A winch is the accessory you ignore until the one day you need it, and then it's the only part on the machine that matters. The VIPER Midnight 4500 lb winch from Moto Alliance covers that day for $179.99, with synthetic rope and a wireless remote already in the box instead of on the options list.
4,500 pounds is the right size for most ATVs and mid-size UTVs
The rule of thumb is a winch rated at roughly 1.5 times your machine's weight. For most ATVs and mid-size side-by-sides, 4,500 pounds lands comfortably in that range — enough to drag yourself out of a mudhole, pull a stuck neighbor, or push a plow blade through a winter's worth of snow.
Behind that rating is a sealed 1.8 HP permanent magnet 12V motor and a three-stage planetary gear train at a 153:1 ratio. At no load it pulls 26 feet per minute; at full rated load it slows to 5 feet per minute — which is exactly what you want when a recovery is under real tension.
Synthetic rope, and why it's the safer choice
The Midnight ships with 50 feet of black synthetic rope rather than steel cable. Synthetic doesn't store energy the way steel does, so if it fails it drops instead of whipping. It's also lighter, it won't leave broken strands in your hands, and it spools easier when you're re-winding by hand in the cold.
The kit includes a black aluminum hawse fairlead sized for synthetic, a clevis hook, wiring and instructions. If you'd rather run steel, Moto Alliance's winch lineup includes that option too.
Two ways to run it
You get both a waterproof handlebar rocker switch and an extended-range wireless remote that works from up to 100 feet away. The remote is the one that earns its keep: being able to stand off to the side and watch the rope while the winch pulls is both safer and far more useful than being stuck at the bars.
The specs that matter
- Rated line pull: 4,500 lbs (2,041 kg)
- Motor: 12V DC sealed 1.8 HP permanent magnet
- Gearing: 3-stage planetary, 153:1
- Brake: automatic, 100% load holding
- Clutch: cam-activated free-spool
- Rope: 50 ft black synthetic
- Mounting pattern: 3.0" x 4.875" (76mm x 123.83mm)
- Weight: 25 lbs
- Warranty: 1 year on the winch, 6 months on the rope
The automatic brake holds 100% of rated capacity, so a suspended load doesn't creep when the solenoid stops drawing power — the detail that separates a winch you can trust mid-pull from one you can't.
Check your mount before you order
The Midnight uses the standard 3.0" x 4.875" ATV/UTV bolt pattern. Moto Alliance builds machine-specific mount plates for most Polaris, Honda, Yamaha and Can-Am models, so if you don't already have a winch plate on the machine, add one to the order from our Moto Alliance collection.
Order it at SxS Outpost
The VIPER Midnight 4500 lb winch is $179.99, ships direct from Moto Alliance with their warranty, and qualifies for free shipping in the lower 48. Twenty years of VIPER winches behind it, and a price that makes "I'll get one before next season" a hard excuse to keep using.