An ATV winch is an electric winch that mounts on the front or rear of a quad or side-by-side and pulls the vehicle or a load with a rope. Most run on 12 volts and are sold by pulling capacity, with 3,500 pounds the common size for ATVs.
The six winches below include five 3,500 pound models and one 4,500 pound model. Capacity, rope type and included parts come from each Amazon listing. We have not used these products ourselves. Power and capacity figures are the makers’ own, and some winches need a mounting plate that is sold separately.
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What to Look For
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Capacity | The maker’s stated pull, in pounds |
| Rope | Synthetic or steel, and length |
| Remote | Wired, wireless or both |
| Mounting | Some need a separate vehicle-specific plate |
| Weight | Heavier units add front-end load |
Specs at a Glance
| Winch | Capacity and rope | Motor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nilight | 3,500 lb; synthetic | 1.44 kW / 1.93 HP | 16.41 lb; 153:1 gear ratio |
| OPENROAD | 4,500 lb; 1/4 in x 50 ft synthetic | 1.3 kW, also listed as 1.9 HP (does not match) | Wireless remote; 21.8 lb; three-stage planetary |
| SuperATV Black Ops | 3,500 lb; synthetic | Not stated | 30.1 lb; plate sold separately |
| WARN VRX 35 | 3,500 lb; steel | Not stated | 22 lb; mounting sold separately |
| VEVOR | 3,500 lb; 0.21 in x 32.8 ft synthetic | 1.3 HP | 14 lb; wired remote; fairlead included |
| TYT | 3,500 lb; 7/32 in x 30 ft synthetic | 1.5 HP | 16.46 lb; wireless and wired remotes |
The 6 Best ATV Winches
1. Nilight 3500 lb ATV Winch
A 12-volt winch with a 1.44 kW (1.93 HP) permanent magnet motor, a stated single-line pull of 3,500 pounds, a 153:1 single-stage planetary gear system and synthetic rope. It weighs 16.41 pounds and measures 10 by 8 by 5 inches.
Suits: a standard 3,500 lb setup. Strengths: a high-wattage motor and light synthetic rope. Weaknesses: the listing gives few details on the remote. Skip it if you want a wireless remote confirmed.
View Nilight 3500 lb ATV Winch 12V with Synthetic Rope on Amazon
2. OPENROAD 4500 lb ATV UTV Winch
The only 4,500 pound unit here, with a motor listed as 1.3 kW and also as 1.9 HP, which do not match, so treat the power as unconfirmed, plus 1/4 inch by 50 foot synthetic rope, a wireless remote and a three-stage planetary gear system with a dynamic brake. The fairlead pattern is 4 7/8 inches with a 3 by 4 7/8 inch four-hole mount. It weighs 21.8 pounds.
Suits: a larger UTV. Strengths: the highest capacity and 50 feet of rope. Weaknesses: heavier than most of the others. Skip it if you only need a 3,500 lb winch.
View OPENROAD 4500 lb ATV UTV Winch with Synthetic Rope and Wireless Remote on Amazon
3. SuperATV 3500 lb Black Ops Winch Kit
A 3,500 pound kit with synthetic rope and an aluminum hawse fairlead. The listing says it must be paired with a machine-specific SuperATV mounting plate, sold separately. It weighs 30.1 pounds, is listed at 21 by 12 by 7 inches.
Suits: owners who use SuperATV plates. Strengths: an aluminum fairlead and synthetic rope. Weaknesses: the plate is a separate purchase and the listing gives no motor data. Skip it if you want an all-in-one kit.
View SuperATV 3500 lb Black Ops Winch Kit on Amazon
4. WARN VRX 35 Powersport Winch
A 3,500 pound winch for medium to large ATVs, UTVs and side-by-sides, supplied with steel rope. Vehicle-specific mounting is sold separately. The maker lists a limited lifetime mechanical warranty and a limited one-year electrical warranty, and it weighs 22 pounds.
Suits: a steel-rope preference. Strengths: a long mechanical warranty. Weaknesses: steel rope and separate mounting. Skip it if you want synthetic rope.
View WARN VRX 35 Powersport Winch 3500 lb Steel Rope on Amazon
5. VEVOR 3500 lb Electric Winch
A 3,500 pound winch with a 1.3 HP motor, a 153:1 gear ratio, 0.21 inch by 32.8 foot UHMWPE synthetic rope and a 9.8 foot wired remote. The aluminum housing weighs 14 pounds, and the box holds a clevis hook, control box, fairlead, mounting bracket and hardware.
Suits: a lightweight 3,500 lb kit. Strengths: the lightest unit here and a full parts list. Weaknesses: a shorter rope and a wired remote only. Skip it if you want a wireless remote.
View VEVOR 3500 lb Electric Winch 12V with Wired Remote on Amazon
6. TYT 3500 lb ATV Winch with Remotes
A 3,500 pound winch with a 1.5 HP motor, three-stage planetary gears at 153:1, 7/32 inch by 30 foot synthetic rope, a fairlead and a mounting plate in the title. It comes with a 50 foot wireless remote and a 10 foot wired one. The bullets give 13 by 4 by 4.5 inches while the details table gives 10 by 7 by 6 inches, so the size is unclear.
Suits: both remote types in one kit. Strengths: a wireless and a wired remote and a mounting plate. Weaknesses: conflicting size figures. Skip it if you need exact dimensions.
View TYT 3500 lb ATV Winch with Wireless and Wired Remotes on Amazon
Specs to Check Before Ordering
- Capacity and rope length.
- Rope type, synthetic or steel.
- Which remotes are included.
- Whether a mounting plate is included or sold separately.
- Weight and the size of the mounting pattern.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming a winch includes its mounting plate.
- Comparing motor power across listings that use different units.
- Ignoring a listing’s conflicting size figures.
- Treating maker capacity claims as measured results.
ATV Winch FAQ
Which include a wireless remote?
The OPENROAD and TYT listings name one. The VEVOR lists a wired remote.
Which need a separate mounting plate?
The SuperATV and WARN listings say mounting is sold separately. The TYT title includes a mounting plate and the VEVOR box lists a mounting bracket.
The Short Version
For a high-wattage 3,500 lb winch, the Nilight. For the highest capacity, the OPENROAD 4500. For SuperATV plates, the Black Ops kit. For steel rope and a long mechanical warranty, the WARN VRX 35. For the lightest unit, the VEVOR. For two remotes in one kit, the TYT.
