The VRX 45 is the highest-capacity winch in Warn's VRX line and the steel-rope build of it. For a UTV that spends its life in rock, timber or anything else that abrades a line, 50' of 1/4" 7x19 aircraft wire rope over a roller fairlead is the combination that stops you worrying about the rope at all. It pulls 4,500 lb, runs an all-metal three-stage planetary gear train under IP68 sealing, and comes with both a dash-mounted rocker control switch and a corded remote so you can work it from the seat or from a safe distance.
What's Included:
Warn VRX 45 powersports winch, rated at 4,500 lb
50' of 1/4" (6.4mm) 7x19 aircraft wire rope, factory spooled on the drum
Roller fairlead
Zinc-plated clevis hook with Warn hook strap
Dash-mounted rocker control switch and corded remote
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 Warn rates the VRX 45 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, 3,749 lb on layer 2, 3,212 lb on layer 3, 2,810 lb on layer 4. Warn positions this capacity for UTVs and side-by-sides. 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.
50' of 1/4" Steel Wire Rope on a Roller Fairlead This is the steel-rope build. 50' of 1/4" (6.4mm) 7x19 aircraft wire rope runs over a roller fairlead, which is the combination that survives being dragged across rock, gravel and stumps without you having to think about the line. It costs less than synthetic and it is far more tolerant of abrasion and heat. The trade is weight and the broken strands steel eventually develops, so wear gloves once the rope has some seasons on it.
The Heaviest-Duty VRX, With the Rope to Match At 4,500 lb on 1/4" steel rope, the VRX 45 is the configuration for a side-by-side that earns its keep: hauling, towing, working fence lines, or getting itself out of ground that a lighter machine would not have entered. It is the heaviest winch in the VRX line at about 32 lb, almost all of which is the rope and roller fairlead, and it is the only VRX that pairs the top capacity with a line you never have to think about.
All-Metal Construction, Not Just an All-Metal Claim The housing, the tie plate and the three-stage planetary gear train are all metal. There is no plastic in the load path, which is the difference between a winch that survives a season of being packed with mud and hosed off and one that develops play. The VRX 45 carries a semi-gloss black powder coat over the castings and stainless steel fasteners throughout, so the corrosion resistance holds up after the powder coat gets chipped.
IP68 Sealing, Sealed Rather Than Gasketed IP68 is a continuous-immersion rating, and Warn applies it to the whole VRX assembly rather than to the motor alone. That matters because the usual failure path on a cheap winch is not the motor drowning, it is water sitting in the gear case and turning the grease. Sealed to this standard, the VRX tolerates the water crossings, wet snow and pressure washing that are ordinary use for a working machine.
Clutch Built on Warn's Hub-Lock Engineering The free-spool clutch is derived from the 4WD hub-lock design Warn has been refining since the 1940s. Disengaging it lets you pull rope out by hand rather than powering it out, which is faster to rig and saves the battery. It engages positively rather than by feel, so you know the drum is locked before you take up load.
Load-Holding Mechanical Brake An automatic mechanical brake takes the load the instant you release the switch, so the drum holds instead of creeping back. That is what makes it safe to stop halfway through a pull, walk forward and look at how the strap is sitting, or re-rig a snatch block, without the machine sliding back down while you do it.
Designed, Engineered and Assembled in the USA Warn designs, engineers and assembles the VRX line in the United States, and backs the VRX 45 with a 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 VRX 45 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 VRX 45 bolts to a 3.0" x 6.59" (76.2mm x 167.4mm) 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 VRX 45 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 (3.0" x 6.59" (76.2mm x 167.4mm), 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: VRX 45
Part Number: 101045
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) 7x19 aircraft wire rope
Fairlead: Roller fairlead
Hook: Zinc-plated clevis hook
Brake: Automatic load-holding mechanical brake
Clutch: Free spooling, clutch based on Warn's 4WD hub-lock design
Controls Included: Dash-mounted rocker control switch and corded remote
Waterproof Rating: IP68
Finish: Semi-gloss 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: 16.2 ft/min (4.9 m/min), 20 amps
Line Speed at Rated Pull: 4.3 ft/min (1.3 m/min), 252 amps
Dimensions: A 14.96" (380.2mm), B 4.74" (120.5mm), C 3.15" (80mm), D 3.99" (101.4mm), E 5.02" (127.6mm), F 5.19" (132mm), lettered as on Warn's drawing
Mounting Bolt Pattern: 3.0" x 6.59" (76.2mm x 167.4mm), 4 holes
Country of Origin: USA, designed, engineered and assembled in the United States
Shipping Weight: 32 lb
UPC: 012748056010
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 VRX 45 to it on the 3.0" x 6.59" (76.2mm x 167.4mm), 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 VRX 45 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 been building vehicle recovery equipment since 1948, when Arthur Warn started converting surplus military Jeeps for civilian roads with a locking hub of his own design. Those hubs led to winches, and the winches made Warn the name that shows up on the front of working machines rather than show machines. The company is headquartered in Clackamas, Oregon, and the VRX line is designed, engineered and assembled in the United States.
The VRX exists because Warn refused to answer the value end of the powersports market with a thinner product. It keeps the all-metal construction and the all-metal three-stage planetary gear train from the expensive winches, it is sealed to IP68 rather than merely gasketed, and its free-spool clutch is derived from the same 4WD hub-lock engineering Warn has been refining since the 1940s. What you give up against the AXON is the digital control system, not the mechanical hardware. That is a deliberate choice, and it is why the mechanical side of the 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 VRX 45 Powersports Winch, 4,500 lb, 50' 1/4" Steel Rope and Roller Fairlead (101045)
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
Is the steel VRX 45 heavier than the synthetic 45-S?
Yes, by about five pounds. The VRX 45 ships at roughly 32 lb against 27 lb for the 45-S, and essentially all of that difference is the rope. On a side-by-side that weight sits at the extreme front of the machine, so it is worth thinking about if you are already nose-heavy, but for most working UTVs the abrasion resistance of steel is worth five pounds.
What is the largest machine this suits?
Warn positions the 4,500 lb VRX 45 for UTVs and side-by-sides, which is the top of what the VRX line covers. If you need more than 4,500 lb on a powersports machine, the AXON 55 at 5,500 lb and the R60-S at 6,000 lb are the next steps up in Warn's powersports range. This is not a truck winch and should not be used to recover a full-size truck or SUV; Warn builds a separate truck and SUV line for that.
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 VRX 45 uses a 3.0" x 6.59" (76.2mm x 167.4mm), 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 steel rope?
Watch for kinks, flat spots and broken strands, and retire the rope if you find a cluster of them in one place. Spool it back under light tension so it lies in even wraps; a loose wrap will bury itself into the layers below under the next load and damage the rope. Wear gloves when handling used steel line, because broken strands are sharp. Steel is far more tolerant of abrasion than synthetic, which is the main reason to choose it, and it runs correctly over the roller fairlead this winch ships with.
How waterproof is it really?
IP68 is the highest immersion rating in the IP scale, and Warn applies it to the whole VRX assembly rather than to the motor alone. That is the important detail, because the usual way a winch dies is not the motor drowning, it is water sitting in the gear case and spoiling the grease over a season or two. Crossings, mud and washing down are all normal use for this winch.
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, 3,749 lb on layer 2, 3,212 lb on layer 3, 2,810 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 VRX 45 Powersports Winch, 4,500 lb, 50' 1/4" Steel Rope and Roller Fairlead (101045)
Warn R60-S Powersports Winch, 6,000 lb, 50' 1/4" Synthetic Rope and Hawse Fairlead (110060)
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