Trailer Winch Buying Guide: Top 5 Trailer Winches

Trailer winches are mechanical devices, used for pulling in or letting out heavy objects, especially vehicles. They are specially designed for off-road enthusiasts to help them tackle challenging terrains, rescue stuck vehicles. They also come in handy when you need to haul heavy weights other than vehicles—a heavy transformer.

Though not installed on every trailer, their extreme handiness makes trailer winches an essential paraphernalia for those frequently going off-road.  

So, if you are one of those who have not yet mounted a winch on your trailer—but have been thinking about one—you are in the right place.

In this comprehensive guide, we will talk about everything you need to know about trailer winches. To be specific, we will discuss:

• Why You Need the Best Trailer Winch?
• Top 5 Trailer Winches in 2024
• Choosing the Right Trailer Winch for Your Needs
• Trailer Winch Installation and Maintenance Tips
• Common FAQs about Trailer Winches

And so on.

Why You Need the Best Trailer Winch?

A trailer winch can be the difference between a minor inconvenience and a full-blown disaster. They are more than just a convenience; they are imperative for safety, efficiency, and peace of mind when dealing with tough terrain or weights.

Here are a few reasons why you must consider mounting a trailer winch on your trailer:

1. Tackling Challenging Terrains

Mother Nature throws curveballs. On your outdoor adventures, you may come across steep inclines, unexpected dips, and muddy patches, which could bring your adventures to a halt. Or worse—it could result in accidents. But with a powerful winch, you can quite easily traverse these challenges and keep enjoying your adventures.

2. Maximize Solo Cargo Handling

Loading heavy equipment or vehicles onto your trailer but need an extra set of hands?

Well, employ a trailer winch and make your loading operations a breeze. With a trailer winch installed on your trailer, you can easily guide even the heaviest (under your winch’s pulling capacity) cargo onto the trailer with just the flick of a button. All this heavy loading, without straining your back or risking injury.

3. Recover from Mishaps

Accidents happen, even to the most cautious traveler. You can remove the risk of accidents completely out of the picture. Instead what can you do it prepare yourself for mishaps. In case of an accident, a winch will be your lifeline. It can help you pull your trailer back onto the road after a mishap.

4. Enhance Safety and Stability

During transportation, a trailer winch acts as an extra layer of security. You can use it to securely anchor your cargo, minimizing the risk of shifting or dislodging during travel. Thus it helps not only protect you precious cargo, but also fellow road users.

5. Peace of Mind for Every Adventure

Having a reliable winch at your disposal, not only gives you confidence to tackle challenging terrains and weights but also a piece of my mind. While without a winch, the thought of getting stuck on your offroad adventure might haunt you throughout your journey, but having a winch, you know that you will be able to winch your way out if you ever get stuck.

Top 5 Trailer Winches in 2024

There is a litany of trailer winches available in the market and not all trailer winches are manufactured equal, making it a daunting task to find a reliable winch for your trailer. To help you navigate the vast landscape of winches on the market, we have discussed the top 5 winches below:

1. VEVOR Electric Winch (13,000 lb)

If you are looking for a strong and reliable winch with extraordinary pulling force at a highly affordable rate, look no further than the VEVOR Electric Winch. Featuring a 3-stage planetary gear, it offers a higher performance on its motor power and better stability with 12V DC input and super high horsepower. Equipped with an IP67 waterproof design, it will never give up on you in the great outdoors.

It is very versatile and can work with various types of vehicles including ATVs, medium to large sizes of SUVs, trucks, and even yachts under its rated pulling force. It comes with 12 strands of high-strength nylon cable, equipping it to handle all kinds of ground & underwater pulling, given they are under its rated pulling force. It also features a wireless remote, allowing you to control it from a safe distance.

2. WARN Electric Winch (8,000 lb)

Warn presents itself as another great option for an electric trailer winch. WARN 103250 VR EVO 8 is a standard-duty winch with a steel cable and an 8,000 lb pulling capacity, making it perfect for lighter vehicles. It features IP68-rated waterproof construction and a wired remote. The only issues with this trailer winch are its limited pulling force and its wired remote—the length of the remote wire could keep you from maintaining a safe distance from the danger zone when performing a winching action.

3. Superwinch 1130220 (3,000 lb)

This super winch makes a great option for those on a tighter budget. But before you get this trailer winch for the budgeted price, make sure that it can meet your winching needs. It has a very limited pulling force of only 3,000lb. So, with this winch, you will only be able to pull smaller trailers, ATVs, and light-duty applications. In case of pulling items beyond its limited pulling capacity, the fairlead and the cable tend to get damaged from over-tensioning.

4. Smittybilt X2O COMP (10,000 lb)

The Smittybilt X2O COMP features an innovative synthetic rope and a strong pulling force of 10,000lb. There is no doubt that this winch is a great option, but its remote is not waterproof and might stop working if it gets wet. Also, the water often tends to find its way into the winch and stop it from working.

5. FieryRed ATV/UTV Winch (5,500 lb)

This winch makes a versatile option for smaller adventures. It works wonders when dealing with ATVs, UTVs, and lightweight trailers. It is a great winch but some users complain that they received a subpar cable that snapped with tension way below its rated pulling capacity.

Choosing the Right Trailer Winch for Your Needs

To help you pick the best winch for a car trailer that’s the perfect fit for your needs and the terrain that you frequent, we have listed a few essential factors for you to consider before making the purchase.

• Weight Capacity: Consider what you will be winching with your trailer winch. Choose a trailer winch with a pulling capacity that exceeds the maximum weight that you will be pulling. Consider getting a winch with at least 20% more pulling force than what you actually require. This will come in handy for unexpected situations or when you are facing inclines.
• Motor Type: Engine, powering your winch, plays an imperative role in its functioning. So, make sure that you pick the motor type that best suits your needs.
• Line Type: The pulling capacity and motor power of your winch won’t matter if the winch line is not working properly or keeps on snapping. So, make sure that you get a suitable winch line. While steel cables can be cheap yet strong, they tend to be heavy and also carry the risk of fraying and rusting, especially when not properly maintained. On the other hand, synthetic winch lines can be lightweight and flexible, but they tend to be heavy on your pocket and could get damaged by UV rays and sharp objects.
• Additional Features: Look for additional features such as a wireless remote, free spool, fairlead, etc.
• Ease of Installation: Before making the final decision, also check the difficulty of mounting the winch on a trailer. You should look for an easy-to-install winch, to prevent the mounting frustration.
• Terrain and Usage: Consider the typical terrain you’ll encounter (hills, mud, sand) and your usage frequency, before making the purchase.

Trailer Winch Installation and Maintenance Tips

So, you’ve chosen the best winch for a car trailer—congratulations! Now it’s time to ensure it is properly installed and maintained.

Trailer Winch Installation Tips

Here are some insightful tips to help make your trailer winch installation a breeze:

• Choose a sturdy location on your trailer frame that can not only handle the winch’s weight but also its pulling force.
• Carefully connect the winch wires to the appropriate battery terminals, while ensuring proper polarity. To make sure that you do not make wrong connections, double check every connection and cross-check with the manual.
• Don’t forget the grounding cable! Do not forget to connect the grounding cable to a bare metal surface on the trailer frame. This will not only optimize performance but will also maximize safety.
• Install the appropriate fair lead for your chosen winch line. Ensure that it is properly aligned with the drum and guides the rope and nothing would come in its way during the winching process.
• Once everything is connected and secured, consider testing your winch without attaching any load to it.

Trailer Winch Maintenance Tips

Proper maintenance is key for extending the lifespan of your trailer winch.

• Regularly inspect your winch for dirt, debris, and corrosion. Clean it with a soft brush and mild soap. Be careful around the motor and electrical connections.
• Lubricate the gears and moving parts of your winch regularly, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Regularly inspect your rope for signs of wear, fraying, or damage. Repair it if you notice any damage and if need be replace it.
• Maintain your battery in good condition to ensure enough power for the winch. Keep it clean, free of corrosion, and properly charged.
• When not in use, store your winch in a dry, protected location to prevent rust and damage.

Common FAQs about Trailer Winches

Q: How to attach a winch to a car trailer?

Follow your winch’s specific mounting instructions and ensure a sturdy location on the trailer frame. Securely bolt the winch, connect the wires with proper polarity, and ground it to the frame. Check our guide How to Mount a Winch on a Trailer: Step-by-Step Guide for detailed instructions.

Q: What size winch do I need for a trailer?

Choose a winch with a pulling capacity exceeding your trailer’s maximum weight plus cargo. Add a 20% buffer for inclines and unexpected situations.

Q: Can I use one winch for multiple trailers?

Technically yes, as long as the winch capacity exceeds the heaviest trailer weight and you have compatible mounting points.

Conclusion

When you are out camping or enjoying off-road adventures and things get tough, you can always count on your trailer winch—it is a silent guardian, always ready to pull you out of stranded situations.

Use this guide to find yourself the best trailer winch that meets your weight-pulling requirements and that of terrains that you frequent. Whether you pick from the top 5 winches shared above or from others available on the market, make sure you first consider the factors discussed above. Also, know that not all trailer winches are manufactured equally. So, if you do not want your trailer winch to give up on you when you need it the most, always get it from a trusted brand such as VEVOR, which is known for the toughness of its tools.