If you are shopping around for a winch for your Polaris Ranger 1000, it is important to choose the right one. Getting the wrong winch might cause you to end up being unable to haul your vehicle when it gets stuck.
The best winches for the Polaris Ranger 1000 are those that can haul at least two tons and are electric. They can have either a synthetic or steel rope. Examples include the Rough Country 4500 Winch, the Orcish Waterproof Electric Winch, and the OpenRoad ATV/UTV 4500 Winch.
In this article, we will be going over the best winches for a Polaris Ranger 1000. Without further ado, let us get into it.
How to Choose a Winch for Your Polaris Ranger 1000
In order to make sure that you get the right winch, it is best to stick to winches that have at least a 4,500 lb (two-ton) capacity. Other winches might work too, considering that the Polaris Ranger 1000 only weighs a little more than 1,500 lbs (680 kg); still, it is better to be safe rather than sorry and get a winch with a larger haul capacity. However, once you have accounted for winch capacity, you still need to pay attention to several things.
Let us go through them now so you can make a better-informed decision when choosing your winch.
Rope Type
You can choose either a steel cable/ rope or a synthetic rope. A winch with a steel rope might be better suited for your Polaris Ranger 1000 if you will be using it on rough terrain and dragging it through the mud or rocks. However, steel rope is also heavier. If you get a synthetic rope, it will be lighter, but you will have to spend more time cleaning it. Also, synthetic ropes are not as durable as steel ropes.
Power Source
Another thing to look at is how the winch is powered. Most winches are electric, which means they will get their power from your Polaris Ranger’s battery. These winches tend to be more efficient. In addition, they are more affordable. On the other hand, since they are electric, you can overuse them, so you will need to take a break from time to time.
On the other hand, if you get a hydraulic winch, you won’t have to take those breaks. However, these types of winches are expensive. Also, they must be hooked up to your vehicle’s power steering pump. For most people, an electric winch will be perfect.
Motor Type
According to Driving Fast, electric winches come with either permanent magnet or series wound motors. Although series wound motors work better in cold weather, permanent magnet motors are cheaper. This is the kind of motor that you will find on most winches.
Water Resistance
It’s a good idea to get a winch that is water-resistant. Otherwise, you won’t be able to use it in the rain without worrying about breaking it. In addition, you may get your vehicle stuck in a lake or in an area with a lot of puddles, and you don’t want that hindering your efforts to pull it out.
Why Do You Need a Winch?
There are a number of reasons you might want to get a winch for your Polaris Ranger 1000. If you are going to be taking it off-road, it would not be unlikely for it to get stuck. It may fall down a ravine or ditch or simply get stuck in the mud. If that happens, or even if your Polaris Ranger rolls over, a winch will help you recover it.
A winch can also be used if your vehicle becomes inoperable, such as if you run out of gas, the tire goes flat, or it simply breaks down.
Rough Country 4500 lb Electric Winch
This electrical winch is produced by Rough Country, which is well known for manufacturing and selling affordable vehicle accessories. This electrical winch has a 4500 lb capacity, making it perfect for a Polaris Ranger 1000. It is not a hydraulic winch, so it is not very expensive. It also uses a synthetic rope instead of a steel rope, making it lighter.
However, even though it uses a synthetic rope, the rope is still extra-durable and will be able to withstand rough terrain. Unlike steel ropes, you won’t have to worry about it kinking or breaking. Synthetic ropes often have better strength-to-weight ratios than steel ropes, and they can also be stronger.
It is extremely easy to install this winch onto your Polaris Ranger 1000; just bolt it on. Since it features a water-resistant solenoid and receiver box, you can use it even during the rain or on muddy terrain without worrying about it getting ruined by water.
ORCISH Waterproof 4500lb Electric Winch Kit
This ORCISH winch kit can haul up to 4500 lb, making it ideal for a Polaris Ranger 1000. It is extremely affordable and has great reviews on Amazon, with an average of 4.4 stars from 44 different ratings (as of the time of this writing). It is waterproof, with a sealed low amperage permanent magnet motor.
The winch comes with not one but two remote controls, so if you lose one, you will have a backup that you can use. The remotes already come with batteries.
The 12V motor has a 1.7HP output; it is strong and powerful. The cable is 15 m (49 ft) long, which should be enough for most people. The entire winch only weighs 22 lbs (10 kg); it is lightweight and can be stored in your Polaris Ranger 1000 without bogging it down when you go off-road.
The winch comes with a one-year warranty, though the actual cable itself is not included in that warranty. It also comes with helpful instructions on how to operate it.
This winch does not come with a mounting plate, so make sure to get a mounting plate that works with a Polaris Ranger 1000 separately.
It is important to note that this winch comes with a steel cable. As such, it is best for those who are looking for such a wench; if you prefer a lighter synthetic cable, this wench is not for you.
AC-DK 5000lb Capacity Electric Winch
If you are looking for a winch that has a little extra pulling capacity than the previous one, you can get this AC-DK winch, which has a pulling capacity of 5,000 lb (2267 kg).
Like the previous listing, this winch features a strong, steel rope that is 15 meters (49 feet) long. It comes with a braking system that automatically is applied when the cable is loaded and the motor is stopped.
This winch is very quiet, with a sound level of only 80 decibels. As such, you won’t have to worry about it running your ears or damaging your ear drums.
The winch comes with a mounting plate, two control box brackets, and a control box. There is one wired control and two wireless remote controls.
FIERYRED Electric Synthetic Rope ATV Winch Kit
If you are looking for a winch kit on Amazon that comes with a synthetic rope, this winch is a great alternative to the previous one. It is around the same price and extremely affordable. It comes with a powerful 1.9HP motor that will keep a steady speed even under heavy loads.
As mentioned, it comes with a strong synthetic rope that is up to 10 times stronger than traditional ropes. It has a dual remote control system that can operate from up to 25 meters (82 feet) away; however, the remote controls do not come with included batteries, so make sure to buy a battery separately.
The wired, connected remote can also be used to operate the winch. It has a sealed engine, which means that you can use it in the rain without worrying about getting it damaged.
However, keep in mind that the remote control is not waterproof.
This winch does come with a universal-mounted plate included, so you won’t have to buy one separately. There is an instruction manual that comes with the winch; make sure to read it so you can use the winch properly.
This winch generally has good reviews on Amazon (4.3 stars from 51 ratings, as of the time of this writing). It also comes with a one-year warranty.
OPENROAD ATV Winch UTV Winch Electric Winch Set
This OPENROAD electric ATV winch is perfect for the Polaris Ranger 1000 as it has a capacity of up to 4500 lb. It has a beautiful matte black finish and comes with a synthetic rope. It has a frosted surface and is easy to hold in one hand.
Since it comes complete with accessories, it is easy to install; it is also easy to operate as it comes with a wireless remote control that works up to 10 m (32 ft) away. With a length of 15 m (49 ft), this winch is perfect for all situations that may come up.
The winch comes with a mounting plate and stainless steel fitting bolts, while the engine has an output of 1.3HP.
There are only a few reviews for this item on Amazon, but all of them are positive as of the time of this writing (four or five stars). It’s an affordable winch that won’t break your bank.
ZESUPER 9500 LB Load Capacity Electric Winch Kit
This winch is a true monster, as it has a capacity of up to 9500 lb (4300 kg), which is a lot more than you will ever need for your Polaris Ranger 1000. Although it certainly will work for a Polaris Ranger 1000, you might want to get this winch if you own other heavy vehicles, such as boats, modified vehicles, utility trailers, etc.
It is both waterproof and sandproof, so you can use it in any weather condition without worrying about ruining it. Its powerful 6.6HP engine will get the job done regardless of how deep your Polaris Ranger 1000 is stuck in the mud. It comes with a remote control that has high sensitivity. Not only does the winch come with a one-year warranty, but you will get access to lifetime technical support.
This ZESUPER winch with a frosted black finish is a bit more expensive than many of the other winches in this list, but if you are looking for a powerful winch for your Polaris Ranger 1000 and other vehicles, this will help you every time. It is 24 m (78 ft) long and weighs 55 lbs (25 kg), so it is also slightly heavier and longer than the other winches on this list.
However, the winch’s rope is synthetic (it is made out of Dyneema, which is very strong but light as mentioned earlier in this article) and is very lightweight. In fact, the rope will float on water with no problems, so you can use it even if your Polaris Ranger gets stuck in the water. You can also use it in sub-zero temperatures (up to -20 °C or -4 °F), so you can use it in icy weather.
The winch has excellent reviews on Amazon (4.4 stars out of 100 reviews as of the time of this writing). Some reviews say that the motor is a little loud, but overall, reviewers agree that this is a powerful winch that will really come in handy when your vehicle gets stuck.
Hantun Electric Single Line 12V DC Electric Winch
This electric Hantu winch is lightweight but powerful, with the ability to haul up to 4500 lbs. The dual remote control system comes with both a manual remote and a wireless control switch, which can be operated anywhere that is not further than 45 ft (14 m) from the winch. The rope is steel, not synthetic; it is 33 ft (10 m) long and can withstand even rough terrain without getting frayed.
It comes with a sealed engine and a matte black textured finish that will protect it against the rain. Nevertheless, although you can use it in rainy conditions, you should not let the winch get submerged into a lake or any other pool of water.
The winch has a copper motor, a copper core terminal, a high tensile steel cable, a free spoofing clutch, and other features that will help you rescue your Polaris Ranger 1000 from wherever it gets stuck.
Overall, this winch (which weighs a little less than 20 lb (9 kg)) has great reviews on Amazon. There are only a few reviews as of the time of this writing, but only one of them is a one-star review, and that was because there were no instructions inside the box (according to the reviewer).
WARN 101040 VRX 45-S Powersports Winch
This Warn winch actually gives you two options: You can get it with a steel rope or with a synthetic rope. Prices are fairly similar (as of this time, the steel rope version is only $10 more expensive than the version that comes with a synthetic rope), so it all depends on your preferences and needs.
The rope is 50 ft (15 m) long. It is easy to control with its load-holding mechanical brake. The entire winch weighs less than 28 lb (13 kg), so it will not bog down your Polaris Ranger (the version with a steel rope is slightly heavier).
The winch features a smooth, all-metal three-stage planetary gear train. The winch itself is made with a black powder-coated finish to protect against abrasion. Although there is no wireless remote, it does have a corded remote to give you more flexibility.
You will get a limited lifetime mechanical warranty from Warn, along with a three-year electrical warranty, which is longer than the one-year warranty offered by most other manufacturers. There is also a 30-day return period.
Reviews on Amazon are excellent. The winch has a 4.6-star rating, with only three percent of reviewers giving it a one-star review (no winch is perfect, after all).
Polaris® PRO HD 6,000 lb Winch
This winch is made by Polaris, but it is prohibitively expensive. Although other winches are a bit cheaper, they are not always in stock. However, it is a quality winch, and it has useful features such as rapid rope recovery for pulling back the rope when needed. It also has an auto-stop feature that automatically stops the winch at completion.
To see the installation of this winch, check out this video from the Polaris Youtube channel:
[embedyt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KVTgexKgc0[/embedyt]
However, this winch can set you back hundreds of dollars (even close to a thousand dollars). Amazon has plenty of other winches for a fraction of that price.
Conclusion
There are many more winches available on Amazon and other sites that are perfect for the Polaris Ranger 1000. However, it is important to know how to install your winch properly, and if the winch does not come with a mounting plate, make sure to buy one separately.
Sources
- 4 Wheel Parts: Why You Need A Winch
- Thomas Net: Types of Winches – A Thomas Buying Guide
- Driving Fast: Winches – how to choose and use
- Everything Polaris Ranger: Home Page
- Polaris: Home Page
- Polaris: Wiches and Cables for Polaris
