Step up from the M12 and two things change. The gearbox goes from 261:1 to 315:1, and the rope goes from 3/8" to 7/16". Both changes point at the same problem: a 15,000 lb pull generates gear train stress and rope loading that a 12,000 lb winch is not built to absorb repeatedly. The M15 carries the same large-frame Heavyweight chassis with heavy-duty carrier plates, the same 4.6 hp series-wound motor and the same automatic cone brake, but it puts 90' of thicker aircraft-grade wire rope on the drum and gears the motor down further to make the number. If you own a one-ton that works for a living, this is the sensible end of the Warn line.
What's Included:
- Warn M15 winch with 15,000 lb rated line pull
- 90' of 7/16" aircraft-grade wire rope with latched hook, factory spooled
- Roller fairlead
- Remote switch with 12' lead
- Removable contactor control pack with Albright contactor
- 2 gauge, 72" battery leads
- Warn operator's manual and mounting hardware
Features
15,000 lb, and High-Strength Carrier Plates to Take It
Warn's own framing for the M15 is that it uses high-strength carrier plates to handle the gear train stresses of a 15,000 lb load. That is the honest description of what a Heavyweight winch is: the rating is downstream of the structure, not the other way round. Heavy-duty drum supports and a large-frame chassis are what let it do this repeatedly.
315:1 Three-Stage Planetary Gear Train
The M15 runs a deeper 315:1 reduction than the M12's 261:1. Deeper gearing is how a 4.6 hp motor makes 15,000 lb, and it is also why line speed is lower: 22.2 ft/min unloaded against the M12's 30 ft/min. On a one-ton recovery, torque is the currency that matters.
90' of 7/16" Aircraft-Grade Wire Rope
Thicker rope for a higher load, terminated in a large latched hook. The 7/16" diameter is a step up from the 3/8" wire on the M12 and is the reason the drum takes 90' rather than 125'. Aircraft-grade construction and a roller fairlead handle the abrasion that comes with dragging line over rock, gravel and steel.
Pull-by-Layer, Published Honestly
15,000 lb on the first layer, then 12,273 lb, 10,385 lb, 9,000 lb and 7,941 lb as the drum fills. That drop is steeper in absolute terms than on a smaller winch, which is exactly why spooling out to the lower layers before a heavy pull matters more here, not less.
Automatic Direct-Drive Cone Brake
The cone brake holds the load on the drum rather than depending on the gearbox to creep back slowly. At 15,000 lb, on a slope, with a re-rig in the middle of the recovery, that is not a nice-to-have.
Control Pack Designed for Access
Warn designed the M15's control pack for generous clearance and easy access, and it is removable, so you can relocate it when a bumper or grille does not leave room in the stock position. Inside is an Albright contactor rather than a solenoid pack, which survives road salt and standing water far better.
Argent Gray, and Built in the USA
Argent Gray powder coat over the large-frame chassis, designed, engineered and assembled in Clackamas, Oregon, with Warn's limited lifetime mechanical warranty and a limited seven-year electrical warranty behind it.
Fitment & Compatibility
| Vehicle Class |
Fit |
| One-ton trucks, F-350, Silverado 3500, Ram 3500 |
✓ Yes, the M15's intended application |
| Three-quarter-ton trucks, loaded or towing |
✓ Yes, and the right call if the truck works hard |
| Three-quarter-ton trucks, light duty |
✓ Yes, though the M12 covers it for less money |
| Half-ton trucks and full-size SUVs |
● Over-specified. The extra nose weight is rarely worth it |
| Jeep Wrangler, mid-size 4x4s, ATV and UTV |
✗ No. Use the VR EVO, ZEON, VRX or AXON lines |
Fit guidance: This is a universal-fit winch, not a vehicle-specific part. Size it by weight: a rated pull of at least 1.5 times gross vehicle weight is the working rule, which puts 15,000 lb at home on rigs up to roughly 10,000 lb. It uses the industry-standard 10" x 4.5" bolt pattern, but at 24.08" long and around 136 lb it is a large-frame winch, so the mount has to be rated for a Heavyweight-series unit and the front suspension has to be willing to carry it. A winch-ready bumper or dedicated winch plate is required; no mount is included.
Specifications
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Model: M15 (M15000)
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Part Number: 47801
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Rated Line Pull: 15,000 lb (6,804 kg) single line, first layer
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Motor: 12V DC, 4.6 hp series wound
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Geartrain: 3-stage planetary
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Gear Ratio: 315:1
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Brake: Automatic direct-drive cone
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Clutch: Rotating ring gear free-spool
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Electrical Controls: Removable control pack with Albright contactor
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Remote Control: Remote switch, 12' (3.7m) lead
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Rope: 90' of 7/16" (27m, 11mm) aircraft-grade wire rope with latched hook
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Fairlead: Roller
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Drum Diameter and Length: 3.5" / 8.2" (9cm / 21cm)
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Line Speed, No Load: 22.2 ft/min (6.77 m/min), 67 amps
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Line Speed at 15,000 lb: 2.48 ft/min (0.756 m/min), 460 amps
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Pull by Layer: Layer 1: 15,000 lb · Layer 2: 12,273 lb · Layer 3: 10,385 lb · Layer 4: 9,000 lb · Layer 5: 7,941 lb
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Overall Dimensions: 24.08" x 10.53" x 9.79" (612mm x 267.5mm x 248.7mm)
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Mounting Bolt Pattern: 10" x 4.5" (254mm x 114.3mm)
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Battery Leads: 2 gauge, 72" (1.83m)
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Recommended Battery: 650 CCA minimum for winching
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Lubrication: Molylube #1 or Aeroshell #17
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Finish: Argent Gray powder coat
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Winch Weight: About 136 lb (62 kg)
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Country of Origin: USA
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Shipping Weight: 136 lb
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UPC: 012748478010
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Warranty: Limited lifetime mechanical, limited 7 year electrical
Installation
Type: Bolt-in to a winch plate, winch-ready bumper or winch carrier, plus a battery connection · Time: About 1 to 2 hours with the mount already fitted · Tools: Socket and wrench set, torque wrench, and a second person or a hoist, because the winch weighs around 136 lb · Difficulty: Intermediate
Bolt the winch to a plate or bumper rated for a large-frame Heavyweight winch on the 10" x 4.5" pattern and torque to Warn's spec. The control pack was designed for clearance and access and is removable, so choose its position before you route anything. Run the 2 gauge leads to the battery clear of exhaust, steering and suspension travel, and make sure every high-current terminal is clean and tight. At this capacity, undersized or corroded connections show up immediately as lost pulling speed. Cycle the clutch and run the winch both directions under no load before the first recovery.
Resources
Everything you need for your Warn M15 Self-Recovery Winch, in one place.
Warranty, Shipping & Returns
Warranty. Warn limited lifetime warranty on mechanical components and a limited seven 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 been building vehicle recovery gear in the Pacific Northwest since 1948, when Arthur Warn started out converting surplus military Jeeps for road use with a locking hub of his own design. The hubs turned into winches, and the winches turned Warn into the name that off-roaders, ranchers, utility fleets and search-and-rescue crews reach for when something has to come out of somewhere it should not be. The Heavyweight series is the top of that line, and Warn designs, engineers and assembles it in Clackamas, Oregon.
What separates Warn from the price-led end of the winch market is that it treats a winch as a safety device rather than an accessory. Series-wound motors, real cone brakes, sealed contactor control packs and gear trains rated for the number printed on the box are the reason decades-old Warn winches still pull. It is also why Warn publishes full pull-by-layer and amp-draw tables instead of a single headline figure, and why the mechanical side of the warranty runs for the life of the product.
Prestige Truck is an authorized Warn dealer. Every winch we sell is new, factory-boxed, covered by the full Warn factory warranty, and supported through Warn's own dealer network.
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