The 10 Best Winches For Jeeps
This wiki has been updated 20 times since it was first published in January of 2019. Anybody who goes mudding or spends time in the backcountry with their Jeep needs a winch, especially if they go out on the trails alone as, sometimes, self-rescuing is the only way to make sure you aren't stranded for hours, or even days. The models on this list are built tough enough to withstand extreme conditions and operate reliably when the time comes. Some can even be fully submerged. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Warn Zeon Platinum 12-S
2. Superwinch LP8500
3. Warn M8000
Editor's Notes
December 19, 2020:
With the average Wrangler weighing about 1,000 pounds more today than they did 20 years ago and the average rule of thumb to have a winch with a rated pulling strength of at least 1.5 to 2 times the weight of your vehicle, we removed all models with a capacity of less than 8,000 pounds. This gave us room to add the Warn M15-S, which boasts a 15,000-pound load rating, making it ideal for kitted out 4-door Wranglers. We also added the Smittybilt XRC 9.5K Gen3 as a replacement for the Gen2 model, with the former having a faster retrieval rate.
February 05, 2019:
Winches come in a range of sizes and pulling capacities, so we wanted to make sure every option was represented on our list. Somebody with a brand new, kitted-out, four-door wrangler will need a more powerful model than somebody who has an older, two-door jeep because of the significant difference in the weights of these two vehicles.
4. Smittybilt 98510 X2O
5. Warn M15-S
6. Smittybilt XRC 9.5K Gen3
7. Mile Marker SEC15(es)
8. Rough Country Pro12000S
9. X-Bull EB0010
10. Offroad Boar QZ014
A wandering writer who spends as much time on the road as in front of a laptop screen, Brett can either be found hacking away furiously at the keyboard or, perhaps, enjoying a whiskey and coke on some exotic beach, sometimes both simultaneously, usually with a four-legged companion by his side. He has been a professional chef, a dog trainer, and a travel correspondent for a well-known Southeast Asian guidebook. He also holds a business degree and has spent more time than he cares to admit in boring office jobs. He has an odd obsession for playing with the latest gadgets and working on motorcycles and old Jeeps. His expertise, honed over years of experience, is in the areas of computers, electronics, travel gear, pet products, and kitchen, office and automotive equipment.