A winch is a must-have emergency device you can mount on the front bumper of your truck, SUV, or car. The best truck winches are extremely capable upgrades you can choose for your vehicle. The device will enable you to get out of tricky off-road situations.
How Truck Winches Work
A truck winch is a versatile device that supports different types of vehicles. Motor, gear train, rope or cable, and drum are essential parts of the best truck winch.
The motor helps operate the attached rope. The gear train helps run the drum and the motor. Also, the length of the cable or rope is 40 – 150 feet long and the round shape of the winch allows you to wrap the line around the drum.
The drum uses a spool to wrap the cable in and out. So the motor helps the drum turn by wrapping the cable around the drum. Not all truck winches come with engines. You will have to use the manual crank feature to wrap the cable.
The latest truck winch technology enables you to pull heavy loads. It doesn’t need any human effort. The best truck winch comes with the power required to complete the hauling action.
Electric vs Hydraulic Truck Winches
Which type of truck winch is best for you – electric or hydraulic? The big difference between the two is the duty cycle. Powered by a steering pump, the hydraulic motor will work as long as the engine is running.
The electric winch utilizes the battery of the vehicle to power the winch motor. It will only work when the battery gets charged. Regular use of the winch will drain the vehicle’s battery. If you are using a winch regularly, it is best to set a truck’s battery system.
Electric Truck Winches
Electric winches are often the first choice for truck owners. One of the significant benefits is that they are easy to install. If you want to transfer the winch from one vehicle to the other, all you need to do is remove it from one vehicle and reinstall it on the other.
Off-road enthusiasts love an electric winch as it is efficient and fast. It has got enough power to pull you out of a difficult situation. As it runs only on the vehicle’s battery, you don’t need to install a hydraulic pump to power the winch.
The other significant benefit of using an electric winch is that the engine doesn’t have to be running to power it. It is beneficial in most emergencies as you will be unable to start the engine. The electric winch of the same pulling capacity is also less priced than the hydraulic winch. Even though the electric winch is not as powerful as the hydraulic one, it is a popular choice due to its versatility.
Hydraulic Truck Winches
A hydraulic truck winch helps offer the heavy-duty capability. Even though you need more components to power the hydraulic winch after installation, the strength and efficiency gained are worth the effort. It is easy to install as well.
If you have a tow truck, it is best to choose a hydraulic winch. You can also make use of the built-in hydraulic pump system to power the winch. A hydraulic winch is not a common choice for truck owners.
Most truck owners who opt for the hydraulic winch do so as you can run it constantly without fear of it failing or overheating. You do need to remember that hydraulic winches run off the steering pump. It means the engine must be running to operate the winch.
Apart from electrical and hydraulic winches, there are other types you need to pay attention to so that you can choose as per your needs.
Mechanical Drum Winch
The mechanical winch gets its power from a running engine. These units are simple to assemble and are more powerful than the electrical winches.
Capstan Winch
The winch gets its power from the truck’s engine through the crankshaft. The crankshaft pulley gets connected to a dog clutch from where it draws power. These capstan models are like the mechanical drum winch.
Hand Operated Winch
The hand-operated winch consists of a wire rope. A series of clamps get used to capture and release the wire rope. No battery or engine power gets used to operate the winch. A single person will be able to handle the winch.
Sizing Guide for Truck Winches & How to Choose the Right Truck Winch
With so many truck winches available in the market, most people get overwhelmed with the choices. If you know how to choose the best truck winch, you will make an informed choice. The right winch comes with the best features.
Size
The size is the first thing you will have to consider when buying a winch for your truck. It would be best to determine how strong the winch should be to be useful for your work. The best truck winches often have enough power to pull you out of any situation.
Truck winches get rated for pulling different weights. A formula used to choose a winch specifies that it has to get rated at least 1.5 times the GVWR (gross vehicle operating weight rating).
GVWR is the most weight that the truck can carry when driving. The formula based on weight determines the load you can carry. If GVWR specifies that the truck can carry only 10,000 pounds, including people, fuel, and cargo, you are only allowed that weight.
Pulling Capacity
If you use your truck winch to pull more than what it is capable of, it will often result in accidents. The cable will snap, and it can result in much damage. Always buy a winch that has a high pulling capacity. Don’t buy a winch that pulls less than 6,500 pounds. When deciding on the pulling capacity, you should consider the size of the truck.
Seal Proof
Most truck owners who buy a winch are those who prefer off-road adventures. When you drive the truck on harsh terrains, you tend to accumulate a lot of dirt, dust, and mud. You need to ensure that the truck motor doesn’t get exposed to these elements. Exposure to these elements can cause corrosion. If the motor gets sealed, it will help protect against dust, snow, rain, and moisture.
Weatherproof
The winch gets used in all types of weather. It is best to choose one that is both weatherproof and waterproof. A waterproof winch is durable and increases its lifespan.
Cable Type – Synthetic Rope vs Wire Cable
When deciding which winch is best for your truck, you must decide on the type of cable you want. Do you want a synthetic rope or a wire cable?
Synthetic Rope
Synthetic ropes became a popular off-roading accessory in the 90s. The safety features of synthetic rope are genuinely unique. The rope’s significant safety feature is that it doesn’t store much kinetic energy like a steel cable.
It means that if the synthetic rope snaps, it will not cause severe damage to anything or anyone. If the rope breaks, you can tie a knot and continue to use the device. It is beneficial, especially if you are in an emergency. The steel cable is often difficult to fix.
The synthetic rope is lighter than the wire cable. It is a significant advantage for trucks sensitive to weight, especially in the front axle. The low weight and high flexibility of the rope make it easy to handle. The rope is also more robust than the wire cable.
You do need to know that there are some drawbacks associated with synthetic rope. The rope is susceptible to abrasion, heat, chemicals, and UV exposure. All these factors can weaken the rope.
Most synthetic ropes come with an anti-abrasion sleeve. It slides down the length of the rope and acts as a protective covering. The drum brake causes heat buildup and it gets neutralized with the use of a heat-resistant material or heat sleeve. The heat sleeve gets used on that part of the line that tends to wrap around the drum.
A synthetic line holds water, and this adds to the weight. The line also freezes in freezing temperatures making the winch useless.
Wire Cable
The rugged and strong features of the wire cable make it a popular choice. This type of cable gets manufactured with strands of carbon steel, and this makes it durable. The steel cable is heavier than a synthetic rope.
The wire cable is abrasion and heat resistant. It is also low maintenance and inexpensive. The only big drawback of wire cable is that it rusts. It will also develop sharp burrs. You will then need gloves to operate the wire rope.
If you don’t use gloves, the burrs will tear into your hands and cause grievous injuries. One dangerous aspect of using a wire cable is that it stores a lot of energy. If it snaps, it has the potential to cut a person in half.
Accessibility
Always buy winches that come with accessories. The accessories make it easy to use. High-quality winches feature a wireless remote-control system and a spool in the drum. Manufacturers also provide detailed manuals that help run the winch.
Mounting Options
There are different mounting options you need to consider before you buy the best truck winch.
Winch Bumper
It is a popular mounting option. It allows the device to perform exceptionally well in any terrain.
Multi-Mount
Compared to the bumper mount, it is a bit complicated. The mounting point also makes it less durable.
Bumper Mount
It is the easiest mounting option. The manufacturer provides all the installation instructions along with the device.
Warranty
All high-quality truck winches include a warranty. If you buy a winch with a warranty, it will give you complete peace of mind.
Brands
Warn Winches
Warn Winches are legendary. The tough winch is one of the best-selling of all times. The high-quality device gets priced on a higher side due to its superior features.
Mile Marker Winches
Mile Marker Winches are reliable. The hydraulic Mile Marker Winch is the perfect choice for anyone who loves off-roading adventures.
Superwinch Winches
Superwinch began 45 years ago as a project of Ford Motor Company. It makes one of the best winches for ATVs, Jeeps, and trucks. The superior design, value proposition, and reliability have enabled Superwinch to build an outstanding marketplace reputation.
Some big benefits of this type of winch is that they are high performing, reliable, and simple. The price of these winches is also reasonable.
Smittybilt Winches
Smittybilt offers high-quality winches at affordable prices. You will be able to buy a premium winch with synthetic rope within your budget.
Safety Tips for Using Truck Winches
Winches are powerful devices. If you are not careful and don’t follow the necessary precautions, you might get injured. It doesn’t take long for the winch to snap, and when this happens, it is quite dangerous.
Here are some tips that will ensure your safety.
Maintenance Tips for Winches
Regular maintenance of the winch will ensure good performance and long life.
Check Out the 7 Best Truck Winches
Let’s take a close look at our top choices.
1. WARN Zeon Platinum (95960) 12-S
The heavy duty Warn Zeon Platinum winch is one of the most technologically advanced winches available in the market. The unique design of the Zeon offers a 20 per cent fast line speed.
A high-performance motor package and IP68 waterproof rating make it a smart device. The advanced wireless remote helps control the operation of the clutch, the winch, and much more. Also. the manually operated clutch has got eliminated in this new design.
The clutch is now in the control of the operator. The Warn Zeon is the best truck winch with an advanced remote-control clutch and the remote enables you to control two accessories.
You can control the auxiliary gear, an air compressor, or tie-in lights using the remote. Apart from this, you will also be able to get immediate feedback on the motor temperature and battery charge level.
The remote makes it safe to operate the best winch. You don’t have to be anywhere near the device during the recovery process. You also get details about the motor temperature displayed on the remote. You'll learn when the device is at risk of overheating.
If the remote runs out of battery, you can plug the winch into the charger adapter or the truck’s USB source. The remote is big and fits your hand easily. Also, the quality of the remote is excellent as well.
The symmetrical design of the heavy duty Warn winch is what makes it special. It is the best choice for full-size trucks. The design will help match it to the styling of your truck, SUV, or ATV. You'll find that the stainless-steel hardware and black satin finish prevent corrosion.
The robust aluminum housing adds durability and strength. The convertible control pack is innovative. It allows flexibility to mount and remove the pack separately from the winch. You will be able to mount the winch in tight places. It has a low-profile fit and is one of the best winches for off-road driving.
The best winch has a powerful engine and pulling capacity. Equipped with a 12V motor, the winch pulls at a rate of 5.6 feet per minute. The gears feature a load-holding automatic brake with a 162.1 reduction ratio.
If you have a heavy truck that you often drive through tough terrains, the Zeon Platinum will be an ideal choice. It is the best in safety, strength, and durability.
This new generation of heavy duty Smittybilt X20 enhanced in every area to get increased durability and performance. The 3-stage planetary gear system gets connected to the new 6.6 HP amphibious motor. The motor and the gear system, along with the revised gear ratio, increases the line speed and the pulling power.
This is the best truck winch as it's completely waterproof. The 500 AMP solenoid is versatile. You will be able to mount it in many locations depending on your specific application needs.
Every winch has a UV-resistant black matte coating. The matte finish prevents corrosion. The stainless-steel hardware, four-way roller fairlead, oversized aluminum crossbars, and a forged hook give the winch a rugged look and feel.
The X20 is the top-of-the-line series winch with wireless remote control. You can unplug the remote for a trouble-free wireless operation, or you can wire it directly to the winch.
The X20 COMP series provides the highest performance as it is complete with all the available features. The exclusive braking feature of the X20 helps reduce the drum temperature by over 66%. It makes it ideal to operate all types of synthetic ropes.
Even though the heavy duty Smittybilt X20 specifies a load capacity of 17,500 lbs., you will be able to buy the X20 in other load capacities too. Before you decide on the load capacity, you will need to know how much weight capacity your pickup truck or SUV will bear.
If you have a small pickup truck and choose a winch with a higher load capacity, it might not work properly. You should always find out the load capacity that your vehicle will be able to before making the final decision.
When you go on an off-road adventure, you drive through muddy roads, sandy hills, and streams. Most often, you might get stuck when you drive in such challenging terrain. The best winches for trucks can help you get out of any situation.
The X-Bull is a synthetic rope heavy duty winch with a load capacity of 13,000 lbs. Ensure that the gross weight of the truck is 8666 lbs. It will help fulfil the winch rule needs to have 1.5 times more load capacity than the vehicle’s weight.
It has an IP67 waterproof rating. The latest generation of wireless remote enables you to handle the truck winch from a distance. It ensures your safety in all types of situations. The large remote fits your hand and makes it easy to operate.
This truck winch cover is dustproof and waterproof. The sewn-in elastic around the edges ensures that it fits the truck winch properly. Also, the cover keeps the motor protected from the elements.
The synthetic rope gets made of the Dyneema material. It is durable as it is one of the strongest fibers in the world. The high quality material is 10 times stronger and lighter than steel cable. The control box is weather sealed. It keeps the solenoid safe from outside elements.
The 3 stage planetary gear train system and the four-way roller fairlead are other crucial features of the X-Bull. The hawse fairlead ensures that the rope operation is smooth. You can use the remote control to operate the heavy duty device safely from a distance. If you are looking for a budget winch, the X-Bull is the most suitable choice.
If you want a winch for lighter use, the Superwinch delivers long-term quality at an affordable price. The standard features of the Superwinch include sealed submersible contactor solenoid, stainless-steel roller fairleads, and heavy-duty textured finish.
The textured finish helps resist the harsh off-road conditions. The 3 stage planetary gear box is tough and will help handle torque on demand. The solenoid and motor are weather sealed. It makes it reliable and reduces damage from snow and rain.
The steel hardware, tie bars and fairlead rollers will help keep the elements at bay. The motor with 5.2 horsepower is ideal for light use. You can run the winch with the use of a rubber remote.
The remote control has a range of 12 feet and fits in your hands. The 12 feet long extension rope enables you to operate the device from a safe distance. You can hold the spool easily and make use of it efficiently. For speed control, you have the 3 stage and 4 stage planetary gear system. The winch has a load capacity of 9500 lbs. which is ideal for small pickup trucks.
The Mile Marker is one of the lightest winch options that have a load capacity of 15,000 lbs. The electric winch is perfect for a ¾ ton pickup truck. The best truck winch is light in weight but heavy on power.
The compact design of the truck winch ensures that it weighs only 63 pounds. The lightweight design enables you to mount it easily. The all-weather winch has a sealed design. It has 19 seals throughout the assembly, and it helps keep out mud, dirt, snow and water.
The solenoid design is submersible. The marine-grade connections at the remote-control plug and socket ensure that the winch will work whenever you need it.
The exterior construction is made of steel. The anodized aluminum tie bars and black zinc clutch handles are corrosion resistant. The device has a fast-operating line speed and this can get adjusted as per your specific needs.
The unique design of the motor ensures longer operations without fear of overheating. The motor draws fewer amps, and this enables it to run cool. The winch is also fitted with an automatic load-holding brake and an integrated kill switch. It helps in keeping the clutch lever engaged and helps avoid the danger of cable free-spooling back.
ZESUPER winch offers improved motor life with superior working cycles. The 6.4 horsepower motor has a load capacity of 13,000 lbs. When you buy the best truck winch, you have the option of choosing a wireless or wired remote.
The safety features include an automatic load-holding braking system and a free spooling clutch system. It also has a 3 stage planetary gear system. All these combined features ensure greater security and enable you to handle the device with ease.
ZESUPER comes with a heavy-duty sealed contractor. When fully loaded, the winch will be able to pull 5.8 feet per minute. When empty, it will be able to pull 22 feet per minute. The Dyneema synthetic rope is lightweight yet durable.
The Tungsten electric winch has a 6.5 horsepower motor. It has a load capacity of 12,000 pounds and is waterproof. You will be able to operate the winch in any kind of weather.
The mechanical brake system is dynamic and helps you control the winch without much effort. The three-stage planetary gear system helps the device work seamlessly. The IP67 rating helps keep water, snow, dust, and dirt out of the system.
The wireless remote-control system enables you to operate the winch from a distance of 35 meters. The remote-control system ensures your safety at all times. The electric winch is a perfect fit for trucks, Jeep, SUVs and more.
In Summary
Our pick of the best truck winches is Smittybilt Waterproof Steel Cable Winch X2O – Load Capacity 17,500 lb. The winch has exceptional features and is competitively priced. It offers the best performance.