The R45-S is the R-Series winch for a full-size side-by-side. At 4,500 lb it has the capacity for a loaded UTV in bad ground, and the control package changes to suit: instead of a handlebar switch it ships with a corded remote and a dash-mounted control switch, so you can run it from the seat or stand well clear of a loaded line. It carries 50' of 1/4" synthetic rope through a hawse fairlead, measures 14.6" long and bolts to a 6.59" x 3.0" pattern, over an all-metal three-stage planetary gear train sealed to IP67.
What's Included:
Warn R45-S powersports winch, rated at 4,500 lb
50' of 1/4" (6.4mm) synthetic rope, factory spooled on the drum
Hawse fairlead
Forged clevis hook with Warn hook strap
Corded remote and dash-mounted control switch
Wiring harness and terminal hardware
Warn installation and operating instructions
Vehicle-specific winch mount kit NOT included, sold separately
Features
4,500 lb of Rated Pull for UTVs and side-by-sides Warn rates the R45-S at 4,500 lb on the first layer of the drum, and positions this capacity for UTVs and side-by-sides. As with any winch, the effective pull falls as the drum fills, so for a hard recovery spool out enough rope to work on the lower layers or rig a snatch block to halve the load on the line.
50' of 1/4" synthetic rope on a hawse fairlead This is the synthetic-rope build. 50' of 1/4" (6.4mm) synthetic rope runs through a 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.
The R-Series Model Warn Publishes Full Data For The R45-S is the only R-Series winch Warn documents in detail: 14.6" long, 4.7" maximum height, 4.6" maximum width, on a four-hole 6.59" x 3.0" mounting pattern. That matters more than it sounds, because on a side-by-side the constraint is almost never capacity, it is whether the winch physically fits behind the bumper on the mount you can buy. This is the 4,500 lb value option with the numbers you need to check that before you order.
All-Metal Three-Stage Planetary Gear Train The gear train is all metal and runs three planetary stages, which is the same architecture Warn uses further up the range rather than a cheaper two-stage set. It is the single component that most decides whether a standard-duty winch is still smooth after a few seasons, and on the R45-S it is not where Warn saved money.
IP67 Sealing Against Water, Dirt and Debris IP67 keeps water, mud and grit out of the motor and the gear case. A powersports winch lives at the front of the machine, low down and unprotected, so this is not a luxury specification at this price point, it is the thing that decides whether the winch is still working next season. IP67 covers temporary immersion, which is what a water crossing actually is.
Automatic Load-Holding Brake The brake sets itself the instant the motor stops, so the drum holds the load rather than paying it back out. Stopping mid-recovery to check a strap or reposition an anchor is then a normal thing to do rather than a gamble.
Compact Housing That Fits Where Others Will Not Warn kept the R-Series housing tight, which widens the range of mount kits and machines it will go on. Worth remembering when you are comparing on capacity alone: the winch with the bigger number is no use if the bumper will not close over it.
Engineered in Oregon and Backed for Five Years The R-Series is engineered in-house at Warn's Oregon headquarters, built to Warn's own specifications and put through Warn's testing and quality-control programme. The R45-S carries a five year mechanical and three year electrical warranty backed by a US-based customer service team, which is a longer mechanical term than most standard-duty powersports winches carry.
Fitment & Compatibility
Machine
Fit
UTVs and side-by-sides
✓ Yes, this is what Warn rates the R45-S for
Large ATVs
● Works, with plenty of headroom
Four-seat and heavily loaded UTVs
● Consider the 6,000 lb R60-S 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 R45-S bolts to a 6.59" x 3.0" 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 R45-S at 4,500 lb and positions it for UTVs and side-by-sides. 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 (6.59" x 3.0", 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: R45-S
Part Number: 110040
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: 50' of 1/4" (6.4mm) synthetic rope
Fairlead: Hawse fairlead
Hook: Forged clevis hook
Brake: Automatic load-holding, spring type
Clutch: Free spooling
Controls Included: Corded remote and dash-mounted control switch
Waterproof Rating: IP67
Finish: Black powder coat
Mount Type: Fixed mount. A vehicle-specific winch mount kit is required and sold separately
Dimensions: 14.6" length, 4.7" maximum height, 4.6" maximum width
Mounting Bolt Pattern: 6.59" x 3.0", 4 holes
Country of Origin: China, engineered in-house at Warn's Oregon headquarters and built to Warn specifications
Shipping Weight: 29.74 lb
UPC: 012748119135
Warranty: 5 year 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 R45-S to it on the 6.59" x 3.0", 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 control switch where you can reach it without taking your eyes off the machine. 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 R45-S Powersports Winch, in one place.
R-Series Winch Operator's Manual (PDF), Warn's operator manual for the R25, R35, R45 and R60, covering mounting dimensions, electrical connections, operation and maintenance.
Warranty, Shipping & Returns
Warranty. Warn five year warranty on mechanical components and a three year warranty on electrical components, supported by a US-based customer service team.
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 in the winch business since 1948 and has spent most of that time defining what a vehicle recovery winch is supposed to do. The company is headquartered in Clackamas, Oregon, and the R-Series was engineered in-house there, built to Warn's own specifications and put through Warn's testing and quality-control programme before it was allowed to wear the red W.
The R-Series is Warn's answer to the standard-duty end of the powersports market, and Warn is straightforward about what it is: an Oregon-engineered winch manufactured offshore to hit a price, rather than a US-assembled one. What it does not compromise on is the hardware that decides whether a winch survives a season. It runs an all-metal three-stage planetary gear train, an automatic load-holding brake, IP67 sealing against water and grit, and a compact housing that fits mounts other winches will not. Warn backs it with a five-year mechanical and three-year electrical warranty through a US-based support team, which is a longer mechanical term than most standard-duty winches in this class carry.
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 R45-S Powersports Winch, 4,500 lb, 50' 1/4" Synthetic Rope and Hawse Fairlead (110040)
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
What are the actual dimensions and bolt pattern?
Warn publishes 14.6" length, 4.7" maximum height and 4.6" maximum width for the R45-S, on a four-hole 6.59" x 3.0" mounting bolt pattern. That is the wider of the two patterns used across powersports winches, so check your mount kit before ordering; a mount cut for the narrower 4.87" pattern used by smaller winches will not take this one.
Why does this model come with a corded remote instead of a handlebar switch?
Because of what it is expected to be mounted on. At 4,500 lb the R45-S is a side-by-side winch, and a side-by-side has a dash rather than handlebars. Warn pairs the dash switch with a corded remote, which is the control you actually want for a hard recovery, because it lets you stand out of the danger zone beside the rope rather than sitting in line with it.
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 R45-S uses a 6.59" x 3.0", 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 hawse fairlead, which is the correct pairing.
How waterproof is it really?
IP67 means dust-tight and sealed against temporary immersion, which is the realistic case for a trail machine: a creek crossing, wet snow, a wash-down at the end of the day. It is a step below the IP68 rating on Warn's US-assembled VRX and AXON lines, and that gap is part of what the price difference between the lines represents.
Does it really pull its full rating no matter how much rope is out?
No. Every winch is rated on the first layer of the drum, and the effective pull drops as the drum fills, because a fuller drum is a larger effective radius and therefore less leverage. Warn does not publish a pull-by-layer table for the R-Series, so no layer figures are quoted here rather than estimated. The practical advice is unchanged: for a hard pull, spool out enough rope to get down to the lower layers, or rig a snatch block to halve the load on the line.
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