You basically have three options for controlling your Jeep or truck winch: a wireless remote, a tethered remote, or in-cab winch controls. Here are a few of the pros and cons of each type of winch control setup.
A wireless winch remote lets you control your winch from up to 50 feet away.
Wireless Winch Control
A wireless winch remote is the most versatile control, because it allows you to power the winch from anywhere within a certain range of your vehicle, whether in the cab or out. There’s no cord to get caught up in and no need to plug the remote into the winch before use. You can stand much further away than a tethered remote will allow (for example, 12 feet with a tethered remote compared to 50 feet with a wireless remote), which increases the safety of the winching process.
A key ring on the remote keeps the remote handy for when you need it, and you have the option to lock up the wireless remote in the glove compartment for safe keeping.
Tethered Winch Control
The standard option that comes with most Jeep and truck winches is the tethered remote. It plugs in to the winch and gives you about 12 feet of leash to run the winch control back to the cab or to power the winch while standing off to the side. Since the tethered remote disconnects from the winch after you are done using it, you can prevent accidental operation of the winch by storing the remote in a safe place. To prevent tampering, or to keep the remote away from curious kids, lock it up in the glove compartment for safe keeping.
The downside of a tethered remote is that you have to get out of the cab and plug in the remote in order to power the winch. You also have to keep track of the remote and store it in a dry, protected area to keep the remote from getting crushed or damaged accidentally.
In-Cab Winch Control
An in-cab winch control lets you power the winch from inside your vehicle. In situations where you need to get out fast, an in-cab control is the quickest way to power out the cable and complete the recovery. There’s no need to remember where you last put the remote, and there’s no risk of breaking the remote or dealing with dead batteries.
On the other hand, in-cab winch control takes more time and expertise to install. It also means you need to be in the vehicle to power the winch, which in some situations could be dangerous. Consider a remote control (either tethered or wireless) as a backup.
