Best Jeep Winches: Get Out of Almost Any Sticky Situation

The Jeep winches that made this list are those that offer the latest in technology. I considered devices that were specifically made for Jeep use as well as other winches that could work with almost any type of vehicle. Those that offered lots of built-in safety features and came from reputable, well-known manufacturers were my top picks. To assess how reliable, trustworthy, and convenient these devices were in real-life settings, I also looked at user reviews. For more info about strict selection criteria, check out this link to The Drive’s Gear About page which explains our methodology further.

For the best combination of pulling power, speed, dependability, user-friendliness, and reliability, the best overall pick is the Warn 9.5xp Self-Recovery Winch. Backed by a limited lifetime warranty, you also get 9,500 pounds of pulling power. For a great value choice, you need to check out the  Smittybilt 97495 XRC Gen2 Winch. It’s got a powerful 6.6 HP amphibious motor with a three-stage planetary gear system similar to the top overall pick but is sold at a fraction of the price.

When it comes to picking the best winch for your Jeep, there’s more to consider than just pulling power. Several key factors will play a significant role in determining which winch suits your particular vehicle, driving conditions, and needs best.

As mentioned above, pulling capacity is arguably the most important feature to consider when choosing the right winch. Ideally, you want to look at winches that offer a load rating of at least 1.5 times your vehicle’s gross weight. Let’s say your Jeep Wrangler weighs 4,500 pounds (curb weight plus accessories and passengers). In this case, you’d want to look for a winch with at least 9,000 pounds of pulling capacity. To be safe, doubling the working load capacity of your vehicle’s gross weight is a good bet.

Jeep winches come with two kinds of cables: stainless steel or synthetic. Stainless steel rope is the traditional type of cable. It’s durable and isn’t subject to UV damage, abrasion, chemical breakdown, or other off-road hazards like synthetic may be. However, synthetic rope is prized for the fact that it’s lightweight, easy to maneuver, and gentler on your hands with less risk of cuts and burns.

While all winches feature remote control operation for safety, many come equipped with a wired remote that offers a limited range. The bonus of that is that you never have to worry about batteries dying or the signal not being strong enough. On the flip side, wireless remote controls allow you to operate the winch from a greater distance from a safety perspective. You can even operate it from behind or inside the vehicle if you choose. 

If you love rolling through wet, muddy, or marshy terrain, or taking your Jeep out in all kinds of weather, waterproof rating for your winch is key. Look for an IP rating (Ingress Protection), which classifies items as to how well they guard against water, dust, mud, or other debris. Waterproof winches usually fall into IP65, 66, or 67. An IP65 rating guards against powerful water jets, while an IP67 rating is fully waterproof in water as deep as 3 meters.

You can get winches that are either bumper-mounted, multi-mounted, or have receiver mounts directly integrated into bumpers. Integrated bumper plates offer the greatest level of support and strength. Bumper mounts are the least secure, mounting with bolts onto your factory-installed bumper. Multi-mounted winches attach to a carrier that is mounted to a receiver-mounted bumper.

A decent winch can be found for between $350 and $750. These are usually basic bumper-mounted winches that provide a lower line pull rating, around 5,000 to 7,000 pounds, but are great for lighter weight vehicles and occasional use. For a good middle-of-the-road winch, with higher pulling power and more torque, expect to spend between $900 and 1,500. If you want a heavy-duty beast that offers over 10,000 pounds of pulling power and wireless remote control function, you should expect to spend upwards of $1,800.

You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.