Best Portable Electric Winch

Not everyone needs a big and bulky winch for heavy-duty purposes. Sometimes, all you need is a small-sized winch that allows you to carry out simple hauling and hoisting activities, and this is exactly what portable electric winches do for you. 

Portable truck winches are small-sized, lightweight, and easy to carry. The good thing is that they perform the same options as the normal winch, albeit with less pulling capacity. So if you work with lighter loads, small boats, or off-road with ATVs, the portable truck winch might be perfect for you.

Knowing that you need a portable truck winch is not enough. You should also be able to choose the ideal portable winch for your needs, which is where this guide comes in. This guide reviews the best five portable electric winches in the market. We will also discuss factors to consider before choosing a portable truck winch and why you may need one.

What Is A Portable Electric Winch?

Portable winches are lightweight and smaller, allowing you to move them easily from one place to another. When we say “easily move them,” we refer to the ability to transport these winches using your hands comfortably. If you cannot comfortably carry the winch with your hands and move it around, it is not a portable winch. The average weight of a portable winch is about 35 lbs as opposed to 70 lbs which is the average weight for a normal-sized winch. 

It is important to mention that the reduced size and weight of the portable winch affects its pulling capacity. Thus, you cannot expect the portable winch to have the same pulling capacity as the big and heavy-duty winches. 

You should also know that apart from the weight, size, and pulling capacity, portable winches are not any different from other types of winches. They have the same components, are powered by an electric or a hydraulic power source, and use steel or synthetic cables. 

Why Do You Need a Portable Electric Winch?

Every type of winch has features and inherent benefits you cannot get from other winches. These features and benefits make them unique and best suited for certain purposes. If you are wondering whether or not you need a portable winch, check out the advantages of the portable winch to make your decision; 

✅ Lightweight

One of the problems that many off-roaders and winch users have is the weight of the winch. An average winch could weigh between 70 lbs and 100 lbs. In some cases, heavy-duty winches weigh more than 100 lbs, and this makes the handling and usage of the winches problematic. 

However, with portable winches, you do not need to worry about the heavy weight or size of the winch. An average portable winch weighs about 35 lbs, which is about 16 kg. This is much lighter than 70 lbs and easier to use and handle.

✅ Easier to Move Around

Another advantage that you enjoy with a portable winch is that it is easier to move from one truck or place to another. While this may not sound like much, it is an important feature or advantage. If you have ever used the normal-sized winch before, you will understand how it is almost impossible to move around. It is simply too heavy or has been mounted to a truck in a semi-permanent way, making it a bit challenging to dismount and move around. 

With the portable winch, it is a different ball game. They can easily be detached and moved around even after mounting or attaching them to a vehicle. This is important because it means you can take your winch with you anywhere in the world without necessarily moving around with your truck or jeep. This way, you are better equipped to handle any off-roader or load-hauling emergency around you. 

✅ Affordable

With the reduced weight and size also comes a reduced price. You pay significantly less for the portable winch while having your hauling and hoisting needs covered meaning you get to save more money.  

Here is something you should know about the affordability of portable winches. They are cheaper because of their reduced size and weight, and also a reduction in pulling capacity. 

✅ Easier to Maintain

Regular maintenance is vital to the performance of every mechanical device, and the winch is no exception. However, with a normal-sized winch or heavy-duty winch, the maintenance process is a bit cumbersome and stressful due to the size of the components in the winch. The winch is heavy and difficult to disassemble for proper checks and maintenance. 

The portable winch solves this problem. It is easier to disassemble and clean, allowing for a proper maintenance process and continued functionality. 

Now that you know why a portable winch might be a perfect fit for you, let us discuss important features to look out for when buying a portable winch. 

Important Factors to Consider When Buying A Portable Electric Winch

One of the hardest jobs in the world is choosing equipment from numerous options, and portable truck winches are no exception. The reason is that there are many good options, and you do not want to miss out on their features and benefits. 

The good news is that you can easily solve this problem when you know the features and factors to consider when making your choice. The rule is simple: the equipment that meets all these considerations best fits your needs. You can also use this principle for portable winches. 

The following important things to consider when choosing the best portable winch; 

1. Portability

As you can expect, this is the most important feature of a portable winch. The winch should be lightweight and compact. This is non-negotiable; without this feature, you cannot refer to a winch as portable. 

2. Versatility

A good portable winch is versatile and can be used for different purposes. Remember what we said about the ease of moving the portable winch? What good is a winch that can be carried about but restricted to a single use? 

The portable winch should not be limited to only pulling cars and vehicles on off-road terrains. It should also be useful for pulling other types of objects. 

3. Pulling Capacity

You cannot buy any type of winch without considering its pulling capacity. Regardless of the type, it is the most important feature of a winch. The pulling capacity determines the load a winch can pull without breaking. 

While you are not looking for the highest pulling capacity in a portable winch, you should choose one with enough pulling capacity to handle your needs. 

4. Ease of Use and Installation

Generally, portable winches are expected to be easy to handle and install. It is one of the core advantages of going for a portable winch. However, some portable winches come with complicated components and accessories, making the installation process challenging. So you should check out the components of the portable winch and go for those that are simple and easier to use and handle. 

Top 5 Best Portable Electric Winch

Now that you are better equipped with some of the important features and factors in a portable truck winch, let us check out five portable winches that meet all the factors and considerations;

Alternatively, if you’re after a more serious winch – check out our review of the Best Off Road Winches or the Best Electric Winches out there.

1. Mega Flint Trailer Winch

Verdict: 🏆 Best Versatile Portable Winch

If you are particular about getting a versatile portable winch, the Mega Flint Trailer Winch is your best bet. The winch works perfectly with trucks, boats, cars, and trailers. The best part is that it has varying pulling capacity for its versatile functions. The Megaflint Trailer Winch has a capacity of 2000 lbs for pulling functions, 6000 lbs for rolling functions, and its towing function is 5000 lbs. 

The winch’s versatility is not limited to its functions but extends to its power source. The Megaflint Trailer Winch uses both an electric power source and a manual power source. This means that you can use the winch without a battery.

• Pros:
  • It is easy to use and install
  • It has a dual power source
  • Its pulling capacity is efficient enough to handle your winching needs
• Cons:
  • It does not have a wireless remote control

2. Superwinch 1140232 Winch2Go

Verdict: 🏆 Best Portable Winch for 4×4

Superwinch is one of the reputable brands in the automotive industry, so it is no surprise that the brand has an excellent portable winch in its line-up. The Superwinch 1140232 Winch2Go comes with a range of pulling capacities, with the lowest being 1000 lbs and the highest being 5000 lbs.

It also comes with a 16000 lbs pulley block that extends the highest pulling capacity to 8000 lbs with manual usage. 

It is also equipped with a 12V 1.4 HP motor that runs on electricity. This means that on days you don’t want to exert manual effort, you can wire the winch to a battery and start using it. The winch measures 41 lbs, which is fair enough for a portable winch.

• Pros:
  • It is compact and lightweight
  • Its performance is great
  • The addition of the pulley block increases its pulling capacity
• Cons:
  • The battery cables are too short

3. Warn 101575 Portable Winch

Verdict: 🏆 Best Drill Portable Winch

It is almost impossible to review the leading winches in the market without a product from Warn making the list. This shows the type of reputation the brand has in the industry. The Warn 101575 Portable Winch is one of the products in the Warn portable winch line-up. The winch meets the very definition of portable as it weighs about 11 lbs and measures 5 by 5 by 5 in dimension, making it the most compact and lightest winch we reviewed. 

On to its performance, the Warn 101575 Portable Winch is a drill winch that requires a drill machine with a power unit to work. It also comes with a weight limiter system that alerts you if you exceed the maximum pulling capacity of the winch. The winch is versatile and can be used to lift, pull, and hoist any type of load as long as it is within the winch’s weight limit. Its weight capacity is 500 lbs.

• Pros:
  • It is lightweight and compact
  • Its weight limiter feature helps with safety
  • It comes with a free spooling clutch that makes it easier to use
• Cons:
  • Its pulling capacity is too low

4. Warn 885005 PullzAll Portable Electric Winch

Verdict: 🏆 Best Cordless Portable Winch

Unlike the other popular winches, the Warn 885005 PullzAll Portable Electric Winch is cordless. This means you don’t need to worry about wires or cords for connecting this winch to a power source.  

The cordless option provides some form of versatility to the winch. The feature is particularly useful when you need to haul or pull loads in areas where your vehicle cannot get to or there are no other source of electricty. 

You also get to enjoy a 24V motor with this portable electric winch. The winch is fitted with two rechargeable battery packs, so it becomes almost impossible to run out of electrical power while using the winch. 

Finally, you get to enjoy 1000 lbs pulling capacity with this winch.

• Pros:
  • It is a very versatile winch, thanks to the cordless option
  • It comes with two rechargeable battery packs, allowing for long continued use
• Cons:
  • Its pulling capacity could be better

5. Landworks Electric Portable Winch

Verdict: 🏆 Best All-Electric Winch

This portable winch is an all-electric winch, meaning that, unlike many portable winches, it does not allow manual use. This winch comes with a 48V DC 550W motor, and with a pulling capacity of 1000 lbs, this portable truck winch has enough power to handle its pulling functions. It weighs 26 lbs and measures 12.4 by 11.5 by 9.8 inches in dimension.

• Pros:
  • It runs on a powerful motor.
  • It uses a mechanical friction brake system that makes it easy to handle heavy loads.
• Cons:
  • Its pulling capacity could be better

Conclusion

If you are in the market for the best portable truck winch, you should consider important features such as its weight, pulling capacity, versatility, and ease of use. The portable winches reviewed in this guide made the cut because they have all these features. Of the five reviewed, the Warn 101575 Portable Winch is our top pick of the top five.