoroughly vetted.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Winch Accessories
- OUR TOP PICK: ARB Winch Recovery Damper Orange Line Dampener
- ARB Snatch Block
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Vault Shackles
Table of Contents
Comparison Chart of the Best Winch Accessories
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Types of Winch Accessories
There are several different types of accessories available. Many people like to purchase several of them and create a winch accessory kit, rather than just towing around one or two things. Here are a few different types of winch accessories to consider.
D-ring shackles are a great option. They will attach towing straps to the frame of the vehicle in need of a rescue. Usually, these attach to the bumper and the ring makes sure the straps hold firm when the towing begins.
Tow straps go well with this accessory. These are especially nice to have around if you get your Jeep stuck and don't have the time or money to call a professional towing service. These allow you to tow the vehicle without needing to worry about risky alternatives like a rope.
Recovery chains are also great accessories. These are extremely helpful in mud and snow, where textile straps and ropes would just end up damaged and too slippery to be of any use. These are very effective when you anchor them to something strong and stable, like rocks, trees, or heavier cars.
Snatch blocks are a great accessory, too. These are essentially pulley systems. You can use them when rigging your winch to double your line's pulling capacity. This is really useful when you're by yourself and need some extra strength to recover your vehicle. It's also helpful when you're using a small car to recover a big one.
What Should I Look for When Buying a New Accessory?
There are a few different things to consider when buying a winch accessory. Naturally, the type of vehicle you're driving will impact the available accessories.
Conditions of Use
Other things to consider are the different environments and climates you plan to drive through with your winch. You also need to consider how long you'll be on the road and how many kits you can fit into your off-road trailer or vehicle. These factors combined will point you towards the right types of winch accessories.
Convenience
One of the things to consider is how convenient and portable your accessory is. You will need to be able to fit your accessories somewhere small and not have them weigh too much to carry around with you. Make sure that what you're buying is convenient and easy.
It helps immensely when your accessory comes with instructions that are really easy to understand. With simple and clear instructions, even novices can operate their winch and accessories with ease. The best user guides will highlight multiple different ways you can use your accessory as needed for recovery operations.
Quality Materials & Construction
Your kit should also be durable. Most winch accessories are created to be used with a variety of different vehicles. This helps them be more versatile. You also want to make sure that your materials are weatherproof. This will protect them against the elements. As mentioned before, knowing your climate will dictate whether to go for a textile or chain and what type of metal you need.
Review of the Best Winch Accessories
Now that you’re aware of some of the different features that make a great winch accessory stand out against inferior products, here are our eight favorite winch accessories for you to consider. Each of these meets our rigorous minimum standards of quality and we know you will find one you love on our list!
Best Overall:
ARB Winch Recovery Damper Orange Line Dampener
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Everyone loves this product! It was difficult to find any cons, as most people rate this five stars. Users are saying this is easy to use and store, extremely durable, and a fabulous safety option for winch kits. Many recommend purchasing more than one and doubling the dampening on your line.
Why it Stands Out to Us
One of the features we love about this dampener is the extra pockets. This allows you to carry your accessories with you easily without losing the use of your hands. It's a fantastic feature. We also love the fact that the bright orange color makes it easily visible, which means if your cable snaps, you can easily find it in the darkness. It also means you can use it as a safety vest if you need to abandon the vehicle and find more help.
Who Will Use This Most
This product is a great option for nearly everyone who has a winch or even those who spend a great deal of time in the outdoors. The bright orange and silver reflective material, along with the pockets and Velcro fastening, this can double as a safety vest in case you need to abandon your vehicle and seek help.
Bottom Line
This is a fantastic product. It stops the recoil in snapped and broken chains and rope wires, has huge visibility for added safety, and even allows you to store things in various pockets! It meets competition requirements and is a fabulous purchase for anyone who wants a little extra safety.
Runner-up and Best Winch Pulley:
ARB Snatch Block
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers all love this product. Most of them call it a must-have for anyone who owns a 4x4. The consensus is that this is the best snatch block on the market today. Everyone says it is an excellent snatch block made with the highest possible quality standards.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This is an amazing product. One of the reasons it stands out to us is the incomparable quality of the parts. They're made with self-lubricating polymers, so you don't have to worry about problems with your line. It's virtually indestructible.
Who Will Use This Most
This is a great accessory for anyone who owns a 4x4 and may need recovery. If you suspect that you will need to use your own strength, or a weaker car, to recover heavy vehicles, then you will benefit greatly from this snatch block, which doubles the capacity of anything you’re using to tow.
Bottom Line
This may be a more expensive snatch block than other models, but it also does a fantastic job. It's made from aerospace-grade materials for the maximum possible quality and durability. Everyone loves the performance this block offers. With a massive towing capacity and lightweight design, you can depend on it.
Best for the Money:
Vault Shackles
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers enjoy the shackle, but be warned that the paint chips and puts the shackle in danger of rusting. Everyone agrees that it is solid, useful, and offers heavy-duty performance. The consensus is that it's a great product that is strong and sturdy. It also ships quickly.
Why it Stands Out to Us
One of the things that stands out to us is that this comes in a two-pack. This means you always have a backup if necessary, and makes it flexible enough to be used in different ways on both ends of your line.
Who Will Use This Most
This is a great product for people who plan to do a lot of hauling and rescue work. It’s a great option if you don’t want to depend on your tow hooks in slippery conditions or if your car’s bumper doesn’t have a good way to keep them solid. Because it can form a closed loop instead of just a hook point, it offers significantly more security and your tow strap loops will not slip off the car as you rescue.
Bottom Line :
Although this product may not be as invulnerable to rusting as the paint coat would lead you to believe, it is a solid piece of equipment, especially if you’re not in climates where you have to worry about rust. Everyone loves the strength and durability of this shackle!
Best Winch Battery:
Optima Batteries 8003-151 34R
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The quality control on this battery may be a little lacking because recent buyers are split 50/50 on the quality. Some of them say this battery dies very quickly and won't hold a charge, while others rave about the incredible quality of this battery. Take advantage of the warranty if yours is not up to par.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This battery is spill-proof, so it can be mounted in a variety of ways. It's also very eco-friendly, so you don't have to worry about its environmental impact. On top of that, it offers amazing starting power without the need for tons of maintenance.
Who Will Use This Most
This battery is useful for just about anyone who needs a backup battery for some extra power in a pinch. It works wonderfully well for hot rod and off-road drivers. The clean power source is also ideal for ecologically-minded consumers and drivers. You can use it pretty much anywhere.
Bottom Line
This is a fantastic battery. It offers excellent starting power for your cranking and can withstand pretty extreme G-forces. It can handle harder launches and extreme corners and has been proven for the racetrack and off-road performance. It is suitable for use with nearly every stock vehicle, from RVs to diesels to hot rods. It also has a longer lifespan and a maintenance-free design that is spill-proof and can be mounted in any position.
Best Synthetic Winch Rope:
AUXMART
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
There may be some quality control issues because a couple of buyers have reported that theirs snapped but the vast majority of reviews say the same things we experienced – this is a great-quality synthetic rope, especially given the price! This is a fabulous value, too!
Why it Stands Out to Us
One of the things we love is that this is an extremely lightweight design that still packs plenty of towing power. The protective case is nice and the fibers won't give you rope burn!
Who Will Use This Most
This is a nice option for people who aren't towing tons of weight in wet or dirty environments. It will work to recover vehicles in the rocky desert climates without requiring super-heavy chains. It's compact, so it's great for vehicles with less storage space.
Bottom Line
We love the soft material of this rope. It’s guarded against overheating and the fibers feel smooth in your hands. It even floats in the water in case you need to find it easily in wet terrain. It’s safe in the mud and water and won’t develop burrs that require you to wear gloves with other ropes.
Best Winch Hooks:
WARN 92090
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Most recent buyers rate this product at five stars and are absolutely loving it! Everyone agrees that the hooks are very impressive and well worth the money. The hook looks as great as it works and shows no sign of wear over time.
Why it Stands Out to Us
We love the quality that WARN delivers in its products. These hooks stand up to stress tests in recovery situations without abrasion every time! We also think the bottle opener is clever, if strange, to include in a winch hook! This is a nice product.
Who Will Use This Most
This hook is a great recovery option. Obviously, it is designed and optimized for anyone who has a WARN winch on their vehicle. That being said, it can help just about any off-roader get the best performance out of their winch!
Bottom Line
Based on some of the reviews, it seems as though you need to be sure to buy it from Warn on Amazon directly, as resellers seem to ship inferior products under their name. That being said, the WARN product is fabulous. The coating makes it visually stunning while optimizing winch performance, for a longer wear cycle than other accessories.
Best Winch Mount:
Products 101175
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The consensus among recent buyers is that this is extremely easy to install. The instruction manual is detailed and even includes a note about which wire to use where. Another agreed upon feature is how well it fits most vehicles. Even those who had a little issue with the fit found that with just a bit of grinding, they could make it work.
Why it Stands Out to Us
We love how affordable this winch mount is, especially when compared to other models of mounting. If you’re on a budget and can’t afford to buy the biggest name brand directly from your vehicle manufacturer, this mount may just do the trick!
Who Will Use This Most
The people who are most likely to use this are DIY people with some experience. This mount occasionally needs a little bit of grinding and beveling to fit properly and experienced welders are able to handle the task. It's also great for people on a budget who don't have the cash to spend buying from the vehicle's manufacturer!
Bottom Line
This is a great winch mount. Although it isn't the top name brand, it is still a very high-quality weld. The powder-finish coating is one of the best we have ever seen before, and it is an extremely durable product that can easily withstand the elements.
Best Winch Mounting Plates:
ECOTRIC 10x4 1/2 Cradle Winch Mount Mounting Plate
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Most buyers love this mounting plate. The consensus is that it is very sturdy, very affordable, and can handle heavy-duty recovery jobs. It is compatible with a variety of different winches. It also works really well in remote locations.
Why it Stands Out to Us
We love the value to quality ratio of this product. It’s well worth the money. It is far more affordable than a lot of other models, but still offers a high quality of construction and has the durability to last a long time without sacrificing capacity.
Who Will Use This Most
This is a great product for nearly everyone. It can be a little narrow, so if you’ve got a wider winch, it may not be ideal for you. Otherwise, it can handle plenty of remote recoveries and tow jobs!
Bottom Line
This is a very affordable winch mounting plate that offers great quality. It’s a great option for anyone who needs an affordable mounting plate.
Aspects to Consider Before Buying
When you’re looking over the different available accessories, you should consider your needs. Some people prefer chains to synthetic ropes and some people are very specific about their clamps and accessories.
Know what jobs you are going to perform and be mindful of the climate you will be working in, so you know how to tailor your products for the weather. Durability and anti-rust features will be important in wet climates and extra power will be necessary for icy ones.
Cautious Considerations to Keep in Mind
There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to winch accessories. First, you need to take your safety seriously. It can be very tempting to skip on quality or decide against certain parts, but this may end up causing problems for you.
For example, skipping out on gloves can cause your hands to get burned or scraped if your towing rope gets burrs or starts causing an issue. Snapped lines happen pretty regularly and going without dampening protection can really hurt you in the recoil!
As long as you are aware of the type of work you’ll be doing, you should be able to easily handle any and all issues that come your way. This will also help guide your purchases based on the equipment you will need for these jobs.
Conclusion
A lot of these accessories are fantastic additions. There are a lot of people who like to purchase several of them and store them in a lightweight and portable bag, forming their own winch accessory kits. Whatever you decide, we know these products will ensure you'll be ready when emergencies strike!
