RUGCEL WINCH 13500lb New Waterproof Electric Synthetic Rope Winch 12V with Hawse Fairlead,2 in 1 Infrared Remote Control,Wired Control,Red Rope,for Truck SUV

Expectations I installed the RUGCEL WINCH 12000lb Waterproof Electric Synthetic Rope Winch on my 2020 Jeep JLU, mounting it to a Rugged Ridge Arcus bumper. I was looking for a reliable winch with wireless and wired controls to add security for my off-road adventures. Performance & Installation After a year of ownership, I can say the installation was a smooth process. The winch fit my aftermarket bumper with no modifications needed, and wiring everything up was straightforward if you’re comfortable with basic vehicle accessories. The instructions were limited, and someone completely new to winches might wish for a bit more detail, but I didn’t run into issues. Usage & Functionality I haven’t put the winch through any serious recovery scenarios just yet, but initial checks and operation have been confidence-inspiring. All the included components worked as described. Pros • Perfect fit for my 2020 Jeep JLU and Rugged Ridge Arcus bumper • Installation is straightforward for anyone familiar with vehicle accessories • Both wired and wireless remotes included Cons • Manual could be more detailed for first-timers • Only way to charge the wireless remote is by wiring it to the winch and running it—would prefer a standalone or USB option • Haven’t tested in a high-stress real-world scenario yet Comparison to Product Description Everything arrived as listed and matched expectations. The only minor surprise was the wireless remote’s charging process, which may not be clear from the product description. Actionable Takeaways • Ideal for Jeep owners and those comfortable with basic installs • Instructions leave a bit to be desired, but shouldn’t be an issue for experienced users • Wireless remote charging requires running the winch—consider how this fits your needs Overall, this winch has been a good match for my Jeep JLU so far. It installs easily and is full-featured for the price—just be aware of how the remote charging works.

I was genuinely impressed by the Rugcel 12K winch. Its design rivals that of top tier brand, without the hefty price tag. The build quality feels solid and heavyduty, and installation was refreshingly simple and straightforward. If you’re looking for a high performance winch without overspending, this is a fantastic alternative. You even get the option of a wireless remote, which adds convenience and flexibility. One feature I especially appreciated was the shut-off valve, it lets you cut power to the winch when it’s not in use, preventing unnecessary battery drain. Overall, I absolutely love it! It delivers premium quality at a fraction of the cost. Highly recommended. Great value for the money

This winch is definitely built like a tank. It weighs about 43lbs with nothing else, no control box or added accessories. Install went smoothly. The wires are thick but pretty flexible. Did a short pull to retract the line, winch isn’t that loud but it might be under load. Functions pretty well. The remote has little winch icons with a up and down arrow. The arrows are so tiny that it’s hard to tell which is which. It’s a nice idea but could be better executed. Remote comes with spare battery. To charge the remote, it has to be plugged into the winch. Having a 12v adapter would be nice addition to charge the remote. The owners manual is done quite nicely, for a Chinese made winch, the English grammar and verbiage is well done. Hardware is nice and thick. Although there’s some variation in the finish. I used an Agency 6 winch shackle instead of the hook it came with. The hook it came with is beefy, weighs over 2lbs. I hope this won’t let me down when I need it, time will tell.

Delivered the next day after ordered.The winch seems to be extra heavy duty built works amazing easy assembly no issues.

I researched the 12,000 lb winches for completeness of configuration and comments from previous buyers with installation reviews. The winch seems sturdy and well built. The wiring color coated junction covers were a nice touch but i have a suggestion to the manufacturer. I could tell all the parts were there by virtue of taking inventory vs what was shown in the included operation manual but (like every other commenter) could have used some instruction pictures and a company video. The color coded wiring notations was very helpful for a mechanically minded person. If you don’t have a history with tinkering with things, making your own modifications for the lack of comprehensive instructions and no diagrams, plan on taking two hours to install the winch package. The winch could have (should have) been pre-assembled with the wires bolted in-place and the colored junction covers pulled over the wiring junctions. That would have saved an hour just making sure everything was laid out for assembly. It wouldn’t have taken the manufacturer any time to have all of that done. The winch went in easy enough but no way my wife could ever figured out how to assemble the items. Not that she is inept, but that the pieces take time to assemble so they are on the number with no loose or extra length of wires that might slap the grill or make noise on the highway. On another note, the winch hooks does not fit over my ‘U’ hooks on my bumper. Guess i need to buy a couple of 12,000 lb ‘S-hooks’ or a small tow strap with hooks to use a pulley on a tree and another short one to connect the winch hook to the bumper ‘U’s. None of this is a real deterrent but they would have easily gotten 5 stars with a few changes. Or let someone assemble the system and use it in a real situation to eliminate the missing set up add-on items. Now i have to think about how to rig the winch cable out in the woods and hope i bought all the small extras to be able to get my jeep pulled out of a ‘stuck’ saturation in the woods.

The upside is that you get what you pay for. A great winch for a great price. I made my own mounting bracket out of 1/2" steel plate and no problems. 10/10 bang for buck

I bought this winch because for half the price you get lots of features. I have not installed it on my Jeep yet because i am waiting for my bumper to be delivered. Initial thoughts when i opened the box was that its a very nice looking winch and well put together. I really like that it comes with a battery disconnect switch and already has the synthetic rope. Only real concerns i have so far is the winch is twisted a little and by what i mean is when its sitting on a flat surface it rocks back and forth. I loosened the bracket above the drum and then retightened the bolts and now seems ok and hopefully wont be a concern. I also don't have high hopes for the stickers as they already seem like they are coming off and it hasn't seen the elements yet. It came with a bag of small allen screws but was given an uneven amount once i figure out where they go i will probably have to source the missing ones from the hardware store. The winch came with the option to use the remote wired or wireless. The remote also came with an extra battery which is a nice addon. Although in the manual it shows nowhere how to charge the remote. I assume you have to connect the remote to the winch to charge it. Once my bumper arrives (Rugged Ridge Arcus) i will be putting this on a Jeep Gladiator and will update my review on how it works. Other then a few small issues hopefully i get a many years of use out of the winch.

Tres bon et fort

Great value for the money

Nice looking winch, used about 10 times, reverse failed and the rope broke after barely even tugging on day. Customer service is terrible, and basically useless. Money lost, no support, garbage product