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Polaris RZR RS1 Winches
You are 40 minutes up a two-track, one rear tire dropped into a washout, and there is nobody in the passenger seat to push. That is the RS1 problem in one sentence, and it is the reason a winch belongs on a single-seat machine even more than it belongs on a four-seater. A 3,000 lb KFI pulls a stuck RS1 out of soft ground. A 4,500 lb synthetic-rope kit handles mud with the frame sitting on dirt. Spring thaw, creek crossings, October food-plot trails: the RS1 goes places where self-recovery is the only recovery on offer.
This page covers the Polaris RZR RS1 from 2018 through 2022, and fitment comes down to one thing most buyers miss. The RS1 does not take a winch behind the grille the way other RZRs do, because the oversized front differential sits in the way. RS1 winches mount ahead of the machine on a model-specific plate that is sold separately from the winch. Every kit here ships with its own hardware, fairlead and switch, but not that mount. Bolt pattern decides the rest: KFI and Warn units run the standard 3.00 x 4.875 four-hole pattern, while the SuperATV 4500 uses the wider 3.00 x 6.60. We are the fitment experts on this one. Text us at (920) 644-5280, call (920) 543-5376, or use the live chat on any page, and we will match your RS1 before you spend a dollar. The ownership and management team here has 100+ combined years in the UTV industry, long enough to know which parts come back and which ones don't.
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Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Polaris RZR RS1 Winch
|
Winch Type |
Line and Build |
Best For |
What You Give Up |
|
3,000 lb steel cable |
3/16 in x 45.9 ft cable, 1.5 hp motor, 171:1 gearing, roller fairlead, 24.8 lb kit |
Trail duty and solo self-recovery on a machine you keep light |
Capacity headroom if you plow or pull other machines |
|
4,500 lb steel cable |
15/64 in x 38 ft cable, 1.7 hp motor, 166:1 gearing, corded remote plus dash rocker, 36.6 lb kit |
Heavier pulls and plow work where a corded remote beats wireless |
Nearly 12 lb of added nose weight over the 3,000 lb unit |
|
4,500 lb synthetic rope |
1/4 in x 50 ft synthetic, hawse fairlead, 166:1 gearing |
Mud and standing water, where steel rusts and kinks |
Synthetic abrades against rock and needs sun protection |
|
3,500 lb sealed premium |
7/32 in x 50 ft steel, IP68 sealing, three-stage planetary gear train |
Deep water crossings and machines that live outside |
The highest price on this page |
RS1 Winch Build Quality: Seals, Gearing and Line
Sealing is the first tell. The Warn VRX 35 carries full IP68 waterproof sealing, stainless-steel fasteners and a semi-gloss powder coat, which is a different class of protection from a water-resistant solenoid box. Water-resistant keeps rain out. IP68 survives a submerged crossing.
Gearing is the second. All-metal planetary drives hold up where lesser gear sets give way under load. The KFI A3000 runs a 171:1 all-metal planetary set with a cam-activated freespool clutch, and the KFI U45-R2 runs 166:1 on the same all-metal build. Both carry KFI's 1-year limited warranty.
Line is the third, and it is a real tradeoff rather than an upgrade path. Synthetic rope does not store energy under stress, so it drops instead of recoiling if it fails, and it will not rust or kink. Steel cable takes abrasion better and costs less to replace. The Rough Country 4500 ships 1/4 inch by 50 feet of synthetic with a hawse fairlead. The Warn VRX ships 7/32 inch steel with a roller fairlead.
What You'll Actually Pay for an RS1 Winch
The entry point is $197.95 for the Rough Country 4,500 lb synthetic kit, which is the most capacity per dollar on this page and includes the hawse fairlead, clevis hook and on/off switch.
The middle is where most RS1 owners land, running $272.00 to $376.00. The KFI A3000 at $272.00 buys all-metal gearing and a freespool clutch in a 24.8 lb package. The KFI U45-R2 at $376.00 adds 1,500 lb of capacity, a 14-foot corded remote, a dash rocker switch and a heavy-duty contactor. The SuperATV 4500 opens at $374.95 with a wireless remote and 50 feet of synthetic rope.
The top end runs $462.49 to $597.90, covering the Warn VRX 3500 in either steel or synthetic and the SuperATV 4500 with its Auto-Stop fairlead kit added.
Budget for the mount on top of all of it. The RS1-specific KFI plate is $179.95, made in the USA from 10ga Grade 50 steel and powder coated black, and it is the piece that turns any of these into an RS1 winch. The plate, fairlead rollers and recovery gear all live in RS1 winch accessories. Many of these listings carry downloadable install guides, with more added all the time. The most common warranty is between 3–6 months, but Everything Polaris RZR does offer extended 1- and 2-year warranties on all products if that is something you are interested in — you can add the extended warranty right at checkout. Returns run 90 days, and you can see what RZR owners say about us before you commit.
Top 3 Polaris RZR RS1 Winch Brands
- KFI Products builds the only RS1-specific winch mount we carry: 10ga Grade 50 steel, made in the USA, with a 1-year limited warranty across its winch line.
- SuperATV ships its 4,500 lb Black Ops kit complete, including a wireless remote good to 50 feet, a 6.0 inch aluminum hawse fairlead and a rope stopper.
- Warn puts full IP68 waterproof sealing on the VRX line, the highest sealing spec on this page, alongside an all-metal three-stage planetary gear train.
Top 5 Polaris RZR RS1 Winches
- Polaris RZR 4500lb Electric Winch with Synthetic Rope by Rough Country ($197.95) delivers 4,500 lb through a 1.4 hp motor and 166:1 gearing on 1/4 inch synthetic rope. The value pick for an RS1 that sees more mud than rock.
- 3000 lb Winch by KFI ($272.00) runs an all-metal planetary drive at 171:1 and weighs 24.8 lb complete. The light-nose choice for a trail RS1 you would rather not add mass to.
- Polaris RZR 4500 Standard Winch by KFI Products ($376.00) includes a 14-foot corded remote and dash rocker switch alongside 15/64 inch steel cable. Built for plow duty and working pulls where a remote battery is one more thing to fail.
- Polaris RZR 4500lb Winch with Wireless Remote Synthetic Rope by SuperATV ($374.95–$597.90) pairs a 1.3 hp motor with 50 feet of synthetic rope and a wireless remote rated to 50 feet. The one to run when you are winching alone and want to stand clear of the line.
- Polaris RZR VRX 3500 lb Winch by Warn ($462.49–$569.99) carries IP68 sealing and a choice of 7/32 inch steel or synthetic line at checkout. The pick for water crossings and machines that live outdoors.
Polaris RZR RS1 Winch FAQ
Does an RS1 winch mount behind the grille like other RZR winches?
No. The RS1's oversized front differential blocks that location, so the RS1 mount places the winch out ahead of the machine. That gives you easier access to the hook and fairlead, and it changes what you shop for. You need the RS1-specific plate, not a universal RZR bracket. This is the single most common mistake we see on this category: the winch arrives, the mount does not, and the install stops there.
Which winches fit the RS1 mount?
KFI's RS1 plate lists the KFI A3000, U45-R2 and Assault series along with Warn's VRX 25, 35 and 45. Units on the standard 3.00 x 4.875 four-hole pattern or the wider 3.00 x 6.60 pattern will generally mount up, though roller and fairlead patterns vary between brands. Check the listing or call us to confirm before you order.
What capacity does an RS1 actually need?
3,000 lb handles self-recovery on a machine that weighs what the RS1 weighs. Step up to 4,500 lb if you plow, pull other machines out, or ride where you get buried rather than merely stuck.
Steel cable or synthetic rope?
Synthetic if you ride mud and water. It will not rust or kink, and because it does not store energy under stress, a failure drops the line rather than snapping it back. Steel if you ride rock, where abrasion shortens synthetic life, and replacement line costs less.
Are aftermarket winches as good as the Polaris factory option?
The factory sells one winch. The aftermarket gives you that quality level from several makers, typically at lower prices, in capacities and line materials Polaris does not offer. Warn's VRX 35 carries IP68 waterproof sealing and an all-metal three-stage planetary gear train, and it goes on in a driveway with hand tools and the included instructions.
Written and reviewed by the Everything Polaris RZR fitment and marketing team — riders and product specialists who work with these machines daily. Spot an error, or have a suggestion that would make this guide more helpful? Email us at marketing@gearup2go.com — we read every note.
Last updated: August 2026
