Few things in life can top an afternoon spent off-roading your Jeep through the backcountry with friends and family. Little is capable of providing the same level of reprieve from life’s daily stresses as that of making memories while putting your Wrangler or Cherokee through its paces. On days like these, it seems as if nothing could go wrong...until it does.
Misadventure along the trail often comes with the territory when taking your Jeep off-road, and when the unexpected takes place, you can quickly find yourself in quite a pinch. Luckily, many avid off-roaders carry along the best insurance money can buy, mounted prominently on their front bumper. Whether rock crawling, trail riding, or simply cruising backroads, a winch is the off-road enthusiast’s ultimate get-out-of-jail-free card.
A high-quality, heavy-duty electric winch can be used to pull your Jeep from precarious situations of a nearly endless variety. Whether you find yourself teetering on the edge of an embankment or have skidding to a stop between two Volkswagen-sized boulders, a winch can save the day when little else could. When in a bind, but in absence of a winch, little recourse remains outside of phoning for help. For those that plan to be self-sufficient when far from the nearest pavement, a winch is a must.
Quality Is Essential
A winch is much more than an accessory for your beloved Jeep. It is a utilitarian-style tool. As such, it must be ready to function at a moment’s notice, as intended, and without fail. In short, you must be able to have full confidence in the ability of your winch at all times and be able to lean on its functionality in moments of desperation.
With that said, a winch is no place to skimp on quality, and it pays to do your homework before selecting a particular brand or model for consideration. There are a substantial number of recovery winches available for purchase, but not all are created equally. As a consumer and prospective winch owner, you must sift through the clutter in order to locate the best winch for your particular application.
In today’s market, certain winch manufacturers stand out above the rest, owing much of their notoriety to the degree of craftsmanship with which their products are built. The following are several such companies, including an overview of their history and what sets their winches apart from the rest.
Warn Winch
Warn is a name that needs no introduction in the world of winches and winch manufacturing. Ironically enough, this illustrious winch manufacturer did not actually get its initial start in the winch manufacturing industry. Warn Industries was founded in 1948 by Arthur and Sadie Warn. The pair formerly owned and operated a Willys dealership in Southpark, Washington and took a keen interest in repurposing surplus WWII era Jeeps into useful, on-road vehicles. Therefore, it was only natural that Warn Industries became the epicenter of these efforts.
With time, Arthur, who was a masterful inventor, began designing his own components for use in the company's subsequent projects. Of these designs, that of a specialty locking hub began to gain traction much quicker than the rest. Demand poured in, and Warn Industries ramped up production to build these hubs in sufficient number. In time, Warn became the OE supplier of hubs for several auto manufacturers such as Chrysler, Ford, GM, Kia, and Nissan.
However, Arthur had also begun to experiment with another idea around the same time period. By 1959, Warn had begun manufacturing and marketing electric winches. Arthur felt that the company’s latest mainstay would provide immense value. The bulk of winches prior to this point had been PTO derived, making it necessary for a vehicle to be running in order to facilitate operation. Arthur’s hunch proved spot-on, and by the 1970s Warn winch sales were booming.
Today, Warn stands among the top winch manufacturers in the world and offers products to meet nearly any winching need. Warn’s product line spans the gamut and includes winches in every load capacity and line pull range. Consumers can also choose between models of varying line speeds and gear ratios. Warn offers both steel cable and synthetic rope equipped winches, with the company’s ultra-durable synthetic Spydura cable situated as the most popular option with many consumers.
Of the models offered in Warn’s lineup, the Zeon series winch remains in high demand and for good reason. Winches offered within the Zeon series feature wireless remote control operation, roller fairleads, and aircraft-grade steel wire rope. Additionally, all Zeon winches are completely waterproof, providing superior protection against water ingress and egress.
Smittybilt Winches
Much like Warn, Smittybilt did not necessarily set out from the very beginning to become one of the nation’s leading winch manufacturers. On the contrary, Smittybilt’s roots can be traced back to the company’s humble beginnings as a garage-based machine shop. This original shop was owned and operated by Basil “Smitty” Smith and was known to those in the community as Rock-ett Products, first opening in 1956.
From his shop, Smitty worked on an array of projects yet always gravitated toward anything automotive related, especially when having to do with any form of off-road endeavor. Naturally, Smitty’s son, Tom, joined in the family business and also shared in his father's love for an off-roading adventure. Shortly after joining his father’s business, Tom oversaw the company’s name change from Rock-ett to Smittybilt.
Tom, alongside his father, forged a storied legacy, building a comprehensive line of four-wheel-drive parts and components for Jeeps, trucks, and SUVs. Included within this list of products was Smittybilt’s signature line of winches, which garnered a tremendous amount of notoriety for their durability and efficiency.
Today, Smittybilt continues to stand as a dominating force in the recovery winch market. The Smittybilt XRC, which serves as the company’s flagship winch model, has become immensely popular in recent years and is often cited by many as the best Jeep Wrangler winch on the market today. The XRC features lightning-fast line speeds, powerful 7.0 HP operation, and a built-in load indicator that assists users in assessing the status of a recovery.
Superwinch
Superwinch, as a company, was born out of a singular purpose -- to build the best winches imaginable and offer next-level customer service to match. By all accounts, they have accomplished exactly what they set out to do. Founded by Frank Tolsdorf, Superwinch strived to set the bar ever higher in terms of winch system production.
Initially, Superwinch designed and marketed winches for use by the boating industry but soon realized there was money to be made elsewhere within the recovery sector and began producing electric winches with regularity. Since this time, Superwinch has pioneered many advancements in winch production, including the use of synthetic winch rope. The company then further refined this development by producing the first synthetic rope winch to account for the unique loading characteristics of non-steel cable.
Superwinch has also become a major player in the worm drive and hydraulic winch market, benefiting substantially in this area from their acquisition of New England-based Mercury Electric Winch and UK-based FW Winches Limited. Today, there are an estimated 4 million Superwinches in service, making the company one of the most substantial of all players within the winch market in the current era,
The Tiger Shark Series of electric winch continues to be one of Superwinch’s most popular models. Winches within this series feature a 3-stage planetary gear system, Hawse fairleads, and weather-sealed solenoids/circuit breakers for ample weather resistance. Additionally, all Tiger Shark winches can be ordered with a consumer’s choice of a steel rope or Superwinch's signature synthetic cable.
Notable Mentions
Though Warn, Smittybilt, and Superwinch are typically named as the top dogs of modern winch design, development, and manufacturing, there are several other noteworthy winch companies which consumers should also be aware of.
Rough Country
If you are looking for a reliable winch, but have a budget to keep in mind, then Rough Country’s line of electric winches is certainly worth a look. These economical yet surprisingly robust winches come in both 9,000 LBS and 12,000 LBS and can be purchased in both steel cable and synthetic rope formats.
Mile Marker
Mile Marker is yet another winch manufacturer that is deserving of an honorable mention. The company’s SEC series of electric winches offers ample pulling power for even the most difficult of recoveries and range in size from 8,000 LBS-18,000 LBS. All Mile Marker SEC-series winches come fully sealed and are approved for submersion, allowing you to do whatever necessary to position your Jeep back on solid ground.
Rugged Ridge
Rugged Ridge offers the Trekker line of winches, which serve as an affordable option for those who wish to prepare themselves for what lies ahead. If you find yourself in a precarious position, the Trekker’s 6.6 HP motor and 3-stage planetary gearbox will provide the necessary motivation to get you back on the trail in no time.
Additional Considerations
With a brand of winch now in mind, the only item of business left to attend to is that of selecting a particular model that is best suited to your application. To make this determination, one must first analyze their needs.
Operating Capacity
Selecting a winch before determining the necessary operating capacity for your particular application is much like putting the cart before the horse. A winch that is not rated for the weight which you intend for it to pull will serve as little more than dead weight.
For this reason, you must figure the overall weight of your Jeep, including that which has been added during previous modification. This is done by multiplying your Jeep’s GVWR by 1.5. This will provide you with enough pulling power to overcome virtually any situation that you might encounter,
GVWR X 1.5 = Optimal Winch Size For Stock Vehicles
In the event that a Jeep is heavily modified and has been fitted with such items as aftermarket bumpers, skid plates, push bars, and custom wheels, this additional weight must also be accounted for. In order to do so, add an additional 30% of your Jeep’s gross weight to your original GVWR before multiplying this figure by 1.5. This will provide you with a safe estimate of the added weight of these aftermarket accessories.
GVWR+(.30)GVWR X 1.5 = Optimal Winch Size For Heavily Modified Vehicles
Cable Composition
Today’s utility winch cables typically come in one of two forms: synthetic rope or stainless-steel cable. Both synthetic and steel wire/rope have their own unique advantages and disadvantages, all of which a consumer is wise to consider before making any winch purchase.
- Steel Rope - Steel wire rope or cable offers users the advantage of being easy to maintain and rugged beyond compare. When properly guided upon a winch’s drum by the fairlead, steel rope seldom becomes damaged to any degree of note. However, steel rope can be quite heavy to work with, and also adds significant weight to the front end of your vehicle.
- Synthetic Rope - Synthetic rope is substantially lighter in most cases than steel rope, making it easier to handle. They are also flexible by nature, making them easier to deploy at certain angles. However, synthetic rope is outwardly affected by UV and chemical exposure, which can lead to degradation in time. To increase longevity, a synthetic rope winch cable should be washed free of contaminants regularly.
Controller Configurations
Today’s winches come standard with a handheld remote control, which allows an operator to continuously operate their winch while positioning themselves to gain a better vantage point of the recovery efforts that are taking place. These controllers come in two forms, wireless and wired.
The use of each type of controller comes with its own share of high and low points, which leaves consumers to ponder which style of remote will offer them the capabilities that they seek.
- Wireless Remote Control - A wireless controller can offer a substantial benefit to those wishing to have the freedom of mobility while attempting to place their truck back on solid ground. With the use of a wireless controller, operators can actuate their winch from a distance while simultaneously working multiple winch accessories as needed. However, this style of remote requires regular charging to maintain viability, which can be difficult to remember for some.
- Wired Control - A wired controller maintains an operational connection through the use of a water-resistant cord. These cords vary in length from one model to the next but require a constant connection to facilitate winch operation. This effectively limits an operator’s freedom to move about during the recovery process since they are constantly tethered to their work. This form of controller eliminates the need for frequent remote charging or battery replacement.
The Cream of the Crop
While there are thousands of winches available for purchase in today’s market, some offer more value to consumers than others. Likewise, certain manufacturers within the industry tend to have a more thorough grasp on what it takes to construct a winch of the necessary fortitude to overcome all which one could encounter on the trail.
It is of immense value to keep this in mind when selecting a winch to purchase. The purchase of a winch is an investment in your safety and well-being as well as that of your Jeep. Just as you would not haphazardly commit your money to any other form of questionable investment, neither should you when purchasing a winch.
By only purchasing from reputable manufacturers such as those listed above and by considering your specific needs as suggested, you will be guaranteed to find a winch that will serve you well, both now and for years to come.