Warn VRX 45-S Powersports Winch, 4,500 lb, 50' 1/4" Synthetic Rope and Hawse Fairlead (101040)

The VRX 45-S is the top of Warn's VRX range and the one built for the machines that actually work: full-size UTVs and side-by-sides that are hauling, towing or getting themselves out of places a quad would not have gone. At 4,500 lb it carries 50' of 1/4" Warn synthetic rope through a hawse fairlead, and unlike the smaller VRX models it comes with both a dash-mounted rocker control switch and a corded remote, so you can run the winch from the seat or stand well clear of the line while it works. It is a physically bigger winch than the 25 and 35, at nearly 15" long on the wider 3.0" x 6.59" bolt pattern.

What's Included:

• Warn VRX 45-S powersports winch, rated at 4,500 lb
• 50' of 1/4" (6.4mm) Warn synthetic rope, factory spooled on the drum
• Hawse 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-S 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" Warn synthetic rope on a hawse fairlead
This is the synthetic-rope build. 50' of 1/4" (6.4mm) Warn 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 Top of the VRX Line, and a Bigger Winch Physically
The VRX 45-S is not simply the 35-S with a bigger number on it. It moves to a longer 14.96" body, a wider 3.0" x 6.59" bolt pattern, a larger motor and a different control package with a corded remote alongside the dash switch. That means it will not drop into a mount cut for the smaller VRX models, and it means the buying decision is partly about whether your machine has the room. If it does, this is the most capable winch Warn builds in its value-assembled line.

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-S 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
Full IP68 waterproof sealing means the winch is rated for continuous immersion rather than splash resistance. On a quad the winch sits low and forward, ahead of the radiator and below the axle line, so it goes through every puddle, creek and drift before the rest of the machine does. That is a harsher environment than the front of a truck, and it is why the sealing spec is the first number worth checking on a powersports winch.

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
The brake engages on its own the moment the motor stops, and it is a mechanical brake rather than a reliance on gearbox friction. On a slope that is the difference between a controlled recovery and a machine that walks backwards every time you let go of the switch. It is also what lets a winch be used as a lift for a plow blade without the blade settling.

Designed, Engineered and Assembled in the USA
Warn designs, engineers and assembles the VRX line in the United States, and backs the VRX 45-S with a limited lifetime warranty on mechanical components and a three year warranty on electrical components.

Fitment & Compatibility

Specifications

• Model: VRX 45-S
• Part Number: 101040
• 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) Warn synthetic rope
• Fairlead: Hawse 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
• Pull by Layer: Layer 1: 4,500 lb · Layer 2: 3,749 lb · Layer 3: 3,212 lb · Layer 4: 2,810 lb
• 12V DC Performance: 0 lb: 16.2 ft/min (4.9 m/min), 20 amps · 500 lb: 14.1 ft/min (4.3 m/min), 44 amps · 1,000 lb: 12.2 ft/min (3.7 m/min), 69 amps · 1,500 lb: 10.5 ft/min (3.2 m/min), 94 amps · 2,000 lb: 9.0 ft/min (2.7 m/min), 119 amps · 2,500 lb: 7.7 ft/min (2.3 m/min), 145 amps · 3,000 lb: 6.5 ft/min (2.0 m/min), 171 amps · 3,500 lb: 5.6 ft/min (1.7 m/min), 198 amps · 4,000 lb: 4.9 ft/min (1.5 m/min), 225 amps · 4,500 lb: 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: 27 lb
• UPC: 012748056003
• 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-S 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-S 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.
• VRX & AXON Winch Rope Installation Instructions (PDF), the manufacturer's instructions for fitting a replacement winch rope to a VRX or AXON drum.

Warranty, Shipping & Returns

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.

Returns. Unused items in their original packaging can be returned within 30 days of delivery. If an item arrives damaged, defective or wrong, return shipping is on us. See our Returns & Refunds Policy, or email support@prestigetruck.com with any question.

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.