How we made this guide: picks and specs come from our catalog and fitment data, owner quotes come from verified reviews and the guide was drafted with AI help, then checked and edited by Trevor Hall.
Warn sizes by machine type. A four-seat UTV gets 4,500 to 5,500 lb, a two-seat UTV 3,500 to 4,500 lb and an ATV 2,500 to 3,500 lb. Our powersports winches run from 2,500 to 6,000 lb, starting at $305.99.
We carry three Warn families for ATVs and UTVs. The R-Series is the value line, the VRX adds a tighter seal and the AXON adds digital controls and a combined motor and contactor. All nine winches come with 50 ft of synthetic rope and a hawse fairlead.
Quick answer
For a single-rider ATV, our listing copy points to the 2,500 lb VRX 25-S. For a two-seat UTV, Warn's range is 3,500 to 4,500 lb. For a four-seat or heavily loaded machine, or a winch that works often, the 5,500 lb AXON 55-S and 6,000 lb R60-S leave room to spare.
It depends on your machine
For powersports, Warn skips the weight formula and names a band per machine: ATVs sit lowest, two-seat UTVs in the middle and four-seat UTVs highest, as the figures above show. Warn's 1.5 times rule is for trucks and SUVs, worked from the GVWR. If your machine carries a heavy load, tows or works in deep mud, size toward the top of its range.
Our winch sizing guide covers the line pull rule for every vehicle type.
Capacity is quoted on the first layer of the drum. Our VRX 25-S listing copy says to keep some rope spooled off for a hard pull, and the VRX listings print a pull-by-layer table for the same reason. The VRX 45-S listing shows 252 amps and 4.3 ft per minute at its 4,500 lb rating, against 16.2 ft per minute with no load.
Starting point for an ATV
Warn VRX 25-S Powersports Winch, 2,500 lb, 50' 3/16" Synthetic Rope and Hawse Fairlead (101020)
From $407.99 · 2,500 lb with 3/16 inch Warn synthetic rope and a handlebar rocker switch. Our listing copy positions it for ATVs and quads.
R, VRX and AXON: what separates them
The seven winches with full spec rows on our site share a 12V DC permanent magnet motor, an all-metal three-stage planetary gear train and an automatic load-holding brake. Our listings class all seven as ATV and UTV winches, not truck or SUV winches. The differences are sealing, controls, warranty and price.
R-Series
Our R25-S listing copy describes the R-Series as engineered at Warn's Oregon headquarters and manufactured offshore to Warn's specifications, sealed to IP67. The listings show a 5 year mechanical and 3 year electrical warranty. The line runs from 2,500 to 6,000 lb, and the R60-S is the largest powersports winch in our range.
The R35-S steps up to 7/32 inch rope, where the R25-S has 3/16 inch and the R45-S and R60-S have 1/4 inch. The R35-S comes with both a handlebar rocker switch and a dash switch. The R45-S and R60-S pair a dash switch with a corded remote, which suits a side-by-side with a dash and no handlebars.
Value pick for a UTV
Warn R45-S Powersports Winch, 4,500 lb, 50' 1/4" Synthetic Rope and Hawse Fairlead (110040)
From $431.99 · 4,500 lb with 50 ft of 1/4 inch synthetic rope, a dash switch and a corded remote.
VRX
The VRX lists an IP68 rating, a zinc-plated clevis hook and semi-gloss black powder coat with stainless steel fasteners. Our R25-S copy says the VRX is designed, engineered and assembled in the United States. Warn lists a limited lifetime mechanical and 3 year electrical warranty for the VRX. Both VRX winches we carry use Warn synthetic rope.
The VRX 25-S has a handlebar-mounted rocker switch, the VRX 45-S a dash-mounted rocker and a corded remote. Both are fixed-mount winches, and the listings say a vehicle-specific mount kit is required and sold separately.
VRX for a UTV
Warn VRX 45-S Powersports Winch, 4,500 lb, 50' 1/4" Synthetic Rope and Hawse Fairlead (101040)
From $555.99 · 4,500 lb, IP68 and a dash rocker switch with a corded remote.
AXON
The AXON lists an IP68/IP69K waterproof rating, a black forged hook, Spydura synthetic rope and an Epic hawse fairlead. It uses the Warn Motactor, which combines the motor and contactor in one unit, and a Rockerbar digital control switch.
The AXON also has Plow Mode, which sets upper and lower blade travel limits with one-touch Auto Move. It needs a HUB Wireless Receiver and a smartphone. The receiver is in the box with the AXON 45-S and 55-S, with a corded remote socket and wiring harness. The corded remote is sold separately. On the AXON 35-S the receiver is sold separately, and the Rockerbar comes with a handlebar mount adaptor. Our AXON 35-S copy notes the winch still works through the Rockerbar switch without the receiver.
AXON with the receiver included
Warn AXON 45-S Powersports Winch, 4,500 lb, 50' 1/4" Synthetic Rope and Epic Hawse Fairlead (110240)
From $759.99 · 4,500 lb with Spydura rope, the Rockerbar switch and the HUB Wireless Receiver in the box.
Warn's own channel shows how Plow Mode sets the blade limits.
All nine winches compared
| Winch | Rated line pull | Rope | Controls with it | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warn R25-S | 2,500 lb | 50 ft of 3/16 inch synthetic | Handlebar rocker switch | $305.99 |
| Warn R35-S | 3,500 lb | 50 ft of 7/32 inch synthetic | Handlebar rocker and dash switch | $341.99 |
| Warn R45-S | 4,500 lb | 50 ft of 1/4 inch synthetic | Dash switch and corded remote | $431.99 |
| Warn R60-S | 6,000 lb | 50 ft of 1/4 inch synthetic | Dash switch and corded remote | $494.99 |
| Warn VRX 25-S | 2,500 lb | 50 ft of 3/16 inch Warn synthetic | Handlebar rocker switch | $407.99 |
| Warn VRX 45-S | 4,500 lb | 50 ft of 1/4 inch Warn synthetic | Dash rocker switch and corded remote | $555.99 |
| Warn AXON 35-S | 3,500 lb | 50 ft of 3/16 inch Spydura synthetic | Rockerbar with handlebar adaptor | $623.99 |
| Warn AXON 45-S | 4,500 lb | 50 ft of 1/4 inch Spydura synthetic | Rockerbar and HUB receiver | $759.99 |
| Warn AXON 55-S | 5,500 lb | 50 ft of 1/4 inch Spydura synthetic | Rockerbar and HUB receiver | $871.99 |
In our range these nine run from about $300 to just under $900. The AXON 55-S is the top. Per our AXON 55-S copy, the AXON 45-S and 55-S share a 15.0 inch body and bolt pattern.
Rope, steel and the fairlead
Every powersports winch we list is a synthetic rope model. Our synthetic rope vs steel cable guide sets out the trade-offs between the two line types. Every one of them sits in our synthetic rope winches collection too. All nine use a hawse fairlead or the Epic hawse on the AXON. Rope thickness rises with the rating, so match any replacement line to the winch, not to the old rope.
The AXON uses Spydura rope. The VRX uses Warn synthetic rope. Browse winch accessories for the rest of the setup.
Check the mount before you order
Our data lists no ATV or UTV model fitment for these winches, so we cannot tell you that one fits a named machine. The R-Series listings say the winch bolts to a vehicle-specific powersports mount kit, and the VRX listings say the same and add that the kit is sold separately. Check the mount kit for your machine first, then match the winch to the kit.
Our R45-S copy gives the dimensions as 14.6 inches long, 4.7 inches high and 4.6 inches wide on a four-hole 6.59 by 3.0 inch pattern. It calls this the wider of the two patterns used across powersports winches, with a narrower 4.87 inch pattern used by smaller ones, so a mount cut for the narrow pattern will not take it. One AXON 35-S owner on file found the winch did not fit their ATV, and points to its size against the VRX.
“Just make sure you check out the fitment guide from Warn, as this is bigger than the comparable VRX line winch.”
Warn AXON 35-S Powersports Winch, 3,500 lb, 50' 3/16" Synthetic Rope and Epic Hawse Fairlead (110230) owner · 4 out of 5 stars
Our AXON listings carry Warn's dimension drawing, so compare it with the mount kit.
Wiring, safety and what owners say
Winch wiring comes down to the battery, the contactor and the controller. Our Warn winch wiring guide works from truck manuals, so use your winch's own sheet for the powersports details. Before your first pull, read how to rig, pull and spool in our winch safety guide. If you have never used a winch, our guide to how a winch works covers the parts. Warn also has a primer for ATV and side-by-side owners on its own channel.
From the reviews on file, the VRX 25-S has 5 reviews, all five-star. The VRX 45-S and AXON 35-S have 2 each. The R-Series, AXON 45-S and AXON 55-S have none on file. These counts are a small selection, not a rating of the range.
“Everything you need to install (except your machine specific mount) is in the box.”
Warn VRX 25-S Powersports Winch, 2,500 lb, 50' 3/16" Synthetic Rope and Hawse Fairlead (101020) owner · 5 out of 5 stars
“4th winch install, and easiest by far.”
Warn AXON 35-S Powersports Winch, 3,500 lb, 50' 3/16" Synthetic Rope and Epic Hawse Fairlead (110230) owner · 5 out of 5 stars
Frequently asked questions
Is a 2,500 lb winch enough for an ATV?
It can be. Warn's guidance puts an ATV at 2,500 to 3,500 lb, so 2,500 lb suits a lighter ATV, and the rating is on the first layer of rope. Our VRX 25-S listing copy positions it for ATVs and quads and suggests 3,500 or 4,500 lb for a two-seat UTV.
Which Warn winch is right for a UTV?
For a two-seat UTV Warn's band is 3,500 to 4,500 lb, and a four-seat machine moves up to 4,500 to 5,500 lb. The R45-S, VRX 45-S and AXON 45-S all rate 4,500 lb. A four-seat or heavily loaded machine should look at the AXON 55-S or R60-S.
Are Warn winches any good?
From the reviews on file, all 5 VRX 25-S reviews are five-star and the only complaint among the 9 reviews across our Warn powersports winches is one AXON 35-S owner who found it did not fit their ATV, but that is a small selection. Every winch with full spec rows lists an all-metal three-stage planetary gear train and an automatic load-holding brake, and Warn backs the R-Series for 5 years mechanical and the VRX for life on mechanical parts.
What is the difference between the R-Series, VRX and AXON?
Per our listings, the R-Series is the value line with a 5 year mechanical warranty. The VRX adds IP68 sealing, and the AXON adds the Motactor, digital Rockerbar controls, IP68/IP69K sealing and Plow Mode. In our range the AXON costs the most at each rating we carry.
Match a Warn winch to your machine
Related guides
- What Is a Winch? How a Truck Winch Works and Who Needs One
- What Size Winch Do You Need? Sizing for Trucks, Jeeps, ATVs and UTVs
- Synthetic Rope vs Steel Cable Winch Line: Which Is Better for a Truck?
- How to Use a Winch Safely: Rigging, Pulling and Spooling Steps From Warn's Manuals
- Warn Winch Wiring Diagram: How to Wire a ZEON XD or M8274 From Warn's Manuals