The Best ATV Winches (Review) in 2023 | Autance

A mid-weight member of the Superwinch Terra range, this compact ATV winch has sufficient pulling power to get you out of most sticky situations.

Durable and portable, the Terra has been designed for tough terrain with the specs and build to get you out of trouble. At 1.6 horsepower, the engine is big enough and provides 3,500-pound pull capacity, plus its low amp motor is kind to your vehicle’s battery. You’ll need a separate winch mount kit, but the Terra 35 has been designed to be compatible with most four bolt kits out there.

Coming in at 500 pounds less than its Superwinch stablemate on our list, the LT 3000 still packs a decent pulling capacity punch. The beauty of this smart winch is that is compact yet easily takes on the larger winching bad boys. This is a fantastic four-wheeler winch for a long road journey; you can choose to permanently fix or use as a temporary winch – the only trade-off is slightly less power on the pull.

Constructed with a low amp, permanent magnet 12V motor protected by a circuit breaker, the LT3000 gives a performance you can rely on for casual use and reassures if you are looking for a smaller winch unit. Store in the back of your ATV or UTV and you know you have the right back up if you find yourself stuck in an off-road situation.

With a maximum 3,000-pound pulling power, the Champion is a good value winching workhorse to have as a back-up on your everyday commute and occasional off-road route. With a 1.3 HP DC motor, it packs a surprisingly decent power punch, making it a good option for light use with mainstream ATVs.  Neat and compact, the steel winch cable gives 49 feet in extension and is easily spooled thanks to the built-in roller fairlead to make deploying and then packing away a breeze. It is also acceptably quiet as it works hard to get your ATV out of trouble.

The three-stage planetary gear system along with the free-spooling clutch and handlebar-mounted remote control offer good control while winching. One of the lower-priced ATV winches in our review, we think the Champion offers great value when it comes to its durability and overall core winching power.

One of the cheapest in our best ATV winch list, there’s nothing budget about the Bear Claw. It gives an impressive 3,100 pounds of pulling power all in a compact and tough package that’s low amp and low noise. From outdoor gear specialists Extreme Max, this little dynamo of an ATV winch includes a dynamic braking system incorporated into the gear box and motor, which are both sealed for optimum water-resistant performance, while the triple planetary gear box offers extra pull when you really need it. There are also some nice additional touches such as the snatch block as well as a free-spool option.

Installation is easy with color-coded wiring, although it does need a winching mount, but its four-bolt mounting system is a universal fit for most brands. If you are looking for a value quad winch that packs a punch when pulling the typical ATV, then this is the one for you.

A nicely balanced midweight machine, with a pulling capacity of 3,500 pounds, the Bravex is a strong and steady ATV winch that can also step it up for larger or more awkward vehicles such as snow-plows. Plus, it has a wireless remote meaning you have full control, while staying out of the ‘danger’ zone.  And its waterproofing credentials means it’s a good option for boats too.

This is a solid entry level winch that can really step up its game for 4×4, ATV and UTV owners who like to play dirty and need to know they can get out of trouble.  And with its slick roller fairlead, tough steel winch cable and all-metal three-stage planetary gear train, the winching experience should be a smooth one. The electric motor is also deceptively powerful, at 1.5hp, it offers fast line speeds, tempered by a quality braking system meaning you have all the control.

We go back to motorsports specialists WARN for the next ATV winch in our ‘best of…’ review, with the lighter-weight 2000 that comes at a nicely compact price. With the build quality and styling you would expect from WARN, the 2000 has been designed to fit in tight spots and makes mounting easier. With a 1.6 horsepower permanent magnet DC motor, it does have one of the lowest pulling powers in our best ATV winch list, but 2,000 pounds should still be sufficient for your average everyday ATV. At 35 feet, the wire rope on this WARN winch is also a tad on the shorter side but it spools and releases smoothly via the hawse fairlead and is safely controlled via a corded remote.

Solidly constructed and easy to install, the WARN 2000 is a quality compact winch at a great price. Definitely one for keeping at the back of your ATV or truck…just in case.

Now here’s a synthetic winch rope kit that we have to say looks rather after-dark cool and with an acceptable 3,000 pound pulling capacity, it’s a good bet for having ready in your off-road vehicle, whatever the time of day. It’s a bit less is more when it comes to spec – no remote control option and the motor is rated at 1.1 horse power, so one of the smallest in our best ATV winch review – but it is a good, affordable winch that will work with arrange of off-road vehicles. At 50ft, the synthetic winching rope is also a decent length to get you out of trouble in a ditch and the steel gears and fittings will keep the running smooth and secure.

Designed for the road rider who occasionally ventures off track, this is a durable and easy to use ATV winch that it is best suited for less extreme winching situations. In short, this is the ideal quad winch choice to have in the back of your everyday truck as a standby.

The power-loading beast in our best ATV winch review, the Badland pulls a super-impressive 12,000 pounds, making it the ultimate in all-vehicle winching machines.

As you’d expect for such a powerhouse, the Badland is not cheap but it can take whatever you throw at it and has the pulling power to move anything from trucks to SUVs without breaking a sweat.

This is a robust powerhouse of a compact ATV winch that has your back on the toughest of off-road adventures. It certainly has some serious pulling power – while not the beast that is the Badland, the X-Bull heaves a mighty 4,500 pounds, making it a great priced go-to for serious winching situations. And it’s a super-hardy machine too, with serious weather, corrosion and moisture resistant credentials.

We also like the fact that it comes with a mounting plate, a choice of wired and wireless remote control and a high strength steel cable to keep you and your beloved ATV steady as you regain your all-terrain feet.  But with all this pulling power this four wheeler winch is a tad on the heavy side, so make sure your ATV can take its weight.

The first of the two winches from off-road motorsports specialists WARN to feature in our best ATV winch review, the Vantage is a nice piece of kit at a good price point.

Great for smaller ATVs and drivers who want to play hard, this quality WARN winch offers durability, reliability, and performance with 2,000 pounds of pulling power, all in a neat, user-friendly package.