The AXON 45RC solves a specific problem: sport side-by-sides that have the weight to need 4,500 lb of winch but not the bumper space to hold one. Warn's answer was to shorten the drum rather than the capacity. The 45RC packs the full 4,500 lb rating into the compact 13.31" AXON body on the narrower 3.0" x 4.87" bolt pattern, and carries 27' of 1/4" Spydura synthetic rope instead of 50'. Everything else is full AXON: Motactor, Rockerbar digital control, the HUB Wireless Receiver included, Plow Mode, and IP68 with IP69K sealing.
What's Included:
Warn AXON 45RC powersports winch, rated at 4,500 lb
27' of 1/4" (6.4mm) Spydura synthetic rope, factory spooled on the drum
Epic hawse fairlead
Black forged hook with Warn hook strap
Rockerbar digital control switch and HUB Wireless Receiver, plus a corded remote socket and wiring harness
Warn installation and operating instructions
Vehicle-specific winch mount kit NOT included, sold separately
Features
4,500 lb of Rated Pull for Sport side-by-sides Warn rates the AXON 45RC at 4,500 lb on the first layer of the drum and publishes what happens as the drum fills rather than hiding it: 4,500 lb on layer 1, 3,696 lb on layer 2, 3,135 lb on layer 3, 2,722 lb on layer 4. Warn positions this capacity for sport side-by-sides with limited mounting space. Pull enough rope off to work on the lower layers for a hard recovery, or rig a snatch block and halve the load on the line.
27' of 1/4" Spydura synthetic rope on a epic hawse fairlead This is the synthetic-rope build. 27' of 1/4" (6.4mm) Spydura synthetic rope runs through a epic hawse fairlead, which is the correct pairing because synthetic must never run over rollers. Against steel of the same rating it saves real weight at the very front of the machine, it does not develop the broken strands that make used steel line unpleasant to handle, and if it parts under load it drops instead of whipping. That last point is the one worth paying for.
A Different Trade: Full Capacity, Half the Rope Every other winch in this batch trades capacity for size. The 45RC trades rope length instead. Warn kept the full 4,500 lb rating and the entire AXON feature set, shortened the drum so the winch fits the compact 13.31" body and the narrow bolt pattern a sport side-by-side can actually accommodate, and accepted 27' of line instead of 50'. If your machine has no room for a full-size 4,500 lb winch, this is the only way to get one; if it does have room, the AXON 45-S gives you 23' more reach for less money.
Plow Mode: Travel Limits and One-Touch Blade Control Plow Mode turns the AXON 45RC into a proper plow lift instead of a winch you are using as one. You program an upper and a lower travel limit, and the winch will not run the blade past either, which is what stops you from over-raising into the rack or dropping the blade further than the linkage wants to go. The one-touch Auto Move option runs the blade to a limit on its own, so you are not holding a control down with one hand while steering with the other. Plow Mode runs through the Warn app and needs a HUB Wireless Receiver and a smartphone to work, and the HUB receiver is included with this model.
Motactor: Motor and Contactor in One Sealed Unit Warn's Motactor puts the motor and the contactor in one unit. That deletes the separate control box most winches need, removes a length of high-current wiring from the install, and gets rid of the exposed connection between the two, which on a conventional winch is reliably the first thing to corrode. It also gives you back the space on the machine where a control box would otherwise have to be found a home.
Digital Control With Real Feedback The AXON's control system is digital rather than a simple polarity switch. The rockerbar switch reports motor temperature, load information and vehicle battery condition, so you can see the winch working hard before it stops working. On a long or repeated pull that is the difference between backing off for a minute and cooking a motor.
One-Piece Tie Plate for Structural Rigidity AXON uses a single-piece tie plate rather than separate tie bars. It resists the twisting that a hard off-center pull puts through a winch body, which keeps the gear train and drum in alignment under exactly the loads that would otherwise start opening a housing up.
IP68 and IP69K Sealing IP68 covers continuous immersion. IP69K adds high-pressure, high-temperature wash-down, which is the rating that actually matters to most owners, because more winches are killed by a pressure washer held too close than by a water crossing. Between the two ratings there is very little an ATV or side-by-side winch encounters that is outside the specification.
Designed, Engineered, Tested and Assembled in the USA Warn designs, engineers, tests and assembles the AXON line in the United States. The AXON 45RC is covered by Warn's limited lifetime warranty on mechanical components and a three year warranty on electrical components.
Fitment & Compatibility
Machine
Fit
UTVs and side-by-sides
✓ Yes, this is what Warn rates the AXON 45RC for
Large ATVs
● Works, with plenty of headroom
Four-seat and heavily loaded UTVs
● Consider the 5,500 lb AXON 55 for more margin
Full-size trucks and SUVs
✗ No. This is a powersports winch. Warn builds a separate truck and SUV winch line for those vehicles
Any machine without a winch mount fitted
● Requires a vehicle-specific mount kit, which is sold separately. The AXON 45RC bolts to a 3.0" x 4.87" (76.2mm x 123.7mm) pattern
Fit guidance: This is a universal-fit powersports winch, not a vehicle-specific part, so there is no year, make and model lookup for it. You size it by machine and by how hard you expect the winch to work: Warn rates the AXON 45RC at 4,500 lb and positions it for sport side-by-sides with limited mounting space. A winch running near its rating draws its highest current, runs its hottest and moves the line slowest, so buying a size up is buying margin rather than bragging rights. The fitment question that actually decides whether you can use this winch is the mount. Powersports winches bolt to a vehicle-specific mount kit that is sold separately, and the mount has to match both the bolt pattern (3.0" x 4.87" (76.2mm x 123.7mm), 4 holes) and the physical space behind your bumper. Confirm the mount kit for your machine before ordering. Do not use this winch to recover a full-size truck or SUV; it is not rated for that and Warn builds a separate line for it.
Specifications
Model: AXON 45RC
Part Number: 110340
Vehicle Class: Powersports, ATV and UTV. Not a truck or SUV winch
Rated Line Pull: 4,500 lb (2,041 kg) single line, first layer
Motor: 12V DC, permanent magnet
Gear Train: All-metal three-stage planetary
Rope: 27' of 1/4" (6.4mm) Spydura synthetic rope
Fairlead: Epic hawse fairlead
Hook: Black forged hook
Brake: Automatic load-holding mechanical brake
Clutch: Free spooling, clutch based on Warn's 4WD hub-lock design
Controls Included: Rockerbar digital control switch and HUB Wireless Receiver, plus a corded remote socket and wiring harness; the corded remote itself is sold separately
Motor and Contactor: Warn Motactor, motor and contactor combined in one unit
Plow Mode: Programmable upper and lower blade travel limits with one-touch Auto Move. Requires a HUB Wireless Receiver and a smartphone; the HUB receiver is included with this model
Waterproof Rating: IP68/IP69K
Finish: Satin black powder coat with stainless steel fasteners
Mount Type: Fixed mount. A vehicle-specific winch mount kit is required and sold separately
Line Speed, No Load: 16.3 ft/min (5.0 m/min), 28 amps
Line Speed at Rated Pull: 7.5 ft/min (2.3 m/min), 198 amps
Dimensions: A 13.31" (338.1mm), B 4.80" (122mm), C 3.47" (88.3mm), D 3.30" (83.9mm), lettered as on Warn's drawing
Mounting Bolt Pattern: 3.0" x 4.87" (76.2mm x 123.7mm), 4 holes
Country of Origin: USA, designed, engineered, tested and assembled in the United States
Shipping Weight: 27 lb
UPC: 012748121763
Warranty: Limited lifetime mechanical, 3 year electrical
Installation
Type: Bolt-in to a vehicle-specific powersports winch mount kit, plus a battery connection · Time: About 1 to 2 hours, most of it the mount and the wiring · Tools: Metric sockets and wrenches, a torque wrench, and wire cutters or crimpers for routing the battery leads · Difficulty: Straightforward for anyone comfortable working on their own machine
The winch itself is four bolts. The work is the mount and the wiring. Fit the vehicle-specific mount kit for your machine first, then bolt the AXON 45RC to it on the 3.0" x 4.87" (76.2mm x 123.7mm), 4 holes pattern and torque the fasteners to Warn's specification. Route the power leads to the battery away from moving suspension, hot exhaust and steering components, and keep the run as short and as well supported as you can. Mount the Rockerbar switch where you can reach it without taking your eyes off the machine, and put the HUB Wireless Receiver somewhere dry and clear of metal that would shield its signal. Before you rely on it, disengage the clutch and pull the rope out by hand, then power it back in under a light load so the first layer beds evenly on the drum. A winch spooled loose from the factory will bury its own line into the lower layers on the first hard pull.
Resources
Everything you need for your Warn AXON 45RC Powersports Winch, in one place.
VRX & AXON Winch Operator's Manual (PDF), Warn's operator manual for the VRX and AXON families, covering mounting, electrical connections, first time operation, rigging and maintenance.
Warranty. Warn limited lifetime warranty on mechanical components and a three year warranty on electrical components.
Free shipping. This item ships free to the lower 48 states. Because it is an oversized item, it ships by freight and typically arrives in 3 to 7 business days.
Inspect on delivery. Please inspect the packaging before signing. If you see any damage, note it on the delivery receipt and contact us right away, and we will make it right.
About Warn
Warn Industries has built vehicle recovery gear since 1948, starting with Arthur Warn's locking hub for surplus military Jeeps and growing into the winch brand that off-roaders, ranchers, utility crews and rescue teams reach for by name. The company designs and engineers in Clackamas, Oregon, and the AXON is designed, engineered, tested and assembled in the United States.
AXON is the top of Warn's powersports range and the place where the company puts its newer thinking. The Motactor combines the motor and the contactor into a single sealed unit, which removes a separate control box from the install and shortens the wiring run. The control system is digital rather than a simple polarity switch, so the winch reports motor temperature, load and battery condition back to you instead of just running until something gives. Sealing is rated IP68 and IP69K, which covers high-pressure, high-temperature wash-down as well as immersion. Plow Mode, the feature this generation is named for, turns the same winch into a plow lift with programmable travel limits. The mechanical warranty runs for the life of the product.
Prestige Truck is an authorized Warn dealer. Every winch we ship is new and factory boxed, carries the full Warn factory warranty, and is supported through Warn's own dealer and service network.
Compare The Range
How this compares to similar models
The closest alternatives side by side, so you do not have to keep tabs open.
Model
This OneWarn AXON 45RC Powersports Winch, 4,500 lb, 27' 1/4" Synthetic Rope and Epic Hawse Fairlead (110340)
Plowing Just Got Easier: Introducing WARN AXON Plow Mode
Warn's own walkthrough of Plow Mode, the feature this generation of AXON is named for.
It shows how you set the upper and lower travel limits so the blade cannot be raised or dropped past the point where it damages something, and how the one-touch Auto Move option runs the blade to either limit without you holding a control through the whole travel.
WARN AXON And VRX Powersports Winches
Warn's side-by-side look at its two US-assembled powersports lines.
Useful if you are weighing the digital control system and Motactor of the AXON against the simpler, less expensive VRX, because it lays out what each line is actually built for rather than just listing features.
Powersports Basic Guide To Winching
Warn's own primer for anyone new to running a winch on an ATV or side-by-side. It covers the parts of the winch, what the recovery accessories are for, and how to rig a pull without hurting yourself or the machine.
This is a general technique guide from Warn, not an installation walkthrough for this part.
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers on specs, fit and support
Why does it only carry 27' of rope instead of 50'?
Because the rope length is what buys the compact body. Warn shortened the drum so the winch fits the mounting space in a sport side-by-side, and a shorter drum holds less line. You keep the full 4,500 lb capacity and you actually gain speed under load, but you lose 23' of reach. If you regularly need to reach an anchor point further away, either carry a tree strap and an extension, or fit the standard AXON 45-S and find the space for it.
Is the 45RC slower or weaker than the standard AXON 45?
Neither. It is rated at the same 4,500 lb, and at that load it actually pulls faster: 7.5 ft/min at 198 amps, against 6.7 ft/min at 208 amps for the AXON 45. The narrower drum is why. What differs is the layer table, because a narrower drum fills sooner: 4,500 lb on layer one, 3,696 lb on layer two, 3,135 lb on layer three and 2,722 lb on layer four.
Do I need anything else to fit this winch to my machine?
Yes, a mount. Powersports winches are universal in the sense that they are not tied to one model, but they bolt to a vehicle-specific winch mount kit that is made for your machine and sold separately. The AXON 45RC uses a 3.0" x 4.87" (76.2mm x 123.7mm), 4 holes bolt pattern, so the mount has to match that pattern and there has to be room behind your bumper for a winch of this size. Confirm the mount kit for your year, make and model before ordering, and check the electrical connection to the battery while you are at it.
How do I look after the synthetic rope?
Keep it clean and keep it off sharp edges. Grit worked into the fibres is what wears synthetic rope from the inside, so rinse it if it has been through mud or sand and let it dry before it goes away wet for a long period. Spool it back on under light tension rather than letting it pile up loose, because a loose wrap buries into the layers underneath on the next hard pull. Watch for fuzzing and cut fibres near the hook end, which is where the wear concentrates, and never run synthetic rope over a roller fairlead. This winch ships with a epic hawse fairlead, which is the correct pairing.
How waterproof is it really?
The AXON carries two ratings. IP68 covers continuous immersion, so water crossings and deep mud are not a concern. IP69K covers high-pressure, high-temperature wash-down, which means a pressure washer aimed at the winch will not force water past the seals. Between them there is very little a powersports winch meets that is outside the specification.
Does it really pull its full rating no matter how much rope is out?
No, and Warn publishes the honest numbers instead of only the headline. The 4,500 lb rating is on the first layer of the drum. As the drum fills, leverage drops: 4,500 lb on layer 1, 3,696 lb on layer 2, 3,135 lb on layer 3, 2,722 lb on layer 4. For a hard pull, spool out enough rope to work on the lower layers, or rig a snatch block, which halves the load on the line and doubles what the winch can move.
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Warn AXON 45RC Powersports Winch, 4,500 lb, 27' 1/4" Synthetic Rope and Epic Hawse Fairlead (110340)
Warn AXON 45-S Powersports Winch, 4,500 lb, 50' 1/4" Synthetic Rope and Epic Hawse Fairlead (110240)
Warn VRX 45-S Powersports Winch, 4,500 lb, 50' 1/4" Synthetic Rope and Hawse Fairlead (101040)
Warn R60-S Powersports Winch, 6,000 lb, 50' 1/4" Synthetic Rope and Hawse Fairlead (110060)
