In 1959 Warn introduced the first electric winch.

In 1962 on the Rubicon Trail in California, Thurston Warn debuted his 1946 Willys CJ-2A outfitted with his new Warn Series 6000 six volt Self-Recovery Winch. 

Until this time the winch industry was dominated by the cumbersome and complicated power take-off winches manufactured  by King and Ramsey.

Within a short time every Willys dealership had the new Warn Electric Winch for Jeep 4WD Vehicles available as Willys approved specialized equipment.

Since then the word WINCH has become synonymous with the name WARN.

Our recommendations for winches for use on Willys vehicles are the Warn M6000 and the M8000 Self-Recovery Winches.

The M6000 is definitely the winch of choice for all of the  ¼ ton vehicles to include the MB/GPW/CJ-2A/3A/3B/5/6 and the M38 and M38A1. 

The M6000 is available in 12 volts and in 24 volts for use in the M38 and M38A1.  The M6000 comes with 80’ of wire rope and a roller fairlead.

The M8000 is the winch of choice for the Utility Wagons, Trucks and Forward Control Trucks.

The M8000 is available in both 12 and 24 volts.  The M8000 is available with 80’ of wire rope and a Hawse type fairlead or with 100’ of wire rope and a roller fairlead.

Contrary to what the off-road mainstream mindset has convinced itself, a CJ-2A with a curb weight of 2137 pounds has no business sporting the Warn M15000 on it’s front bumper.  Weighing in at a hefty 136 pounds this winch could lift seven little CJ-2A’s off the ground.  If the CJ could actually be solidly anchored in a recovery attempt the front bumper and frame would most likely be torn off.

The heavyweight in the ¼ ton class is the M38A1 weighing in at a curb weight of only 3465 pounds.  The Warn M6000 will be more winch than will ever be required.

The curb weights for the Willys FC-170 is 3490 pounds,  Utility Wagon is 3345 pounds and the Utility Truck is 3176 pounds. The Warn M8000 will be more winch than will ever be required for these vehicles.