Mile Marker Winch Reviews: The 2019 Winch Buyer’s Guide 

We all love to drive, and regardless of the type of car, weather elements may not be friendly and you may end up stuck somewhere. Living in areas prone to snow, ice or other harsh weather elements, investing in a reliable Mile Marker Winch could just prove to be the best investment. A winch will enable you to pull your car without the need of help from a towing company.

Different types of winches are designed for various kinds of vehicles. If you own an All-Terrain Vehicle (UTV), Utility Task Vehicle (UTV), Motor Bike, a Jeep or even a truck, you may wonder which the best Mile Marker Winch to use is.  In this article, we cover tips on how to choose the best Mile Marker Winch by looking at various features, pros, and cons.

The Best 5 Winches From Mile Marker

In this review, we focus on Mile Marker Hydraulic Winches which are fast gaining popularity in the past decade. We highlight individual features, advantages, and disadvantages to help you make the final decision.

1.    Mile Marker HI-Series Hydraulic Winch – 9000-lb

 The Mile Marker HI-Series Hydraulic Winch is designed for permanent mounting on the front or the rear of the car. It has a solenoid control that has been integrated fully into the body of the winch. This winch is to make sure that they both remain in the same location when being used. The product weighs 97 pounds with a hauling power rated at 9000lbs. The whole system is comprised of a remote control, roller fairlead fasteners, winch cable, control valve and the needed hoses. The item features a mounting hardware that includes a rope, gear train, clutch, and free spooling. The winch is powered by a 24-volt battery with a gear ratio of 6:1. The HI-Series Hydraulic winch has a mechanical lock braking system.

Pros

• Features a two-speed motor
• Has an integrated solenoid valve
• Can be used underwater
• The product is corrosion resistant
• The assembly is made from stainless steel bars and fasteners

Cons

• One needs a 35 series vehicle adapter kit to use it

2.    Mile Marker SEC15 (es) Truck/SUV Premium Sealed Electric Winch – 15,000 lbs.

The Premium Sealed Electric Winch is light in weight at about 100 pounds and has a pulling power of 15,000 lbs. It is a heavy-duty winch with an elegantly compact design compared to other winch sizes in the same category.  It is easy to mount on trucks that need a large pulling force. The product is sealed and can be used underwater. It has powerful winding motors with marine grade remote control connectors that give maximum duty cycle. The gear train is all metallic which makes this winch reliable and durable. It has a 79 feet aircraft grade cable with a dichromate coated fairlead, stainless steel hooks, and tie rods. The handheld remote control has a 12-inch chord.

Pros

• Lightweight with a strong, durable build
• Has a lockable gear housing
• The solenoid is submersible and can be mounted on different locations
• Corrosion-free hardware and control connectors

Cons

• Packaging is substandard

3.    Mile Marker H-Series Hydraulic Winch – 10,500-Lb.

The Mile Marker H-Series Hydraulic Winch can also be mounted on the front or the back of the car. It can also be installed either as a detachable or a permeant recovery mechanism. The solenoid control valve gives it more options when it comes to mounting and the type of car to be rescued. It has a four-way galvanized fairlead with a gear ratio of 6:1. The mounting hardware is included alongside the mechanical breaking lock. It is powered by a 12 volts battery with a remote control feature. It implements a free spooling clutch system with a galvanized aircraft cable with a line speed of 31. The product weighs 95 lbs with a hauling power rated at 10,500 pounds.

Pros

• Operated by a two-speed motor
• The solenoid valve is integrated into the winch
• Can be used in water
• The product is durable because of its stainless steel bars and fasteners

Cons

• Needs a 34-series valve adapter kit for some vehicles
• It is relatively slow in pulling

4.    Mile Maker Sec9.5 (es) Truck/ Jeep/ SUV Sealed Electric Winch

A waterproof, snow proof, and mud proof winch. You won’t have to worry about harsh weather conditions because of the sealed motor. The winch also makes use of an expedition grade stainless steel with marine grade connectors. The motor is linked to the drum using a 3 step gear train which is capable of giving a 9, 5000 pounds hauling power. The winch can be attached to any automobile as it comes with a 100 feet aircraft cable that is held in place by use of a latched hook to ensure that it does not shift position when in use. The entire construction is made from a corrosive proof material that can withstand harsh weather conditions.

Pros

• The sealing conforms to IP68 standards that keep water, mud, and snow away
• The winch is submersible
• The hardware is made of expedition grade corrosion free construction with stainless steel hardware
• Has a 3 stage planetary gear train for maximum power output

Cons

• Product packaging is not as durable as the product itself

5.    Mile Marker SEC4500 (es) Trailer/UTV/Side-By-Side Premium Sealed Electric Winch – 4,500 lbs.

This premium trailer and utility winch offer the fastest hauling time. It weighs about 59 lbs with a power rating of 4,500 pounds. Very appropriate for side by side vehicles and trailers. The SEC 4500 has the best performance off-road because of its build and high grade sealing technology used. It is waterproof and mud proof. It features a permeant magnetic motor with a marine grade remote control connectors that give an impressive recovery turnaround. The 3 stage planetary gear is all metallic and offers more durability and longevity in operation. The Mile Maker SEC 400 has a tow strap, tie rods, hooks galvanized fairleads and a corrosive resistant black frame. You can use the handheld remote control for easy management.

Pros

• Has a powerful magnetic motor
• The winch has been sealed to keep water, mud, and snow away using the IP68 standards
• It is submersible with a protection over its solenoid
• Has a 2year limited warranty
• Has the fastest line speed in its category

Cons

• One needs a specialized glove to handle the steel rope

What to Look for

When buying a winch be wary of the manufacturer’s way of describing their product and look for those outstanding features that any reliable winch should have. That is not to say that other features are not as important, you need to look at the following keenly

Weight Rating

When buying a winch, you may be guided by the type of automobile you are using. UTV ’s tend to weigh more than say quads. You need to know the tare weight of your car to be able to get the best weight rating for your preferred winch. Many sellers propose to go for winches within the ranges of 4000lbs or more. There is no standard weight rating that you must look at, all you need is a winch powerful enough to pull your car with less effort from you.

Type of Cable

The winch comes with two cable types the wire and the synthetic. They both have their strengths and weaknesses and to get a better insight, we will look at them in a comparison table

The Wire	The Cable
Composed of several strands of steel and may rough to touch with wearing gloves	Made from synthetic fibers and has a smooth touch. They are usually stronger than a wire cable of the same diameter
Heavy in weight because of the numerous steel strands	Very light in weight and quite effective in swampy or mud prone areas
Abrasion resistant making it last longer	Wears out when subjected to aggressive abrasions
Heat resistant	Can be damaged when exposed to heat
May cause a whiplash  upon breakage but it has a downside that it cannot be knotted when you have no other rope	Does not cause a whiplash when it breaks and you can create knots when in an emergency
Wire rope is affordable	Cable rope is a little pricey

Mount Plate

Some manufacturers provide mount plates for their winches. Therefore, it is important to check if you a winch of your choice comes with a mounting plate or if it can be purchased separately

The Type of Winch

The selection of the winch to buy may be affected by its particular use. Some winches have a pre-wired side by side which also determines the decision on the type to look for. Please note that some winches are universal and can, therefore, work with any UTV with a mounting plate

Functionality

A perfect winch should be that which is affordable and offers durability and can serve you for a very long time. Should also be compact yet light and does not cause any strain when being used.

Mounting Locations

It is quite prudent to look at all the possible mounting locations or situations. If you are driving in an area with heavy snow fall or rain, it is important to look for a winch that allows for mounting far away from the ground as possible.

The Brand or Manufacturer

Different brands offer winches that can be used in different scenarios. Some are known in the market either because of their customer after sales relations, others for good and reliable products and some may be as a result of a good price structure. As a person who is keen on getting the best winch to serve your purpose look for a brand name that will serve your purpose.

The Cost

The price variation runs across different brands. Other important factors such as weight rating, cable type also has a bearing on the differences in price

Benefits of a Good Winch

·         Safety

When looking at safety, we need to look at it from the kind of cable used. As is the case of cable (synthetic rope), which according to experts does not store energy when under a load, cannot cause any grievous harm to anyone who gets in to contact with.

·         Strength

You will be able to pull the car using little energy that has been transferred to winch through the rope making your work easier.

·         Weight

The winch has a negligible weight compared to the amount of weight it helps you haul over a long-distance. They do not add any extra weight to the car when pulling.

·         Easy to use

Rigging a winch has been made simpler and can be done within a short time without wasting time waiting for a tow truck which may be miles away.

Conclusion

With all that information you should be able to make an informed decision on the best Mile Marker Winch that is right for you. Please remember that to have the best truck winch will get you out of situations that without a winch you will have to waste countless minutes waiting for help.

In our review, The Mile Maker SEC 4500(es) weighs less but offer a compelling power rate that can also be used to rescue trailers. Its powerful magnetic motor adds to its speed in pulling out vehicles makes it even more desirable especially when in emergency situations. The Mile Marker H-Series Hydraulic Winch wins in the hydraulic category is two-speed motor ensures that power is always available when the winch is operational.

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