The 10 Best ATV Winches
Special Honors
Tusk Winch 3500 If you spend a lot of time in the mud, you'll appreciate the synthetic rope that comes with Tusk Winch 3500, since it isn't susceptible to rusting. It relies on a heavy-duty 730-watt motor with sealed components and water resistant design to generate its pulling power. rockymountainatvmc.com
Editor's Notes
October 14, 2020:
Winches might just be the most important piece of equipment when it comes to self-rescuing when out in the backwoods alone. Because they often mean the difference between getting yourself out of a jam quickly or waiting hours for help to come along, it is important to get a reliable model that won't let you down when the time comes for it to perform. With this in mind, durability was of the utmost importance to us when selecting the models for this list. The only exception to this might be the X-Bull AM0004. We will be the first to admit that it can't withstand the abuse of many of our other selections, but its low cost comparative to its rated pulling capacity still earned it a spot. However, it is best for those who only require the use of a winch on rare occasions.
Anybody who knows anything about winches is probably familiar with Warn. They are known for making some of the highest-quality units, so it should come as no surprise to find a couple of their models here. The Warn Axon 55 is a premium offering from them that boasts an impressive strength rating, a smart design that combines the motor and contactor, and digital load display information. The Warn VRX 25 may have less features, and a lower capacity, but it is more affordable and will still help you self-rescue in most situations.
The Smittybilt 98204 XRC-4 Comp-Series and Superwinch Terra 45SR are two more 2-ton or stronger winches that offer reliability combined with helpful features and are ready to perform in all situations. The former boasts an amphibious motor, while the latter has weather-sealed components, so either can deal with extreme conditions without failing. We also appreciate the high-visibility yellow line of the Terra 45SR, which can help cut down on the potential for accidents.
A winch is only one thing you may want to consider kitting out your ATV with. If you think you need a winch, you probably plan on riding over some rough terrain and perhaps a bit of mud, so you may want to consider a quality pair of mud tires. A tool box wouldn't be a bad idea either, as getting stuck might not be the only thing that could potentially leave you stranded. And, finally, no ride would be complete without some speakers to blare you favorite tunes as you drive.
November 15, 2018:
After pulling power, the most important thing in a winch is reliability. There is nothing worse than a winch that fails on you when you are trying to get yourself out of a mud pit. For that reason, we did not include any models where there were too many reviews of failure during normal operation. After that, we just made sure to include a variety of different capacities to suit light and heavy ATVs alike.