Last Updated on 2 years by Asad Ali
Each jeep owner knows the role played by the winch during off-road trips and adventures. So, you have gotten everything ready for the trip like your bag, umbrella, and soft top, clean the jeep tires, check the radio, and most importantly snacks. Still, you are forgetting a thing. It’s the winch for your jeep.
Some people think a winch is necessary for those who make mistakes while driving. This is the wrong point of view. Actually, the winch helps one to clear the large obstacles on the trail, save your fellow, and get yourself out of the big and tricky spot. The winch is the most self-sustaining, durable, and effective option.
When the question of selecting a winch arises then it is a bit of a difficult task because the market is full of winches launched by different brands and prices. Our team’s objective is to help you to choose the best jeep winch for your jeep that fulfills your desires as well as is affordable.
Here is the list of top pick-ups with a buying guide.
1. WARN 103253 VR EVO 10-S – Standard Duty Winch
- An IP68 Waterproof construction
- Easy to install
- Lifetime mechanical warranty with 7 years of electrical warranty
- Data per device consumption tracking
- 3-stage planetary gear train
- Little Expensive
When you are looking for the best jeep winch for off-roading, WARN 103253 VR EVO 10-S is the standard option that satisfies all the customers’ requirements.
Here is its review. It has a 1000lb capacity and also gives you a choice in the rope selection. You can select steel or synthetic rope according to your desire. If your vehicle is 1/2 ton then this is an ideal winch for you. However, the price varies from model to model.
One of its remarkable features is that you can get a faster speed line under load with lower amp draw because it comes with the powerful 3-stage planetary gear train and the series-wound motor. In this way, it remains cool as well.
A quality that pushes everyone to love it is that control packs can be fixed in various ways and also brings maximum reliability due to efficient Albright Contractor. For the sake of increasing versatility, it provides you with the feature of a two-in-one remote including wire and wireless options.
It is designed by American Engineers in the USA. If you like the WARN products then you must Check them out.
2. Smittybilt 97495 XRC Gen2 Winch
- Super Affordable
- Easy to install
- Durable
- 6.6 HP Motor
- 9500lb Load Capacity
- Installation is fairly easy
- No wireless remote
- No battery
Smittybilt is famous all around the world for its catchy and versatile products. If we talk about the most affordable winch with good quality then it becomes compulsory to mention the Smittybilt 97495 XRC Gen2 Winch.
This model of winch is not only budget-friendly as well as it has some advanced and eye-catching features like expensive winches. If we talk about this in detail this model has a 6.6 HP Amphibious along with 3-stage Gear System.
For the sake of increasing the pulling power, it has a system of revised gear ratio. Another advantage is that it is wholly waterproof and it has also an amazing feature of a 500 AMP solenoid that maintains the performance of the winch in bad weather and in serious situations and locations.
This model’s kit comes with all the essential wiring that is needed for installation and it has the magnetic wired remote control, 4-way steel roller, and uncontaminated hardware. Smittybilt XRC Gen2 has a lifetime mechanical and a 5-Year Electrical Warranty.
Like other winches, it is also coated with rugged UV resistance black matte. Along with so many features, it has some drawbacks. It does not provide you with the facility of a wireless remote and you shall buy the battery and mounting plate separately for it.
3. WARN Winch Zeon 8-S- Best Premium Winch
- 8,000 pounds load capacity
- Easy installation
- Durable
- Convertible Control Pack
- 9500lb Load Capacity
- Black Powder Coated
- Expensive
If you’re not easily trust anything and want the off-road winch that is the best jeep winch and gives your vehicle a modern look and has an unlimited budget then the WARN Zeon 8-2 S with Spydura Synthetic Rope is an ideal option for you.
In the aftermarket, WARN is the most trustworthy brand that offers amazing, advanced, and affordable accessories for Jeeps, trucks, and SUVs.
With a load capacity of 8,000 pounds, it is able to deal with any obstacle, overhead you from any situation, and also smooth your ride against any muddy, rainy, and dusty areas.
The feature that makes it different from others is its tremendous style of the exterior which gives your jeep a unique and advanced look. This style will remain the same after many years.
It comes with Spydura synthetic rope, roller fairlead, a two-in-one winch option (You can keep it either integrated winch or convert it to a low profile), and corrosion resistance.
The characteristics that make it more faster and durable are its planetary gear and series-wound motor. These are the qualities that distinguish this winch and make it the best winch.
4. Rough Country PRO Series Electric Winch-Best For Jeep Cherokee
- Waterproof Rating IP76
- Warranty (1 year Electrical 2 year Mechanical)
- Strong signal over a broad spectrum
- Less Expensive
- Dustproof
- No Wireless Remote
Rough Country set its place in the market due to its optimistic products. Most people do not know this brand but this winch has very assertive features. That’s why we can not ignore it and include it in the review list of the best jeep winches.
This Pro Series Electric Winch has an incredible 9500 pounds load capacity and its diameter is 85 feet. For dealing with handy and murky situations, It has an ideal synthetic rope that weighs 13,000lbs.
Its wonderful quality is that it produces higher torque without overheating because it comes with a series wound motor of 5.5hp. You will get a wired remote control that is also a part of this winch.
This winch of Rough Country includes is not only a high-powered recovery solution as well as it has high-quality features of IP67 Waterproof and dustproof.
For reliability and durability, it has -a stage planetary gear train, a gear ratio of 265:1, and for your convenience, it comes with a replaceable Clevis hook.
This winch is best for the following Jeep Models:
- Jeep Cherokee
- Rubicon
- TJ
5. Superwinch Tiger Shark 11,500 Winch
This winch is one of the best competitors in the winches world due to its affordable nature along with its multiple reliable, advanced, durable functions and impressive features. This is the reason everyone attracts to it.
No doubt, it proves very useful with the variety of jeeps in different handy, snowy, dusty, and rainy situations but it is the best jeep winch for Rubicon and Wrangler Moab.
Its features include weather sealed 6.0HP motor for the sake of protecting your jeep from rain, snow, and dust, weather sealed solenoid, a super strong synthetic rope with an aluminum hawse fairlead, 12-feet rubber hand-held remote, and free-spool control shaped as ergonomically.
Like the other expensive winches models in the aftermarket, it is equipped with a 3-stage planetary gear train which produces torque.
What Do You Keep in Mind While Selecting the Right Winch?
As you know a lot of people prefer the pulling power when buying the best jeep winch. Besides this, there are several key features that you must keep in mind while selecting the right one.
Here is a list of some points that are considerable:
Key Features
1. Rated Line Pull/Pull Line Rated
If you know about winches, you must see that weight capacity is a common element in every winch. It is called pulling capacity. This is one of the main features that you look for in your winch. Always decide on a winch whose pulling capacity is 1.5 times your jeep’s weight. Look if your vehicle’s weight is about 6,500 pounds then for you the best winch whose pulling capacity is 1100 pounds at least.
2. Rope (Steel/Synthetic)
The construction of rope is another feature. Winches come in two types of rope. The first one is stainless steel and the second one is synthetic rope. Steel rope is used in winches for a long time. It is durable, reliable, and rugged. Along with its qualities, it has some drawbacks as well. I mean it is so strong that your hands can get injured if you do not wear gloves. If we take a look at the synthetic rope, it is preferred due to its lightweight nature, ease to use, and not injuring your hands.
3. Motor (Permanent Magnet/Series-Wound)
If you want that your winch keeps your vehicle new for many years then the motor is the vital feature. Winches come in two types of motor, permanent motor or series-wound motor. A Permanent motor is more energy-efficient but its overheating burns the magnet. On the other hand, a series-wound motor is a bit costly but it is famous for producing torque without overheating and it is durable also. So, series-wound is the best option.
4. Length of the Rope
Generally, the range in which the rope of the winches come is 50 to 100 feet. We recommend you always pick the winch with a long rope. Many of the winches have replaceable ropes. You can enlarge and reduce it according to your need or situation. So, it is up to your preference whether you select the long or short rope.
5. Waterproofing
If you drive or work mostly in muddy, wet, and dusty areas and if you are very conscious about cleaning your vehicle and want to save it from any kind of dust and stain then a waterproof winch is the best jeep winch for you. Waterproof winches generally drop in IP65,66, or 66.
6. Outer Appearance
When we are looking at the number of different features, this feature is not important but noticeable. Everyone’s priority is different. I prefer you to select a winch that matches and fits with your jeep’s exterior and jeep color. In this way, your vehicle’s look is enhanced.
7. Winch Pricing
A reasonable and fair winch is available in the range of $350 to $750. These winches offer a 5,000 to 7,000 pulling capacity and are best for those vehicles which are lightweight. If you want a winch with good pulling power and torque, then you will spend between $900 and $1100. If budget is no object and you desire a winch with a rated line pull of 10,000 pounds, waterproof and wireless remote then you will spend $1,800.
Types of Winches
1. Electrical Winch
Electrical Winch is the most popular jeep winch used by off-roaders. Its eye-catching quality is that it gets power from the battery of the vehicle. In the situation when the vehicle is not running it can work.
2. Hydraulic Winch
Hydraulic winches are famous in the aftermarket due to their long-lasting nature. It works as far as you desire. It is more expensive and efficient than an electric winch. It also uses less energy and is able to pull high lifts.
3. Air Winches
Other names for air winches are air hosts and air tugger. They take the power from the air compressor. These winches are more environment-friendly as compared to the above two. This is a good option if lifting the suspension is your duty.
FAQs
Wrap Up
Winch proves a very assertive tool for jeep. We wish this piece of writing solves your confusion in selecting the right winch. No one is a winner, every winch has its advantages, features, and drawbacks. Few are budget-friendly while some are advanced, and offer more optimistic qualities. After a lot of research, we reviewed the top pick-ups that are explained above.
However, if we recommend you the one then the best jeep winch is WARN 103253 VR EVO 10-S due to its eye-catching 1,000lb load capacity, -stage planetary gear, Albright Contractor, two-in-one remote options, and series-wound motor