Jeeps are undoubtedly one of the most popular 4x4 and off-road vehicles and have been for a long time. These rigs probably get equipped with WARN® winches more than any other vehicle. So how do you choose the right winch for a Jeep?

 

How to Select The Right Capacity Winch For A Jeep

To start, it's always a good idea to follow our formula for selecting a winch for any truck or SUV. The formula is simply the vehicle's GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) multiplied by 1.5. For example:

GVWR x 1.5 = minimum pulling capacity

Here's an example. The lightest-weight Jeep Wrangler JL currently has a GVWR of 5,000 lbs. Multiply that by 1.5 and you get 7,500 lbs. In this case, we'd recommend a winch with an 8,000 lb. Could you go to one with a 10,000 lb. capacity? Indeed; that's wholly appropriate.

Also remember: GVWR is a number supplied by the vehicle manufacturer noting the maximum weight of the vehicle including passengers, cargo, and fuel. It is not the weight of the vehicle on a scale. You can find the GVWR in your owner's manual, sometimes on the door jamb, or online.

You will not need a dual-battery setup in your Jeep to power the electric winch. However, you will want a battery with at least 650 cca (cold cranking amps) and that's in good condition.

 

Which WARN Winch For My Jeep?

Now that you've determined you'll want an 8,000 lb. winch, you'll need to decide which one. Warn Industries offers three winch families in the 8,000 lb. capacity including our VR EVO 8 / VR EVO 8-S, M8 / M8-S, and our ZEON 8 / ZEON 8-S. All of these winches are available with steel or synthetic rope and all have the same capacity. After that, the winches have some different features and benefits to suit your needs and budget.

By the way, typically all two-door Jeeps can generally get away with an 8,000 lb. capacity winch. Four-door models (Wrangler Unlimited) are typically best with a 10,000 lb. winch such as our VR EVO 10 / VR EVO 10-S, ZEON 10 / ZEON 10-S, ZEON 10 Platinum / ZEON 10-S Platinum, or the M8274 or M8274-S.

 

Steel vs. Synthetic Rope

We get asked the question about steel vs synthetic rope very regularly. Which is best for you?

Synthetic rope is lightweight, easy to handle, doesn't develop sharp barbs, and doesn't store as much potential energy under tension. However, its number-one enemy is abrasion. So if you're using synthetic rope in a high-abrasion environment, you'll need to take the necessary precautions to not damage the rope. This includes using an abrasion sleeve if the rope will rub against something abrasive.

Conversely, wire rope is exceptionally durable, more abrasion-resistant, and often has a longer service life. However, it is more difficult to work with, heavier, and stores more potential energy under tension.

If you're using your winch primarily for off-road recovery, synthetic can be a great choice. If you're using your winch for utility purposes (skidding logs, landscape work), its abrasion resistance is a great option.

Ultimately, the choice is yours. Most WARN winches are available with either rope material. Regardless which you choose always wear your winching gloves.

 

How To Mount Your Winch To Your Jeep

Once you've determined which kind of winch you want for your Jeep, you'll need to determine how to mount it to the vehicle. Warn Industries offers a host of bumpers for Jeeps including our Elite and Rock Crawler bumpers. Whether it's a CJ, TJ, JK, JL, or JT, we've got durable bumpers that'll a great home for a WARN winch up to 12,000 lbs. in capacity. Interesting fact: Warn pull tests its bumpers to the winch's capacity to ensure they're up to the extreme forces associated with winching. Don't see what you're looking for from Warn? Check out our sister company, Fab Fours, as they may have something better suited to your taste.

In certain cases, Jeep's factory steel bumper can be utilized, such as with the 2018+ Jeep Wrangler Rubicon or Jeep Gladiator Rubicon. Warn offers a drop-in winch carrier designed to be used with these factory-installed bumpers.

Warn also sells rear bumpers for Jeep vehicles, too including CJ, TJ, JK, JL, and JT.

Once the WARN winch is installed onto the Jeep, you'll want to stretch the winch line before using it. We have a very helpful video on our YouTube channel detailing this process. It is a critical step, so be sure to do it.

 

Maintenance, and Accessories

For the most part, WARN truck, Jeep, and SUV winches are maintenance-free. However, there are some things you can do to ensure they'll work at peak performance. For example, it's always a good idea to regularly check electrical connections, inspect the rope regularly for frays or kinks, and if a non-waterproof winch is being regularly submerged, getting it on a maintenance schedule is recommended. It's also a good idea to make sure your Jeep's battery is fully charged and in good condition if you plan to use the winch.

Warn also offers a host of rigging accessories to help you get the most out of the WARN winch on your Jeep, too. This includes accessory kits, which are super handy and let you use the winch properly. The items included in these kits are also available separately. This includes things like a snatch block, shackles, tree trunk protectors, recovery straps, and more. In addition, our sister company, Factor 55, offers lots of premium-quality recovery accessories.

 

Winch Covers

We often get asked about winch covers, too. A winch cover can be a great way to protect your WARN winch from the elements. Whether that's the sun, rain, snow, or just road grime, many of our durable winch covers can remain on the winch during the recovery process. This is thanks to a flap that opens up on the cover's front, a mesh back that allows for proper cooling, and access to both the remote's plug and clutch handle.

Our covers are made from premium materials such as fade-resistant marine-grade vinyl, top-quality zippers, and durable fabrics.