Going to install a winch on my Gator and looking for recommendations. It’s the 825i S4 so I’m thinking something in the 4500 range should be about right. I know Warn is a quality unit but there also expensive as hell. Anybody have any UTV winch experiences with another cheaper brand?

Superwinch....3 year warranty.

I have had every brand winches on atvs over the years, and I have a hidden badlands on my ranger and it has been great.

Cant speak for any of the other brands as i have never owned them but i have had a viper elite from motoalliance on my ranger for almost 7 years and it has worked flawlessly. Admittedly i dont use it a ton but it has been used a decent amount for some heavy stuff i probably shouldnt have tried.

Harbor Freight brand Badlands

That’s what I have on my UTV.

Viper is what I've run on my last 3. They're great and very affordable

Superwinch Terra 45 with Synthetic Rope.
The Terra series has a lifetime warranty.
Summit Racing has the best price on them right now.

I have the terra 45. It has never failed me. Mine has a cable though.

ive got a SW terra 3500lbs on my 4 wheeler alot of guys say they are better than Warn since Warn started using plastic gears. SW uses metal gears and has a better warranty, Ive had mine about 4 years and use it pretty often its never failed me or given me any issue.

I have had warn and bandlands. Both have served me well. The warn is more refined

I have the same winch...Terra 45 with synthetic rope.

The "lifetime" warranty is only on the mechanical parts...ie, gears. Understandable, since their gears are made beefier than others, including Warn. Electrical warranty, which is the most likely part to fail, is 3 years.

Still, a better warranty than most.

I have a viper, but i have read on lots of forums that the Harbor Freight Badlands is awesome for the price.

I have the canam (it’s made by warn for them) 4500lb with synthetic rope on my defender but haven’t had to use it yet. I’ve had several warn winches on trucks and all have served me well. Had a badlands on my 4 wheeler and my dad has one on his, both did/do their jobs very well with no complaints.

I looked at them but the 90 day warrant had me running away.

That 90 days really just gives you enough time to install it and make sure iyou have a functional unit. I have a 8,500 Badlands on my DeathWagon and it has worked well for me for over 2 years at a fraction of the price of the competition.

Super winch is what I had on my ATV. I looked at Badlands and they are decent. The only problem with them, according to the off road websites/magazines, is the don’t hold up well when water gets in them. I have a Rough Country on my truck that I’ve used multiple times and have been very pleased. Warn is just overpriced. Good, but overpriced.

The badlands from harbor freight does well as well as the utv winch from tractor supply. Warn obviously is the more recognized but from my use of the the others work fine.