So I am in the market for not only a truck but for a trailer as well, and I want to make sure the choice I make is the right one. I have had a few trucks in the past, but I believe this time I am going to go with a bigger model.
I am wanting to get an F250 for the towing capacity and the engine, but this article is about the best tow winch for my truck and trailer. With having a car flipping business sometimes those cars I get do not run and have to be pushed onto the trailer.
I am finally noticing what my grandpa was talking about when he said your body will start to we’re down in older age. Because I cannot do some of the big man things I did in my youth, one of those being pushing a car by myself onto a trailer.
So what better idea than to use a with on the trailer to winch the car on! But can I use the same winch that I pick for my truck for my trailer as well? This is the first rigging system that I am building for my own use, but I was a wrecker operator in the U.S. Army, so I know a little about winches and rigging.
Let’s see what the market has for us and what the reviews are on everything. I am looking and pricing everything as I would buy it so do not think there will be a little junky turn winch on this list.
These winches are to pull vehicles onto a trailer that is not running themselves. Let’s go through the market’s top five winches and see which winch is best for the situation at hand. I am not looking to break the bank getting the winch, but I definitely want something that will last awhile so I can get my monies worth out of it.
For the mounting option on the trailer, we will be using a mounting plate on the trailer, which will really give our winch the stability it needs to provide us with the pulling power we require. Let’s get started on this list now!
Smittybilt XRC 9500 lb. Winch
As I said, I will not be putting any pieces of junk on this list; this winch has over 800 reviews and is still holding a tremendous positive standing with the customers that have purchased this winch.
There is the option to take the load capacity from 9500 lbs. To 17,500 lb. So that is really cool! There are quite a few great features on this winch, here they are listed.
Features
Waterproof with an IP67 rating which is the marking by International Protection, they are a rating agency governed by the government to classify the protection of an item.
With this winch being an IP67, this means that this winch is dust resistant and is protected against water for “accidental” or temporary submersion into water from 15 centimeters to 1 meter.
Rated weight is 9,500 lbs but able to be upgraded to 17,500 lb. It has a 6.6 horsepower motor attached with a remote switch.
It does come with a 3-year warranty which is always lovely to see, especially with the price investment this item requires. Here is the link to Amazon to check on this items up to date price.
Overview
With over 50 years of building Jeep modification parts, this winch is born from a legacy-building company.
I really like how this winch has 3 solenoid mounting options, depending on where we want to mount the winch. With the motor and the 3 stage planetary gear system that Smittybilt has put onto this winch, there is no doubt that it is a workhorse and can do the job we require.
The remote is corded, which isn’t a bad thing, and the solenoid is entirely waterproof, which is needed, especially if you are using this winch near water. The last thing we want is water in our electric circuits.
Also, I really like that all needed wiring is included with the winch, so no extra parts are required. One more thing on this winch, this one comes with a 4 roller system, which protects the rest of your components on your vehicle or trailer against rubbing against your steel winch cable.
This also prolongs the cable life and prevents the cable from binding when paying in or out.
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Offroad Boar 13,000 lb. Steel rope and waterproof winch
This behemoth means business! 13,000 pounds of pure pulling force on the Offroad Boar. Check out the features that this puppy brings to the fight, just reading these this unit is really bringing the power!
Features
IP67 waterproof grade which is always nice to see.
Wireless remote to winch functions which are great, as long as your batteries don’t die on you.
85 feet of steel wire rope and the winch has an automatic load hold which is incredible in field applications.
Think about your winch paying out if you do not have your finger on the pay in button. Use your imagination how that could be a bad situation, as in you are trying to get a truck out of a mud pit, then you let off the button, and the cable instead of locking into position lets the load relax which puts the truck back in the pit.
This automatic load lock prevents that from happening. 4.6 KW (6.17 Horsepower) motor on the winch and one year warranty.
Want to check out the Offroad Boar a little closer? Here is the link to Amazon to check the up to date price of this item.
Overview
I really liked what I saw at; first, I love the 13,000 lb. Capacity and the automatic load-holding, but when I saw the wireless remote it kind of lost me.
I always keep extra batteries in my vehicle, but some people don’t, and what use is a winch that doesn’t have a remote to it? Because that is precisely what you have if you have dead batteries, you have no winch.
This unit does have the 4 roller system and the 3 stage planetary gear system which is excellent, and the solenoid is sealed water right, so we are protected there.
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Smittybilt X20 10,000 lb. Synthetic rope winch
Right off the bat we have a 5-year warranty on this model, and there are some other differences between this model and the other Smittybilt that we are looking at as well, so check out these features!
Features
IP68 waterproof rating which is an upgrade from the other models we have looked at.
While the IP67 rating gives us dustproof protection and protection against submersion in 15cm to 1 meter of water what they left out is that security is
for 30 minutes only. The IP68 rating is guaranteed protection with the same depth of water and can be under pressure when submerged.
Honestly, I wouldn’t test it, but if the situation does come up, you do need to know your equipment works like it should, so always great to know it is guaranteed protection.
The remote has a 12 foot lead on it, with a 6.6 horsepower motor.
A 3 stage planetary gear system and this model can be upgraded to the 17,500 lb. Rating as well just like the other Smittybilt smaller model.
Smittybilt has sure done a great job on this model. Here is the link to check the up to date price on Amazon for this item.
Overview
I do like how you have guaranteed water protection for a better rating. I do like I can upgrade the winch up to the 17,500 lb. If needed in the purchase of this model. Last but never least, I love that the remote is tethered into the model and has a 12 foot lead on it! This prevents running out of batteries when in the middle of nowhere.
It is always vital to keep your vehicle running strong for you for years to come. Check out my article highlighting the 12 Crucial Maintenance Things to Check on your vehicle to keep your vehicle running strong for you!
X-Bull 12v 12,000 lb. Steel cable winch
After reading through the features in this model, it seems like X Bull has come to play, and they have brought the big guns with the XBull model!
Features
6.13 Horsepower motor with a 4 roller system. This unit has 85 feet of steel wire! With a free spooling option for that emergency payout situation.
3 stage planetary gear system IP67 rating which makes this model dustproof and waterproof for 30 minutes while submerged 15cm to 1 meter. Comes with 2 wireless remotes and 1 8 foot wired remote with a manual override on the unit itself.
Interested in knowing more about the X-BULL? Here is the link to Amazon to check the up to date price for this item.
Overview
This unit is a great powerhouse for your truck and/or trailer. I really like how it comes with wireless and wired remotes.
Also, the amount of wire is fantastic and will definitely help in a sticky situation, especially with the free spool option!
Viper 13,000 lb. Steel cable Winch
This model not only has a 13,000 lb. Limit, but it also comes with both a wired and wireless remote systems, check out the rest of the features this option looks highly competitive.
Features
13,000 lb. Weight limit, with a 5.5 horsepower motor. 3 stage planetary gearbox and 85 feet of steel cable! 4 roller fairlead system and an 11 foot tethered wired remote makes this a powerful option to add to your recovery vehicle and/or offroad vehicle. The winch has a limited lifetime warranty and a 6-month warranty on the steel cable.
Did you like what Viper has to offer? Here is the link to Amazon to check the up to date price on this unit.
Overview
The company prides themselves on their IP67 rating with their military-grade materials. Overall this looks like a great option, I am not really a fan of the warranty they have on this unit.
After researching further, their “limited” warranty is as follows. Limited 
lifetime warranty for “selected” mechanical components, limited 1-year warranty for electrical components, and a 6-month warranty on all other parts not yet stated.
For all those that do not know what a limited warranty is, it is specified parts and certain types of defects. I don’t like this type of warranty because the manufacturer can say whatever they want when it comes down to their unit being defective.
Because of this, I will not purchase this unit due to not knowing enough about the quality of this model and company. With an investment like this, I want to know if something is defective that without any problems the company fixes what is wrong, and I have a reliable running winch for years to come.
Where do I mount a winch on my trailer?
There are quite a few options for where to mount or how to mount your winch to your trailer. The best way that I have found is to drill holes through your trailer and mount a mounting crack with the winch attached. This will make loading the vehicle or whatever you are loading with as much ease as possible. Here is a diagram of a mounting option.
Can a winch be too big for a trailer?
It is not the problem of having a winch too big for a trailer but too small for the needs you require of your winch. Remember when loading a vehicle to give yourself a 2,000 window on the weight of the load and the maximum load capacity of your winch. Do not buy a 3,000 lb. Winch then get upset that it struggles to load a 2,700 lb. Vehicle.
Where do I mount my winch on my truck? (Front and rear)
Some bumpers are manufactured to fit your winch properly onto the middle of the bumper. With this option, the roller free lead system can be mounted on the outside of the bumper to maximize the effectiveness of the system.
If you do not want to purchase a modified bumper then just make sure your winch is centered on whatever vehicle you are mounting it on whether it be a trailer, truck, SUV, or Jeep.
Do I need anything additional for my winch to be operational?
Yes, you need to have a battery to power your winch system. Each winch is different and requires a different amount of amperage, so make sure to check the paperwork that comes with your winch, it will state what battery the unit needs to operate.
What should I do to the winch cable to prolong its life?
Use a thin coat of dielectric on the battery lead connections to prevent rust and corrosion. When you get your winch dirty and muddy to make sure at the end of the day to pay the cable all the way out and use a towel and rag to wipe it down.
Do not store your cable when it is wet because this will cause corrosion. If your winch does require lubrication WD40 will do the job, but some units do not require lubrication at all.
Last but never least if you do use your free spool option make sure to bring it out slow and steady (an average walk speed will work) then when you have completed your recovery to pay the cable all the way out again and put a little tension on the wire while you tow the cable in.
I have found my body weight would do the trick, you are just adding a little tension to prevent any kinking in the line while you pay it in.
This will also help your cable be spooled up correctly and make your next recovery that much easier! ALWAYS CHECK YOUR WINCH ONCE EVERY MONTH FOR FRAYS AND CUTS.
In Conclusion
I am looking for a winch that will be able to winch a vehicle onto the trailer even if the vehicle is not operational. I noticed in the reviews that people tried to use 3,000 lb. Winches to put a vehicle on their trailer and it was not able to do it.
Well, that is understandable since a 2008 Honda Accord weighs between 3,200 and 3,600 lbs. So if you are trying to move a vehicle, we need to beef it up some, so the winch isn’t screaming for help and creating extra stress on the motor.
So think about what you are wanting to use the winch for before you purchase one that could be too small. Winches are a powerful weapon to have in your arsenal whether you are recovering a truck out of a mud pit or winching a car onto a trailer, winch safety should always be your number one priority.
Remember never to hold the cable when under load and never stand next to the cable when under load. This is why the shortest wired tethered remote you will find is an 8 foot wired lead. So pick the right winch for your needs and good luck on your next rigging job!
Thank you for reading my article! I hope you found it enjoyable and beneficial. Check out my Youtube channel for more DIY auto repair and car flipping for profit videos! Thank you again!
