2015 Winch and Towing Accessories Buyer's Guide
ATV and UTV riders, by their nature, occasionally bite off more than they can chew. Sometimes that means trying to cross a mud hole that’s a bit too deep, crawl over some rocks that are too big, or break something on your machine you can’t fix away from the garage. In other words, sometimes you get yourself stuck and your driving skills alone can’t get you out.
This is why is makes sense to travel with a friend to help get you out of a jam and to invest in a winch or other towing accessories to save you an aching back. We’ve put together a list of all the ATV and UTV winches we could find and included some details on each to help you figure out what you might need before your next great off-road adventure.
Winches
WARN ProVantage Winches
WARN has six winches in its premium ProVantage line ranging from 2,500-4,500 pounds of capacity – the 2500, 2500-s, 3500, 3500-s, 4500, and 4500-s. The ‘s’ models come with synthetic rope, while the others comes with steel braided cables. Each features a three-stage planetary gear train, patented roller disc brake, fully sealed motor, and three-year warranty.
MSRP: $429.99 – $799.99
WARN Vantage Winches
WARN’s more affordable Vantage line of ATV and UTV winches range from 2,000-4,000 pounds of capacity – the 2000, 2000-s, 3000, 3000-s, 4000, and 4000-s. Each has 50 feet of synthetic rope (or steel cable), fully sealed motor, all metal gears, mechanical spring brake, and five-year mechanical and one-year electrical warranty.
MSRP: $199.99 – $509.99
KFI Stealth Series Winches
KFI’s Stealth Series winches are all equipped with 50 feet of synthetic rope and are offered in 2,500, 3,500, and 4,500-pound capacities. Each model features a cable hook stopper, dynamic and mechanical braking system, water resistant seals, four-hole mounting design, handlebar-mounted rocker switch, heavy duty electric contactor, and one-year warranty. All but the 2,500-pound model comes with a handheld corded remote.
MSRP: $295.95 – $412.95
KFI Steel Line Series Winches
KFI has steel line winches ranging 1,700, 2,500, 3,000, 4,500-pound capacities. All of the winches in this line come with water resistant seals, all metal turn clutch, four-hole mounting design, handlebar-mounted rocker switch, heavy duty electric contactor, and one-year warranty. A handheld corded remote is included on the 3,000 and 4,500-pound models.
MSRP: $191.95 – $325.95
Moose Utilities Winches
Moose Utilities offers ATV and UTV winches in 2,000, 3,000, 3,700, and 4,000-pound capacities. All are available with either a braided steel cable or synthetic rope, except the 3700 model (steel only). The 3000 and 4000 feature a three-stage planetary gear train and a corded remote. Other features include free spooling clutch, mechanical spring brake, plow-style roller fairlead, and mini rocker switch.
MSRP: $329.95 – $519.95
Polaris HD Winches
Polaris offers a 2,500-pound winch with a braided steel cable and a 3,500-pound winch with a synthetic rope. Polaris says both install in minutes and feature an integrated design. Other features include a fully sealed motor, contactor, and drivetrain and a one-year warranty.
MSRP: $349.99 – $449.99
ProMark Outback Winches
ProMark’s premium Outback line of ATV and UTV winches come in 3,500, 4,500, and 5,000-pound capacities, each offered in steel cable or synthetic rope. Features include a limited lifetime warranty, waterproof motor, 50 feet of cable (or 45 feet of rope), and accessory package that includes a 10-foot corded remote.
MSRP: $179.99 – $552.00
ProMark XT/XTR Series Winches
The ProMark XT and XTR Winch line is available in 2,500, 3,000, and 3,500-pound capacities. Steel cables (XT) are available in all three capacities, while synthetic ropes (XTR) are offered in 2,500 and 3,000-poudn capacities only. All feature a limited lifetime warranty, waterproof motor, and accessory package that includes a 10-foot corded remote
MSRP: $149.99 – $299.99
ProMark Trail Series Winches
ProMark’s affordable Trail Series winch line is offered in 2,500, 3,000, and 3,500-pound capacities. Each features a braided steel cable and benefits from a lifetime limited warranty, waterproof motor, and accessory package that includes a 10-foot corded remote.
MSRP: $129.99 – $195.99
SuperATV Synthetic Rope ATV Winch
SuperATV offers both 3,500 and 4,500-pound synthetic rope winches. Each features a 12V, 1.3 hp motor and 50 feet of synthetic rope (3/16-inch thick or ¼-inch thick).
MSRP: $189.95 – $264.95
Superwinch Terra Winches
Both the Superwinch Terra 25 (2,500-pound capacity, 1.3 hp, wire rope) and Terra 35 SR (3,500-pound capacity, 1.6 hp, synthetic rope) winches feature a permanent magnet motor with larger diameter wire, sealed bearings at both ends of the motor, metal gears, steel drum designed for synthetic rope, free spooling clutch, sealed handheld remote, and limited lifetime warranty.
MSRP: $111.75 – $482.03
Tusk Winches
Tusk offers two different winch models – a 2,500-pound capacity model with a wire rope and 600-watt motor and a 3,500-pound capacity model with a synthetic rope and 730-watt motor. Each models boasts sealed components and a water resistant design. Machine-specific mount plates are sold separately.
MSRP: $159.99 – $169.99
Viper Classic Winch
Viper’s 3,000-pound capacity Classic winch is available with a 50-foot steel cable, 50-foot synthetic rope (3/16 inch) or 40-foot synthetic rope (1/4 inch). Features on this fully sealed winch include composite housing, metal gears, rocker handlebar switch, universal mount plate, and six-month warranty.
MSRP: $109.99 – $199.99
Viper Elite Winches
Viper’s Elite winches are available in 2,500 (Snow Series), 3,000, and 4,000-pound capacities. Each comes with 40 feet of ¼-inch synthetic rope. Viper boasts that each model is whisper quiet and features include metal gears, wireless remote switch (not available on Snow Series), and limited lifetime warranty.
MSRP: $209.99 – $449.99
Viper Max Winches
Viper Max winches are available in a host of capacities ranging from 2,500 to 6,000 pounds with standard or wide spool designs. Standard spools hold up to 50 feet of steel cable or synthetic rope, while wide spools hold up to 65 feet of steel cable or synthetic rope. Each model is fully sealed with composite housing, all metal gears, automatic brake, universal mount plate, rocker handlebar switch, and limited lifetime warranty.
MSRP: $169.99 – $519.99
Winch and Towing Accessories
Moose Receiver Style Winch Cradle
This universal receiver mounted winch cradle is designed to fit nearly any ATV or UTV with a 2″ or 1 ¼” receiver hitch. It allows a user to mount any two- or four-bolt pattern winch up to 4,500 pounds. It also accepts drum winches.
MSRP: $79.95
ProMark Universal ATV Winch Wireless Remote Kit
ProMark says this kit works with most of its 12V ATV and UTV winches. It provides remote wireless operation of your winch from up to 75 feet away.
MSRP: $54.99
ProMark Recovery Winch Line Stopper
The ProMark Recovery Winch Line Stopper is designed to keep your winch hook from pulling through your roller or hawse fairlead. This stopper is constructed of heavy duty rubber that will allow for compression under load.
MSRP: $29.99 – $54.99
ProMark Off-Road Tow Strap
This tow strap is rated at 24,000 lb max weight. It features steel spring hooks on each end. The strap is two-inches wide and 16-feet long.
MSRP: $24.99 – $45.99
ProMark ATV Winch Accessory Kit
This kit comes with a waterproof carry bag, two tree trunk protector straps (two-foot and eight-foot lengths), two ½-inch D-rings, snatch block, and leather work gloves.
MSRP: $42.99 – $94.99
Super ATV Winch Accessory Kit
Super ATV’s standard Winch Accessory Kit comes with carrying bag, tree saver strap, two D-rings, pully block, and gloves. The deluxe kit adds a 50-foot synthetic extension rope to the kit.
MSRP: $79.95 – $109.95
Superwinch Hand-Held Switch
Superwinch’s Hand-Held Switch is a wired extension that lets you connect to a KFI winch and operate it from up to 30 feet away.
MSRP: $69.18 – $72.82
Tiger Tail
The Tiger Tail is a retractable tow rope designed for late model ATVs and UTVs. It can be used for towing a stuck or damaged vehicle or as an anchor line when riding in poor conditions. It is available in two iterations. The Tiger Tail ATV has a 15-foot rope with a break strength of 8,000 pounds, while the Tiger Tail UT has a 12-foot rope with a break strength of 12,000 pounds.
MSRP: $159.95 – $199.95
WARN Winch Accessory Kit
Warn’s Winch Accessory Kit comes with carrying bag, ½-inch shackle with 4,500-pound weight rating, 9,000-pound capacity snatch block, two tree protector straps, and gloves.
MSRP: $79.95 – $109.95
WARN Synthetic Rope Extension
If a standard winch cable isn’t long enough, WARN offers a 50-foot synthetic extension rope that attaches to the winch cable with a 4,000-pound line capacity.
MSRP: $139.00
Wicked Bilt Tow Straps
This 20-foot strap can be used as a tow strap or winch extension. It is three inches wide and rated for 19,500 pounds.
MSRP: $29.99
I have been working exclusively in digital media since 1997. I started out with TSN.ca, spending nearly nine years creating and editing content on Canada's leading sports website. I left to join VerticalScope, Inc., one of the world's largest online publishers, to start a number of powersports publications. While at VerticalScope, I've helped create and oversee content for a wide variety of different publications, including ATV.com, Off-Road.com, ArcheryTalk.com, Tractor.com, RVGuide.com, and many more.
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