Your Jeep's winch allows you to tow farming equipment, camping and hunting gear, and other heavy-duty cargo. Even if you use your winch regularly year-round, it's a good idea to swap out this part as the weather gets colder. Check out the top three reasons to invest in a new winch this winter, and then explore some of your options.

 

1. Winch Ropes Can Freeze

Most modern winches use wire cables or synthetic ropes made of polyethylene instead of traditional linen or hemp ropes. Even these advanced ropes can freeze as temperatures drop, though, particularly after a snowstorm or freezing rain. If you try to use your winch while the cables are frozen together, you could seriously damage the cranking mechanism, fairlead, and wires.

 

2. Salt & Grime Can Damage Your Winch

If you live or travel in areas that get snow, the roads are probably caked in salt during the winter. Although most road salt is simply unpurified sodium chloride, it can still deteriorate your winch's finish as it builds up. As salt cakes around your cables, it increases friction within your winch, wearing down the ropes. Salt can also get stuck in your winch's mechanical components and cause them to stop working.

 

3. Difficult To Protect Winch From the Elements

By their nature, winches have to be exposed to the elements. As a result, there's no barrier between them and the cold weather, strong winds, and hail, sleet, or ice.

 

Jeep Winches in Cold Weather

Because normal winches struggle to stand up to the cold weather, choose a Jeep winch designed for the winter. The Smittybilt X20-10 Comp Gen2 Waterproof Winch is your best bet. This winch is rated to tow up to 10,000 pounds of cargo, and it comes with an automatic brake. The black finish protects your winch from rust and deterioration, and it includes a lifetime warranty.

You should also consider the WARN VR EVO 10 Winch. This powder-coated winch is waterproof and designed for larger Jeeps. Choose between synthetic ropes and wire cables, and use the remote to simplify the latching process. This purchase comes with a 7-year warranty on the winch's electrical components and a limited lifetime warranty on the mechanical ones.

The ZEON 1S Winch is another high-quality product from WARN. This winch relies on an automatic mechanical cone braking system, a 12-volt DC motor, and 100 feet of Spydura synthetic rope. Guaranteed to pull up to 10,000 pounds, the winch has a black powder coat and comes with 7-year electrical and limited lifetime mechanical warranties.

If you like ZEON winches, take things to the next level with WARN's ZEON Platinum 10-S Winch. This winch has been specially tested to withstand corrosion from salt as you drive on highways in the winter. The 100-foot length of Spydura synthetic rope is also rated for winter use, and it can handle up to 10,000 pounds of gear. Each winch purchase comes with a USB charger and adapter and a Hawse Fairlead. 

If you continue to offroad in the winter, the Pro Series Winch from Rough Country is a great option. The winch is both dustproof and waterproof, with special coatings and mechanisms that keep the interior parts safe from salt, mud, ice, and sand. The installation process involves four bolts for maximum sturdiness, and the winch is rated to tow up to 9,500 pounds.

As the weather gets cold, it's hard for your Jeep's winch to stay operational. Choose one of these winches so that you can continue to tow your gear as winter sets in.