Best Truck Winch (2023 Guide)

Will Moore has been driving since he was first allowed behind the wheel of a golf cart. He’s written for several major auto sites including Motor1 since 2020, unraveling the intricacies of auto insurance policies and products for the everyday driver. Will has logged hundreds of hours researching and testing products ranging from child car seats to torque wrenches. After completing a PhD at the University of Missouri, Will moved to North Carolina with his wife, daughter, and two semi-obedient beagles. Will is also Certified by Safe Kids Worldwide as a Child Passenger Safety Technician (#T836339).

A strong, moderately-priced winch with an amphibious motor and fully waterproof solenoid.

A super-fast, waterproof winch that’s built to last.

A low-cost winch with good weatherproofing.

A small winch kit that can be carried by hand or mounted to a truck.

An speed mount truck winch that includes a lifetime of technical support.

A reliable truck winch is an essential tool for those who regularly drive off-road or in icy or muddy conditions. It is often the most effective tool for recovering stuck vehicles, making it a popular accessory for truck owners.

This guide explains what to look for in a truck winch, so you can find the perfect option for your vehicle. We recommend several of the highest-rated truck winches and explain what makes them stand alone.

For many, even those who regularly drive off-road, a winch is a rarely-used tool. For this reason, it can be tempting to pick the cheapest option. But when you really need a winch, you’ll want to be sure you’re using a high-quality product that won’t fail.

When comparing winches, in addition to overall build quality, some features to consider are:

In general, the higher the capacity of your winch, the better. As a general rule of thumb, you should pick a winch that has a capacity of at least twice the weight of your truck. Keep in mind that stronger winches are typically bigger and heavier, so don’t pick something that will overload your vehicle.

Winch cables are either synthetic or steel. In most situations, synthetic cable is generally the better choice. Synthetic rope is lighter and stronger than steel cable. Steel cables can also fray, and are more dangerous should they snap.

That said, steel cable is more abrasion-resistant than synthetic cable, meaning it is less likely to deteriorate from friction (should your winch rub against rocks or other objects). Synthetic cable is also more vulnerable to UV rays. Another disadvantage of synthetic cable is that it is more easily tangled if not spooled tightly.

A stronger motor will mean a stronger winch. However, motor power isn’t the only factor that determines winch pull capacity. If two winches have the same capacity but different horsepower motors, the winch with the stronger motor will operate more quickly under a load.

Winches are often necessary in wet environments and so effective waterproofing is helpful. When describing water resistance, winch manufacturers will often use the term: IP68.

“IP” stands for “ingress protection.” The first number indicates protection against small solids such as dust. Six is the highest number, indicating full protection.

The second number indicates waterproofing, on a scale of 1 to 9, 9 indicating a piece of equipment can hold up to heavy rain or a jet spray. 8 indicates that something can be submerged in a meter of water for more than 30 minutes.

While these standards have been developed by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), products are self-certified by companies. For this reason, seeing the IP68 indication is a good sign that something is waterproof, but not a guarantee.

The design of a winches gear train impacts the amount of torque it can produce (and thus the winch capacity). The larger the gear ratio, the slower the winch drum will rotate relative to the engine, which will generate more torque.

When comparing winches, it isn’t especially important to compare gear ratios if you’re already comparing winch capacity.

Some winches use a planetary gear train, and describe this as a feature in their copy. This type of gear train consists of placing smaller gears inside larger gears, rather than beside them. The downstream consequence for the consumer is a more robust design. Not only can a larger gear ratio fit into a smaller space, but the gears themselves are less fragile.

Most truck winches are electric, but some are hydraulic-powered. An electric truck winch is easier to install and uses your truck’s battery for power. These can be energy-intensive and will drain your truck’s battery with extended use.

A hydraulic winch uses a hydraulic system for power. These are more powerful and durable than electric winches. However, they are also often more expensive and difficult to set up. For the occasional winch, a hydraulic winch may not be necessary.

All of the winches that we recommend in this article are electric winches.

Whichever winch you choose, it will last longer if properly maintained. This means lubricating where necessary and ensuring all bolts and connectors are fully tightened, especially before use. Whenever you return from an adventure, be sure to fully clean your winch, clearing away any dirt or water that could cause corrosion.

A winch will wear down and possibly fail if it is not properly and tightly spooled to the drum. Winches from the factory may not be properly spooled or have loosened during shipment.

Check the owner’s manual for specific instructions on how to spool your winch. The process generally involves unraveling the rope on your winch and then re-spooling it with a load of at least 1,000.0 pounds. You should regularly re-spool your winch to ensure the line rests evenly on the cylinder

Winches are useful recovery tools, but they aren’t the only means to rescue a stuck vehicle. Some equipment, such as snatch blocks and soft shackles, are intended to be used with a truck winch to increase its efficiency and power. Some equipment to consider includes:

To select the winches featured in this buyers guide, our team first combed through dozens of resources such as DIY mechanic and auto enthusiast forums, manufacturer websites, instruction, and reviews from online retailers. We pay particularly close attention to quality reviews and recommendations that highlight the quality of warranties, customer service support, build quality, materials, and overall reliability.

We also factored in the quantity and quality of online retailer reviews from websites such as Amazon, RealTruck, Advance Auto Parts, and more. We looked at factors such as notable customer reviews, prices, meaningful superlatives, and discount shipping eligibility. We did the research so you don’t have to.

Since 2020, we have published over 200 auto product reviews in an effort to make shopping for auto products easier. Our team of writers, editors, researchers, and product experts collaborates to thoroughly vet top products. We try to perform in-house testing on real vehicles whenever possible before making our recommendations.

When testing is not feasible, however, our aim is to make your life easier by doing all the online research for you and presenting that research in the form of easy-to-read product comparisons and buyers guides, rather than outright recommendations. For more information on our testing methodology and how we evaluate every product, check out our methodology page here.

The Smittybilt X20 is a waterproof, high-capacity truck winch. It is constructed with a durable planetary gear system and backed by a lifetime warranty. In addition to its positive customer review profile and mid-tier price point, we like the Smittybilt because of its waterproof design features such as the use of stainless steel hardware, an amphibious motor, and fully-waterproof solenoid.

We think this is a good pick for most people in need of a winch. The Smittybilt offers high-capacity options (up to 17,500.0 pounds) beyond what most may need and it is built to last. The lifetime warranty also adds some peace of mind for those worried about winch longevity.

Amazon Review Score: 4.7 out of 5 based on over 2,500 ratings

According to reviewers, the Smittybilt winch is easy to install, lightweight, and offers excellent value for a winch under $1,000. There are reports of people using this winch effectively underwater, but be aware that no winch is likely to be 100 percent waterproof.

“I’ve used and abused [my Smittybilt]. After 5 years of abuse, [Smittybilt] sent me a new one after they were unable to send me just the parts I needed to fix my issue. Great winch.”

– Djb via Amazon

Though this winch installs easily, the included instructions are confusing to many. There are also complaints that the winch remote often stops working after a couple of months.

According to reviewers, the Smittybilt warranty replacement process can be difficult. Instead of sending in your broken winch for repairs, service agents will try to diagnose any issue over the phone. Reviewers who aren’t familiar with winch construction find this to be a frustrating experience. However, for those more mechanically inclined, this process is ultimately cheaper than shipping a 70.0-pound piece of equipment.

The Warn Zeon Platinum 12 is an expensive but reliable winch. It offers a high, 12,000.0-pound pull capacity and is backed by a limited lifetime warranty on mechanical parts and a 7-year warrant on electrical parts. The winch has a 6.0-horsepower motor and a mechanical cone brake, meaning that it can start and stop very quickly compared to other winches.

The waterproofing and planetary gear train design help ensure the durability of the Warn Zeon winch. The remote, however, is not so reliable. Many complain of poor battery life. And while the Zeon includes a lifetime warranty, you’ll have to pay for shipping this heavy winch should you need a repair or replacement.

Amazon Review Score: 4.5 out of 5 based on over 130 ratings

Reviewers mostly describe the Warn Zeon as providing strong power, good torque, and a quick tow speed. It is easy to mount to a bumper and an all-around reliable winch.

“The 12-S is amazing. I have it on my 2019 Ford Raptor and it has gotten me out of a few tough situations. It’s nice knowing you have a winch that can pull just about anything”

– C O. via Amazon

According to reviewers, many of the remotes have poor battery life and die after about two weeks. Warn is reliable about supplying replacements, however. Another common complaint is that when requesting a replacement or repair under the Warn warranty, customers are required to pay for shipping, which can get expensive.

The SuperWinch Tiger Shark is a medium-capacity winch at around $500. While it does not have a waterproof rating, the motor and solenoid are both weather-sealed and the roller is made of stainless steel. The included remote is also rubberized, which adds a measure of waterproofing.

Though the SuperWinch is relatively heavy for a 9,500.0-pound capacity winch (around 80.0 pounds), it is nonetheless easy to install. Based on the high volume of positive reviews, the Tiger Shark appears to be a reliable winch that stands up well to regular use. It has a capacity suitable for most vehicles and situations unless you’re trying to winch the heaviest of trucks.

Amazon Review Score: 4.5 out of 5 based on over 270 ratings

Reviewers comment that this winch is powerful, easy to install, and stands up well to regular use. Several have commented that Superwinch customer service is quick and helpful.

“I wrote this review in 2016 and it’s the end of 2022. These winches (I have three of them) continue to perform flawlessly. As part of an off-road recovery group, this winch has seen a lot of use”

– Mark Twain via Amazon

A few complain that this winch is a little heavy for the capacity. Many also stress the importance of re-spooling this winch after you get it. There are some reported quality control issues, with a few people receiving damaged or defective units. Lastly, this winch can get hot when forced to operate for extended periods of time.

The SuperWinch Winch2Go is a portable winch that can be mounted to a vehicle or stored in the included carrying case. In addition to the carrying case, this winch includes:

Though rated for 4,000.0 pounds, this winch can effectively pull up to 8,000.0 pounds when used in conjunction with the included pulley block (see our buyers guide for more info on pulley blocks).

The portability and reported reliability of the Winch2Go make it a good pick if you don’t want to permanently mount a winch to your vehicle.

Amazon Review Score: 4.4 out of 5 based on over 190 ratings

Most agree that the Winch2Go is handy and portable. It offers what most feel is an excellent value for the relatively low cost. Many are surprised at the Winch2Go’s weight capacity, given its small size.

“The winch did everything I needed to do to load a car into my 24[.0-inch] enclosed trailer. I also used it to pull a fire safe up and incline into a trailer.”

– MinnCanoeGuy via Amazon

Many complain about the tool box construction, specifically, the plastic latches that easily break. Some don’t mind the low-quality cases, while others might consider purchasing an alternative carrying case. Another issue some mention is that the leads for the battery cables are too short.

The Champion Power Equipment Winch Kit comes with a speed mount 2.0-inch hitch adapter. If you have a trailer hitch on your vehicle, this kind of winch can be attached quickly and then removed when not in use.

Champion is a reliable brand and this winch in particular is backed with thousands of positive reviews relating the power and reliability. It also includes a two-year limited warranty and a lifetime of free technical support (which, also according to reviewers, is helpful).

Amazon Review Score: 4.5 out of 5 based on over 5,200 ratings

Many reviewers claim this is a reliable winch and that Champion Power Equipment offers fast, reliable, and informative customer service support. While this winch does not have an IP waterproof rating, several have mentioned using it in wet situations (including full submersion) without issue.

“[The Champion Power Equipment Winch] has pulled me out of the mud and also helped me move some logs. It’s been 1 year and still working as it should.”

– Mike G. via Amazon

There are complaints about the mounting plate. Apparently, the holes for the mounting plate don’t always perfectly align with the winch. Reviewers also complain about the poor quality of the remote, which doesn’t always work.

There are many people who report years of reliable use, but there are also a good number of reviewers claiming that their Champion Power Equipment winch began to fail after about three years.

Finding the right winch depends largely on your intended use and budget. For many, a simple yet reliable winch is all that’s required. Even if it’s a seldom-used piece of equipment, it’s important that a truck winch doesn’t fail when you do need it.

We think that Smittybilt, Warn, and SuperWinch generally manufacture the most reliable truck winches.

Typically, you’ll want to get a winch that is rated for twice the weight of your truck. In general, the more powerful the winch, the better. However, make sure to choose something that isn’t too big and fits on your truck. A more powerful winch will also cost more.

A truck winch is worth it for truckers that often go off-roading. If you regularly find yourself stuck or come across others that are stuck, a winch is an invaluable vehicle recovery tool. Most truck owners, however, will likely never need, or rarely need a winch.

Truck winches are often used to help recover stuck vehicles that have either been trapped in a ditch or difficult terrain. However, there are a variety of other uses for truck winches such as towing or repositioning heavy equipment. Winches are useful in any situation where you need to pull something with great force.

The largest truck winches top out at around 25,000.0-lb. pulling capacity. Other types of winches (not attached to trucks) can have a much greater pulling capacity.

At best, a 10,000.0-lb. winch can pull around 6,500.0 lbs. Winch strength can vary depending on your setup and you can effectively double winch power by using a double line pull and a snatch block.

*Data accurate at time of publication.