Winch Buyers Guide

Choosing the right winch for your build starts with your real-world weight — not just your vehicle’s curb weight.

Most rigs gain a lot once you factor in armor, tools, recovery gear, cargo, and passengers (four full-size adults alone can add hundreds of pounds). Fluids add up fast too — fuel and water average about 8 lb per gallon, so a full tank of gas, full Jerry cans, Roto-pax, plus extra water can meaningfully increase the load. Then add the conditions that make a pull harder (inclines, mud, sand, snow, suction, and awkward angles) and the winch may be working well above what “vehicle weight” suggests. That’s why choosing a winch with a little more capacity than you think you need is often the right call: it gives you more margin when conditions get ugly, helps reduce strain and heat during long pulls, and can make recoveries smoother and safer overall.

Let’s face it — no one wants to fully unload their vehicle just to get it unstuck, then load it all back up again.

Winch Comparison Chart – COMEUP & Smittybilt

Compare the winches we offer at a glance. “Slim” models are optimized for tight packaging. “RSI” models feature an integrated control box/motor assembly for an ultra-compact, all-in-one footprint.

COMEUP Winches

Feature	SOLO 9.5rs Trail	SOLO 12.5rs Trail	Slim 9.5rs Trail	Slim 12.5rs Trail	Slim 9.5 RSI Trail	Slim 12.5 RSI Trail
Rated Pull	9,500 lb	12,500 lb	9,500 lb	12,500 lb	9,500 lb	12,500 lb
Footprint	Standard	Standard	Low-Profile Slim	Low-Profile Slim	Ultra- Compact	Ultra- Compact
Integrated Control	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Rope	Synthetic	Synthetic	Synthetic	Synthetic	Synthetic	Synthetic
Remote	Wireless + Wired	Wireless + Wired	Wireless + Wired	Wireless + Wired	Wireless + Wired	Wireless + Wired
Best For	All-Around	Heavy / Loaded	Tight Fit	High Pull Tight Fit	Clean Install	Max Pull Clean

Smittybilt Winches & Market Context

Note: “Other Premium” and “Other Budget” columns reflect common feature sets across the category. Specifications and features can vary by manufacturer and model.

Feature	X20 Gen3 10K	X20 Gen3 12K	Other Premium (Typical)	Other Budget (Typical)
Rated Pull	10,000 lb	12,000 lb	9,000–12,000 lb	9,000–12,000 lb
Motor	7.0 HP Sealed	7.0 HP Sealed	Sealed Motor (varies)	Varies by Model
Gear Train	3-Stage Planetary	3-Stage Planetary	3-Stage Planetary	3-Stage Planetary
Rope	Synthetic 3/8"	Synthetic 3/8"	Synthetic (common)	Wire or Synthetic (varies)
Remote	Wireless + Wired	Wireless + Wired	Wireless + Wired (common)	Often Wired (wireless varies)
Water / Dust Resistance	IP68 Rated	IP68 Rated	Sealing Focused (varies)	Varies Widely
Fairlead	Aluminum Hawse	Aluminum Hawse	Hawse (syn) / Roller (wire)	Basic Hardware (varies)
Warranty	5-Yr Electrical Lifetime Mechanical	5-Yr Electrical Lifetime Mechanical	Varies by Brand	Varies by Brand
Best For	Proven Trail Use	Heavier Builds	Frequent Use Harsh Conditions	Occasional Use Value Focus

Why We Recommend COMEUP Winches

When customers ask why we recommend COMEUP winches, the answer is simple: they’ve earned our trust in real-world use.

We run COMEUP winches on our own builds, and they’ve been proven time and time again in actual trail conditions—not just spec sheets or marketing claims. The owner of our company wheels personally, and across years of use in mud, snow, dust, heat, rain, and river crossings, we have not experienced failures, hesitation, or inconsistent performance in the field.

From an electrical standpoint, most modern winches will work out of the box and perform basic recovery tasks. Where differences start to matter is long-term durability—especially in harsh environments. Off-road winches don’t live easy lives. They’re exposed to moisture, debris, fine dust, temperature swings, and long periods of inactivity. When a winch finally is needed, it needs to work immediately.

COMEUP winches have consistently proven reliable for us in exactly these conditions. They perform when called upon, even after long periods of sitting idle, and they continue to operate smoothly in environments that are hard on electrical equipment. That real-world dependability is why we choose them and why we confidently recommend them.

A Note on Smittybilt Winches

We also offer Smittybilt winches as a solid, time-tested option. They’ve been around for years, are widely supported, and continue to provide dependable performance for many users. For customers looking for a proven, accessible winch option, Smittybilt remains a respected choice.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to recovery gear, reliability matters more than features on paper. A winch is something you may only use occasionally—but when you need it, you need it right then.

That’s why we prioritize brands that have demonstrated long-term durability, consistent performance, and real-world reliability. It’s not about trends or popularity—it’s about choosing equipment we trust on the trail and stand behind with confidence.

Winch Shackle – Agency 6

The Agency 6 winch shackle is designed to create a clean, purpose-built connection between your winch line and recovery gear. Machined from high-strength aluminum and built with tight tolerances, it provides a simple, reliable interface for modern synthetic winch rope systems.

A dedicated winch shackle helps eliminate loose hardware, reduce noise, and keep recovery setups consistent. Compared to traditional steel shackles or hooks, it offers a quieter, more controlled connection that won’t rattle against the bumper or fairlead during daily driving or trail use.

When paired with synthetic rope and closed-system recovery gear, the Agency 6 winch shackle supports cleaner rigging and repeatable recoveries.

Agency 6 Billet Winch Shackle

Clean, purpose-built winch line connection

Shackel and Winch

Closed shackel and winch connection

Why We Recommend It

• Provides a clean, dedicated connection point for winch rigging and recovery accessories
• Reduces loose hardware and metal-on-metal clanking compared to traditional hooks or shackles
• Pairs well with synthetic rope and modern closed-system recovery setups
• Supports a tidy, organized recovery system that’s easy to use in the field

Synthetic Winch Rope

Steel Winch Cable

Synthetic Rope vs. Steel Wire

Synthetic winch rope has become the preferred choice for many modern off-road builds, especially on trail and overland vehicles. It’s significantly lighter than steel cable, which reduces weight on the front of the vehicle and makes handling much easier—especially in mud, snow, or cold conditions. Synthetic rope also stores less energy under load, offering safer recoil characteristics compared to steel cable.

Another practical benefit is ease of use. Synthetic rope is easier on hands, won’t develop sharp burrs, and is less likely to damage fairleads, bumpers, or recovery points when handled correctly.

However, synthetic rope does require care. It is more sensitive to abrasion, heat, and UV exposure. Dragging it across sharp rocks, running it against rough steel edges, or overheating it on the drum during long pulls can shorten its lifespan. Keeping the rope clean and protected goes a long way toward long-term reliability.

Steel Wire (steel cable) is still common in industrial, commercial, and utility applications for a reason. It tolerates abrasion, heat, and harsh environments better than synthetic materials and can survive repeated use in dirty, gritty conditions with less maintenance.

The downsides are weight and handling. Steel Wire is heavy, adds noticeable front-end weight, and can be hard on hands—especially once it develops broken strands. If a steel cable fails under load, it can store and release more energy, which increases risk during a failure.

Best Practices

• Choose synthetic rope for most trail and overland use due to safety, weight, and ease of handling.
• Inspect your winch line before every recovery—look for fraying, broken strands, or crushed sections.
• Keep synthetic rope clean and dry when possible to extend its lifespan.
• Always use a winch line damper and keep clear of the line during recovery.

The Takeaway

Both options work when used correctly. Synthetic rope offers clear advantages in safety and usability for most trail users. Wire rope remains a durable, proven option for harsher or more industrial environments.