Superwinch Review [Updated 2020]

Finding a good winch is not as easy as you might have been thinking.

Particularly, when you have a lot of options to go for, for sure it becomes quite overwhelming to make up your mind.

But please don’t trouble yourself, as I’ve done the legwork for you.

In this Superwinch reviews guide, I’m going to review 14 winches manufactured by Superwinch brand.

Needless to say, it will cover all of their series they have released so far.

Excited?

Then let’s fire away.

Also Read:

• Smittybilt xrc winches
• Warn M series winches
• Lewis chainsaw winches

A Brief About the Company

Superwinch is an age-old company based in Tualatin, Oregon.

They are in the winch manufacturing business for about 45 years now and one of the largest and trusted privately held companies in the world.

Superwinch designs. manufactures, and markets their own products around the world.

So far, they have released various winch series to cater to different applications like 4×4, UTV/ATV, utility, and trailer towing purpose. Not to mention, Superwinch makes different winch parts and accessories too.

What attracts me most about Superwinch is, they know what it takes to make a quality winch to satisfy their customers.

Their product price is well-competitive too and you will get both off the rack synthetic rope version and steel cable version for almost all the models.

Pro Tip 1:

Always use a winch that has at least 1.5 times more weight capacity than the gross weight of the object that you want to tow or recover.

So, for example, you are going to use a 4500 lbs weight capacity winch, then keep the gross weight of the vehicle equal or under 3000 lbs (3000*1.5 = 4500 lbs).

Why am I saying this?

Because, you should follow this rule to get the best performance and longevity from the winch.

Pro Tip 2:

You can go for either synthetic rope version or steel cable version of a winch. Superwinch offers you off the shelf winch for both the versions.

A steel cable is stronger and more durable than a synthetic rope. It also requires less maintenance job.

However, a steel cable makes the winch heavy and it can cause severe injury if it breaks under load and snaps back.

Whereas, a synthetic rope is lighter and performs the same as the steel cable. It is not dangerous if it breaks under load.I prefer synthetic rope to steel cable.

Let’s start reviewing different Superwinch series.

1. Superwinch Terra Series Winch Review

Superwinch released this Terra series winches, mainly focusing on to serve the UTV/ATV users. You will get three different weight capacity winches for this series.
Regarding the price, Terra series winches are relatively reasonable, I must say.

You will get both the synthetic rope version and steel cable version for all the three models of this series.

Now, let me review all the models of this particular series.

i) Superwinch 1145220 Terra 45 winch Review (4500 lbs weight capacity)

Pros

• Lightweight.
• This winch runs quietly.
• It comes with all the nuts, bolts, and wires required for the installation.
• Easy to install.
• This winch comes with a weather-sealed solenoid with a circuit breaker.
• It comes with a wired (10’) remote control, and a handlebar mount — both these work flawlessly.
• Controlling this winch is easy because of the ergonomic free spool control, and all-steel three-stage planetary gear.
• The automatic load-holding brake ensures security during the operation.
• Steel reinforced drums for better performance using both synthetic rope and steel cable.
• The motor doesn’t overeat power from the battery.
• Overall, you will get a good value for the money.

Cons

• The wiring instructions are not too explicit.
• No wireless remote control comes with the package.

As this one is a 4500 lbs weight capacity winch, so to get the best performance, keep the weight of the UTV/ATV up to 3000 lbs.

It is equipped with 55’ heavy-duty steel cable that goes through a heavy-duty 4-way roller fairlead. I found it substantially long and strong for recovering UTV/ATVs.

This winch has a wider gear (2x as they claim) than its competitors. Usually, more extensive gear tends to give better engagement and lasts long. It is also capable of managing the load evenly.

Their motor is stronger and more prominent in size, too, with better copper windings and sealed bearing.

The bearing on both ends helps to spin everything smoothly, and the copper winding helps to cool the motor instantly.

You can clock the motor terminal to fit it in tight spaces as per your need.

The mounting bolt pattern for this Terra 45 is 3.0″ x 6.66″ (76mm x 169mm).

Verdict

All in all, this Terra 45 winch is quite a handy solution to recover your UTA/ATV if it gets stuck in the mud.

Like other winches from Superwinch Terra series, this one also offers an unbeatable price.

If you are interested in buying the synthetic rope version, here is the link for Terra 45SR.

ii) Superwinch 1145220 Terra 35 winch Review (3500 lbs weight capacity)

This one shares almost the same benefits and hiccups as the previous Terra 45 model from Superwinch.

That’s why I just want to focus on the differences here.

Terra 35 is capable of towing 3500 lbs, that’s why you will want to keep the weight of your vehicle up to 2333 lbs.

The length of the cable here is shorter than Terra 45. This time you will get a 50’ steel cable. Nonetheless, the quality and strength is similar for both models.

Terra 35 is pretty compact and even lighter than the Terra 45.

While both models are sharing the same wider gear, at the same time, the gear ratio is not the same for these two models. Terra 35 is offering 140:1 gear ratio, whereas the Terre 45 is offering 191:1 gear ratio.

The mounting bolt pattern for this Terra 35 is 3.0″ x 4.87″ (76mm x 124mm).

Similar to the other models of Terra series, you have an off the rack synthetic rope version for this model too.

Verdict

I must say, price-wise, Terra 35 is one of the best bets compared to its competitors of the same weight capacity.

You won’t regret buying this winch for your UTV/ATV.

I was expecting a dashboard rocker switch with the package, though. I believe it’s quite a necessity for UTVs/ATVs.

iii) Superwinch 1145220 Terra 25 winch Review (2500 lbs weight capacity)

Terra 25 has 2500 lbs of weight capacity. So, definitely, you should keep the gross weight of the vehicle up to 1666 lbs. This will ensure optimum performance and longevity of the winch.

You can use this winch to recover big games during your hunting season or lifting large chunks of wood.

As the winch is even more compact and lighter than Terra 35, so it’s quite portable, I would say.

The rope length (50’) of this model, the remote control feature, free spooling clutch, everything is similar to the Terra 35. Even the gear ratio is also the same.

However, the motor capacity is a tad lower for this model. This time it’s a 1.3 HP motor whereas both Terra 45 and Terra 35 consist of 1.6 HP motor.

Again, you have an off the shelf synthetic rope version for this model too. Here is the link.

Verdict

Regarding the price and value, you can go for this winch if you are looking for a compact winch with the weight capacity of 2500 lbs.

Like the previous models, here I felt the necessity of a dashboard rocker switch and wireless remote control with the kit.

2. Superwinch Tiger Shark Series Winch Reviews

Superwinch released this particular ‘Tiger Shark’ series to meet the needs of truck/jeep owners.

However, don’t think twice to pull out anything that weighs within the weight limit of the winches like trees, bushes, etc. You can use these winches with your tractors, mowers, and similar vehicles too.

They released a total of five models of different weight capacities for this series, and I’m going to review three of them.

You will get a ready version of both synthetic rope and steel cable for two of the models (Tiger Shark 11.5, and Tiger Shark 9.5).

Price-wise, the Tiger Shark is ok but could have been better. These winches surely cost less than a brand like Warn but a little on the higher side compared to other brands like Smittybilt.

In terms of quality and performance, you can genuinely rely on this series.

Read Also: High-quality truck winch reviews

What’s next?

Let’s dive into the specific model reviews of this series.

i) Tiger Shark 15.5 Winch Review (15500 lbs weight capacity)

Pros

• The high-quality steel cable that comes with this winch is pretty shiny. It’s rust-free and looking like a new one even after five months of use.
• It offers a weather-sealed motor to keep the winch from outside material.
• You can easily control the winching process keeping a safe distance as it comes with a 12’ wired remote control.
• It works without any issue whatsoever.
• This winch is equipped with a lift and turn free spooling clutch, which is easy to grip and operate even after wearing your gloves.
• The solenoid is also weather-sealed, submersible, and circuit breaker protected. It is relocatable too.
• All the hardware are stainless steel, so you don’t have to worry about corrosion and longevity of the whole unit.
• The package comes with all the necessary parts for the installation.
• Easy to install.

Cons

• Wireless remote control at this price range would have been a handy addition to this winch.
• The price could have been better. However, it’s still worth buying.

Tiger Shark 15.5 winch is capable of towing up to 15500 lbs. So, it’s better to keep the gross weight of your vehicle up to 10333 lbs to get the best performance.

This winch comes with a 4-stage planetary gear that helps you to control the towing smoothly. The automatic load-holding brake ensures your safety during the operation.

What about the length of the cable?

It comes with a 92’ steel cable that goes through a stainless steel roller fairlead. 92’ is quite substantial for recovering your truck, I believe.

You won’t get a readymade synthetic rope version for this model. However, I don’t consider it a downside.

Let me tell you why.

First of all, I believe in pulling heavy vehicles like trucks or jeep; it’s always a reliable solution to go for steel cables than synthetic ropes.

Second, Superwinch says, the drum brake produces immoderate heat during winch-out that may damage the synthetic rope.

That makes sense to not making the synthetic rope version of this model.

Verdict

As a whole, this one is a heavy-duty winch for recovering heavy vehicles like trucks, jeeps, etc.

It offers all the necessary features and benefits that you might want from this kind of winch. The overall construction and parts of this winch look durable and dependable.

Regarding the price, it’s quite worthy and won’t break your bank. But as I said, it could have been better compared to some of the similar brands on the market.

ii) Tiger Shark 11.5 Winch Review (11500 lbs Weight Capacity)

As all the models of this Tiger Shark series share more or less similar features and benefits, I’m going to point out some of the differences between this 11.5 model and the 15.5 models.

First; The capacity. This winch is best to recover your truck or jeep if it’s gross weight remains up to 7666 lbs (see ‘pro tip 1’ above if you are not sure why).

Tiger Shark 11.5 comes with 84’ steel rope. Still, it’s quite a long to serve the purpose.

This one offers 3-stage planetary gear, whereas the previous model offers a 4-stage planetary gear system.

Tiger Shark 15.5 offers a 518:1 gear ratio, but this 11.5 offers a 218:1 gear ratio.

You have off the shelf synthetic rope version for this model. You don’t have to worry about anything like excessive heat produced by the drum brake. Superwinch takes care of that.

I feel the price difference between the steel cable and synthetic rope version could have been lower, though. The rope length is not the same, either. It offers 80’ rope for synthetic version.

Verdict

Overall, a well-priced winch for your truck or jeep. You can go for this winch without any doubt if you are looking for a quality winch by spending a reasonable amount of money.

iii) Tiger Shark 9.5 SR Winch Review (9500 lbs weight capacity)

If you haven’t noticed yet, this time, I’m going to review the synthetic rope version first for this model.

Why?

Because I believe you should use a synthetic rope for a 9500 lbs weight capacity winch with ease.

In fact, I prefer synthetic rope to a steel cable. I strictly vote for steel cable only in case of recovering super heavy vehicles, as I said for the Tiger Shark 15.5 model above.

This model is lighter than the previous Tiger Shark 11.5 that.

While this model comes with an 80′ synthetic rope, you have the luxury to buy the steel cable (95’) version too for this model. The steel cable version costs less than this synthetic rope version.

Verdict

Tiger Shark 9.5 SR is light, compact, easy to use, easy to install, and quiet. I don’t have any complaints about the pricing either.

3. Superwinch LP Series Winch Review

The core objective to make this winch is pretty similar to the previous Tiger Shark model. That means this series is also come to existence to serve the 4×4, RV, or similar vehicles (in terms of size). Not to mention, this one performs well as a utility winch too.

You have two models from this series (LP10000 and LP8500).

Regarding the price, I must say, both the versions are cost-effective.

You only have the steel cable version for both the models, though.

Let’s see how they perform in real life.

i) Superwinch LP10000 Winch Review (10000 lbs Weight Capacity)

Pros

• Easy to install, and it doesn’t take too much of your time.
• It’s an excellent entry-level winch considering the quality and value.
• This winch runs quietly.
• It comes with a weather-sealed solenoid with circuit breaker protection.
• The motor is weather-sealed, too, that lets it work smoothly in all weather conditions.
• It comes with a 12’ wired remote control that works flawlessly to let you control the towing process effortlessly.
• LP10000 winch offers a handy lever-action free spooling clutch to help you controlling the winching smoothly.
• The package comes with every required part of the installation process.
• It offers a reasonable price.

Cons

• I miss a wireless remote control for this model.
• Though this one is a steel cable version, it comes with hawse fairlead. I believe a 4-way roller fairlead is always a good fit for steel cable.

This LP10000 winch is capable of recovering any object that weighing up to 10000 lbs.

However, to follow the golden rule of winching, I suggest you keep the gross weight of your vehicle up to 6666 lbs if you want to get the optimum performance.

As you don’t have the synthetic rope version for this model, you will have to be satisfied with the 85’ steel cable here. That’s not an issue because it’s a high-quality and heavy-duty cable with enough length to serve the purpose well.

What about the gear and brake? Well, it is equipped with a 3-stage planetary gear system and automatic load-holding brake. So, nothing to worry about the safety measure.

Verdict

Having all the useful features and benefits, I still want you to avoid this particular model. I’m not sure if Superwinch still offers support for this model, as I haven’t found this model on their website.

Apart from that, I don’t have any complaints about this LP10000 winch. So, it’s up to you now.

ii) Superwinch LP8500 Winch Review (8500 lbs weight capacity)

This specific model shares almost similar benefits and trade-offs as the LP10000 model.

Therefore, let’s only talk about the dissimilarities.

LP8500 winch is a good option for recovering any vehicle keeping the gross weight up to 5666 lbs.

This one comes with a 15’ wired remote control. So, yes, it’s slightly longer than the previous model.

The length of the steel cable is also longer in this case. You will get a 94′ long heavy-duty cable that goes through a hawse fairlead. Well, again, I don’t like this hawse fairlead feature with steel cable.

Of course, LP8500 is lighter than LP10000 and costs less (subtle difference in price).

It comes with a weather-sealed motor too like the previous model, but this time it’s 4.5 HP motor, whereas the previous one was 5.1 HP motor. The gear ratio is the same (235:1) for both models.

Verdict

All in all, this one is a good winch manufactured by Superwinch in terms of quality and price.

I found this model on Superwinch’s site, too, unlike the previous LP10000. So yes, you can go for this winch, no doubt.

4. Superwinch Talon Series Winch Review

Releasing the Talon series winch is another fruitful attempt by Superwinch to meet the need of truck and jeep owners.

Superwinch released five different models for Talon series (Talon 9.5, Talon 12.5, Talon 14, Talon 18, and Talon Rock).

I’m going to review three models out of them (Talon 18, Talon 12.5, and Talon 9.5).

As per the price, these are reasonable considering the quality and value they offer.

Let me review the specific models.

i) Superwinch Talon 18 Winch Review (18000 lbs Weight Capacity)

Pros

• It’s easy to install.
• It comes with IP67 rated ergonomic coiled cord (15’) remote control. It works flawlessly and has a battery operated LED light attached that helps for night recovery.
• The automatic 100% load-holding brake ensures your security during the winching process.
• The brake is placed outside the drum, that keeps the rope from inside heat.
• The solenoid is vented, sealed, submersible, and relocatable.
• It is equipped with a weather-sealed motor that keeps it runs smoothly in all weather conditions.
• It comes with a heavy-duty 90’ steel cable going through a 4-way stainless-steel roller fairlead.
• Controlling the winching is easy because of the pull and turn free spooling clutch.
• It comes with all the necessary hardware required for the installation process.

Cons

• The price could have been better.
• It sounds a tad loud, in my opinion.

Talon 18 is a heavy-duty winch, and it’s your beauty and the beast. This very winch is well capable of pulling any truck, jeep, or anything that weighs below or equal 18000 lbs of weight.

However, to get the best performance, you should keep the gross weight up to 12000 lbs.

I liked a few aspects of the remote control. It’s different than other remote controls from Superwinch in a couple of ways.

The cord looks good, and it’s coiled. The remote uses a military-style twist-lock plug system for the connection.

The buttons are ample long to push them comfortably even after wearing gloves.

The solenoid has a vibration dampener mechanism installed with T-bar on it.

It’s a 2-stage planetary gear system.

The brake is placed outside, and it helps a lot to minimize the risk of rope damage when you use a synthetic rope version.

How?

Look, if the brake is placed inside the drum, the heat that builds up inside may damage the rope.

You don’t have a readymade synthetic rope version for this model, though.

Verdict

As a whole, Talon 18 is a super-strong winch to recover your truck or jeep effortlessly.

The price seems a bit high, but quite affordable. Definitely, the price is way lower than a brand like Warn.

ii) Superwinch Talon 12.5SR Winch Review (12500 lbs Weight Capacity)

This very Talon 12.5SR is a synthetic rope version, and you don’t have any off the rack steel cable version for this model.

While this Talon 12.5SR shares so many features and benefits with the previous Talon 18.0 model, at the same it differs in some aspects too.
Let’s discuss those.

As it has 12500 lbs weight capacity, therefore, you should keep the gross weight of your vehicle up to 8333 lbs to get the best performance and ensure the longevity of the winch.

This time it’s an 80′ blue synthetic rope going through a blue aluminum hawse fairlead. Not to mention, the synthetic rope and hawse fairlead make this winch much lighter than what you would’ve expected.

Talon 12.5 offers 148:1 gear ratio, but the Talon 18.0 offers 346:1.

Verdict

It’s a good one to recover your truck or jeep from the problematic situation. Regarding the price, I don’t have any complaints either.

iii) Superwinch Talon 9.5 Winch Review (9500 lbs Weight Capacity)

Talon 9.5 is capable of getting your vehicle unstuck in a quick time. It works fast, and winding and unwinding is super fast.

It comes with an 85’ heavy-duty steel cable that goes through a heavy-duty stainless steel roller fairlead.

You can quickly recover your vehicle or load/unload a trailer keeping the weight up to 6333 lbs.

Verdict

Like other Talon series winches, this one is also a beast to unstuck your vehicle or loading/unloading cargo trailers.

It’s reasonably priced too.

5. Superwinch LT Series Winch Review

Superwinch LT series winches are made to target mainly the UTV/ATV owners.

These are super compact, lightweight, and quiet winches to recover your UTV/ATVs with ease.

They are inexpensive, I must say.

Superwinch released three models for this LT series of various weight capacities (4000 lbs, 3000 lbs, 2000 lbs). I’m going to review all the three models here.

i) Superwinch LT4000 Winch Review (4000 lbs Weight Capacity)

Pros

• It comes with both handlebar rocker switch and wired (12’) remote control. Both of these work perfectly.
• Easy to install, and the wires are long enough for the connection.
• This winch comes with a relocatable sealed solenoid with circuit breaker protection.
• The system doesn’t overeat battery power.
• It’s equipped with a high-quality steel cable(50’) going through a roller fairlead.
• It’s a 3-stage planetary gear system and provides a handy ergonomic free spooling clutch to control the winching entirely.
• Like the other models, this one also offers an automatic load-holding brake to enhance your safety during the operation.
• The motor is sealed to let it work properly in all weather conditions.
• It comes with an easy to understand instruction manual.
• It offers an unbeatable price.

Cons

• Though the remote control and rocker switch work well, they are a bit flimsy.
• Things can get messy if you don’t follow the installation instructions correctly.
• A dashboard rocker switch could have been an excellent addition to the package.

LT4000 winch is a compact option for your UTV/ATV, and it’s well capable of pulling anything weighing up to 4000 lbs.

However, as per the rule of thumb, you should use it pull over keeping the gross weight of your vehicle below 2666 lbs.

You will get everything you require for the installation of the package. The solenoid comes unmounted, so you can install it anywhere you want.

You can buy the synthetic rope version of this model too.

If you follow the instruction manual correctly, it won’t be a problem for you to install the LT series winches. However, one of the downsides of the LT series is that it takes a bit of time to get things done.

Verdict

Regarding the price, this winch is unbeatable.

In terms of quality and performance, the steel cable version is good too.

But the synthetic rope (the rope quality) is not up to the standard, though. That’s why I recommend using the steel cable version for this model.

ii) Superwinch LT3000 Winch Review (3000 lbs Weight Capacity)

This winch is one of the hot-selling winches of the Superwinch brand at this moment.

LT3000 is a 3000 lbs weight capacity winch. So, you can easily use this winch for towing your vehicle weighing up to 3000 lbs (to follow the industry practice, keep the gross weight of your vehicle up to 2000 lbs).

This winch is even lighter than the LT4000 winch. It offers the same features and benefits as the LT4000 winch except for a few differences.

This model is equipped with a 1.2 HP motor, whereas the LT4000 is equipped with 1.4 HP motor. The gear ratio of LT3000 is 136:1, and the LT4000 offers a 166:1 gear ratio.

You might need an additional plate to install this winch.

Verdict

This LT3000 is a good winch if you are looking for a quality 3000 lbs capacity winch without spending too much.

iii) Superwinch LT2000 Winch Review (2000 lbs Weight Capacity)

Superwinch LT2000 is the tiniest of all winches that I reviewed so far.

So, if fitting a winch to a narrow space is your primary concern, and 2000 lbs capacity is ok for you, then you can go for this winch.

You should use this winch to tow your vehicle, keeping its gross weight up to 1333 lbs to get the optimum results.

It’s super light and comes with a heavy-duty 50’ steel cable.

This time it’s a 1-stage planetary gear system.

You will get an extra pulley block and a D-shackle with the package.

It comes with only a handlebar rocker switch — no wired remote control included in the package.

This winch is easy to install and comes with every hardware.

Verdict

If you desire to buy a compact winch, spending very little money, then this one is the best bet for you.

This might be the best choice for using with your snowplow.

The overall quality of this winch, including the cable quality, could have been better. But it’s always what you get is what you pay for.

Final Words

If you are still with me, congratulations.

I’m sure you enjoyed reading this Superwinch reviews guide.

I mentioned all the upsides and downsides of all those models, so that you can come to a decision effortlessly.

So, what are my best choices for different weight capacities and applications?

For truck/jeep I believe, You can go either Tiger Shark 15.5 or Talon 18.0, and for UTV/ATVs, you should go for the Terra 45 to get the best result.

Nonetheless, you can go for any one of the winches that I reviewed here if it fits your needs.

It’s all in your pitch now.

Go ahead, and choose the best bet for you.