Founded back in 1968, Superwinch has become a staple brand in the off-roading industry. They are known for manufacturing, designing, and supplying various types of high-end winches all over the world.
When it comes to winches and products related to winching, you cannot leave this brand out. Now, chances are you might have been looking to get a new winch from Superwinch.
If that is the case for you, then you have made a great decision. And, this post will help you to ease the process of finding the best winch from Superwinch.
Because we are going to share detailed reviews of some of the best winches from this popular brand.
Along with that, we will also cover a number of important factors you should be aware of prior to buying a winch in a comprehensive buying guide.
Superwinch Review
Superwinch Reviews
Superwinch LT2000 ATV Winch Review
We are starting our reviews with the Superwinch LT2000 winch. From the look of it, you will see that it has a smaller form factor.
For that reason, it is favored by many to be used as a portable winch. In fact, the manufacturer actually provided quick-connect wiring for using it as a portable winch if the user wants to.
This particular device comes with 2000 lbs. rated line pull. Thus, it will be suitable for most lightweight vehicles. It is armed with a low amp permanent magnet motor (1.0 hp).
The Superwinch LT2000 comes with a single-stage planetary gear train with a ratio of 153:1.
The weight of this one is about 14.2 lbs. And the net dimension of this one is about 11.0″ x 4.1″ x 4.1″. You can see from that why this one’s favorite as a portable winch.
Another great thing about this device is the affordable price. When it comes to the price to performance ratio, this device would be a great deal, for sure.
It is equipped with a wire rope of 50 feet and a 5/32 inch diameter. You will like that it has a free spooling clutch. This one uses the pull and turn free spooling clutch.
That means you will be able to engage and disengage the gearbox to draw in or out the steel cable as much as you want.
Additionally, you will receive a 4-way roller fairlead and all the mounting accessories. It also features a handheld rocker switch with a long cable to operate it from a distance.
The remote control is also handlebar mounted. Furthermore, it features a dynamic braking system and a durable latched hook with a safety rope thimble.
In addition, Superwinch also offers a free D shackle and a pulley block with the device.
What Previous Buyers Said? – Superwinch LT2000
A lot of buyers of this winch have said that it is a perfect winch for their ATV UTV and other utility vehicles. They also liked the reasonable price of this one.
Additionally, the owners were happy that it is a bi-directional winch and comes with a single-stage planetary gear system. They also talked positively about the performance of the Superwinch LT2000 even though it is a smaller one. And, all these features make it a perfect choice for utility vehicles.
Pros:
- You will get a free D shackle and pulley block
- Affordable price
- Easy to use and install
- Comes with built-in circuit breaker protection
- Can be used as a portable winch as well
- The Superwinch LT2000 Has a 1-year limited warranty
Cons:
- Comes with a 2 bolt mount pattern
- Has a wire rope
Superwinch Terra 45 Review
In this stage, we will be sharing the Superwinch Terra 45 review. This one comes with a load capacity of 4500 lbs. or 2046 kg.
That means, it is ideal for most utility vehicles. You will just need the perfect mounting bracket and you will be on the way to install it on your overlanding rig.
This device comes with a sealed permanent magnet motor (1.6 hp). Thus, you can use the winch in any weather condition without any issues.
Generally, this particular model comes with a wire rope. However, you would be happy to know that there is another version of this winch (Superwinch Terra 45 SR) that comes with a synthetic rope as well.
The wire/synthetic rope on this winch comes with a diameter of ¼ inch and a length of 55 feet. Also, it has both a mechanical and dynamic braking system.
It features a handlebar-mounted handheld remote. The remote comes with a 10 feet extension cord for distant operation.
The net dimension of this device is 15.1″ x 4.5″ x 4.8″. The weight of the Superwinch Terra 45 (wire rope version) is about 22 lbs. And the Superwinch Terra 45 SR (synthetic rope version) weighs about 19 lbs.
Please read our full Superwinch Terra 45 Review here.
Every other feature of these two versions is similar except for the weight, type of the fairlead, and the types of rope.
The mounting bolt pattern of this winch is 3.0″ x 6.66″. And, this device is equipped with an all-steel 3 stage planetary gear train system. And the gear ratio is 191:1.
You will also like the cam action-free spooling clutch that offers ergonomic and fast rope release. For safety reasons, these devices come with a built-in circuit breaker..
Moreover, you will get all the necessary accessories to mount it for free including a latched clevis hook, color coated wiring equipment, hand saver straps, etc.
For the record, the Superwinch Terra 45 SR models use an aluminum hawse fairlead and the Superwinch Terra 45 models use a 4-way roller fairlead.
What Previous Buyers Said?
To be honest, this is one of the most popular winches from Superwinch. The customers are very satisfied with this winch. They said even though this is an expensive product, they liked it because it comes with a lot of useful features.
Some customers also liked that they could choose between a wire and synthetic rope option. Many previous buyers also talked positively about the safety features that make it a top pick as well.
Pros:
- Available with both wire and synthetic rope options
- Comes with a limited lifetime warranty
- Has a built-in circuit breaker for additional safety
- The solenoid is weather-sealed
Cons:
- The instruction manual is not clear
- A bit pricey
Superwinch Tiger Shark 9.5 Review
The next one on our list is the Superwinch Tiger Shark 9.5. It was designed in the UK and made in China. Superwinch engineered this winch to provide the best winching service even in harsh outdoor conditions.
It comes with a 5.2 hp series wound motor and a 3 stage planetary gear. The gear ratio of this Tiger Shark winch is 218:1.
The Superwinch Tiger Shark 9.5 has both the automatic and mechanical load-holding brake. The rated line pull of this one is up to 4309 kg or 9500 lbs. This one is armed with a galvanized steel cable that is 95 feet in length and 21/64 inches in diameter.
Along with that, you will get a 4-way roller fairlead made with stainless steel and comes with a brushed finish for withstanding wire rope and severe weather abuse outdoor.
Also, this device sports a rubberized handheld remote control with an extension cord of 12 feet. Due to that, it will come in handy while you would need to operate the device from a safe distance.
The remote control is sealed thus making it weatherproof. On top of this, it has a ‘lift and pulls’ free spooling lever for spooling the rope effortlessly.
This ergonomic mechanism is engineered to provide you with the best free spooling experience. Another great feature of the Tiger Shark.
The net dimension of this winch is 20.8″ x 6.3″ x 9.2 and it weighs about 90 lbs. or 41 kg. The solenoid, the gearbox, and the motor are weather-sealed and submersible.
So, you will not have any issues using it on water, snow, or even in dusty conditions. Overall, this Superwinch Tiger Shark is truly one of the best winches from Superwinch.
What Previous Buyers Said?
This Superwinch Tiger Shark winch has received great feedback from its previous buyers. There are a few buyers who complained about the high price tag of this winch.
But, in the end, all of them are overly satisfied with the performance of this heavy-duty winch. Most of them praised the build quality and the ease of use of this product.
One of the owners said he has been using this winch for over a year without any issues. Up until now, he has used this winch about 10 times for rescuing his vehicles.
Another user stated that the installation was very user-friendly. So, if you need a winch that is sturdy and easy to use, you can get this one.
Pros:
- Easy to install
- Study build quality
- Comes with a weather-sealed motor, solenoid, gearbox, etc.
- It is covered by 2-year limited warranty
Cons:
- Comes with a wire rope
- A bit expensive
Review of Superwinch LP10000 Winch
If you are looking for a heavy-duty yet affordable winch from Superwinch, then this could be a great option.
The Superwinch LP10000 is rated to pull a weight of about 10000 lbs. or 4536 kg. That makes it ideal for using it as a truck or jeep winch.
This one comes with some great functions and features as well. For instance, it is armed with a free spooling clutch and both auto and mechanical load holding braking system.
As a result, you will be able to pull in or out the cable effortlessly under any circumstances.
The winch comes with a steel cable that has a diameter of 3/8 inch and is 85 feet long. Added to that, it also has a 4-way roller fairlead that is powder coated and a durable clevis hook that is galvanized.
The wire cable is also galvanized to make sure its long lifetime.
Along with these, it also has a handheld remote control system with a 12 feet cable. So, you can control this device from a safe distance whenever in need it.
The device is integrated with a 5.1 hp series wound motor. You will get all the required mounting tools with this. However, the mounting bracket will not come with it.
Thus, if you don’t have a mounting bracket yet, you can buy a new one from Superwinch for a reasonable price.
All the electrical components are sealed in a weather-proof box for safety reasons. It comes with a mounting pattern of 10″ x 4.5″.
For further safety, Superwinch provided a 4-inch hand saver strap, a built-in circuit breaker, waterproof remote control, and so on.
The device comes with a 3 stage planetary gear system that has a gear ratio of 235:1. The line speed of this one with a full-load is about 3.5 feet per minute.
And the no-load line speed is about 18 feet per minute. Overall, these features can make this one a great option for your 4×4 vehicles or any other heavy overlanding rigs.
What Previous Buyers Said?
Many of the previous buyers said this is a great winch for the price. They liked it because it comes with a high winch capacity. So, it is perfect for hauling heavy loads.
One of the users stated that he used this winch over a dozen times within a year for rescuing his vehicle.
And, every time, this winch helped him successfully recover the vehicle without any issues. Another buyer reported that he didn’t like that you have to buy the mounting bracket separately.
Other than that, he actually liked everything for this winch. Many other buyers also praised the customer service of Superwinch.
Pros:
- Heavy-duty build quality and powerful motor
- Comes with a built-in circuit breaker
- The solenoid is sealed in a weatherproof box
- Has 2 years of the limited warranty
- Comes with color-coded wiring for easy connection
- Easy to mount it
Cons:
- Comes with a steel rope
Review of Superwinch Talon 12.5
The last one on our reviews is the most powerful one from Superwinch among all the devices we have mentioned so far. For the record, it comes with a rated line pull of about 12,500 lbs. or 5682 kg.
As a result, it will be perfect for vehicles with a gross weight of about 8000 lbs. You can use it on vehicles like heavy trucks, trailers, jeep, and even as a boat trailer winch.
This is a 12 Volt DC winch. It comes with a 6 hp series wound motor. The motor and the solenoid with other electrical components are sealed in a weather-proof box.
This one doesn’t feature planetary gear at all. Rather, it features a 2 stage spur gear train with a gear ratio of 148:1. Interestingly, even though it is a heavy-duty winch, it stays very quiet while in operation.
It is equipped with a 100% automatic load-holding braking system. The device sports a steel cable of 85 feet in length and ⅜ inch in diameter. Besides, you will also get a 4-way roller fairlead, an all-metal clevis pinned hook, fabricated steel drum, etc.
Also, this one comes with a handheld remote control with 15 feet long coiled cable. The cable can be retracted from 15 feet to 4 feet for storing it without any hassle.
Because of the long length of the remote control cable, it will be easy to operate the winch from a safe distance. The net dimension of the winch is 24.57 x 6.20 x 10.66 inches. And, it weighs about 31 kg or 70 lbs. out of the box.
The line speed of this winch with 12,500 lbs. load is about 3.25 feet per minute. And the no-load line speed is about 62 feet per minute. The provided mounting accessories include a tri-bar bracket that reduces vibration and any kind of movements of the winch after mounting it properly.
The winch doesn’t overheat as it is covered with a heat-sink-styled motor cap. And the VS4 solenoid that comes within the winch has a venting feature that is specially patented by Superwinch.
This venting feature will resist all kinds of things like snow, water, mud, rocks, dust, etc. At the same time, it will also release any kind of internal condensation from the inside of the winch.
That way, the winch, and all the electric components will have a longer lifetime.
What Previous Buyers Said?
Like most of the winches from Superwinch, the previous buyers also liked this device a lot. For instance, one buyer said he loved everything from the finish, paint, design, and the performance of this winch.
Although some other buyers complained about the high price tag, they seem to agree that the quality of this winch actually justified the price tag.
Another buyer stated that he was thrilled to see the fast line speed in action. He is an off-road racer. As a result, this feature will come in handy whenever he is in a race.
Another buyer said that he used this winch to recover his 10,000 lbs. (even though it is way over the limit) tractor from mud effortlessly with this. All in all, the majority of the previous buyers were very happy with the winch.
Pros:
- Comes with IP67 water-resistant certification
- Has 3 years electrical warrant on the solenoid and a limited lifetime warranty on other components
- Easy to install and the installation equipment come for free
- The solenoid is sealed, vented, and submersible
- Premium build quality and reliable performance with fast line speed
Cons:
- Very pricey
- Could come with a synthetic rope
Buying Guide – Best Superwinch Reviews
Winch Capacity
When you are buying a new winch, the first thing you should be aware of is the winch capacity. The winch capacity is also known as the rated line pull or load capacity.
The simple way of finding the perfect winch capacity for your usage is to first find out about the weight or the loads you will carry.
For instance, let’s say, the gross weight of a vehicle that you will pull with the winch is about 3000 lbs.
Now, there is a formula to find the perfect winch capacity when you know the gross weight of the vehicle. And that is —Gross Vehicle Weight x 1.5 = Winch Capacity.
In that regard, it will be — 3000 lbs. (Your Vehicle’s Gross Weight) x 1.5 = 4500 lbs. So, you will need a winch with a winch capacity of at least 4500 lbs., if the weight of the load or the vehicle is about 3000 lbs.
Always try to use the formula mentioned above when checking out a newer winch.
Types of Winch
There are primarily 2 types of winches available such as hydraulic winches and electric winches. Both of these types of winches have their own benefits and drawbacks.
Electric Winches
Electric winches are the most prevalent ones in the off-roading industry. Typically, these are powered by the battery of your vehicle.
Thus these cannot be operated continuously. To keep the motor safe, you will have to give an electric winch rest from time to time.
Even then, as these can be operated with electric power and can be installed on vehicles of all types, the electric winches are best suited for off-road vehicles.
Plus, these come with a cheaper price compared to its counterpart. As a result, we have only included electric winches in this review post.
Hydraulic Winch
On the other side, hydraulic winches can be operated continuously without any issues. And, most of these come with a very high winch capacity.
Due to that, these are typically used in industrial work. As we already said, this type of winch is also a lot more expensive than the electric ones.
Types of Ropes
We can divide the ropes of a winch into 2 types that are synthetic and steel or wire rope.
Wire or Steel Rope
From the name you can guess that this type of ropes or cables is made from steel. Thus these are very strong.
At the same time, these are heavy as well. Steel cables have been used in winches from the beginning. And, still, a lot of winches will come with this type of cable.
However, wire cable has some drawbacks as well. First of all, if these split up in the middle of winching, it can cause serious injuries.
And, because of the heavyweight of the cables, these will drown in water. Plus, steel cables are not allowed in most off-road racing.
So, if you are an off-road racer, you will have to get a synthetic rope winch.
Synthetic Rope
Recently, most of the newer models of winches come with synthetic ropes. And, these ropes are much lighter than steel cables.
So, this will float in the water. And, there is no chance of injuries if synthetic cables split up while winching. Also, these are allowed in off-road races.
Overall, we believe it is better to get a winch that has a synthetic rope. For your convenience, we have included both options in the reviews above.
Durability & Warranty
Generally, most users use winches in various tough conditions. In fact, you will use a winch to recover vehicles from a stuck situation.
So, you should always get a winch that comes with the best built quality. The device should be durable and all the parts should also be of top-quality. It is always better to go with a water/weatherproof winch.
Additionally, you should also check the warranty policy of the brand from which you are getting your winch. As these winches come with a hefty price tag, you should have a good warranty policy as a backup.
So if your winch gets damaged just after using it for a couple of times, you will be able to get a replacement or free servicing instead of buying a new one altogether.
Other winch guides you may be interested in:
Summary – Superwinch Review
In the reviews above, we have covered only 5 winches. Whereas Superwinch has a wide range of selections when it comes to winches.
So, it is possible that we might have missed to include some of your favorite Superwinch winches.
If you’re an overlander, with a Jeep-sized rig, the Superwinch Tiger Shark is the one to for.
However, we have tried to include all the best electrical winches of various winch capacities from Superwinch. So that everyone with different requirements and preferences can find their perfect fit.
Now, it’s up to you to choose the best winch from the Superwinch review above. We hope this review post will help you to make the final call.
So, which winch are you going with? Do let us know by commenting below!
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