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If you are an off-roading enthusiast, then the difficulties of terrain roads will not be new. There would be many times when your vehicle gets stuck in marshy puddles, or the tires fail to run over any piece of rock. Here, you need a winch to get out of these situations.
If you are in search of the best winch for your jeep, consider it nearly done. We have reviewed versatile options for jeep winches from which you can pick one that meets your requirements.
Also, you will learn why it's important to have a winch on your jeep and the method of installing it as well. Let’s get started!
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Winches For Jeep
- OUR TOP PICK: WARN 103252 VR EVO
- RUNNER-UP: WARN 96805 VR8-S
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Superwinch 1585202 LP8500
Table of Contents
Comparison Chart of the Best Winches For Jeeps
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What Size Winch is Best For a Jeep?
Winches are available in many sizes to suit different vehicles. As for jeeps, the criteria for choosing a winch should be the pulling capacity. Make sure the winch you pick offers a drawing weight limit double to that of the vehicle.
A winch with a pulling capacity equal to the jeep's weight will fail to pull your jeep out of the rocky bumps. Even if it does the job, it can put your automobile on the verge of damage.
Don't forget to check if the size of the winch suits your vehicle's dimensions properly. It should not be too large to hide your bumper or reach the bonnet.
WARN 96805 VR8-S
What Makes a Great Winch for a Jeep?
Winches are worthy due to their exemplary qualities. It's a unit that ensures a tension-free hiking trip. Installing it can benefit you in many ways.
Let's find out why it is necessary to drive a vehicle equipped with a winch.
Unparalleled Pulling Power
A winch is essential to deal with heavy vehicles stuck in places. It possesses exceptional draw ratings for pulling the vehicles out from bumps, slushy surfaces, or potholes. Winches get this much power from heavy-duty motors installed within them.
Easy Mounting
Fortunately, these units require no head-scratching or time-consuming installation. Moreover, they come in user-centric styles and allow on-the-go mounting on flat surfaces and bumpers.
Remote Connectivity
Be it driving, using a winch, or anything else, safety comes above all. Considering this, winches introduce remote connectivity to end users. Using a compatible remote, you can control and operate the machine without going closer to it or touching anything.
Safe for Vehicles
Towing a vehicle with a strap would need immense power and also leave scratches or dents. But a winch can overcome this shortcoming. It gives astounding results and doesn't affect your vehicle's condition either.
Review of the Best Winches For Jeeps
Having a wide variety of products on the market makes it confusing to decide which one is useless and which one to buy. Therefore, we shortlisted the best winches and reviewed them to help you make the right purchase.
Best Overall:
WARN 103252 VR EVO
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
According to customer reviews, this product is quite beneficial. People were impressed to see how easily it drew the load of up to 10,000 pounds. They reported that this unit successfully overcame the opposition of stubborn rocky stones on their way to hiking. Users also reported that it took no time to install it.
Why it Stands Out to Us
WARN has never disappointed when it comes to making some of the most demanding, heavy-duty products. Similarly, this product comes with a remote that works wirelessly as well as with wired connections. So, whenever the battery goes dead, you can establish a corded connection and simply operate the machine.
Its draw weight limit is extraordinary at about 10,000 pounds. Thus, if you own a ½-ton pickup truck, jeep, or heavy SUV, this winch will work best for your vehicle. Cast aluminum is used in the making of a one-piece tie-plate. In other words, this product can give the best performance that SUV drivers expect from it. Also, it is meant to remain intact in every weather condition.
Bottom Line
Planning a trip to mountainous or desert areas? There will be no worries at all. Terrain roads can no longer stop you from enjoying the trip since this winch boasts a pulling limit of 10,000 pounds, which is enough to draw your vehicle out of every bump on the road.
Runner-up:
WARN 96805 VR8-S
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
People were satisfied with the performance of this winch, even after years of use. Except for minor issues, they faced nothing problematic in the product. Customers advised others to count on this winch for jeeps and SUVs. It's overall a worth-buying product.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Due to the robust construction, the winch has a pulling power of 8000 pounds, meaning it can smoothly tow heavy vehicles. Apart from this, it includes an Albright contractor, which is a great innovation of solenoid construction. As a result, the product tends to serve in a better way for a prolonged time.
For convenient handling, a clutch lever allows the user to wind out the rope without hurting the hands. The user can also do the task while having his gloves on.
The unit comes with an amazing seven-year warranty for all electrical components and a lifetime warranty for all mechanical components.
Bottom Line
Besides being strong and durable, the winch also incorporates a powder-coat finish, which saves it from weather calamities. Moreover, since it is waterproof, it can efficiently survive exposure to puddles, rainwater, and moisture. In short, your off-road trip won't be ruined as long as you have this product.
Best for the Money:
Superwinch 1585202 LP8500
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Drivers are happy to have this Superwinch product. According to them, it was a towing machine that they had been looking for. They appreciated its motor power as well. The customers also confirmed that the product stands tall on its claim to have an 8500-pound pulling capacity. The automatic brake system attracted many buyers.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This product surely stands out to us with a 94-feet long steel rope that can be drawn out with the help of a lever-action clutch connected to a free-running drum. When using a winch, people often experience accidents due to the rope slipping. But in the case of this Superwinch 1585202, a mechanical load-holding brake controls the release or withdrawal of the rope automatically and keeps both the user and vehicle safe.
The unit entails a 4.5 hp wound motor for towing loads of up to 8500 pounds. By using a 15-feet handheld remote, drivers can control the unit while standing at a safe distance.
Bottom Line
After knowing all the features, we can conclude that this winch is a good option for heavy automobiles as its dimensions go best with 4x4 vehicles. The pull rating of 8500 pounds also makes the machine ideal for such automobiles.
4. MotoAlliance VIPER MD8500_ST
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
All the buyers reported that it's construction quality just won their hearts. The use of military-grade materials in the making of this unit gained their trust, and they recommended the product to their friends and acquaintances. They also liked the fact that it was easy to install.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The winch is engineered from military-grade materials under the supervision of experts belonging to an ISO TS16949-certified factory. This indicates the durability of this unit.
Despite that, the company takes responsibility to replace or repair the product within a limited period. And if the rope comes up with any damage, the company is liable to repair the fault with a six-month warranty.
The unit supports a tethered remote, offering access to the winch accordingly while staying at a distance of 15 feet. Hence, it ensures safety for every user.
Bottom Line
With features like 8500-pound draw rating, remote compatibility, high-quality material construction, and much more, this model by MottoAlliance allows the user to explore the world without worrying about terrain roads. Besides, it's powered by a 4.5 hp series wound motor conducive to hauling and drawing bulky automobiles.
Editor's Pick:
Smittybilt (98510) X2O
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Customers from all over the world used this product and were only in awe of its construction quality. People also reported that it offered various features that many high-end models lacked. The winch turned out to be their favorite gear for their vehicles.
Why it Stands Out to Us
There are so many reasons for including this product in our list, the first being its well-grounded construction.
Manufactured from stainless steel, this unit exhibits unmatched durability to sustain a weight of up to 10,000 pounds. Adding on to it, there are two layers of powder coating applied on the surface, so it stays untarnished till the last use.
The winch's components include a dynamic brake assembly, ensuring that a limited or desired amount of synthetic rope winds out and undergoes no slippage.
Also, the component that makes all these features possible is a high-power 6.6 hp series wound motor. This motor is included to provide the needed strength to the unit and satisfy users to the fullest.
Bottom Line
From the quality of the exterior's construction to the motor, everything favors this product. All the specifications mentioned above like brake system, synthetic rope, waterproof rating, and remote accessibility compel the drivers to invest in this product.
When Would Having a Winch on Your Jeep Come in Handy?
Off-road drivers must have experienced situations when nothing works for bringing the jeep back on its wheels, and they direly need a winch for coming out of this unlucky situation. In those times, people realize that having a winch on the jeep is no less than a boon.
When Straps Fail
Straps sometimes fail to survive the tension produced by the vehicle's weight. They break and may even leave the vehicle in a more difficult position. Here, winches come into action. These units have comparatively more pulling capacity and recover the vehicles more effectively.
Going Uphill
The weight of a vehicle itself is excessively high enough to pull, but if driving on a slope, the task becomes more difficult than you can imagine. On that occasion, you can use a winch to recover a vehicle and make it run on its own again.
When the Vehicle Malfunctions Midway
Suppose you are going somewhere, and the jeep suddenly stops due to any issue that you can't troubleshoot on the spot. You will look for a way to drag the vehicle to the mechanic or a safe zone. Winches will help you the most on such occasions.
How to Install a Winch on a Jeep
Installation of a winch is quite easy. You just need to pay attention to the steps listed below. Before starting the procedure, make sure that the bumper you are going to mount the winch on has a mounting cradle.
The installation guide starts by removing the tie bars. In doing so, the gearbox will be set apart from the drum.
- Unscrew the gearbox and fix the mounts.
- Now, you have to reassemble the winch by screwing the tie bars again.
- Slide in the little nuts into their correct locations.
- Take the winch and position it where it is supposed to be situated.
- Once you attain the right placement, tighten the fairlead bolts.
- Then, it's time to mount the control box /the motor.
- Tip: Don't worry if you don't find holes for it on the bull bar. You can drill the holes by yourself with proper markings.
- Attach the motor on the right side of the drum. Here you are done with the mounting, and only cables are left to be connected.
- Both bolts and wires have markings as A, B, C on them. You just have to connect each cord to its corresponding marked alphabet.
- Now, take the two black earth cables and connect them to the terminals present on the other side of the drum.
- Pick the battery wires and take them to the battery by passing them through the path you like. You can use the space in between the front grill of the vehicle to approach the battery.
Tip: Keep the wires away from the vehicle's heat emitting components. - Attach the wires with the battery through their respective terminals.
That's it! We have also provided a visual demonstration of the installation, so be sure to refer to the video below for a complete overview.
Conclusion
We reviewed the best options for a winch to make off-roading a much more fun and secure experience for you. Our top picks include features like high pull ratings, brake systems, remote connectivity, steel cables, and staple designs. Now, getting your vehicle stuck in potholes and terrain roads cannot disturb your hiking sessions with winches available if you get stuck anywhere.
People Also Ask
In this section, we answer questions that people mostly ask. So, you can also make the most of these questions to eliminate your confusion about winches.
How Much is a Winch For a Jeep?
The price range of winches depends on the quality of construction and the draw rating it exhibits. 9500-pound rated units cost around $300 to $400. Meanwhile, the prices of models having a pull limit of 10,000 pounds start from $500 and go high to $700. The inclusion of advanced features also affects costs.
Do I Need a Winch on My Jeep?
If your driving areas are hilly, rough, and tough, then the answer is yes. When rocky grounds or deep potholes come in your path and try to prevent your jeep from moving forward, it's a winch that helps you get rid of this situation.
How Long Should My Jeep Winch Strap Be?
A strap for a Jeep can be as long as 30 feet. However, experts think that the ideal length is 14 feet.
