Expert Review: Res-Q Teton Winch Series

by Matt Konkle
Managing Editor

We all like stuff that just simply works when we need help, right?

And when you are deep into the trail, you really do need something that works if you suddenly have an important recovery situation.

Something like the new Res-Q Teton Series Winch.

Yes, having a trusty winch is more than just putting something on your Jeep’s front bumper for show. It is all about having a reliable companion ready to jump in and do some heavy work when called upon.

It won’t spot you over an obstacle, but it will definitely be there should something go awry — whether it is your vehicle or someone else in your group.

First off, Res-Q winches are available in a 10,000-pound pull rating or 12,000-pound, all so you can choose the right strength for your off-road needs.

Then, each size is outfitted with a durable synthetic rope that is lighter and safer than steel cable versions. Even if the rope somehow happens to shear, it is designed to recoil with less energy to minimize potential hazards. Sure, it is always a good idea to use a winch line dampener, but synthetic rope is much less dangerous than steel as long as you are using proper safety precautions.

Now, the Res-Q Teton winch may be a new style, but it is part of a family that stretches back to 2010 and the first Quadratec Q-Series winches. This original innovative lineup offered strength, performance, power and reliability for any style of off-roader — all at a value that made owning a winch more affordable than ever.

Res-Q series winches take that mantra and move it even further down the trail, providing a highly capable 4.9 horsepower series-wound motor and class-leading gear ratios that make for faster line speed and less power draw on your Jeep’s battery. You may think that doesn’t matter, but anyone who has been through a longer recovery situation knows the importance of minimizing power draw.

Additionally, one of a winch’s biggest downfalls is its heat generation. And the longer a recovery takes, the longer that line is pulling, the more heat builds up in the housing. That’s why a Res-Q series winch incorporates innovative die-cast aluminum fins atop its housing, for faster heat dissipation during those stubborn recoveries.

Also, we never really get to choose when a recovery may happen. Sometimes, the weather could turn, and rain or snow rules the day. Or, perhaps, a Jeep skitters off the trail while riding back to the trailhead in the late afternoon when sunlight is beginning to fade.

So a Res-Q winch not only provides that whole recovery aspect, but it features a unique white or amber LED winch spool light strip to make those lower-light situations a bit safer. The winch’s wireless controller even incorporates a flashlight for even more lighting when needed.

The winch itself is IP68 rated and is waterproofed up to six feet for 30 minutes, while its black powder-coated finish resists corrosion, dust, dirt, or whatever else Mother Nature wants to throw at the thing.

Then, when the day is over, you can remove the winch’s clutch handle to provide some security and theft deterrence — something you don’t find with other winch designs.

We first tested the Res-Q series back during the 2023 Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, taking a diesel Wrangler JL Rubicon, our JTe two-door Gladiator and a 12,000-pound Teton winch into the snowy La Sal Mountain range to see just how good the device could perform.

Those mountains have plenty of messy spots in the early spring that can clutch a Jeep and have a hard time letting go. But no matter where or how hard we tried to get stuck, the Res-Q winch, again and again, proved it belongs on the front of any Jeep. It confidently pulled that heavy diesel Wrangler through snowbanks, goopy mud and slush, and up slopes that easily could have been a day-ender without the right equipment.

Since then, we’ve used that Res-Q winch numerous times at our home-based off-road parks as well, during camping trips to Rausch Creek and Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area. Both sites offer a bunch of rocky spots where a winch can really come in handy, as well as tire-grabbing muddy sections and severe, slippery inclines.

Of course, a winch is just one piece in a recovery toolbox, so when you add in Res-Q Recovery Boards and a Res-Q Recovery Kit, you'll have just about all you need to tackle virtually any situation on the road, trail, or wherever your adventures may lead.