Don’t Get Stuck: The Best Winches for Side-by-Side Vehicles
If you are thinking to get a side-by-side winch for your motor vehicle, you have stumbled upon the ultimate best winch for a side-by-side on the web. It doesn’t matter what you are pulling, these winches are monsters that are up for almost any task at hand. They are great for off-roading, logging, boating, aiding another vehicle, and much more.
In our list, we have included winches for different tasks and purposes, for lighter and heavier pulling, the best UTV winch for the money, and we tried to cover mounting options that will suit most of the vehicles, especially UTV vehicles, ATV vehicles, jeeps, trucks, etc. These handy devices will be of great use in forests, off-road, as well as at the household, ranches, ranges, and other places where a good pull is needed.
Top 3 Best Winch for UTV
| winches | FEATURES | DETAILS |
|---|---|---|
 Champion Power Equipment | Line Pull:4500 lbs. Motor:1.6 HP Gear Ratio:180:1 Rope:Galvanized Steel Weight:19.7 lbs. | PriceDetail review |
 AC-DK WDEW4500 Winch Kit | Line Pull:4500 lbs. Motor:1.3 HP Gear Ratio:166:1 Rope:Steel Wire Weight:28.6 lbs. | PriceDetail review |
 FIERYRED Electric Winch Kits | Line Pull:4500 lbs. Motor:1.9 HP Gear Ratio:153:1 Rope:Synthetic Rope Weight:23.5 lbs. | PriceDetail review |
Understanding Side-by-Side Winches
When referring to winches, a “side-by-side winch” is one that is made specifically for use on UTVs. If you’re an off-road enthusiast who wants to take on tough terrains like deep mud and steep hills, this is an essential piece of equipment. An electric motor drives the cable or rope of a side winch, which is mounted on a vehicle’s side. Objects or vehicles are pulled by the winch as the cable or rope is coiled around the drum.
Understanding Winch Capacity – Why a 3000 lb Winch Is Ideal for Side by Sides
The Importance of Knowing Your Winch’s Capacity and Why 3000 Lb Winches Are Perfect for Side by Sides
Choosing a winch for your UTV should take the capacity of the winch into account. When shopping for a winch, make sure to consider your vehicle’s weight to ensure you get one with a suitable capacity.
A winch with a capacity of at least 3,000 pounds is recommended for side-by-side vehicles. You won’t have to worry about your car or winch being damaged or overworked at this capacity, yet it’s sufficient for the vast majority of trail scenarios.
In addition, you can have a 3000 lb winch placed on your side-by-side in a matter of hours because of how small and lightweight they normally are. Because of how little room it takes up and how little weight it adds, it won’t negatively impact your car’s performance or handling.
Winches with capacities of 3000 pounds or more require careful consideration of the cable or rope that will be used. Because of its reduced weight and greater manageability, synthetic rope is often used side by side instead of steel cable. In the event of a break, the synthetic rope will not send any debris flying, making it a safer option.
Steel Cable vs Synthetic Rope Winches – Which is Best for Your Side by Side?
You can choose between steel cable and synthetic rope winches for your side-by-side. Both have their benefits and drawbacks, so you need to weigh them carefully to determine which one serves you best.
winches have been used for many years because of their reliability and sturdiness. They are more resilient to trail hazards like sharp pebbles and can carry more weight than lighter vehicles. However, steel cables are dangerous because they kink easily and can cause significant harm if they snap while under tension. Steel cables rust and corrode easily, which further weakens them over time.
However, off-road aficionados are flocking to the modern technology of synthetic rope winches. Synthetic ropes are great for side-by-sides that are frequently driven on and off-road since they are lighter and easier to handle than steel cables. When they break, unlike steel wires, they won’t send any sharp fragments flying. Synthetic ropes are less prone to disintegrate over time since they are resistant to UV radiation, chemicals, and moisture.
Top Rated 6 Side-by-Side Winch Reviews
What is the biggest challenge for a buyer these days? While you think about it, notice how many options today’s market offers to a buyer regardless of what he is thinking to purchase. That’s why reading buying guides or reviews is important if you want detailed insights on your purchase. To make it easier for you, “we have compiled a list of six best side-by-side winches for the money” for your better judgment. Here it goes…
1Champion Power Equipment 14560 Wireless Winch Kit
Do you want to equip your ATV or UTV with the best winch possible? Champion Power Equipment has you covered with their 14560 Wireless Winch Kit, so there’s no need to keep looking. Off-road fans who want nothing but the finest will appreciate this kit’s 4500-lb capacity and 1.6-horsepower (12-volt) DC motor.
The presence of its wireless antenna and remote is one of the distinctive features that distinguish this winch kit. You can control the winch from just about everywhere thanks to its 50-foot control radius, which makes it a remarkably practical tool. In addition, the antenna and remote will turn off automatically when not in use, helping to protect the battery in your car.
Champion was the best to manage to scale the power of their winches. A cool thing about 14560 is that it comes with a roller fairlead which effectively coils and uncoils the aircraft-grade cable capable of withstanding years of rough terrain as well as heavy-duty strain forces. The motor has 1.6 hp and is powered by DC, so it can be connected to a car battery. It’s made to work extremely well with ATV and UTV vehicles.
The Champion Power Equipment-14560 Winch Kit can handle almost any task that comes its way because of its efficiency and power. You won’t have to wait all day to move your car out of a tight space thanks to the line speed of 12.8 feet per second when there is no load and 4.6 feet per minute when there is a full load.
2AC-DK WDEW4500 Winch Kit for Towing ATV/UTV Off-Road Trailer
AC-DK winch has everything a great winch has. It’s got the power to pull up to 4500 lbs of mass. It’s got a DC-power connection so you can hook it up on your 12V car battery. The AC-DK winch is equipped with a 3-stage gear train (planetary) for different speeds and pulls and a safety feature in the form of a circuit breaker. It is also weather-sealed with IP67-tier water resistance.
It’s equipped with a synthetic rope led by an aluminum fairlead to prevent it from winding the wrong way. This product comes not with one, but two wireless remote controllers that will precisely tell the machine what to do. The control over the winch is amazing given the high speed and sensitivity of the circuit. The AC-DK winch is equipped with a uniquely designed clutch break. This makes it one of the best side x side winches for delicate work out there.
In addition to its remarkable qualities, the AC-DK winch kit is also remarkably simple to install because all required accessories are included in the package. All you need to do to get started is use the winch power cord to attach the winch to the ATV or UTV battery. Furthermore, our team of experts is available at all times to help you if you run into any problems during installation, which is really unusual.
With lifelong technical assistance and a 2-year limited warranty included with every one of our winches, AC-DK fully stands behind the caliber of our goods. Please contact us if you have any troubles during the purchase period; we promise to react within 24 hours and take immediate action to fix any problems.
Accept the AC-DK 4500 lb. Electric Synthetic Rope ATV/UTV Winch Kits today and benefit from a dependable, effective, and powerful winching solution that is certain to make every off-road journey a seamless and enjoyable experience!
3FIERYRED S-WIN4500-ROPE-UFA Electric Winch Kits for side x side
- Buy on Amazon
- Buy on Walmart
Introducing the ultimate winching solution for side-by-side vehicles – the FIERYRED Electric 12V Winch. With a massive pulling power of 3,500 lbs, this winch is built to recover your stuck vehicles with ease, even in the toughest of terrains. For this reason, we announce our strong opinion that the Fieryred winch is the best winch for ATV/UTV, and here’s why. The device fits snuggly into any UTV’s front winch socket and it matches most vehicles’ colors with its matte finish.
The synthetic rope capable of withstanding up to 23800 pounds is more than enough for a great pulling experience. This product also comes with two remote controls with a 25-meter radius signal, more than enough for any kind of off-road pull and tug. The engine is sealed and along with the rest of the construction provides a rain-tear water-resistant product. The winch comes with a forged steel hook and an alloy fairlead designed for enduring hard work.
This electric winch features a stronger gear ratio of 126:1 and a 2-stage planetary gear system, making it stronger and faster for winching performance. The dual control mode with both wired and wireless options gives you maximum control over the winch, ensuring your safety and keeping the harm at bay. The wireless control extends up to 25 meters, providing ample distance for safe operation.
For side-by-side vehicles, the FIERYRED Electric 12V 3500lb Winch was created. Because of its small size and 79.5mm mounting bolt design, it is simple to fit and install onto your side-by-side car. This winch is ideal for side-by-side cars because it has an 80A suggested current and an intermittent duty cycle.
4ZEAK Advanced Electric Winch Off-Roading
- Line Pull: 5500 lbs.
- Rope: Galvanized Steel Rope
- Weight: 36.4 lbs.
So far we’ve been reviewing winches with the 4.5k-pound grade, and now we’ll detour to higher tiers. Zeak Advanced winch has a 5500lbs rating which makes it much stronger. With the power it can take, it seems to us the best side-by-side winch for the money.
It holds a 50ft long galvanized steel rope capable of withstanding tremendous strain. The motor packs a 1.6hp powered by a 12V battery. The most fun thing about this winch is that it contains one of the best fairleads on the market – a four-way fairlead. The downside to it is that it comes with a corded remote control, but there is no wireless remote. Nevertheless, its safety measures including a circuit breaker, rain, and moisture-proof casing, and very strong dynamic break make it safe and easy enough to use with pleasure.
- 5500lbs rating
- Galvanized rope, 50 feet
- 1.6 horsepower motor
- Three-stage planetoid differential
- Corded control
5X-BULL Electric Winch for Towing
- Line Pull: 4500 lbs.
- Rope: Synthetic Rope
- Weight: 23.6 lbs.
X-Bull created a quality winch for which they put an awesome guarantee. The reason for this is the quality engineering and materials put into designing and manufacturing each and every one of these products. They have top-notch durability and provide power no matter the circumstances. There won’t be any need for worrying if the winch is taking damage or corrosion during harsh off-road trips.
IP67-tier resistance provides immunity against mud, rain, and fine dust particles found off-road. The 4500lbs rated motor packs a differential that is powerful yet built for speed, and what’s most important – it realizes automatic braking. The winch utilizes extra-light synthetic rope that is capable of withstanding tremendous strain, as well as drag, twist, and scratch. To add at the end, we believe that the X-bull winch has one of the coolest-looking remote switches on the market.
- 4500lbs rated
- Wireless remote control and hand control
- Extra-sensitive controller casing
- Extra-light synthetic rope
- Powdered steel hook
6SuperATV Black Winch Kit for Side by Side, Waterproof Seals
- Line Pull: 3500 lbs.
- Rope: Synthetic Rope
- Weight: 30.1 lbs.
SuperATV Black Ops winch kit may not fit every bumper and it may not have the power you’d suspect, but it has durability and reliability like no other winch on the market. The motor is 3500 pounds rated, yet it is one of the best-designed DC winch motors on the market. It has a powerful permanent magnet that does not lose its power easily, a 1:166 differential ratio made by an intelligently designed three-stage planetary gear system.
A hawse fairlead is built to stay and gives precision and order when spooling. Unlike many products on the market, the SuperATV Black Ops winch comes with a hook strap which can prove very useful to many. On top of that, it comes with a wireless remote, a rocker mount, and a stopper, among other basic things. Note that some mounts are bought separately in some cases.
- 3500lbs rating
- 50-foot synthetic rope
- 1:166 differential
- Ultra-high-quality materials
- Aluminum hawse fairlead
Considerations for Choosing a Winch for Side-by-Side
What does it take to be sure you are looking at the best side-by-side winches? Though the details are really hard to grasp, there is a simple list of a couple of features you want to check out the best you can before deciding and purchasing a winch.
Side-by-Side Use
The first thing is pretty straightforward: will it fit your side by side? It is very good to double-check not only the dimensions of the winch but also the amount available for the particular winch. You can easily find the bumper dimensions and winch recommendations for your side-by-side in particular, and the winch dimensions and mount specifications are readily available online.
Power or Capacity
Next up is to choose the power or capacity for your winch. The price difference is not that big in some cases so it is best to simply opt for the most powerful winch you can find. A 4500lbs winch is standard and it should cover most side by side. If you choose not to bother with excess power remember the +50% rule or the 1.5x rule. It’s a simple calculation to determine the capacity of a winch – it shouldn’t be lower than 1.5 times the weight of the side-by-side. Most UTVs and ATVs would require from 3000lbs to 4000lbs winch capacity, but you may want to have at least 500lbs more in your winch just to be sure, for unexpected extra-hard tugging that may occur now and then.
Motor
The best winch for the side x side will also have the best motor and the best electronics. We will cover these two together because they are the most complex for figuring out the quality. A motor should have a good strong magnet and a well-designed differential system. This is hard to figure out on your own if you are not an engineer, but there are user reviews that should tell you if the system works properly and for what it’s worth, for a long time. The similar goes for the electronics – check the reviews of owners and look for smooth, responsive remote switches rather than blunt ones.
Winch Cable Length and Material
When shopping for a winch, it’s important to pay attention to the length and construction of the cable. Your side-by-side car will add considerable weight to the cable, so be sure it’s long enough to reach the anchor point and made of a durable enough material. Steel and synthetic materials predominate as winch cables’ material of choice. Steel cables are robust, however, they have the drawback of easily rusting and kinking. Synthetic cables have the advantages of being inexpensive to produce, easily bendable, and lightweight.
Control Methods for Winches
The mechanism that regulates the movement of the winch is called the “winch control system.” Winch control systems can be either manually operated or operated from a distance. Physical effort is required to operate a manual winch control system, however, these systems are typically less expensive. Controlling a winch from a distance is easier and more convenient with a remote system.
Winch Mounting Options
Another important choice to think about is winch mounting. Your side-by-side vehicle should have a winch positioned safely and conveniently nearby. Winch mounting choices come in front mount and rear mount-varieties. Your side-by-side vehicle’s front mount winch is situated there and is best used to extricate the vehicle from difficult terrain. The best use for a rear mount winch, which is positioned on the back of your side-by-side vehicle, is to tow heavy loads.
Safety
Safety features should be also included in your winch. Stuff like a quality casing that will protect the delicate mechanism from rain, dirt, and mud, a quality brake system, a fairlead, and so on should be included in the package for the best experience. The spooling speed should matter that much because the rule of thumb for most products is the more speed the less control. Good breaks should make up for this though.
Winch Brand and Warranty
When looking for a winch, it’s important to think about the manufacturer and warranty. You may rest easy knowing that your winch is covered against any manufacturing faults if you get it from a respected company that offers a warranty.
FAQs
What’s the best winch for a side-by-side?
In our opinion, Champion 14560 is the best winch for a side-by-side you can buy. They come in different power ratings, they are easy to mount and connect, and they don’t get damaged by mud, rain, and other adversities while off-road.
What size winch should I get for my side-by-side?
There are winches created specifically for side sides, ATVs and UTVs, and so on. The best way to figure out is to get the measurements of your side by side’s bumpers and compare them with side-by-side winches online.
Is a 3500-pound winch enough for a Polaris Ranger?
Though 3500 pounds sounds like a whole lot more than the weight of an average UTV like a Polaris Ranger, a side-by-side vehicle will be able to utilize the winch that is about 1.5 times as powerful as its weight. The safest winch you can get is probably about 4000 lbs, while 3500 will be helpful in some circumstances.
What’s the best winch for a Polaris RZR?
Given the additional weight added to the vehicle, something stronger than 4000 lbs is definitely recommended. In our opinion, the Zeak Advanced winch is the best winch for side-by-side as heavy as Polaris RZR.
Is a 2500 lb winch enough for a UTV?
Even the lightest UTVs would need a winch of about 3000 lbs and even more, just to be sure the strength covers most if not all of the scenarios. A 2500-lb winch would have limited capabilities but could work for a lighter UTV.
How do I choose a winch capacity?
Choosing a winch by capacity is more than an easy task. Practically, you won’t be wrong if you get a winch with as high a capacity as there is. If you still want to keep it moderate, remember the calculation: the minimum capacity a winch should have is 1.5 times the mass of the vehicle.
Conclusion
So, that was our list and journey to find you the best winch for side-by-side. It appears that Champion 14560 works more than well for most UTVs and ATVs out there, and will be a reliable winch for any of your endeavors. There are different models you can pick from to meet the strength requirements for your tasks, and the remote control is only going to make using the winch better and faster.
