The great expanses of wilderness stretching through America’s interior are sliced and stitched together by thousands of dirt roads, muddy passes, and barely discernable trails. Some are carved through the backwoods for pleasure, challenge, and thrill, and others are remnants of logging roads, mining trails, and Native American passes worn wider by the increasing popularity of off-roading. Sandstone formations, desert panoramas, and sandy canyons beckon drivers to Tower Arch Trail in Arizona, and the white-knuckled switchbacks of Black Bear Pass above Telluride, Colo., test wheeling skills, concentration, and courage. While exploring these trails, drivers might face snow, mud, a rollover, a mechanical failure, a slick rock incline, or other challenges. However, they can use a winch, a couple of tree-savers, a snatch block or two, and a few D-ring shackles to set up a complicated vehicle recovery system that might make the difference between continuing a trek or being irrevocably stuck. When you head out to see what’s over the horizon, you’ll want one of the industry’s best winches to keep you on the road.

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Our List of the Best Winches on the Market

Having a winch bolted to the front of your rig is the first step in being properly prepared, but with budget constraints and all of the winches on the market, finding the right one depends on many variables, including the size of your rig, the capacity of the winch, the drivetrain gear ratio and even how the winch is mounted. Let’s break down seven different winches in the list below.

1. Champion 4,700-Pound Winch Kit

One of the best winches we’ve come across is this winch kit from Champion Power Equipment. Compatible with ATVs or UTVs, it has a 4,700-pound pull rate. The kit includes a mountable remote switch, a roller fairlead, a clevis hook, a wire cable, and a 1.25-inch hitch adaptor. For more information, visit: championpowerequipment.com

2. Mile Marker H9000 Hydraulic

This 9,000-pound-rated Mile Marker H-Series hydraulic winch has a mechanical lock, is waterproof (it even works underwater), and includes 100 feet of aircraft cable. The installation of an H-Series winch (H9000, H10500, or H12000) requires a vehicle-specific 34-series valve adapter kit to tap into the vehicle’s hydraulic system. For more information, visit: milemarker.com

3. Ramsey Patriot 9500 UT

The Ramsey Patriot 9500 UT winch has a sealed high torque 5.5 HP 12 V DC series wound electric reversible motor for amplified pulling capacity. The 9,500-pound line-pull rating is aided by 105 feet of 5/16 wire rope and a clevis hook. As an added bonus, the patented wireless remote conveniently operates the winch from up to 50 feet away. For more information, visit: ramsey.com

4. Rugged Ridge TREKKER C12.5

This winch features a 6.6 HP series wound motor with a three-stage planetary gearbox (216:1 ratio) and an automatic load-holding brake system (in the drum brake system). It includes 85.3 feet of 0.38-inch-diameter diameter steel cable or synthetic rope. Each winch includes a durable, IP-68 Waterproof-rated solenoid, motor, and gearbox for longlasting, reliable use. For more information, visit: ruggedridge.com

5. Smittybilt Gen2 X20 Wireless

The Smittybilt X2O winch features a series-wound 6.6-horsepower motor, a 10,000-lb. line pull, and a 98.5-foot, .38-inch cable. The controller can be used wired or wirelessly. The X2O also features optimized gear ratios for fast line speeds. For more information, visit: smittybilt.com

6. Superwinch LP8500

The Superwinch LP8500 winch is designed to pull up to 8,500 pounds with its 5.1-horsepower sealed motor while providing its user an entry-level value. The system includes a zinc-plated 4-way roller fairlead and an 85-foot, 0.38-inch wire rope. The handheld remote features a 12-foot lead. For more information, visit: superwinch.com

7. Warn Industries 16.5ti Series 12-Volt Electric Winch

Last on our list of best winches is the Warn 16.5ti Series 12-volt electric winch. It has an incredible pulling capacity of 16,500 pounds to tackle any tough job. It features a 3-stage planetary gearbox, 90 feet of 7/16-inch wire rope, a remote control with a 12 feet lead, and a thermometric LED indicator for operator feedback. For more information, visit warn.com