WINCH ONE?

The 10 best new and used winches for your 4x4

- Christian Hazel

We've used and abused W dozens of USA- and import-made winches over many decades. Although there are some really affordable winches made in China or other overseas locations that can be purchased way cheaper than those in this article, the focus of this story is the 10 best winches for your 4x4 whether new or used, not the most affordable. And we're sorry, but while some China-made winches are pretty good, in our opinion none come close to the quality, durability, and performance of any of our picks below. So, if you're willing to pay a little more for a lifetime of reliable pulling power, see which of these winches fits your fancy.

WARN M8274 UPRIGHT

The venerable Warn 8274 is durable, long-lasting, powerful, and easy to maintain. Unique in the winching world, Warn's upright winch is super-fast and is one of the oldest variants still manufactured today with replacement components still available from Warn as well as a variety of other places. Whether you're buying a vintage one from the 1970s or later or a brand new one from Warn, the 8274 is a can't-miss option that won't let you down.

WARN M8000

A much-beloved classic that's still available new under the revised name of M8 is the Warn M8000. It's not the fastest winch in the Warn lineup, nor does it feature the highest pull rating, but the rugged, yet simplistic nature of its design coupled with its compact body with an external solenoid pack that can be remote-mounted off the winch makes it a near-perfect choice for almost any 4x4 that, weight-wise, can use an 8,000-pound-rated winch. It's a dirt-simple winch made with top-quality components. In our book that's always a recipe for success.

WARN POWERPLANT DUAL FORCE 9.5 OR 12