Your ride isn’t complete without a winch. It’s one of those things we don’t think about until we need it, but when that need hits, it hits hard. So we can’t preach enough about how important it is to always have a functioning winch installed on your ATV or UTV.
But it can’t be just any winch. If you truly want to be prepared for whatever comes your way, you need a top-quality winch, and it has to be the right size. If you don’t get one strong enough for your machine, you’ll end up stuck. But get one that’s too strong and you’re just throwing away money and performance.
Because we like to be prepared and we want you to do the same, the SuperATV team developed Black Ops Winches—a line of winches that are ultra-reliable and suited to all ride styles and applications. With so many options to choose from, though, how can you know which winch size you need?
Despite the straightforward naming of a 2,500-pound winch or a 6,000-pound winch, there’s a little more going on with the weight rating than you might realize.
That’s because a winch’s weight rating is calculated using only the first layer of the rope around the winch’s spool. So a 2,500-pound winch can only pull 2,500 pounds for about the first foot or so (give or take several inches). As more rope spools out, it’ll pull less weight.
A 2,500-pound rating also doesn’t mean that it’ll pull a 2,500-pound machine through mud or sand—a bogged-down machine takes a lot more to pull. It’s for all these reasons that you want to apply the 1.5x rule. If you have a 1,000-pound machine, you need a winch rated for 1,500 pounds or more.
But how do you know how much your vehicle weighs? You gotta check your GVW—your gross vehicle weight. You can look up GVW in your owner’s manual. This is generally a different number from the weight shown in the online spec sheet, which displays the dry weight. Unlike dry weight, the GVW includes all fluids and fuel it needs to function, aka the actual weight of your machine when you use it.
GVW is the most relevant spec to have on hand when you’re picking out a winch.
Finding the correct size winch for your specific machine and ride style is important. Putting the biggest Black Ops Winch on your small ATV would be overkill, and putting a smaller winch on your four-seater UTV could turn an off-road disaster into an even bigger problem.
Here are our winch size recommendations.
The average weight of a midsize four-wheeler is about 520 pounds, with the heavier utility models erring closer to the 700- or 800-pound mark. Based on the 1.5x rule of thumb we mentioned earlier, a 2500-pound winch would be more than enough for the average ATV.
Check out our 2500 Lb. Black Ops Winch.
UTVs aren’t as easy to nail down as ATVs. Some smaller models can be as small as 1,025 pounds, like the Honda Pioneer 500. Others can push 3,000 pounds. Using the same 1.5x rule, you could need a 3,500-pound, 4,500-pound, or 6,000-pound winch to ride safely. Make sure you know your GVW, which we talked about earlier.
If you’re not sure your winch is gonna be quite big enough after doing the math, just go up to a bigger winch—better safe than sorry.
Check out our 3500 Lb. Black Ops Winch.
Check out our 4500 Lb. Black Ops Winch.
Check out our 6000 Lb. Black Ops Winch.
Contrary to what they say, size isn’t everything. Your winch needs will also differ based on the type of riding you do. If you’re a fan of mudding, there’s a good chance you find yourself stuck every now and then (or every time you ride—but we’re not here to judge). In that case, your winch should be strong enough to effectively pull you out of that sticky situation.
The same goes for hills and rocks—that kind of terrain takes a big winch if you get stuck.
But let’s say you don’t anticipate getting stuck anytime soon. In that case, it depends on what type of work your machine will be doing. If you’re loaded way down with tons of work gear and passengers, you’ll need to size up. But if you only need a winch to plow snow in the winter, a lower weight rating will suit you just fine.
The result of getting a winch that’s too small is pretty obvious: when you get stuck, you won’t have the power to pull yourself out. And then you’re stuck waiting for a good Samaritan to come and pull you out.
But what happens if you get a winch that’s way too powerful for your machine?
A too-big winch can cause big problems. For one, it’s a waste of money. All that extra power does nothing for you. It’s like renting a moving truck to go grocery shopping—pointless.
The biggest problem with an oversized winch is potential damage to your machine. Your ATV or UTV isn’t designed to handle three or four times its own weight pulling against the frame. If you get wedged, an oversized winch can bend the frame or rip off the mount without breaking a sweat.
Ready to get winching? SuperATV’s Black Ops Winches are tough, reliable, and come in the right size for any machine.
Every size Black Ops Winch comes with waterproof seals and solenoids and a high-quality 50′ synthetic rope. You also get multiple ways to operate it, with a handlebar or dash-mounted rocker switch, and a wireless remote.
To learn more about the features of our winches, specifically the benefits of synthetic rope versus steel cable, check out our article on the unmatched pulling power of Black Ops Winches.
Now that you know what you’re looking for, head over to SuperATV’s website to snag a winch that’s right for you! And don’t forget to grab a mount plate or winch-ready bumper while you’re at it.
3 Comments
i was looking a winch for a winch for my jeep your blog help me alot you reviewd all the winches awsome great work keep it up.
“the SuperATV team developed Black Ops Winches.” Is that secret code for: ‘We contracted our Chinese manufacturer to put our logo sticker on the motor housing?’
Where are these manufactured?
BS a 3500 lbs wench dose not pull 3500lbs!!