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Any person riding an ATV or any other car needs to have a winch with them at all times. It is an essential tool for any serious off-roader. It can not only get you out of a sticky situation, but it will also keep you safe and calm.
It is also important to note that the toughest of cars, even with tread tires, will get stuck now and then, and it is better to be prepared than to feel sorry later.
Warn has certainly been a game-changer in the industry and has completely revolutionized the market. This article highlights all the amazing products by Warn Industries. There is also a buying guide to help you out.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Warn Winch
- OUR TOP PICK: WARN 68801 16.5ti
- RUNNER-UP: WARN 96805 VR8-S
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Warn Winch 2500 VRX 25
Table of Contents
Comparison Chart of the Best WARN Winches
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Who is WARN?
Warn Industries has been a household name for some time now. It was a small company that was established in 1948, around 70 years back. There is a range of products that Warn deals with. This includes super-powerful winches, mounting systems, and some amazing and versatile rigging equipment.
Not only that, but it also provides a complete line of hard-working hydraulic and electric winches for both residential and commercial purposes. It also offers an amazing warranty that comes in handy when you are covering longer distances.
Warn is also one of the first brands that have invented a lineup of utility winches and many hoisting equipment. From fence stretching to trailer loading, you can always trust Warn to come through.
How Does WARN Compare to the Competition?
There is a reason why Warn is one of the most popular brands in the market. Unlike its competition, Warn winches are extremely strong and can last for a considerably greater time. So, if you are confused between the different products, here is how you know Warn is better.
Durability
When it comes to winches, durability is probably the most important factor to consider. This is required of winches when you want to pull a really heavy vehicle. High durability usually comes with strong construction. Warn products are therefore made with stainless steel or aluminum-grade cables.
High Load Power
This is also a specialty of Warn. Unlike most other products, Warn doesn’t come with low load power. Most of its winches are extremely strong and can pull off a vehicle of around 10000 pounds too. These models also come with a good warranty so there is no possibility that your unit will fail you at any time.
Ergonomic and Efficient Design
This is also incredibly important because an efficient design also influences safety. Most Warn models will come with efficient remote control. You can hence operate your winch from a distance and not put yourself in unnecessary trouble. Moreover, apart from being easy to use, they are extremely easy to install. The whole process takes relatively less time and energy.
High-Speed Motors
Winches in the market often fail when it comes to strong motors, but Warn has been a true game-changer in the industry. It not only comes with high-speed motors, but all of them are also sealed-wound to ensure a much stronger and faster pull.
Review of the Best WARN Winches
With so many brands in the market, it can be hard to pick just one, but when it comes to winches, we assure you Warn is an excellent choice. The brand has been in the market for quite some time now and has always produced reliable products. You can read ahead to know all about them.
Best Overall:
WARN 68801 16.5ti
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers didn’t have to think twice before choosing this product. Warn 16.5ti comes with a fully loaded package that contains all the necessary equipment to keep the rope and cable safe. Moreover, it comes with better corrosion resistance that ensures longevity. Buyers have hence rated the winch very highly.
Why it Stands Out to Us
With its extreme-duty sealing and exclusive brake design, there is a lot that makes this model stand out. Warn is proud of this unit because of its aluminum-controlled box cover. This provides the necessary protection to all your electronics and keeps you and your family safe.
The model is also coated with a chip-resistant and smooth powder. This primer undercoating helps ensure better protection against abrasion and corrosion. Another top feature is the strong motor. This is properly sealed to ensure a much faster speed.
Bottom Line
Warn is home to many spectacular products, but none beat this amazing winch. It is undoubtedly the most durable of the lot and comes with an immersive brake design that ensures much better control. You will also get access to a smooth interior with a black powdered finish. So, if you don’t want your product to wither away with time, we recommend this unit.
Runner-up:
WARN 96805 VR8-S
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
There is nothing better than a strong and durable winch, and buyers agree. With this Warn unit, their levels of satisfaction are pretty high, and they are absolutely content with their choice. According to them, the best feature is the high diversity. This is provided by the low-profile design that fits almost all trucks and SUVs easily.
Why it Stands Out to Us
If you thought other products were better, wait till you look at the features of this one. VR8-S is known for being one of the most powerful products produced by the brand. It comes with a three-stage planetary gear train that is both smooth and reliable.
There is also a long and strong cable included that makes the pulling process much easier. But the reason VR8-S stands out is because of its exclusive brake design. This allows for a much superior winching control. You will put as much load as you want on the unit without fearing that it will break off or lose its durability. This low-profile design is, therefore, fit for all your Jeeps, trucks, and SUVs.
Bottom Line
If you have used products that provide limited control and want to transition to a better unit, we recommend this unit. It not only comes with a very strong motor but also ensures better time efficiency. You will also get an exclusive break design that allows you to instantly stop the winch when needed.
Best for the Money:
WARN Winch 2500 VRX 25
![Warn Winch 2500 VRX 25 Kit [Includes Heavy Duty Winch Saver]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41jS9GS8nkL.jpg)
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Users are usually a little apprehensive when they find a cheap model that promises to be durable. But all their suspicions vanished when they used WARN 2500 for the first time. It offered a strong motor and provided users with all the necessary equipment they needed for safe installation.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Winches can be really expensive, but this unit acts as a breath of fresh air. It is not only extremely lightweight, but it is also one of the most affordable units in the market. But that would have been insufficient to compel people to buy this machine. Therefore, Warn Industries added a heavy-duty construction in the making so users could get the best performance.
The package also contains all the necessary equipment that you need for safe and easy installation. The whole process will save you significant time and energy. So, if comfort and ease of usage are your top priorities, then you should definitely use this model.
Bottom Line
Efficiency and high durability come together to make this one-of-a-kind product. Contrary to what many people believe, lower cost doesn't mean bad quality, and this model is proof of that. You will not only get an ergonomic design, but you will also get access to a much easier and time-efficient installation process.
Best WARN ATV Winch:
WARN 101025 VRX 25
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
You will be pleased with this model, just like the recent buyers were. This unit is extremely powerful and can lift the heaviest ATVs. Buyers also like the inclusion of a full metal body that offers greater resistance against corrosion and abrasion. They have frequently complimented the high water resistance, a feature that makes the unit suitable to be used underwater.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Owning an ATV is one of the most wonderful things in the world. This large vehicle provides comfortable transportation for you and your family. But an ATV is also more likely to get stuck in sandy or rocky terrains. A winch is a necessary tool to carry around if you don't want to remain stuck for a longer time.
This Warn unit is extremely durable and offers an all-metal construction. This also provides greater resistance to corrosion and abrasion. The exterior is also fully sealed to provide resistance against water and humidity. This, along with a black powder-coated finish, helps ensure the maximum optimization of performance.
Bottom Line
Winches need to provide you with a much better pulling mechanism, and that is exactly what this unit aims to do. It comes with a unique pull feature that gives major control to the user. You will not only be able to stop the process whenever you want, but you can also use the extremely lightweight remote control to make use of the efficient brake system.
Best WARN 9000 Lb. Winch:
WARN 28500 XD9000 Series
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
We didn't really trust the brand to deliver on all its promises until we read some of the amazing things buyers said about this winch model. They have not only rated it highly but have also praised the high pulling power of it. This, they say, allows them to pull extremely heavy and loaded cars with ease and comfort.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Efficiency and durability haven't come together so beautifully as it comes with the XD winch series. The unit is not only extremely fast, but it also offers you a considerably longer rope. This ensures that you can stand as far away as you can from the whole process and hence ensure better safety for yourself and your family.
The design is also extremely ergonomic, which means that you will have an easy time handling the operations. There is a strong sealed wound motor attached that only draws 24 Volts. This is quite less as compared to what the competition has to offer. So, if you are looking for time and cost efficiency, then this model is definitely the one for you.
Bottom Line
It is one thing to provide durability and another to provide time-efficiency, but wouldn't it be nice if a winch can provide both of these things and much more? This unit is one of the best ones by the brand. It not only comes with a long and smooth rope, but its strong motor also makes the whole pulling process quite convenient. So if you want greater reliability, then here is the best choice for you.
Best WARN Electric Winch:
WARN 103253 VR EVO
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
WARN VR EVO has been a true game-changer in the industry. It has compelled almost all winch buyers to fall in love with its ergonomics and ease of usage. But perhaps the biggest reason for its popularity is the diversity it has to offer. It can be used with both trucks and very large SUVs. The large loading power helps aid this diversity.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Electric winches are a bit more expensive than manual ones, but this high cost also comes with some extraordinary features. With VR EVO, you can expect a very high horsepower of 10,000 pounds. It is ideal for carrying jeeps and the larger SUVs.
It also comes with a very strong and powerful motor that delivers a faster line speed, even under a significant load. But what really differentiates this unit from others is its relatively lower amp draw. With such a large load capacity, you would have certainly expected a larger value, but lucky for you, that’s not the case.
Bottom Line
Electric winches are slightly more expensive, but the extra cost of the unit comes with justified reasons. Warn has included an Albright contractor feature that delivers super speeds even when you have placed a significant load on the device. Not just that, but you will also be getting greater resistance against water. This comes in handy when the truck is stuck in mush or storm.
Best WARN Drill Winch:
WARN 101570
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The opinions of recent buyers should always be taken into consideration before passing any judgment on a product. Warn has come through once again by introducing one of the most reliable winches in the market. This one comes with a drill that is strong and powerful enough to complete any task. Moreover, it offers rigging hooks that increase the appeal.
Why it Stands Out to Us
You might have a hard time installing this model, but that's probably the only drawback to investing in the 101570. Equipped with a lightweight and compact body, the model can easily lift smaller vehicles that weigh 750 pounds or less. Moreover, it can be used to remove any obstacles that might come in your way.
But the reason people love this model so much is because of its powerful and portable drill. This not only draws less power but also provides efficient and quick results. Also, unlike other models, this Warn unit doesn't produce much noise. You can work with it at night and still be at ease. It also includes an integrated hawse fairlead that comes in handy in mushy roads.
Bottom Line
Equipped with a lightweight and ergonomic design, this model is certainly well-deserving of a place on this list. Unlike most other units, this one offers greater options and more customization. You can make use of a rope or a cable to pull through obstacles on the road. The integrated hawse fairlead is also a unique feature that makes this model one of the most popular ones in the market.
Best WARN Portable Winch:
WARN 885000
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
This model is a force to be reckoned with, and recent buyers agree. The unit not only offers easy replacements but is also less expensive than most other winches out there. You will also make use of the ergonomic design to remove any obstacle from the road. Buyers also love this model because they can always rely on their efficiency when the time comes.
Why it Stands Out to Us
We like this unit for many reasons. It is manufactured in China and assembled in the USA, and is one of the best ones the brand has to offer. It is extremely lightweight, yet equally durable. This makes it easy to carry around. But high portability is not the only feature worth mentioning.
The model is also fairly easy to use. This is because of its compact design and ergonomic construction. You can easily remove the elements and obstacles that hinder your progress by using this winch. Moreover, rest assured that WARN will come through if you are worried about the whole installation process.
Bottom Line
If you are looking for a model that you can carry around with ease, then you shouldn't go any further than this. The 885000 is one of the cheapest products out there and can be used to pull out small cars from muddy roads. So if you are looking to save some money whilst also getting a reliable and trustworthy model for your car, then don’t think twice before buying this incredible Warn model.
Best WARN 12000 Lb. Winch:
WARN 103255 VR EVO 12-S
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Warn didn’t have to market off this product really well because the buyers already knew what a game-changer it was. It offers greater diversity through its remote control. You can either connect the device to the winch, or you can use it from a distance. This, along with the waterproof construction, adds to the model's appeal, especially for recent buyers.
Why it Stands Out to Us
There are a lot of things worth mentioning about this model, but we will stick to the most important ones only. The unit comes with a synthetic rope that provides a load capacity of more than 12000 pounds. This is relatively higher than what most other units offer; hence it is also one of the reasons the EVO-S is used for one-ton pickup trucks.
Moreover, the powerful and sealed wound motor allows for better reliability, and the inclusion of control packs ensures easy installation. Since the products are manufactured in the USA, you can get quick repairs and replacements whenever you want, but given the strength of the model, you won't really need many.
Bottom Line
With its load capacity of 12000 pounds, there is very little that needs to be said to convince or compel buyers. This model comes with a planetary gear train that ensures you complete the pulling up process easily and efficiently. Moreover, the unit comes with a high-performance contractor that provides greater reliability.
Perks of Getting a New WARN Winch
Getting a winch can provide some very obvious benefits. But there are other benefits that you might not consider, but you really should. Getting a Warn winch is not only the safest option but also the wisest one you would make for your car. Here is what Warn has to offer.
Diversity
Warn is known for incorporating a lot of diverse factors into their products. Their products offer you the option of a rope and cable wire. You can opt for the former and get cost efficiency, or you can get the latter one and get-time efficiency. Both of these options also provide different levels of safety.
More Control
No one wants to be out of control, especially on a deserted road, and Warn Industries knows that. They have ensured that reliable and effective remote control is attached to all its products. This will allow you to operate your winch from far away, so you don't get directly into harm's way.
Easy Installation
It is extremely annoying to wait for hours while a professional installs your products, but luckily you won't have to worry about that. Warn products come with safe and easy mounting options. You can get either the permanently attached ones or the removable ones and expect the same ease of usage from both.
Less Power Usage
This is determined by a fixed value and dictates the amount of power your winch needs to operate. Unlike many other units, Warn winches do not consume too much power and hence don’t put unnecessary pressure on your car or ATV.
Comparison Overview
Comparison overviews come in handy when you have to select between a number of reputable brands. They also provide better insight into different products' mechanisms so you can always make the wisest decision possible. Here is one informative section for you.
Superwinch vs. WARN
Both of these provide you with ideal mechanisms and are suitable for any type of vehicle. However, Superwinch units are more apt for lightweight trucks and SUVs. On the other hand, Warn units come with greater horsepower and hence allows for a pull rating, which is significantly higher than Superwinch units.
Smittybilt vs. WARN
Both of these are producers of high-quality truck accessories and enjoy a good reputation. Although both are reliable, Warn definitely takes the lead in terms of durable items. SmittyBilt is more affordable, and hence many people prefer it to save costs. Moreover, Warn offers a much higher loading power.
Come up Winch vs. WARN
These brands share a separate customer base and hence are difficult to compare. Warn winches usually come with good warranties up to seven years.
They are also built to last for a much longer time. But they might also require frequent maintenance. Come up winches are slightly easy to manage and operate.
How to Use a WARN Winch
All the above knowledge comes boiling to this; the right way to use a winch. This is essential to know because, without this particular information, you won't be able to get out of a bad situation, no matter how great your product is. There are just a few easy steps that you need to follow. Here is a summary:
- The first thing is to rig a winch. You need to plug the remote control into the winch carefully. Have them connected either wirelessly or through a long cord.
- You should always put on a pair of gloves. You wouldn’t be able to handle a winch cable safely without thick gloves.
- You can find something in front of your car to safely anchor the winch. Try to find one that is comparatively straight and aligned with your vehicle.
- Then you need to use the disengaged lever to release your winch cable. This should be located on the outside of your winch. You can also turn the lever.
- Then, pull the winch cable towards the anchor. You shouldn’t pull too much, or it will prove to be unsafe for you.
- The next step is to wrap a tree trunk protector with the bottom of the anchor. You can wrap the anchor so you can have the two loops facing you.
- Then, you should hook the winch to the D-shackle, so it faces upward. This hook is at the end of the winch cable.
- Turn the lever back to the engaged section. This will prevent your cable from breaking off from the winch.
- You can then use the remote control held in your handle to slowly pull the winch cable. This will also tighten the winch. Make sure to stop the button once the cable is taut.
- Be careful that you do the whole process in a relatively empty space.
If you are still left with some questions, refer to the video given below.
Conclusion
You will find all the required information in the sections above. We have not only reviewed some of the best winches in the market, but we have also included their top features and pros for you to make better comparisons.
A winch will come in handy when you are traveling anywhere, whether it is a rough terrain or a simple one. You can always rely on a durable model to come through. But before jumping on your decision, make sure you give a thorough read to the buyer's opinion section. This will corroborate your inclination towards a certain winch.
People Also Ask
When you are stuck on a sandy or rocky path, the most important thing that you will have is a winch. Since these products are so important, buyers want to make sure that they make a sane choice. There are a couple of questions that they have asked us, and we have done our best to answer them honestly.
How to Free Spool a WARN Winch
This is fairly easy if you know the right mechanism. The same switch mechanism controls the drum rotation that controls the spooling process. The maximum capacity is with the first rope layer, and you will have to be really careful with the drum in order to safely spool the winch. The unit may also break if you are hasty.
Where Are WARN Winches Manufactured?
These are mainly manufactured in China. There is a large facility that is principally involved in the production and assembly of products. Once they are designed, they are then engineered and safely tested in Oregon. All other winches are made in Clackamas.
How Much is a WARN Winch?
Contrary to what you might think, winches aren't very expensive, and a good brand will require very little maintenance in the long run. You can get a product with horsepower between 8000 and 12000 pounds for $400 only.
Which WARN Winch is Made in the USA?
Some of the best winches by the brand are made in the USA and are also tested in the same facility. Warn VR winches are made overseas, whereas normal truck winches are made and assembled in the US. However, Warn itself admits that there is no longer any product that is made 100% in the USA.
Who Owns WARN Winches?
WARN industries is a very old manufacturing industry that deals with truck accessories and recovery equipment. It also deals with off-road vehicles. Endeavor Capital and Northwest Equity now own it. The facility is based in Oregon, in a city of Clackamas, which is also a suburb of Portland.
Where is the Serial Number on a WARN Winch?
Different winches will come with different serial numbers. These can then be used to differentiate one product from the other. The numbers are attached either through laser or stamped on the product. In many instances, you will find these at the gear housing side of your winch.
Are WARN Winches Waterproof?
Most Warn winches are waterproof, but this isn't an absolute fact. Although they will work underwater conditions and even rain, you shouldn't use electrical winches when there is heavy rainfall or stormy weather. They may falter in those conditions.
How to Attach Cable to WARN Winch Drum
The process involves a couple of steps. First, you need to thread the winch cable through the lead of the front of the winch and then ensure it rolls from the base of the drum. Then you need to ensure cable retention through the bolt. You also have to unwind the winch cable, so that is only running in a straight line.
What Grease to Use in a WARN Winch?
Greasing a winch is extremely important. The added lubrication not only makes the whole pulling process more effective but also ensures that the wire or rope doesn’t break midway. You can use the Aeroshell grease liquid to effectively lubricate your winch.
How Many Amps Does a WARN Winch Draw?
This is different for different models. This is because the current a winch draws depends on the kind of motor it uses and the truck's weight it has to pull. On average, a good motor will draw a current up to 300 amperes.
