X-BULL 12V Electric Winch 14500LBS Synthetic Rope

A winch earns its keep about twice a year, and both times it is the difference between driving home and waiting on a tilt tray. The X-BULL 14500 sits at the heavy end of the 12 volt range, aimed at full-size utes and wagons that get themselves properly bogged in mud, sand or a washed-out wheel rut.

Where the 14,500 lb figure comes from

X-BULL rates this winch at 14,500 lb (6590 kg) rated single line pull. Both numbers are the supplier's. What the specification never states is the drum layer that rating was measured at, and that matters, because pulling power falls away as rope stacks up. Plan the heavy jobs around a mostly empty drum. A single line pull rating also describes pulling rather than lifting, and it is not a working load you can split across two recovery points.

Three planetary stages, and why slow pulls matter

A 265:1 reduction through a 3-stage planetary train is what lets a 6.4 HP motor shift that sort of load. Spreading reduction across three gear sets instead of one keeps tooth loading low, which is what a winch needs on a long slow recovery where the motor labours and heat has nowhere to go. Line speed is the trade-off, and for vehicle recovery that is the right trade. The draw is real: X-BULL specifies a battery of at least 650 CCA.

Key features

• Indexing clutch: free-spool rotates in 15 degree steps across 180 degrees, so it lands somewhere reachable behind a bull bar.
• Remote and corded switch: both supplied, so you can stand well clear of the line.
• Synthetic rope on an aluminium hawse: lighter to drag to an anchor than steel cable.
• Replaceable clevis hook: 3/8, with a spring-loaded safety latch.

Specifications

• Rated single line pull: 14,500 lb (6590 kg) — supplier figure, drum layer not stated
• Motor: 12 V DC, 6.4 HP
• Gear train: 3-stage planetary, 265:1
• Rope size: 9.5 mm x 24.4 m (0.375 x 80)
• Fairlead: aluminium hawse
• Hook: 3/8, replaceable, spring-loaded safety latch
• Battery requirement: 12 V DC, minimum 650 CCA
• Sound rating: 85 dB
• Dimensions (L x D x H): 555 x 124 x 264 mm
• Weight: 27 kg (59.5 lb)
• Application: vehicle recovery, trucks and SUVs

What's in the box

• 1 x 14500LBS winch, remote control, hand switch, control box
• 1 x aluminium hawse fairlead, clevis hook, set of bolts
• 3 x motor leads, 1 x power leads, 1 x user manual
• Bundle item: winch cover or mounting plate, per the option selected above

Before you rig a recovery

• Never step over or stand near a rope under load. Lay a damper over the line and keep bystanders well back.
• The 14,500 lb rating is a single line pull figure. It is not a lifting rating and must not be shared across two anchor points.
• Rated pull drops as rope builds on the drum.
• No standard, test or certification is named by the supplier for this winch.

Three bundles are listed above: winch cover, or one of two mounting plate styles. Check the 555 mm body length against your bar cradle before ordering.