People often ask me if they should buy an X-Bull winch. You’re not alone in looking for a guide to decide if the X-bull is right for you.
As technology advances, manufacturers come up with new innovations every day. X-Bull is becoming a popular name in the winch industry. They offer great features for a fairly low price compared to other brands. You may wonder if this results in a sacrifice in quality and we'll dive into that right below.
So, I’ve done my long research. In this review, I’m gonna tell you my findings on their winch quality, if you should buy it or not. Hang tight!
This is going to be an in depth X Bull winch review, so if you are in a hurry, let me just share my top choice for the best X Bull winch below:
Now that you know my top pick for X-Bull Winch, let's dive into the details.
For this review, I’ve considered some core parameters while reviewing these winches:
- The weight capacity, gear ratio, motor power, etc.
- The brand reputation.
- Durability, performance, user acceptance.
- It’s safety features.
- Is it well worth the money or not?
- The accessories included in the kit.
- Ease of assembling, and use.
- The IP rating.
Let’s go over the top 5 X bull winches first.
Best X Bull Winch Comparison Table
Product Image | Product Name | Product Capacity | Product Rating | Product Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 13000 lbs Capacity | |||
 | 13000 lbs Capacity | |||
 | 12000 lbs Capacity | |||
 | 4500 lbs Capacity | |||
 | 3000 lbs Capacity |
Pro Tip: Always pick a winch having at least 1.5 times more load capacity than your vehicle weight. If your vehicle weight is 6,000 lbs then your winch must have minimum 9,000 lbs load capacity. It will help prevent winch overload failure accidents.
Top 5 Best X-Bull Winches Review
Our Rating
Features & Key Technical Data
Waterproof IP67 rating
Overload Protector
26 Meters Dyneema Synthetic cable
This heavy duty 12v 13000 lbs winch comes with Dyneema synthetic rope that has a breaking strength of 23,809 lbs. Pretty strong, right?
On top of that, the rope is extremely light and it floats in water. You can even work with this rope at – 20-degree celsius. This winch can easily pull heavy jeeps/trucks.
Many people often complain that overloads and short circuits ruin their winches. Thanks to X-Bull, in this model features an overload protection device to save you from such unwanted incidents. This device will protect your winch in case of any short circuit or overload by breaking off the power supply. Rest assured about that.
Ease of use is yet another concern of the winch users. The clutch lever of this winch is very easy to use. You won’t be struggling to turn the lever as it will perfectly fit in your hand. For added convenience, you can operate it with a remote control as well.
This device also has three-stage planetary gears for greater torque, and automatic load-holding brake for increased safety.
Last but not least, this winch comes with a soft cover to protect the winch from dust. The cover is waterproof and it’ll fit almost any winch with a capacity range of 9500 to 17500 lbs.
Honestly, for the price, this winch is totally worth it. No regrets there.
- Massive load capacity of 13000 lbs.
- Latest generation wireless remote included.
- Strong Dyneema synthetic winch rope.
- The rope is extremely light and floats in water.
- The clutch lever is very easy to handle.
- Has overload and short circuit protection.
- Even though they offer lifetime technical support, their support may take longer than usual to respond.
- Instruction manual is good but they missed a few things to mention.
You’ll need some essential accessories while winching. Check my recommended winch accessories list, these accessories will make winching much safer, faster & easier.
Our Rating
Features & Key Technical Data
Waterproof IP68 Rating
Corrosion-resistant
26 Meters heavy duty winch cable
Now, this review is for the older version of the winch that I just reviewed above. This winch has almost every feature of the previous winch (Editors's Choice), just a few differences between them. Unfortunately, it is no longer available for purchase but you can still review the changes made for the new model.
The load capacity and cable quality are the same in both these winches. Besides, both of them can be operated by remote control, meaning you’ll be having no trouble in operating them. Besides, the winches feature 3-stage planetary gear system, providing you with a smooth experience.
This heavy duty winch features an automatic load-holding brake, ensuring your safety to the highest degree. Additionally, you’ll get the power in and out feature for positive load control.
Many people allege that their winches don’t work as fast as they expect. No worries with this winch, it’ll come with a free spooling clutch to ensure work at a fast speed.
Alongside the mentioned above features, you’ll also get a heavy-duty sealed contactor and an alloy hawse fairlead. Meaning, the durability of the winch is ensured. If this product has all the features you need, just buy it, install it and forget it!
Let’s see the Xbull 13,000 winch in action below:
- You’ll be enjoying 13000 lbs of load capacity.
- It features a 3-stage planetary gear system.
- Durable winch rope.
- It can be operated by wireless remote.
- You’ll get a free spooling clutch.
- No overload protection.
Our Rating
Features & Key Technical Data
Free Spooling Clutch
26 Meters Stainless Steel Cable
Automatic Load Holding
- The winch has a load capacity of 12000 lbs.
- It features a stainless-steel winch cable.
- The motor has power in and power out feature.
- 265:1 gear ratio ensures greater torque.
- Automatic load-holding brake ensures safety.
- Although a few of the users posted some complaints, they don’t have anything in common. I would say, if you’re not unlucky like them, you’ll get more than you pay for.
Our Rating
Features & Key Technical Data
Free Spooling Clutch
50 ft. Synthetic Rope
Automatic Load Holding System
This winch from X-Bull is specially made for the UTV/ATV owners. It has everything that you might need to recover your UTV/ATV from a stuck situation.
This X-Bull 4500 lb. winch has a 3-stage planetary gear system implemented in the unit for the smooth winching experience. A free-spooling clutch lets you control the towing easily by ensuring a fast rope payout.
It is an IP67 rated winch, meaning it’s waterproof.
It is also fairly straightforward to control the winching operation because you are getting a new generation wireless remote control with this package. A handlebar rocker switch also comes with the winch.
The synthetic rope is durable and has adequate strength to take the intended load. It’s lightweight and can float in the water. The line goes through an aluminum hawse fairlead.
You can check the steel cable version of this model here.
A dashboard rocker switch might come in handy for a UTV/ATV. Unfortunately, this winch doesn’t come with one. However, you can buy it separately and use it to control this winch.
In the end, the main selling point is that it offers a relatively lower price than its competitors.
- The winch has the weight capacity of 4500 lbs.
- It features a high-quality 50′ synthetic rope.
- Weather sealed permanent magnet motor of 1.7 HP is installed in the unit.
- 136:1 gear ratio is quite ok to ensure enough torque for an ATV winch.
- An automatic load-holding brake escalates your safety.
- This motor features power-in and power-out for positive load holding.
- The user manual is meh.
Our Rating
Features & Key Technical Data
Free Spooling Clutch
49 ft. Stainless Steel Cable
Powerful Permanent Magnet Motor
To round out the list I wanted to include a budget option for anyone looking for a cheap winch to light duty purposes. That being said, this winch punches above its weight class in several ways.
You won't be getting many high-end features at this price point, but X-Bull has done a nice job handling the basics for this winch. The mounting bracket is solid and many small details like the face plate and relay box appear to be quality-made. You may have to grease it up a bit before operation, however.
It also features a 3-stage planetary gear for smooth towing operation. A free ergonomic cam action spooling clutch makes sure fast rope payout, hence better control on the process.Make sure the load capacity is adequate for your needs before buying. It's better to play it safe if you are on the borderline (close to 2000 lbs.) and get one of the previous winches in this review.
- This winch has a load capacity of 3000 lbs.
- It attributes a high strength stainless steel cable (49’ long).
- This winch features a powerful permanent magnet motor that has the power-in and power-out attribute for positive load holding.
- An automatic load-holding brake increases safety.
- It’s a compact and lightweight winch.
- This winch is a bit noisy.
- X-Bull needs to concentrate on improving its user manual.
- Some users reported a lack of quality control that is common for a budget product within a lineup.
Final Words for Best X-Bull Winch Review
I’m almost done with this review. Hopefully I've done a good job in helping you decide which of these winches is best for you!
I still think premium brands like Warn are aesthetically better, but X-Bull is a great choice for most people because it’s just as functional and 2/3 times cheaper. If you don’t need to use winch every other day then X-Bull would be the best choice. I won’t recommend spending extra money on premium brand if you don't plan to use it too frequently.
Anyway, the final decision is up to you. If you decide to buy X-Bull then prioritize your necessities first. Figure out what capacity & features you actually need and then cross-match them with above winches and pick one. X Bull won’t fail you, that’s for sure.
In case you are confused about which one to pick, then go for X-Bull 12V 13k lbs Waterproof Winch (the first one mentioned above) for a Jeep/Truck. The price is great, has some extra features to make the process more convenient and safe, and can pull Jeep or truck easily.
For ATV/UTV, both the 4th and 5th winch that I mentioned are perfect. Just consider the weight of your ATV/UTV and pick one.
About the Brand - X-BULL
X-Bull is an Australia based company focused on manufacturing different 4×4 kits, including winches. They operate warehouses in the USA so you won't be waiting weeks to get one, either.
So far, X-Bull has released five models of different weight capacities (13000 lbs, 12000 lbs, 4500 lbs, 3000 lbs).
One of the main selling points that differentiates this brand apart from the crowd is its pricing. All of their winches are less expensive and arguably more cost effective than the competition.
If you don’t use a winch too often or planning to buy a budget winch without a compromise in quality, then X-Bull is the perfect brand for you.
They have a dedicated Facebook page, twitter account, and a contact form on their website. So, getting in touch with them is an easy process.
X-Bull Winch FAQs
Who makes X-Bull winch?
X Bull winches are made by an Australian company.
Where are X-Bull winches made?
These winches are manufactured in Australia.
Are X-Bull winches waterproof?
Most of the X Bull winches are waterproof.
Are X-Bull winches good? Worth The Money?
X Bull winches are very high quality and come with an affordable price range. If your budget is low and want a high-quality winch, then this is a great option for you.
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wow! That’s quite a good feature at this price range.
Will the 13000 lbs one last?
Yep. They will. At least they will last long enough to make it worth the money, that’s for sure.
Can x bull 13000 lb pull my jeep(average 6000+lbs including my stuffs in the jeep)?
Yeah. It can easily pull the jeep.
Thanks for finally writing about X Bull Winch. I couldn’t find good info elsewhere. Was searching for a good review for a while.
Loved it!
Appreciate this review. Let’s see how long my winch lasts!
Thank you for the review.
I need a repair manual for x bull 13000 lbs electric winch.