10 Best Winches for Car Trailer In 2023 | Top Models Reviewed

Myriads of products in the market come in the way to reaching the best winch for car trailer. There are virtually tons of choices to camouflage you and keep you away from the car trailer winch you are after. That situation warrants you take several things into consideration to get to the right product.

Not to say, this is not a simple task because we all are not automobile specialist who is in need of a winch. The only way out in this regard is to follow what the experienced and concerned specialists say.

That is where this post becomes instrumental for you in picking up the right hauler that can rescue you in off-road terrain. Here, we have described the 10 best car trailer winches in the industry and the buying guide to keep you on the right track.

10 Best Car Trailer Winches - Quick Summary

1. Best Overall: Superwinch LP8500 Gen II Car Trailer Winch

"It features Handheld Remote control system with 15’ range, 8500 lbs load hauling capacity, 94’ long steel wire rope, weather-sealed solenoid, and fairlead hawse."

2. Top Rated Pick: Smittybilt GEN 2 XRC Winch

"The noticeable features are 9500 lbs load hauling capacity, fairlead 4-way roller, 6.6 hp motor power, and 500 amp Solenoid."

3. Best For Heavyweight Car: LD12-ELITE Heavy Duty Trailer Winch

"It comes with powerful 6.0 hp motor compatible with 12V DC battery and 12000 lbs load hauling capacity. It also features a wireless remote, 87' long wire rope, and auto braking locks."

4. Best Premium Pick: WARN 96800 VR8 Electric Car Trailer Winch

"The fast-line speed with series wound motor makes it one of the best option for car. It also comes with 8,000 lbs load capacity, 94’ long wire rope, and 3-stage planetary gear system."

5. Budget Pick: X-BULL 12V Electric Winch

"This 12000 lbs capacity winch comes featured with Both Corded and Cordless control. Others outstanding features are 85' long steel rope, Free spooling clutch, and positive load control."

6. Best Versatile Pick: Smittybilt X2O Waterproof Winch

"It comes featured with 10,000 lbs hauling capacity, 4-way roller fairlead, 6.6 hp amphibious motor compatible with 12V DC battery, Dynamic Braking System, and Solenoid mounting option. But, the best thing of the product is 5-year electrical and lifetime technical support."

7. Best For Lightweight Car: Bravex Electric 3500 lbs Waterproof Winch

"It is Designed to suit all offroad terrain. It includes an exclusive braking design and 2-year parts warranty and lifetime technical support. But, 3500 lbs of load hauling capacity is lower than the other items in this list."

8. Best Portable Winch For Car: Superwinch 1140232 Electric Winch

"It comes with 4,000 to 8,000 lbs load capacity, quick connect alligator clips for 12V DC battery, 12’ range remote control, storing and on-the-go carrying box, and a leather palmed gloves to hold winch."

9. Best Cheap Car Trailer Winch: ZEAK 10000 lbs Advanced Electric Winch

"The 10,000 lbs of load capacity along with 5.6 hp motor compatible with 12V DC battery is able to pull heavy objects. The 4-way fairlead roller, 81 ft wire rope, and 11.5’ range remote control make it one of the bests in the market."

10. Runner Up: ORCISH IP67 13000 lbs Waterproof Electric Winch

"The best features of this higher poundage (13000) load capacity winch are 6.0 hp motor compatible with 12V DC battery, 85’ long wire rope , 2 cordless remote control, heavy-duty sealed contactor, and unique braking system."

10 Best Winches for Car Trailer Reviews In-Depth

Below you go with the top 10 car winch reviews that will make you understand why you use an electric winch for car trailer. Moreover, these electric winch reviews are meticulous enough to convince you about the unit you need for your purpose.

1. Best Overall: Superwinch LP8500 Gen II Car Trailer Winch

This Superwinch car trailer winch is an outstanding hauling option for trucks and cars stuck in off-road terrain. On top of a huge load hauling capacity of 8,500 lb, it offers multiple conveniences rare with rival off-road haulers.

To start with, 4.5 hp motor is a giant to provide you with unthinkable hauling power. And not to fail, you on the spot will go on backed by your vehicle battery, and the connection between the two is a breeze to establish.

All-metal three-stage circular gear train is not that rare, but the lever-action free spooling clutch will allow you to pull out winch rope manually if needed. Not to ignore the best trailer winch rope length that is metal and 94’ capable of hauling from a fair distance.

The trailer winch stands-out by means of the safety features and the one that cannot go without mention is the auto load holding braking mechanism. That noticeably minimizes the possibility of rope slippage in an adverse situation like a power failure. And the rubberized remote switch featured with a 15-foot long cable enables you to make the winch work while maintaining a safe distance between the hauler and the users.

Good Sides We Did Find:

• Robust motor power and hauling capacity
• Safety Measures ensuring zero risk
• Corded and rubberized remote switch
• Weather resistant sealing for extended hauling life
• 2-year of confident warranty statement
• Winch accessory kit available

Drawbacks We Did Find:

• Medium-scale hauling capacity unable to rescue heavy-weight truck
• Hawse fairlead not a match for roller fairlead

Our Verdict: 1585202 model trailer winch offers power, value, versatility, and an unbeatable price. Off-road 4*4 vehicles and utility hauling applications will find a peerless alternative in this. All the cars, trucks, SUVs, ATVs, and medium-sized vehicles will be easy to rescue when stuck in odd situations.

2. Top Rated Pick: Smittybilt GEN 2 XRC Winch

A car trailer with a compact size that weighs just 78 lb can haul up to 9500 lb of load is definitely a go to option for mid-level vehicles. You can also engage in other rescue utility uses not to limit to just hauling cars, ATV, and SUVs. The wire rope is a perfect combination with the 6.6hp motor power that will run backed by the 12V vehicle battery. Fairlead 4-way roller is a stand-out convenience for the metal rope to pull in and release without decaying friction.

The heavy-duty construction and sturdy body get a longer hauling life than the competitors by dint of the car hauler winch’s complete water resistant feature. The accessory kit is a treat with all installation wiring and so you can avoid the hassle of managing compatible wiring.

The original product purchasers get a limited tenure for replacement on the parts made of stainless steel. Besides, the 5-year or 100,000 mile warranty is a confident statement for the powder-coated products.

Good Sides We Did Find:

• Compact body size and medium weight unit accommodate in common vehicles
• Fully waterproof to resist decay by rust, dust, and debris
• Freespooling clutch handle to draw the rope manually
• 5-year or 100,000 mile warranty
• High-end construction and huge load capacity

Badsides We Did Find:

• Shorter positive cable that should be 1’ to the least
• Installation instructions are useless
• Side mount bracket is shorter than bare necessity

Our Verdict: The great product at an unbeatable price should be the tag line while describing this Smittybilt Gen 2 model. This sturdy but compact piece of equipment is meant for off-road transportation. And the warranty is something that has made the price a steal.

3. Best For Heavyweight Car: LD12-ELITE 12000 lbs Heavy Duty Winch

This best car hauler winch is certainly a big boy in the family of car rescue winches. The larger dimension is perfectly in line with the robust hauling capacity of 12000 lb and 90 lb of product weight to sit steady in bumpers. The 6.0 hp motor will hardly fail you in your recovery off-trail recovery task with your car battery support. And the cordless remote will enable you to maneuver the hauling job from a safe distance.

Safety, comfort, and convenience are the gift from this model. Thanks to the auto braking system that locks the rope to prevent freespooling and slacking while you don’t need.

The 87 ft. long and 3/8" rope keep fastened around the 2.5” diameter and 8 13/16 inch long drum thanks to the abrasion proof metal wire.

Pros We Did Find:

• Upgraded motor with a huge power rating for extensive recovery hours
• Both wireless and wired control
• Safety ensured by the auto braking of the rope
• Zero abrasion wire rope with fairlead roller for pulling and rolling without friction

Cons We Did Find:

• Works great but drains your battery faster than the rivals

Our Verdict: This is a solid buy and works great at recovery tasks, and another utility hauling is a breeze for it. One of the best trailer winches and looks sturdy and hauls like a giant making heavy load shift to the intended location. A bit pricier than the average car trailer winch but the service you get what you pay for.

4. Best Premium Pick: WARN 96800 VR8 Electric Car Trailer Winch

Simplistic design is intended for a wider range of fitness in several vehicles including cars, jeeps, trucks, and SUVs. It is super easy to install and multiple mounting options is possible for the separate control pack. And the above-the-average feature is the durable, reliable, and smooth 3-stage planetary gearing. This is what has made the electric winch for car hauler popular with the drivers.

As for the motor power, you will never fall short of capacity thanks to the series-wound motor capable of supporting with huge power. And the rescue job is made easier for the fast line speed. Unlike the simplistic winch designed for over-all fitness, the brakes come designed exclusively to exercise superior control while winching for fallen or stuck heavy-duty vehicles.

Upsides We Did Find:

• 94’ long steel cable rope for convenient recovery
• Versatile hauling for utility and vehicle
• Compact and lightweight product for over-all fitness
• Powerful motor backed by the 12V car battery
• Supported by the WARN’s leading warranty for 7 years

Downsides We Did Find:

• No mentionable downside reported by the users

Our Verdict: Upgraded for superior performance and the best electric winch for car trailer is at work as advertised. Super easy and faster installation means your recovery job will start and be done earlier. And WARN-exclusive 7-year warranty is not something worth-missing. And the high-end product compensates for the price it claims.

5. Budget Pick: X-BULL 12V Electric Winch

Versatile control by cordless remote control from a safe distance and wired hand control when convenient. The winch rope is a 26 meter steel cable that makes rescue job easier thanks to the high tensile steel. This electric winch for car hauler is made to withstand a heavier load. And the free spooling clutch is an addition to the convenience when you require the wire rope to roll back manually.

The exclusive Power in and Power out feature of the motor enables it for favorable load control. 4-way fairlead roller is for corrosion-free rope pulling and rolling. A super big motor runs this best trailer winch, but it keeps quiet while operating.

You have the brake for added safety while preventing unwanted spooling and slacking. Another feature for safety and convenience is to hold loads automatically while exceeding the capacity.

Pros We Did Find:

• Quite, efficient, and powerful operation
• Safety measures highly taken care of
• Rapid wire rope payout by free spooling clutch
• Easier and convenient operation by manual and remote control
• Waterproof and zero friction hauling

Drawbacks We Did Find:

• Do not come by any mentionable con

Our Verdict: Highly recommended for performance, power, safety and easy operation. Perfect for any set up and you can challenge the best car trailer winches with that affordable hauler. Chance is too slim to encounter issues over longer operation.

6. Best Versatile Pick: Smittybilt X2O Waterproof Winch

With this Smittybilt electric winch, we are referring another rescuer of offroad stuck vehicles. That comes equipped with higher load capacity, premium metal hardware, and some other stand-out features. This braking system offers dynamic braking of the rope while you want to lock it up.

As for operational ease, you can control it both with remote control from a safe distance and manually with a wired hand control system. Two solenoid mounting options are there to be at your preference. The forged hook will suit the power cable to hook up your stuck friend from offroad slopes, deep mud, or sand. The heavyweight product sits steadily on the mounting bolt pattern not to quirk in jerky trails.

Positives We Did Find:

• 4-way Fairlead roller for corrosion-free wire rope running
• Not to miss Lifetime mechanical and 5 year electrical warranty
• Stainless steel hardware for stable and safe hauling
• High power motor for extended duration of hauling
• Versatile operation with manual and remote control

Drawbacks We Did Find:

• The range of the wireless remote is shorter
• There should have been more screws with the solenoid mounting

Our Verdict: The winch is strong and well-built to serve longer than the rivals of the same price range. And in terms of size and features, it is awesome and unbeatable for easier installation and versatile control at operation. Recommended highly for offroad rescue and utility uses as winches for car trailers. And not to miss the line speed which defeats the competitors.

7. Best For Lightweight Car: Bravex Electric 3500lb Waterproof Winch

Compared to the car trailer winches already reviewed, this one is meant for a range of low-profile vehicles. And they include UTV, car, atv, boat, jeeps, trucks, many other medium size vehicles, and multiple utility purposes. The hauling capacity may be to the low-end but the vehicles mentioned will get the able hauling even in abrasive terrains. Be they in offroad tracks like rocks, sand, and mud.

Heavyweight puller like trailer winch must be with safety measures properly taken care of. In this case too, the safety at operation is maintained by the braking design offering superior control. Dual operational control adds to the safety and convenience in operation thanks to the wired hand control and wireless distant control.

The high power motor ensures the steady and consistent pull powered by the car battery. Backed by 2-year warranty, this car hauler winch offers a durable and extended pulling life.

Pros We Did Find:

• Fit a wide range of vehicles and multiple utility uses
• Recover the stuck vehicles from any terrain and complex situations
• Waterproof housing and high-powered motor for strong pull
• 2-year warranty and lifelong technical support
• Available at affordable price

Flaws We Did Find:

• Occasional malfunctioning after several months but only one user say so
• More than one remote may not operate at the same time

Our Verdict: An awesome trailer winch in terms of performance, durability, power, and safety. The manufacturer deserves credit for speed, warranty, and great customer service. And an unbeatable product for the price.

8. Best Portable Winch For Car: Superwinch 1140232 4000 lbs Winch

A portable car trailer winch with the load hauling capacity of 4000 lbs, enjoys the backing of one 16,000 lbs pulley block to empower the hauling capacity up to 8000 lbs. When needed, two heavy-duty straps are at your disposal meant for 8,000 lbs of load.

You can pick one of the operational controls as per your convenience. The options in the offer include 12 foot range handheld remote control.

The storage and carrying box is convenient to carry for remote offroad terrains. In the absence of a power source at proximity, the alligator clips will connect it to the car battery to run.

On the accessories part, you have two leather-palmed heavy duty winch gloves to protect your palms while pulling the synthetic rope manually.

Good Sides We Did Find:

• Built-in on-the-go car trailer winch
• Variable load hauling capacity
• A plug and play winch capable of easy and fast electric connection
• Dual control over winching out and in
• Synthetic rope for sore-free pulling

Downsides We Did Find:

• Synthetic rope not meant for all-weather roping

Our Verdict: On top of considerable load pulling capacity up to 8,000 lbs, it offers excellent accessories meant for operational comfort. This is an on-the-go electric winch for car hauler with a box to keep it nice and clean. All that at a cheaper cost is something to grab at.

9. Best Cheap Car Trailer Winch: ZEAK 10000lb Advanced Electric Winch

The best size winch for car trailer is not merely meant for heavy-duty pulling. It may prove to be a friend in need in the oddest terrain like muddy, snowy, and rocky tracks. If and when stuck in odd and complex situation, you can opt for distant operation control by dint of the 11 foot plus remote switch.

The motor is a huge power source and support for winching even when not around a utility power source. It runs if connected with a 12V car battery. The galvanized steel rope is easy to winch in and out through the 4-way fairlead roller with minimal or zero friction. And with its 81 feet length, it adds to the pulling comfort and convenience. An accessory like a clevis hook latch is a gift making your task breeze.

This is designed to go compatible with any 4*4 vehicles stuck in harsh and complex situations.

Good Sides We Did Find:

• Heavy-duty load hauler
• Can fit to all 4*4 vehicles
• Compact but sturdy to serve longer than usual
• Protection to circuit breaker for extended winching life
• 1-year limited warranty
• Friction-free winch out and in through fairlead roller

Badsides We Did Find:

• No mentionable downside from the users

Our Verdict: Work great at all terrains and is a trusted electric winch for car hauler in odd tracks. Never fail you with its robust power, compatible battery support. A well-built, strong, and so a reliable winch. It goes perfectly as advertised and with the price range.

10. Runner Up: ORCISH IP67 13000 lb Waterproof Electric Winch

The ORCISH IP67 possesses the highest load capacity among the winch reviewed by now. This is a giant in terms of hauling strength of 13,000 lbs to haul loaded vehicles and other machines with ease. To provide undisturbed support in winching out and it, there is the robust motor with 6.0 hp can be fueled by a 12V car battery when utility power source is not around.

This is a highly efficient hauler to rescue stuck empty and loaded vehicles with the rate of 22 feet/minute and 5.8 feet/minute respectively. You can enjoy superior control featured with a clutch braking mechanism.

85’ long wire rope is to reach the stuck car or truck at any offroad length. And the two remotes add to the control while operating and make operation a breeze even in oddest of the situation.

Good Sides We Did Find:

• Waterproof, sandproof solenoid for extended winching life
• Highly efficient in hauling vehicles
• Giant capacity to rescue any vehicle backed by a robust motor
• Highly sensitive winching control with 2 remotes
• Exclusive clutch braking system for preventing unwanted spooling and slacking
• Fairlead roller for zero friction and smooth winching in and out

Drawbacks We Did Find:

• Rocks with lighter-duty vehicles and only workable with heavy-duty tasks
• Wire ropes better to replace with aircraft quality stainless steel wire rope for max performance

Our Verdict: Looks well and works well too just as advertised. So, a highly recommended trailer winch beyond doubt. This is a great product with high efficiency, power, performance, superior control, and sturdy construction can beat the adverse weather. Made unbeatable by the 1-year warranty and excellent customer service.

Considerations While Choosing The Best Winch For Car Trailer

Given you already have a feast of 10 best winch for car trailer; you are in need of picking the right one for your intended task. To come out with the car trailer winch suitable for your purpose, you have to take some basic factors into consideration. Here you go with the fundamental points you must ponder over before making the final purchase.

Size & Shape

Like all other factors, physical size and shape matter much. If you are up to invest your winch in construction site or tighter space, you can go for a small size winch. Conversely, larger winches are the call when you need to tow heavyweight vehicles or load. Therefore, ending up with the right size of winch is determined by your need or task to accomplish.

Types of Winches

You have two types of winches to choose from that include electric winches and hydraulic winches. Whereas both the winch performs the same task of hauling load, they differ in their capacity, fueling, and running duration.

Needless to elaborate, the hydraulic winches are for heavy-duty pulling and run longer hours than their electric counterpart. And they cost higher than the electric version.

On the contrary, electric winches are handy to maneuver and do your job perfectly, but they run shorter than their hydraulic counterparts.

Therefore, if you are up to haul heavy-duty vehicles frequently and pull heavy loads, your go-to option is the first one. And the electric winch will help your pull stuck cars, truck, boats, ATV, and SUVs and other mid-level utility jobs. However, we have focused only on electric trailer winch reviews in this article.

Rope Type

Winches are an auxiliary or additional tool for hauling weights that are impossible to move by bare hands. And so the rope is the essential part of the winch. And you have two types – metal wire & synthetic rope- with the recent introduction of synthetic rope.

They do have their respective downsides and upsides. As for steel wire cable, it will serve you in all weather and pulling heavyweight loads. To be on the flip side, it is costlier and riskier than the competitor. The metal wire goes hot easily and can hurt your hands badly.

And the synthetic rope is flexible, cheaper, and not riskier to handle. But they will last shorter than wire version one and tend not to survive several rainy seasons. Being synthetic, they tend to dampen faster. In this context, wire rope also tends to grow rust but not that early as synthetic rope starts weakening. To know in-depth guide on both rope types you may read this article: https://automobilenote.com/synthetic-rope-vs-steel-cable/.

Capacity

Capacity refers to the ability to haul weight. The industry rule is to go for 2 times or at least 1.5 times the weight of the vehicle or body you need to pull. Suppose you have a car weighing 6,000 lbs when loaded. So, the rule of thumb suggests that you select a winch with a load capacity of at least 12,000 lbs or not less mighty than 9000 lbs capacity.

If you take one that encounters more than its capability off and on, your winch will go defunct earlier than usual. But if you take one that is stronger in terms of hauling energy, it will profit you in the long run by outliving the usual service life. Therefore, when considering hauling capacity, go for a mightier one.

FAQs

How do you attach a winch to a car trailer?

There are several varieties of trailer to choose from while mounting a winch on them. However, the car trailer may have a winch installed either of the following ways:

i) Put the winch on the trailer railing that has a receiver hitch mount                            

ii) Mount on the trailer floor bed by putting a mounting plate for winch

To Get In Depth guide about mounting a winch on a trailer go this link.

How to wire a winch on a trailer?

You require proper wiring to power a car trailer winch via a vehicle battery or auxiliary battery. In this case, follow the steps below:                        

i) Connect the power cable to the +ve post of the winch

ii) And the ground wire to the –ve post

iii) Now drive the opposite wire ends to the trailer coupler
Thus, you should be ready to use.

By the way, you can wire a winch without a solenoid. To learn the wiring process, you can check this article.

What size winch do I need for my car trailer?

Physical size doesn’t matter winching in a car trailer or for any other purpose. But if it is the capacity, the winch capacity should be double the size(weight) of your car. Bigger capacity winches than required will not be a waste. Rather, they will extend the service life. 

Can you power a winch through the trailer plug?

To empower the car trailer winch, you have two alternatives to go for:

i) Install a battery on your trailer for powering it.

ii) The vehicle battery provides power for it.

Do UHaul car trailers have a winch?

Normally, Uhaul car trailers don’t have a winch. And there are no instances of those trailers feature any location for attaching any strap.

Can you run a winch off a deep cycle battery?

Obviously, I can, and it works great. You can run your winch from a deep cycle battery either seated on the trailer or the back of your car or truck.

Can you put a winch on a tilt trailer?

There is no instance to put a winch on a tilt trailer.

What is the best battery for a trailer winch?

The obvious answer is the deep cycle 12V battery. But be careful of two factors that the battery be lead acid and offer at least 650 cold cranking amps. Thus you will face no issue starting the winch on the car trailer.

Wrap Up

You have reached this part of the review article on is evident that you have already come across the industry leaders. And you are well aware of the buying factors to help you reach the right product.

Having said that, you cannot undermine the advanced features like remote control, sealed contactor, auto-in-drum braking system, and more. Upgraded features and accessories also are defining factors that make the best winch for car trailer.

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