A UTV winch is used for off-roading and outdoor activities for serving multiple purposes. Choosing the right one can be challenging, but there are several options available on the market.
Here, we present the 7 best UTV winches, each with their own unique features and capabilities. From heavy-duty winches to compact and lightweight options, these winches will make your outdoor adventures easier and more enjoyable.
Which is the Best UTV Winch?
Super Black Ops is the best winch for UTV. It features a synthetic rope that is stronger and lighter than traditional steel cables, making it easier to use and store. The winch is also designed to be highly durable and weather-resistant[2], ensuring it can handle even the toughest outdoor conditions.
Thorough multi-level testing is done by my team to ensure the highest product standards before I recommend anything. Learn more about our process here.
I curated a scorecard, where I considered the pulling capacity needed to handle the UTV’s weight, the desired line speed for easier and quicker winching, the build quality to see durability and braking system. Only products that scored more than 6 were chosen.
Best UTV Winches
Super Black Ops is the best UTV winch up for grabs in the market. A UTV is usually on the heavier side compared to light vehicles like scooters and bikes hence Super black Ops comes loaded with a 50-inch synthetic rope and a bolt pattern that will easily fit the bumper of your UTV.
Motor is the most important part of any winch and with the SuperATV winch, you get a powerful DC 12V 1.3 HP motor which when combined with a synthetic 50’ rope, you can pull a UTV of upto 4,500 lbs.
Remember, the higher the gear ratio between larger and smaller, the better it is. Super Black Ops winch comes with a 166:1 ratio and this means it can efficiently pull weights upto 4000 lbs. The rope is a synthetic rope that means it’s flat and won’t have issues with rusting.
The product comes with brakes to hold the spool on inclines, weatherproof seals to restrict gears from turning and keeping the electrical systems safe, and wireless remote control. It utilizes a simple aluminum hawse fairlead, which prevents it from rusting and makes it lighter and safer. The rope is flexible and easy to handle as it is synthetic. It weighs almost 31 pounds.
My Opinion
Pull Capacity
Line Speed
Breaking System
Build Quality
I am extremely impressed with the SuperATV 4500 winch and have closely seen its excellent performance. The winch has a weight capacity of 4500 lbs and is able to handle heavy loads with ease. The synthetic rope is strong and lightweight, making it easy to use and store. The winch is also built to be highly durable and weather-resistant.
Product Timeline: The winch was first launched on June 26, 2019 and there have been slight revisions but nothing fundamentally.
PROS
- Easy to install
- Safe to use
- Comes with wireless remote
- Water resistant sealed solenoid
CONS
- Solenoid box is bigger than usual, making it tough to install
- Sometimes the dash switch doesn’t work normally
When it comes to choosing the best budget utv winch, you want the required features but at a decent price. We recommend you get Super winch 1135220 since It can satisfy demands like high-end power, versatility and durability at a great price.
Powering the winch is a 1.6 hp permanent magnet motor which is weather-sealed with and comes with a dynamic braking system[1], making it perfectly suitable for difficult terrain.
Inside the motor, the machinery operates using a superior all-steel three stage planetary gear train system with machined-in and has a rated line pull rating of 3,500-LB so this isn’t for very heavyweight UTVs but if you have a regular size UTV, you can be rest assured that it will get the job done.
Talking about some extra features, you get oil pocket bronze bearings, and 50-feet of durable 13/64″ steel wire rope, a 4 way roller fairlead and multiple operations switching options. The best part is that you get weather sealed solenoid and comes with circuit breaker protection.
My Opinion
Pull Capacity
Line Speed
Braking system
Build Quality
SuperATV winch comes with 5000 lbs pull capacity, it is more than enough for one’s needs. One gets a smooth wireless remote control that is easy to use and the winch is very much reliable. The mounting hardware is also well made and durable making it a really well built UTV winch.
Product Timeline: The winch was first launched on June 26, 2019 and there have been slight revisions but nothing fundamentally.
PROS
- Super-fast and incredibly powerful
- Easy to install
- Low amp draw
- Dependable and strong construction
CONS
- Winch mounted on the back of the mounting plate affects the positions of electrical studs
- Low quality synthetic rope
A wireless remote is a great addition to any winch considering its usage for things like UTVs and ATVs. A wireless remote control gives you easy access and puts you in better control when using the winch for critical functions like mounting a UTV or pulling it out of mud.
We recommend the SuperATV black Ops winch kit as one of the best UTV winches with a wireless remote control. The Winch can efficiently lift 3500 lbs and should easily fit most UTV bumpers. When it comes to the type of wire, It uses flexible synthetic rope, which is safer, lighter, easier and corrosion resistant.
Now talking about the most interesting part which is the wireless remote. Such a remote adds to the efficiency of the machine and helps in navigating easy operations when pulling a UTV or any other vehicle since you want complete control over a situation when putting a winch to use.
To further add, Super ATV also has automatic braking and this is super useful for people who use a winch for the first time and are looking for the best waterproof utv winch. It has Weather-proof seals and a waterproof solenoid to protect your gears in times of emergency.
My Opinion
Pull Capacity
Line Speed
Braking system
Build Quality
I have always felt the need to use a wireless remote because you can’t always be connected with a remote when monitoring a rescue or off road experience. SuperATV has a wireless remote control that is easy to use and the winch has performed flawlessly in every situation I’ve used it in. The mounting hardware is also top-notch.
Product Timeline: The winch was first launched on July 24, 2017 and there have been slight revisions but nothing fundamentally.
PROS
- Highly functional wireless remote
- Waterproof sealed solenoid
- Installation process is easy
- Operation is smooth
CONS
- Huge solenoid box makes it difficult for installation
- Low quality mounting bracket
If you are looking for a weight specific winch that can easily handle weight upto 4,500 lb then we recommend you WARN VRX winch. This kit has a capacity of 4,500 lb which means it can easily pull UTVs which are on the slightly heavier side. Infact, this should suffice for most UTVs available in the market.
Warn winch comes with a synthetic rope that has a durable finish and most importantly since its synthetic rope, you can expect it to last for a longer duration. Though if your UTV weighs even more, we will recommend you opt for steel cable.
When getting a winch for vehicles like UTV, you need to understand that these vehicles can get stuck in mud and water which is why it’s important to know the box or housing of the winch. WARN VRX has an all-metal construction with black powder-coating which offers corrosion resistance.
The winch weighs 27 pounds.waterproof sealing protects the gears. It possesses a three stage planetary gear train that is reliable and smooth. It has a load-holding mechanical braking system that offers great control.
It includes a zinc plated hook, corded remote control, 50′ x 1/4″ synthetic rope, dash-mounted control switch and aluminum hawse fairlead.
My Opinion
Pull Capacity
Line Speed
Braking system
Build Quality
I loved using WARN VRX specially for its synthetic which is so strong and lightweight, making it easy to handle and store. The winch is also built to last, with high-quality construction and durable components. The best part is you could use it with UTV and ATV.
Product Timeline: The winch was first launched on June 13, 2018 and there have been slight revisions but nothing fundamentally.
PROS
- Installation process is easy
- Winch works fine without any issues
- Operation is quiet
- Easy to engage/disengage the clutch
CONS
- Mount-to-mount 4 way roller fairlead is not provided
- Internal knob to freewheel the winch is in a position that makes it hard to access
If your UTV weighs somewhere around 5000 lbs, you better invest a good amount of your resources in finding the best 5000 lb UTV winch. We found out that one of the best options in this category is the Quadboss 5000 lb winch kit. The reason for recommending it is that it comes with 50’ of 1/4″ Dyneema rope.
Dyaneema rope[4] is a special type of rope made from a specific fiber and just to throw a comparison, it’s 5 times more resistant than kevlar. Such a rope ensures no matter how heavy the UTV is, you will not have issues pulling the UTV.
Powering the winch is a 3.8 hp permanent magnet motor that is housed inside a strongly built construction. It has an aluminum engagement lever and an automatic load-holding, self-locking brake.
The winch needs a very low electric current and comes with a corded remote. The winch comes with Hawse Fairlead, and is also sealed with 3 layers and is water resistant so you can freely use it in muddy water conditions.
My Opinion
Pull Capacity
Line Speed
Braking system
Build Quality
In my opinion, QuadBoss winch is well-made and has performed flawlessly in all the situations I have used it in. The Dyneema rope is strong, lightweight, and easy to handle. It’s probably the best UTV winch in the 5000 lbs category.
Product Timeline: There’s no available information on when the product was first available.
PROS
- Low amp draw
- Offers free spooling
- Comes with a 1 year limited lifetime warranty
- Remote is really efficient
CONS
- Cables are short
- Accessories like mounting plate have to be purchased separately
KSI SE45 looks like a winch that’s been made solely for vehicles like ATVs and UTVs. For users who are very concerned about reliability and have already used other big brands, you can opt for KFI winch. It has a pulling capacity of 4,500 lbs.
The winch has a 38’ synthetic cable, which comes with hook stoppers and a drum dynamic braking system and mechanical brake. The synthetic cable has good enough pulling power. The winch weighs almost 34 pounds and comes with a limited warranty of 1 year offered by KFI.
The winch has seals making it water resistant so if your heavy UTV gets stuck in muddy water conditions, you can always feel confident pulling it off using KFI SE45.
The winch also has a mounting design that is built with the standard 4-hole mechanism and an all-metal turn clutch that works efficiently even in tough situations.
My Opinion
Pull Capacity
Line Speed
Braking system
Build Quality
The winch has a weight capacity of 4500 lbs and is built to last, with high-quality construction and durable components. The winch is also easy to use and the wireless remote control is a great feature. I would highly recommend this winch to anyone looking for a reliable and efficient UTV winch.
Product Timeline: There’s no available information on when the product was first available.
PROS
- It has a non-metallic winch line
- Easy to install
- It performs efficiently
- Looks sharp in an all-black color
CONS
- The line is shorter
- Need a separate mounting plate
WARN is an industry leader when it comes to UTV winches. Many including us at Drwinch believe that they are not value for money and most of the time their products are very expensive.
However, if you can pay the price that they ask, you get a no-compromise winch. The WARN 89021 Vantage is a perfect choice for someone looking to buy a winch for a lightweight UTV weighing upto 2000 lbs.
It comes with a 50 feet of 5/32 inch synthetic rope with black powder coated hawse fairlead. WARN has made the Vantage series specially for people who use adventure sports vehicles such as ATVs and UTVs. Features like aircraft grade wire rope which is made so that it can withstand pressure and still be able to pull off a vehicle.
The WARN vantage series offers great performance for capacities ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 lbs. It possesses a heavy duty permanent magnet motors[3], planetary gears, aircraft-grade wire rope or lightweight synthetic rope, and full sealing. The winch weighs almost 19.5 pounds.
My Opinion
Pull Capacity
Line Speed
Braking system
Build Quality
Fit up was great but the instructions could use improvement. It was a tedious installation, but well worth the time and patience. The winch works fantastic once installed. If you have little technical experience, consider professional installation. I’m a skilled technician and I highly recommend WARN for its quality products.
For installing your winch can refer my UTV winch installation guide
Product Timeline: The winch was first launched on January 1, 2012 and there have been slight revisions but nothing fundamentally.
PROS
- Great value for money
- Works efficiently
- Is small and compact
- Installation is easy
CONS
- The cables are not great and are very short in size
- Doesn’t come with a remote controller
How to choose the right size UTV winch ?
To get an approximation of the ATV/UTV winch size, first, multiply the weight of the vehicle by 1.5, and then the resulting number is the amount of capacity that fits your requirements for shopping.
For example, an UTV with a combined weight of 3500 lbs may need a winch with a maximum pulling capacity of 5250 lbs.
Right UTV Winch Size = (Weight of UTV) * 1.5
3500*1.5 = 5250 Lbs
Tip: Always calculate the gross weight of any vehicle i.e. the weight with full load on.
Buyer's Guide
1. Steel cable vs synthetic rope
Synthetic ropes are considered more efficient and better than steel cables due to their corrosion resistant nature. Both can lift weight equally. The steel cable is heavier when compared to the synthetic cable. So, when you buy a winch, ensure you get a flexible and easy-to-use synthetic rope.
2. Rated Line Rating
As mentioned earlier, the minimum weight needed to be bored by a winch would be 3000 lbs. Please do not settle for anything less than that; we would request you to choose a winch that offers you a capacity of more than 3500 lbs.
3. Hook
The hook has to be of a suitable size. If the hook is larger, then there is no doubt about the process being complicated. The hook stopper should be a perfect fit and stronger one to save you in a moment of danger. So, choose the right size for the hook stopper.
4. Fairlead
Fairlead forms the connection between mount to mount. This is really important to prevent the winch line from being damaged. Hawse fairleads are more efficient than roller fairleads so look for them when you purchase.
Verdict
Upon reviewing multiple UTV winches, I feel the Super Black Ops UTV is the best UTV winch for its synthetic rope that is stronger and lighter than steel cables. It’s also durable and weather-resistant. Priced reasonably and performs well under stress.
Summary
A UTV winch is an essential tool for off-road enthusiasts, farmers and other heavy-duty users. Choosing the right winch is crucial as it needs to be powerful, durable, and reliable. When selecting a UTV winch, factors to consider include weight capacity, winch cable or rope, remote control, and mounting options.
There are many options available on the market, but I recommend you pick companies like Warn and SuperATV. Each of these winches has its own unique features and advantages, making them a top choice for those in need of a quality UTV winch.
References
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Hagemeister Enterprises, INC. (2019, March 6). Winch Motors Understanding The Braking System [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYEsa7pi1i0
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Corrosionpedia, W. I. W. R.-. D. F. (2020). Weather resistance. Corrosionpedia. https://www.corrosionpedia.com/definition/6111/weather-resistance#:~:text=Weather%20resistance%20is%20the%20ability,harsh%20environmental%20and%20weather%20conditions.
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Vavra, C. (2022). Understanding permanent magnet motors. Control Engineering. https://www.controleng.com/articles/understanding-permanent-magnet-motors/
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HMPE/Dyneema® ropes, slings & tethers – Stronger than steel! (n.d.). https://dynamica-ropes.com/dyneema-ropes/
