Few scenarios as adequately illustrate the value of a carefully chosen winch like that of finding yourself in a precarious spot while in the midst of an off-road adventure. A quality recovery winch has been the saving grace of many trail rides throughout the years and has the potential to reconcile the irreconcilable in many cases.
However, a winch is only as helpful as its ability to get you out of a bind when the need arises. If an inadequate winch is chosen for the job, you are likely to be in no better of a situation than when you began.
Winches come in a near endless array of sizes and load capacities. This can often become a point of confusion for those pondering such a purchase. In order to clarify any misgivings toward winch selection, one must first understand the complexities involved.
Why Is It Important To Have The Right Size Winch?
As with virtually any piece of load-bearing equipment, a winch has a designated operational capacity under which it is intended to operate. As the operational capacity of a winch increases across varying models, so does the fortitude of the components from which it is composed.
Everything from a particular model’s snatch block and winch cable, to the very motor that provides the necessary power for vehicle recovery, increases exponentially in robustness across each successive capacity rating. This ensures that a winch is built to sustain the abuse which will befall it on the trail and elsewhere.
When a winch that is significantly undersized for its intended use is put to work during a recovery, one or more forms of mechanical failure can result. Damage to a winch’s gear train or 12v DC motor is never a settling prospect to be faced with and will certainly put an end to your efforts.
This can ultimately cost you nearly as much in repairs as it would have to purchase a winch with a higher load capacity rating from the onset. In the world of winches, bigger is quite often better.
How To Determine Your Needs?
So now that you have decided that the purchase of an electric winch is one of necessity, how do you go about determining which size winch you will need? Luckily, this is seldom as difficult to determine as one might think, and the use of a simple equation can provide you with the information that you need for proper winch selection.
As a general rule, many off-road enthusiasts set their sights on a winch that is rated for weight capacities that are 1.5 times that of their vehicle’s GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating). This provides enough operating power to circumvent any variables posed by unique recovery circumstances.
What Is GVWR?
Every vehicle on the road today carries a designated GVWR. This stands for Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, and serves to inform consumers of a vehicle's overall weight during day-to-day operation, as it would be in any driving scenario. This weight metric takes into account all original manufacturer equipped components as well as the weight of fluids contained within a vehicle's engine, transmission, cooling system, and elsewhere.
A particular model of vehicle is assigned a GVWR directly from its manufacturer in accordance with D.O.T. regulations. The denotation of this value can be found in several places, with the most common being a vehicle’s driver side door jamb, owner’s manual, or on the manufacturer’s website.
Additional Weight Considerations
When attempting to determine which size winch to purchase, consumers must also keep in mind any added heft that has been accumulated with the addition of aftermarket components. Items such as aftermarket bumpers, heavy duty skid plates, and larger than stock wheels all add pounds to your vehicle’s total weight much quicker than most would realize.
These additional items and their added weight must also be factored into any equation used when determining which winch to purchase. A failure to do so can leave you with a winch that struggles to move your vehicle, much less pull it from the throes of a precarious situation.
If your vehicle is heavily modified or there is simply no effective way to figure a total additional weight for every aftermarket accessory which has been installed, there is still an effective way to account for these items. This can be done by estimating the weight of these accessories at an additional 30 percent of your vehicle’s total gross weight.
This weight can then be added to the vehicle’s manufacturer designated stock GVWR to provide a rough estimate of your Jeep, SUV, or truck’s post-modification weight. While this figure will not be exact and might be somewhat exaggerated in a number of cases, it is always better to figure on the safe side when deciding upon which winch to purchase.
Doing The Math
With a firm understanding of what must be considered when determining which size winch to buy, all that is left is to tally up the numbers. When preparing to do so, make sure you have your vehicle’s GVWR written down and a calculator at the ready.
The equation for figuring the optimum size winch for your specific application is as follows.
GVWR X 1.5 = Optimal Winch Size For Stock Vehicles
Or
GVWR+(.30)GVWR X 1.5 = Optimal Winch Size For Heavily Modified Vehicles
To provide a real-world example, consider the 2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, which has a gross weight of 5,800 pounds. The following equation would provide an adequate estimate of the optimum winch size for this particular model of Jeep.
5,800 X 1.5 = 8,700 LBS (For Stock Vehicle)
Or
5,800+(.30)5,800 X 1.5 = 11,310 LBS (For Heavily Modified Vehicle)
Can You Get Away With Less?
While this equation provides a safe weight estimate from which to work off of, it is by no means the only way that one can choose which size of winch to purchase. Many manufacturers recommend purchasing the most robust winch that you can afford, and by all accounts, this is sound advice.
Envision being twelve miles from the nearest paved road while in the middle of a rather taxing trail ride. As you top a rise, the trail makes a sharp bend to one side or the other. The turn ahead proves to be far sharper than you anticipated, and you suddenly find yourself six-foot down a washed out 45-degree embankment. With tires spinning and too little traction to be found, you are left to winch yourself out of this predicament, or walk.
Times like these are when you will find out just how thorough you were when considering which size winch to buy. The most profound factor regarding Jeep, truck, or SUV winch selection, is that you rarely find out that you are under-gunned until you are already in quite the bind. This adds insult to injury and has the potential to quickly turn into a significant hassle.
In any event, when in doubt, always err on the side of too much winch, as opposed to too little. When you find yourself in an unexpected predicament, you will certainly be glad that you did.
The Electrical Equation
Outside of a utility winch’s rated pulling capacity, there is another limiting factor to winch performance, which is worthy of mention. This has to do with your vehicle’s electrical system. If your vehicle’s electrical system is not operating at peak efficiency, neither will your vehicle’s winch.
An electric Jeep, SUV, or truck winch pulls from the same power supply as the rest of your vehicle’s electrical components. Therefore, any fault that can limit the flow of amperage and voltage to your winch can potentially limit its operational capacity.
Several circumstances can lead to such electrical-related winch issues. Some of the most common include a discharged battery, failing alternator, aging battery cables, poor battery cable connections, and ground circuit connectivity faults. Prior to the installation of a winch, the health of a vehicle’s electrical system should be thoroughly checked.
Special attention should be given to your vehicle’s battery. A battery that is on its last leg can quickly become problematic when winching or towing a vehicle from peril. When your battery’s charge fails to provide your winch with enough juice for optimal operation, your recovery mission’s forward progress can quickly come to a halt.
Most winch manufacturers specify that a vehicle's battery must offer at least 600-700 CCA of capacity for proper unit operation. Anything less will likely result in reduced functional ability, and less than optimal recovery as a result.
Extra Factors To Consider When Purchasing A Winch
Although the overall pulling capacity of a particular winch is invaluable when searching for the best possible product to suit your needs, there are additional factors that are worthy of consideration as well. By giving the following factors due consideration when considering the purchase of a winch, you will be better able to discern whether or not a particular model is right for you.
Weather and Element Protection
If you are planning to hit the trails, where mother nature seemingly tries to throw everything your way, your winch needs to be as impervious to the elements as possible. Luckily, there is a standard metric that can be used to determine how resistant any particular winch is to the elements.
A winch’s IP (Ingress Protection) rating denotes its level of built-in protection from environmental factors such as water, dust, and mud. The first number listed within an IP rating correlates to a particular winch’s resistance to solid particle intrusion. Six is the highest rating on this given scale and specifies a winch as being “dust tight”.
The second number contained within the IP rating scale specifies a winch’s resistance to water intrusion. This scale operates on a 1-8 rating threshold, with the highest designation of eight denoting a winch’s ability to operate indefinitely in water up to 3 meters in depth.
Profile
Another factor worthy of consideration when purchasing a winch is the overall profile of any particular model which you are considering. Some winches are naturally larger in profile than others on the market today. Much of winch’s exterior profile is a product of the varying gear train configurations used from one model to the next.
Outside of the obvious cosmetic differences observed between winches of differing profiles, this factor has functional ramifications for your vehicle as well. Since most units are secured to a winch mount at the front of a vehicle, a redirection of airflow destined for the vehicle’s radiator can result.
When traversing rugged and demanding terrain under the veil of oppressive summer heat, less than optimal airflow has the potential to cause overheating issues. Under the bulk of circumstances, issues of this nature can be circumvented with the use of a low-profile winch. However, one must simultaneously weigh out the capabilities and operating capacity of such a winch as well.
Cable Composition
Today’s winch ropes and cables have come quite a way since the days of old. The use of stronger synthetic rope and more robust steel cable has reduced the prominence of failure across the board. However, it is still vital to take stock of the varying cable selections available when contemplating the purchase of a winch.
Both synthetic and steel/wire rope have their own unique advantages and disadvantages, all of which a consumer is wise to consider before making a winch purchase.
- Steel Rope - Steel 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 should be washed free of contaminants regularly.
Premium Winches Across The Size Spectrum
When considering the purchase of a winch, many consumers find it difficult to sort through the vast sea of available products in a bid to find a winch that will adequately meet their needs. While it is true that a near-infinite number of winches are available for purchase on today’s market, some naturally stand out above the rest for their superior design quality and user-friendly operational features.
The following are some of today’s most notable winches, which every prospective consumer should be aware of.
Mile Marker Sec15 (15,000 LBS)
If you are looking for a lightweight yet robust winch for your Jeep/truck/SUV that can be purchased at an economical price point, then Mile Marker has you covered. The company’s Sec15 series winch weighs in at only 85 pounds, which is 25 percent lighter than the average weight of winches within its class.
The Sec15 utilizes an ultra-durable 3-stage planetary gear train arrangement and is fully sealed to avoid water and dirt ingress. In fact, this winch is rated to withstand complete submersion, should the need arise. Additional features include a 6.8 HP series wound motor, roller fairlead, 79-foot, ⅜” steel cable with winch hook, and a handheld remote control that features a 12-foot lead.
Superwinch Talon 9.5 (9,500 LBS)
The Superwinch Talon 9.5 is perfect for those looking to get the job done and get back to hitting the trail ahead, with little wasted time along the way. This rock solid winch has an operating capacity of 9,500 pounds, which should be enough to get most off-road enthusiasts rolling again when trouble arises.
The Talon comes sealed to the outside elements and carries an IP-67 designation to prove so. Another key functional characteristic of this winch is its 67 feet/per minute non-loaded line pull speed, which expedites the process of stowing your cable at rest when recovery has concluded. The Talon’s remote also features an LED light, which assists users in taking stock of the situation at hand. This winch also carries a limited lifetime warranty on all mechanical parts as well as a 7-year warranty on all electrical components.
Warn Zeon 10-S Platinum (10,000 LBS)
Warn Winch takes recovery to the next level with its Zeon 10-S Platinum model. This 10,000 pound winch features an IP-68 ingress rating, which means that it can operate unabated in the face of whatever mother nature throws its way. The Zeon also comes fitted with 100’ of ⅜” Spydura rope and a matte aluminum hawse fairlead. The addition of an all-new, high-speed motor provides a 20 percent increase in line speed, making quick work out of even the most complicated recoveries.
Another well-received feature of the Zeon 10-S Platinum is its use of a wireless remote control, which can simultaneously control winch functions as well as two winch accessories. This places convenience and functionality at your fingertips, allowing you to focus more on the recovery and less on an aggravating power cord. The Zeon’s remote also displays data pertaining to the vehicle battery charge, winch motor temperatures, and operational modes.
Smittybilt XRC 12K Steel (12,000 LBS)
The level of intuitive thought placed toward the design of Smittybilt’s XRC series winch is nothing short of amazing. The XRC line features a “best-in-class” 7 HP motor that gets the job done with a level of efficiency that is not easily matched. This “can-do” attitude is further cemented by the XRC’s rapid line speed, which is an average of 12 percent faster than the company’s Gen2 series when loaded, and 17 percent faster in non-loaded scenarios.
All of Smittybilt’s Gen3 XRC winches also include a proprietary load indicator system. An integrated light display on the unit’s remote provides real-time feedback pertaining to stress placed upon the winch and its components. A series of four lights illuminate operational threshold indicators, including those designating stand-by, loading, max load, and overload. This feature assists operators in preventing component damage and allows for adjustments to be made on the fly.