There are a lot of winch brands out there on the market, and it’s easy to get confused. However, if you want to purchase a high-quality winch at a budget-friendly price, you should consider a Harbor Freight Badland winch.
Lucky for you, we’ve done our homework and in this article, we’ll be reviewing the best Badland winches currently available. So let’s get busy.
Our Best Badland Winches
- Badland ZXR 12000 lb Electric Winch (Our Top Pick)
- BADLAND 9000 lb. Electric Winch (Best Bang for the Buck)
- BADLAND 18000 lb. Industrial Truck Winch (Best High End)
- Badland 5000 lb. ATV Electric Winch
- Badland 3500 lb ATV Electric Winch
Why Choose A Badland Winch?
The name “Badland†is almost synonymous with truck winches; that’s because Badland winches are affordable and high-quality products. The parent company behind the brand, Harbor Freight Tools, is an American company that was founded in 1977.
Besides manufacturing Badland winches, Harbor Freight Tools makes and distributes generators, hand tools, automotive tools, and power tools to thousands of locations across the world. Even though “Badland†is made in China, every tool that Harbor Freight manufactures is quality tested in Calabasas, California.
Talking about loading capacity, most Badland winches can pull up to 12,000 pounds of weight; and they’re usually sold at a lower price tag compared to competitive brands such as Smittybilt and Warn.
Like they say; “when you’re stuck in treacherous badlands, a badland winch can pull you outâ€.
What To Expect When Choosing Badland Winches
Loading Capacity
The highest loading capacity you can find on a Badland winch is 18,000 pounds. If the load capacity rule applies (vehicle weight x 1.5), you can easily tow most Jeeps and heavy-duty trucks such as the Ford 350, RAM 3500, Nissan Titan XD and a Chevrolet Silverado 2500 using an 18,000 lbs Badland winch; as long as the trucks don’t weigh more than 12,000 pounds.
However, some of the other options include 1500 lbs, 2000 lbs, 2500 lbs, 5,000 lbs, 9,000 lbs, and 12,000 lbs weight ratings.
Type
Most Badland winches are electric-powered. That means you will most likely purchase a winch that needs to connect to a battery. If that’s the case, we recommend a deep cycle battery especially if you have one of those heavy-duty electric winches.
The good thing about most Badland electric winches is that they’re usually motorized to allow the user to pull out the cable automatically.
Synthetic Or Steel Wire Rope?
Fortunately, you can choose between a synthetic or a steel wire rope on a Badland winch. However, a Badland winch that comes with a synthetic rope is sold at a higher price tag compared to a unit with steel cable. This is because synthetic ropes are more expensive to manufacture, and they’re safer to use than steel wire rope.
Otherwise, most Badland winches have a cable length of 35 to 100 feet long, depending on the weight rating. Of course, the tensile strength of the rope is usually double the loading capacity of the winch, so that it doesn’t snap under tension.
Integrated Winch
Usually, Badland winches are integrated with the control box. In other words, the solenoid or control box is secured to the winch body; usually on top or the side part.
We recommend choosing an integrated winch with the solenoid fixed on top if you have one of those big and heavy bumpers on your truck. Alternatively, if you’ve installed small and lightweight aftermarket bumpers on your truck or ATV, an integrated winch with the solenoid on the side would be ideal.
Motor Power And Gear System
The motor power you have on a Badland winch depends on the load capacity. Needless to say, the higher the load capacity, the higher the horsepower of your winch.
For instance, the 18,000 lbs Badland winch is fitted with a series wound motor that produces 7.5 hp and a rope pull force of 20.4 feet per minute. On the other hand, the 9,000 lbs Badland electric winch will deliver a motor power of at least 5.5 hp and a line speed of 18.4 feet per minute.
Beyond that, most Badland winches come with a three-stage planetary gear system to increase speed and reduce weight.
Safety Features
All Badland winches include maximum safety features such as remote control, automatic loading brakes, free spooling clutch, and overload protection.
For the remote control, you could either have a wireless or a corded option; sometimes, it could be both options. Whichever the case, both corded and wireless remote controls are considered relatively safe as long as you can operate the winch at least 10 feet away.
IP Rating
If you want to know if your winch can resist water, mud, dust, and debris, you look at the IP (Ingress Protection Code) rating. Usually, the higher the IP rating, the better the protection against harmful objects.
Most Badland winches are certified at IP66, IP67, or IP68. An IP66 rated winch can withstand dust, mud, and heavy water jets. But if you want a winch that can be submerged in water for at least 30 minutes and protected against dust and sand, choose an IP67 rated Badland winch.
Even better, IP68 Badland winch can be submerged in a river or lake up to 1.5 meters deep for at least 30 minutes and it would work just fine.
Price
As we’ve mentioned earlier, Badland winches are usually sold at an affordable price. For about $1000 or less, you can get your hands on an 18000 lb Badland industrial electric winch. What’s more, a 12,000 lb winch with synthetic rope will cost you about $500 or less; give or take a few dollars.
Alternatively, if you’re on a tight budget, you can get a 12,000 Badland winch with steel wire rope at a cheaper price range for about $400 or less. Go ask around, you probably won’t find a better price offer than what you would get on a Badland winch.
Warranty
Most Badland winch products have 2 years warranty and a 90-day return policy. If the winch becomes faulty during the warranty period, you can return it to get a repair or replacement. But if you’re not satisfied with the product immediately after purchase, you can return it within 90 days to get a refund.
However, make sure that you read the fine print since the warranty and return policy varies depending on the product model.
How To Install A Badland Winch
Best Badland Winches Reviewed
1. Badland ZXR 12000 lb Electric Winch
Type: Electric Winch
Load Capacity: 12,000 lbs
Rope Material: Steel wire
Cable Length: 65 feet
Motor Power: 6 HP
This is definitely one of the most affordable electric winches on the market. At that price, it’s almost unbelievable that it can pull 12,000 pounds of weight and deliver 6 hp.
But that’s not all; it features a 65 feet steel wire with a tensile strength that is almost double the weight rating. Talking about safety features, it comes with a 12 feet corded remote control, a circuit breaker, and an automatic load-holding brake.
There is just one thing though; even though the steel wire is durable, it can bruise your hands if you’re not careful or cause severe injuries if it snaps. However, you can use a heavy blanket or a winch line dampener to absorb the energy.
Pros
- It’s affordable
- Auto load holding brake
- Easy installation
- It includes a circuit breaker
- Water-resistant
- 12 feet remote control
Cons
- It uses a steel cable
Buy The Badland ZXR 12000 lb Electric Winch On Amazon
2. BADLAND 9000 lb. Electric Winch
Type: Electric Winch
Load Capacity: 9,000 lbs
Rope Material: Steel wire
Cable Length: 65 feet
Motor Power: 5.4 HP
If you drive a light-duty truck, this Badland 9000 lb. electric winch could be suitable to get you unstuck. For starters, it’s a budget-friendly winch with a three-stage planetary gear system, automatic load-holding brake, and 12 feet wired remote control.
Thanks to its 6 feet battery cables, it’s very easy to fit and install. But the best part about it is the 5.5 hp series wound motor that is specially designed to stay cool and prevent overheating even if you run it for a long time. Also, it’s IP66 rated and it won’t be affected by water jets.
Despite all its excellent features, we think the winch line speed is a little bit slow especially when it’s fully loaded.
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Series wound motor to keep cool
- Circuit breaker included
- Easy to install
- Waterproof
- Durable high grade cable
Cons
- Slow winch line speed
Buy The BADLAND 9000 lb. Electric Winch On Amazon
3. BADLAND 18000 lb. Industrial Truck Winch
Type: Electric Winch
Load Capacity: 18,000 lbs
Rope Material: Steel wire
Cable Length: 75 feet
Motor Power: 7 HP
Quite exceptional, this Badland winch is fitted with an advanced series-wound 7.5 hp engine that can pull up to 18,000 pounds of weight. Besides that, it uses a steel cable with a break strength of 30,000 pounds.
What’s more, the rope length is 75 feet long and at full speed, the winch can spool 20.4 feet per minute. If you’re an off-road enthusiast, you will probably like the 30 feet corded remote control and automatic load-holding brake.
However, if you want the wireless remote control, you need to buy it separately. Other than that, the winch is a little too big and it won’t fit small truck bumpers.
Pros
- Powerful motor
- Fast line speed
- Highest load capacity on our guide
- Extra-long steel cable
- Easy to control
- 30 feet corded remote control
Cons
- Wireless remote control is bought separately
- It’s too big
Buy The BADLAND 18000 lb. Industrial Truck Winch On Amazon
4. Badland 5000 lb. ATV Electric Winch
Type: Electric Winch
Load Capacity: 5,000 lbs
Rope Material: Steel wire
Cable Length: 50 feet
Motor Power: 5 HP
How about a 5,000 lbs electric winch that is ideal for off-road ATVs? It’s an integrated winch but the control box is on the side so it could be easier to install on small bumpers. If that’s not enough, you could operate it from a safe distance using its 12 feet handheld remote control.
For what it’s worth, this Badland electric winch is IP67 rated; that means you could submerge it in 1-meter-deep water and it would work just fine. In addition to that, it doesn’t consume a lot of power so you probably won’t need an extra deep cycle battery to run it.
Unfortunately, this is not the best winch for recovering off-roading trucks or SUVs.
Pros
- Automatic brakes
- Fast line speed
- Low budget winch
- It draws low current
- Suitable for ATVs
- 12 feet handheld remote control
- Waterproof
Cons
- Not suitable for heavy trucks
Buy The Badland 5000 lb. ATV Electric Winch On Amazon
5. Badland 3500 lb ATV Electric Winch
Type: Electric Winch
Load Capacity: 3500 lbs
Rope Material: Steel wire
Cable Length: 50 feet
Motor Power: 1.9 HP
This is another electric winch for ATVs but it can only pull 3500 pounds of weight. On the bright side, it comes with a mounting plate to make it easier to install, and it doesn’t draw a lot of current.
If you’re worried about safety, it features a 12 feet corded remote control, 8 feet handlebar control, and an automatic load-holding brake. Likewise, it uses a 50 feet aircraft-grade steel cable to improve durability.
Its biggest shortcoming seems to be that the permanent magnet motor delivers 1.9 hp, which is a little bit low. Then again, this is more of an ATV winch than a truck towing tool.
Pros
- Suitable for ATV use
- Easy to install
- Automatic load holding
- 12 feet handheld remote control
- 8 feet handlebar control
- Low budget
- It comes with a mounting plate
Cons
- Low motor power
Buy The Badland 3500 lb ATV Electric Winch On Amazon
Conclusion
It’s a hard pick but we think the Badland ZXR 12000 lb Electric Winch would be a perfect fit for most off-road vehicles. But if you’re feeling a little bit ambitious, the Badland 18000 lb. Industrial Truck Winch is another good option with a higher load weight rating.
So what is it going to be?