5 Of The Highest Rated Truck Winches In 2023, Ranked

While many people will buy trucks and SUVs as a status symbol or because it's a personal preference, plenty of owners still choose them for their utility. If you've got a vehicle that can handle it, there's no reason not to add a truck winch — especially if you do a lot of off-roading and may need to pull a stuck vehicle or self-recover.

A good rule of thumb is to make sure your winch has a pull capacity of at least one and a half times the weight of your vehicle. You can also get a winch with a much larger capacity, but you'll want to make sure your winch isn't too big for your truck because you could risk damaging your bumper or even your frame. Besides pull capacity, you'll also need to decide whether you want a winch with a steel cable or a synthetic one. There are pros and cons to both, but if it's a good-quality winch, the material of its cable won't really matter. If you're wondering which winches are good quality, reviews from owners who've actually installed and used them are a good metric to go by. Here are five of the highest-rated truck winches in 2023, ranked.

X-BULL makes multiple winches with a 13,000 – 14,500 pound capacity, with both synthetic and steel cable options. The 13,000 synthetic model is powered by a 6.4hp/4.8kw series wound motor and has a 26-meter long, ⅜-inch nylon rope with a free spooling clutch for quick rope payout. The winch weighs 60 pounds, is comprised of stainless steel, and is 530 by 160 by 218-millimeter — suitable for most trucks and SUVs. The winch includes a wireless remote control and one-hand controller and comes with all the wiring required for installation. X-BULL recommends a minimum battery rating of 650 CCA.

The X-BULL Electric Winch 13,000 LBS 12V with Synthetic Rope is available from Amazon for $370 and comes in two colors: blue and orange. Slightly beefier models can also come in gray and red, and the steel rope model comes in gray. X-BULL charges an extra $30 to include a cover for the winch, which is a little pricey but not a necessary accessory.

The Rough Country 12,000-pound Pro Series of winches are easy to install and run on a powerful motor capable of six horsepower. Its gear ratio is 265:1, and it uses a three-stage planetary gear train with a sliding rear clutch and auto-in drum braking, which makes it efficient while still compact. The winch weighs ‎63.9 pounds and is 23.25 x 13.5 x 12.5 inches. The synthetic model has a ⅜-inch rope that measures 85 feet long and includes a clevis hook and hawse fairlead. It's rated IP67, meaning the water and dustproof winch can withstand off-road travel and doesn't need to be covered or protected.

Unfortunately, the Rough Country 12,000 LB Pro Series doesn't come with a wireless remote, even though it used to — it does include a wired one, however. Rough Country's 12,000 LB Pro Winch (Synthetic) has product code PRO12000S and a list price of $499.95. You can find it for a few bucks cheaper on Amazon, though if you want it bundled with a mount, it'll cost $639.90.

SuperATV's 6,000 LB UTV/ATV winch uses a synthetic rope powered by a 1.9 horsepower motor. It's sold with a bundle that includes a winch hook kit, wired dash rocker switch, fairlead support bracket, hook pull strap, aluminum hawse fairlead, heavy-gauge extended wiring, waterproof solenoid, rope stopper, and automatic brakes. It's a durable product and water resistant.

The winch weighs ‎30.3 pounds and is 4.56 x 4.41 x 4.86 inches and will fit most bumpers or winch mounts with a 3 x 6.6 inch bolt pattern. If you don't have a bumper that's already winch-ready, you'll need to buy a machine-specific mounting plate that isn't included with the kit. The winch is a little on the small side, and if you're looking for a winch with a higher pull capacity, you'll want to go with something stronger. Its 50-foot-long synthetic rope may also be too short for your needs, but if you don't need a lengthy rope and your vehicle doesn't weigh more than 2 tons, you can purchase the SuperATV 6,000 LB. UTV/ATV for $314.95. It has product code WN-6000.

Smittybilt makes a series of winches that come with both steel or synthetic cables, as well as with either a 9,500 or 12,000 pound pull capacity — so you can choose the right winch for you. The 12K winch with synthetic cable (product code 98612) has a MSRP of $759.99, but you can currently find it on Amazon for $647.92. That model has a seven horsepower motor, making it one of the most powerful winches on the market. It also has a 95-foot cable, giving you plenty of room to work with.

One drawback is that the remote isn't wireless, which isn't too hard to overlook considering the other advantages the XRC GEN3 12K Comp Series has. Some of those features include an innovative new load indicator warning system, high-viz clutch lever, controller flashlight, dual magnet mounts, body armor that is customizable and detachable, an aluminum hawse fairlead, a three-stage planetary gear system, and a silicon steel plate rotor. The Smittybilt XRC GEN3 12K Comp winch also has an IP67 waterproof rating, and is a great winch to use at night or in low-lighting conditions thanks to onboard lighting features, including a daytime running light.

Warn Industries is probably the best-known name when it comes to winches, and it's no accident — they have a lineup of quality products that are nearly all top-rated in the market. Pretty much any Warn winch will be a good choice, though, of course, you'll want to get one that best fits your vehicle. The Warn 9.5XP-S is a solid option if you're looking for a synthetic rope winch — in this case, the rope is 100 feet long. The 12-volt electric winch has a pull capacity of 9,500 pounds.

Features include an advanced brake design, extended-duty control pack, next-generation control box that gives you several mounting options, and a 12-foot corded remote control, as well as water-resistant sealing, a ballistic nylon sliding sleeve that helps protect the rope against wear and abrasion, and a high-gloss, chip- and corrosion-resistant powder coat finish.

If Warn winches have a downside, it's that they come at a premium, especially when compared to most other winches. The Warn 9.5XP-S (product code 87310) has a list price of $2,142.39, though Amazon is currently selling it for $1,567.62. If you're willing to spend the money, though, it's worth getting one of the highest-rated truck winches available.