Are you looking for the best Jeep winches for the money? Look no further because we know the right answer.
One of the best mods you can add to your Jeep is a winch. Many Jeep owners will choose to add a winch to their rig before a lift kit or even tires.
Jeeps are very capable in stock form off-road, and adding a winch will give you added confidence when driving your Jeep through the most challenging conditions.
No matter how modified your Jeep is, having the ability to pull yourself or others out can be a lifesaver off-road. Winches can also be used to remove obstacles like downed trees or boulders from a trail.
There are several things you’ll want to look for in a quality winch that we’ve outlined in our buyer’s guide. Below we’ve compiled a list of the four best Jeep winches for the money. Take a look at our selections:
Top 4 Best Jeep Winches for the Money
| Model | Price |
|---|---|
| Superwinch 1585202 LP8500 Winch | Check Price |
| Smittybilt 97495 XRC Winch (Editor's Choice) | Check Price |
| Warn 87835 VR8000-s Winch | Check Price |
| Warn 89120 ZEON 12 Winch | Check Price |
Superwinch 1585202 LP8500 Winch
Superwinch began as a project of Ford Motor Company 45 years ago. Since then, it has grown and is one of the largest manufacturers of winch systems and accessories globally. Superwinches have an excellent reputation and are known for their value-priced winches.
This 1585202 LP8500 Winch from Superwinch aims to aim at entry-level consumers and is intended for light to medium use. It features a superior all-metal 3-stage planetary gear train, a beefy 8,500-pound pull rating, and a low-draw 12 VDC 4.5 horsepower weather-sealed series-wound motor. It has a 94-foot 5/16″ steel wire rope and even comes with a 15-foot waterproof rubber remote.
Additional features include a lever-action-free spooling clutch allowing users to quickly disengage the motor and manually draw out as much winch rope as needed. It is a heavy-duty latched hook with a thimble and is backed by a two-year limited warranty.
This winch is a great affordable option for anyone looking to put a winch on their Jeep. Is it the best winch for a Jeep? We are not sure yet.
Smittybilt 97495 XRC Winch (Editor’s Choice)
Smittybilt was founded in 1959 and, like Superwinch, is also aimed at the more value-conscious consumer. It makes 2,000 different products servicing the international truck and SUV markets.
This 97495 XRC Winch from Smittybilt is also aimed at entry-level consumers and is intended for light to medium use. It features a 3-stage planetary gear train, a 9,500-pound pull rating, and a waterproof 6.6 12VDC horsepower motor. It has a 93.5-foot 5/16″ steel wire rope and includes a hook.
This winch also has a 12-foot remote control and an automatic brake in-drum. It also includes a 4-way roller fairlead, saving you some money. Smittybilt includes a limited lifetime warranty replacement for all mechanical parts and a 5-year, 100,000-mile warranty on all powered coated parts.
This winch is perfect for someone who looks for a value-priced winch with a bit more pulling power and a great warranty. In our opinion, this is one of the best Jeep winches for the money.
Warn 87835 VR8000-s Winch
Warn is one of the biggest names in the off-road equipment and accessories industry. They have been making winches since 1959 and are known for their reliability, pulling power, and quality. If you’re looking for the best Jeep winches, you can’t avoid products of this brand.
The Warn 87835 VR8000-s Winch is an excellent entry winch featuring synthetic rope. It features powder coat construction, a 3-stage planetary gear train, an 8,000-pound pull rating, and a series-wound 12VDC motor.
All Warn S VR series winches to include a 100-foot 3/8″ Spydura Synthetic rope, hook, and full radius matte aluminum hawse. Spydura Synthetic ropes feature a ballistic nylon sliding sleeve that provides extra rope protection against abrasion and wear.
This winch also comes with a 12-foot rubber-coated rubberized and weather-resistant remote control. All Warn winches to include a Limited Lifetime Warranty. This winch is ideal for someone who looks for an entry-level winch that features a lifetime warranty and synthetic rope. This one is the best synthetic rope winch for a Jeep.
Warn 89120 ZEON 12 Winch
Here we have another great option from Warn. If you’re in the market for a heavy-duty winch with loads of pulling power, the Warn 89120 ZEON 12 Winch is for you.
This winch features powder coat construction, a 3-stage planetary gear train, a 12,000-pound pull rating, and a series-wound 12VDC motor. The 12,000-pound pull rating is ideal for Jeep owners that want to make sure they can pull their Jeep and other people’s rigs out of any situation.
It has an 80-foot 3/8″ steel wire rope, hook, and 4-way rolling fairlead. Like the other Warn winch on our list, the 89120 ZEON 12 comes with a 12-foot rubber-coated rubberized and weather-resistant remote control.
It also features a large aluminum winch drum, lightweight and designed to reduce rope wear, and Warn’s Limited Lifetime Warranty. This winch is ideal for those looking for maximum pulling power, quality construction, and a lifetime warranty.
How to Pick the Best Jeep Winches for the Money
If you’re ready to start shopping for a winch for your Jeep, you’ll want to make sure the winch you choose covers your needs and fits your budget. Here are a few things you’ll want to consider before pulling the trigger on a new winch for your Jeep:
Load Capacity
When shopping for a winch, it’s essential to keep your Jeeps weight in mind. The winch you choose should have a capacity that is 1.5 times your gross vehicle weight. In other words, take your vehicle’s weight, multiply it by 1.5, and that resulting number should be your minimum winch capacity.
For instance, if your Jeep weighs 4000 pounds, you would require a winch with a minimum capacity of 6,000 pounds. In some situations, like deep mud, you should consider getting a winch with a capacity of at least 2.0 times your gross vehicle weight.
It’s always better to have more capacity if you plan to pull other vehicles out with your winch.
Steel or Synthetic Rope
When choosing a winch, you’ll need to decide if you want steel cable or synthetic rope.
Steel Cable
Steel cables have been used on winches for a long time and are still very popular today. Such a cable is heat resistant, abrasion resistant, relatively inexpensive, and is low maintenance.
Steel cables do have some drawbacks. The cable can rust and develop sharp burrs as it wears. These burs can cause injury, and you’ll most likely have to wear gloves when operating the winch.
One of the most challenging issues with steel cable is that it stores a lot of energy. If the cable breaks, it can whiplash and cause injury and even death. Steel cable is also significantly heavier than synthetic rope, so if you’re looking to save some weight, synthetic rope is the way to go.
Synthetic Rope
Synthetic rope has been used for winches since the ’90s and has several safety benefits. It is easier to handle because it doesn’t kink and is very lightweight.
The synthetic rope also stores less energy than steel cable, meaning that it is less likely to cause injury if it breaks. If you happen to break a synthetic rope, you can also tie it back together and reuse it in a pinch. Like cable, the rope does have some disadvantages.
Drawbacks include susceptibility to UV exposure, chemicals, heat, and abrasion. All of these factors can weaken the rope. You also need always to keep it clean. Synthetic rope is usually more expensive than steel cable.
Line Length
You will want to consider the length of the line you think you will need for your application. Having some extra length can always be useful if you take your Jeep on trails with sparse trees. The extra length will make sure that you can pull yourself out, even if trees or other vehicles are far away.
Good Reviews
Always read up on the winch you intend to purchase. Jeeps are one of the most popular off-road capable vehicles, and many owners modify their Jeeps to make them even better when the pavement ends.
Winches are very popular among Jeep owners, and reading up on another Jeep owner’s experience with the winches you intend to purchase can help you choose the right one.
Reading reviews can help you gain insight:
- into how easy the winch was to install
- what hardware was included
- how it holds up to use and abuse over time
- any issues and other details that the manufacturer might have left out.
Detailed Installation Instructions
A good winch should come with detailed instructions for installation. Detailed instructions can decrease the amount of time you spend installing the winch can reduce hang-ups during installation. A good set of instructions should include pictures, torque specifications, and measurements.
Hardware
A perfect winch for Jeep should come with all the necessary hardware for installation, including wires, hardware, and brackets. If you have to source your hardware, make sure to use automotive-grade hardware: Grade 8 and above for US standard-sized hardware, and Class 10.9 and above for Metric-sized hardware.
So, What’s the Best Budget Winch for Jeep Wrangler, JK, or TJ?
Adding a winch to your Jeep can give you and others peace of mind when off-road. Having the ability to pull yourself out of a challenging situation is priceless, and quality winch can assure you that you’ll make it home.
Any of the winches on our list are great options, but if we had to pick a winner, it would be the Smittybilt 97495 XRC Winch. We chose this winch as our winner because it features a 9,500-pound pull rating, waterproof 6.6 12VDC horsepower motor, remote control, and Smittybilt’s includes a limited lifetime warranty.
This winch has a ton of features and a value-minded price, making it the perfect winch for any Jeep owner looking for quality on a budget. That is one of the best Jeep winches for the money!