The 4 Best Winches for the Money – Reviews 2023

best winch for the money

Photo by Nick Dawson / CC BY

When you need to move something heavy, you’re going to want a winch. Whether you want to drag fallen trees, lift up a heavy object for repairs, tow a vesicle, or do any number of other tasks, a winch can help. However, not all winches are created equal. Some can lift several tons while others can only move a few hundred pounds. Depending on your needs, you’re going to have to pick carefully.

When you’re looking to tow equipment and haul material, you want the best winch for the money. Below are 4 different units that each has its own unique advantage. There’s something for everyone.

Superwinch LT2000 12V Utility Winch

If you want to move heavy materials, the Superwinch LT2000 12V Utility Winch may be right for you. This unit is capable of lifting up to 2,000 pounds. It uses an 8 horsepower motor and nearly 50 feet of 5/32-inch cable to haul material. You control all the action with a simple two button remote, allowing you to move material safely and efficiently.

As an added bonus, this winch can be mounted to an ATV in case you want to use it for moving brush, hauling outdoor equipment, or clearing trees. You can hook the unit up to a DC battery in order to use it wherever you are. And the whole thing is light enough that it won’t bog you down.

This is a great winch and one that’s perfect for outdoor enthusiasts or people who needs to take care of some heavy lifting and wants to do so in a safe and controlled manner.

Champion Power Equipment Remote Power Winch Kit

Do you need to move really heavy stuff, like cars? If so, the Champion Power Equipment 100129 Power Winch Kit is right for you. This unit can move up to 4,700 pounds without a problem. With close to 40 feet of galvanized aircraft cable at your disposal, you can tow almost any object you want. The unit is super strong and there’s not too much that it can’t handle.

Even a lot of cars and vehicles can be moved by this winch without any issue. You also get a two year warranty in case anything goes wrong. And comes with a universal mounting channel that lets you attach it to your car, truck, or ATV.

If you’re serious about moving things and have some big objects that need to get shifted around, the Champion Power Equipment 100129 Winch Kit is perfect for you. It has power, can move thousands of pounds, and is incredibly easy to use. If you want tough, this is one of the best winches period.

Smittybilt 97495 XRC Winch

Finally, the toughest hombre is here. This winch here doesn’t mess around. It can move up to 9,5000 pounds worth of materials, enabling you to tow pretty much anything and everything. The Smittybilt 97495 XRC Winch can meet all your moving needs. It’s strong, tough, durable, and easy to control. Plus, it’s also waterproof.

This winch uses a three stage planetary gear system and has an amphibious motor. It’s also armed with a fully waterproofed 500AMP solenoid. Even if it gets wet, nothing bad will happen. Smittybilt, the manufacturer, is so confident in their product that they’ve issued a lifetime mechanical warranty and a five year electrical warranty. If anything goes wrong during this time, just tell the company and they’ll set things straight.

When you want a high-quality winch that’s waterproof and built to last forever, look no further than the Smittybilt 97495 XRC Winch. This unit can take care of all your heavy towing and move dense objects in wet or watery environments. If you want to haul a boat, or happen to live near a body of water, this is an essential tool for you. It’s powerful and built to take some serious abuse. You’ll definitely get your money’s worth out of this investment.

XRC8 Winch Stuck Wrangler Recovery

XtremepowerUS 2000 Lbs Cable Hand Winch

You’ll see a lot of hand winches rated for 600 pounds, but you won’t see many that can handle 2,000 pounds. This one can. That means this ultra-cheap winch can handle moving anything that weighs 2000 pounds or less.

Because it’s hand powered, you don’t need to worry about gas or electricity. As long as you have working arms and hands, you can use this winch to move things you’d never be able to budge on your own.

The winch itself is made of heavy gauge, zinc-coated steel for durability and strength. It comes with 32 feet of 3/16 inch steel wire cable, which can handle just about anything. It has a 4 inch hook at the end. Be sure before you buy it that the hook is the right size for you. Some users have complained that the hook is too small, but the size is clearly listed. Don’t buy this is a 4 inch hook isn’t the right size for you.

Just be sure not to overload it; hooking it up to something over 2,000 pounds is sure to damage it. As long as you don’t do that, this winch should last you a long time. It’s one of the best winches for the money.

Closing Thoughts

If you own a home, or land, there’s a good chance that you’ll have to move something heavy at some point. It could be a tree that’s fallen down in your yard, or a boat that you want to take out fishing. No matter what the circumstances, you’re going to need something strong enough to tow this object. You need a winch.

Whether you’re doing some occasional moving, and don’t want to spend a whole lot, or are hauling stuff around on a daily basis, there’s a winch that can meet your needs. Inexpensive units like the Superwinch LT2000 (see full specs) provide great value to people who don’t have much to move, while bigger models like the Smittybilt 97495 (see full specs) allow users to haul thousands of pounds without any difficulty.

Whatever your needs are, there’s a winch that can help, and we hope you’ve found the best winch for the money for your needs here. Good luck!

P.S. If you have any winch suggestions or would like to add something, feel free to leave a comment. Your suggestions and insights just might help someone else to find the tools that are right for them. Plus we’d love to hear from you.

  • Founder of Mechanical Caveman, Beau is an unrepentant tool enthusiast and, sporting deadlift-callused hands and an incongruous beer belly, all-around macho guy. When he doesn’t know re tools, he consults with his handyman and car-repairman buds to give you well-reasoned and cutting-edge info.

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  1. I’ve actually been looking for a winch for my truck. You never really know when you need to tow someone out of mud just like here in this video. Also, it will be nice to be able to tow people who get stuck in snow. Thanks for sharing these options with me!

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