Product Overview
If you want a proper 13,500lb recovery winch without breaking the bank, this is the one we'd point most people to.
It isn't the fastest or the most refined winch around, but it does the job, and it comes with two wireless handsets in the box.
Warrior Stealth 13500 V2 specifications
- Rated pulling force: 13,500lb / 6,123kg
- Motor: 6.1hp input / 4.6kw 12v series wound, reversible
- Rope: 20m x 10mm steel rope, hook and hand saver
- Controls: 3.9m wired handset plus 2 wireless handsets
- Mounting: 254 x 114mm bolt pattern
- Warranty: 12 months, return to base
Warrior publishes a duty cycle of 30 seconds of pulling per 10 minutes at the full 13,500lb rated pull, which is normal for an entry-level winch and is the reason it suits occasional rather than continuous commercial use.
Where it came from
The Stealth didn't come from nowhere. Before it came the CTA, then the Apache.
The Apache was the first really affordable recovery and 4x4 winch that didn't break the bank. It started the budget winch trend rather than joining it. Stealth took over from the Apache and carried that idea forward, and the V2 built on it again.
But Stealth is now officially the entry-level range within Warrior Winches. It keeps its trademark red with updated logos, and the specifications are unchanged.
The changeover is complete, so the Stealth 13500 you buy today is the new version, with two excellent-quality wireless handsets in the box.
What it does well
Value
At £329.99 at the time of writing, you get features you used to only find on premium winches.
The standout is two good-quality wireless handsets as standard. Keep one as a spare in the cab or give one to a second person on a recovery.
The winch also includes a 3.9m wired handset, so you have a backup control method if the wireless controls are unavailable.
The internals
Full steel gearing, a series-wound motor and a sealed solenoid are where cheap winches usually cut corners.
This one doesn't.
The 6.1hp 12v motor is reversible, and the free-spool clutch allows the steel rope to be pulled out manually before a recovery. The 13,500lb rating also gives it the pulling capacity expected by buyers fitting a large winch to a 4x4, trailer or recovery vehicle.
The mounting bolt pattern is 254 x 114mm. Check your bumper, chassis or mounting plate before ordering.
Where it falls short
Speed under load
It isn't the fastest winch out there, but it isn't the slowest either.
Line speed is bang average, and the quality everywhere else more than makes up for it. If fast recovery cycles are a priority, look further up the Warrior range rather than expecting the Stealth to perform like a premium commercial winch.
Spares support
This could be better.
That said, this is an entry-level budget winch, designed for occasional use or for new operators, not to live forever.
Not a weakness as such, but one wish for the next version is some fancier tie bars. Looks never used to matter on a winch, but a more modern finish would help it stand out on the front of a truck.
Who the Stealth 13500 is for
The Stealth 13500 V2 makes sense for:
- 4x4 owners who want a 13,500lb recovery winch
- Trailer users
- Recovery operators carrying out lighter or occasional recovery work
- New operators buying their first full-size winch
- Owners who want wired and wireless controls included
- Buyers who want full steel gearing without moving into a higher price bracket
- Users who need a spare wireless handset in the cab or with a second recovery operator
It is a practical choice where value and basic recovery performance matter more than maximum line speed, long-term parts availability or premium dealer support.
Who it isn't for
Look further up the range if you need:
- A winch for heavy daily commercial use
- A longer duty cycle or continuous operation for repeated heavy pulls
- Faster line speed under load
- Extensive spares support
- Premium dealer support
The Stealth is an entry-level Warrior model. It is not intended to compete with every heavier-duty winch in every working environment.
What owners say
Across the Amazon reviews, the praise is consistent. Buyers mention solid build quality, plenty of power and decent spooling speed, and at least one came back to buy a second.
People fitting it to trailers point out that it's heavier than it looks, so plan for a solid metal base or, better still, buy the official mounting plate. That would always be our advice.
The complaints fall into two groups. A few buyers found the wireless handsets didn't work straight out of the box, and one felt the wired lead was too short to reach into the cab.
The rest are one-off delivery problems: frayed rope, the wrong rope type sent, and an older report of a faulty clutch knob. These read more like quality-control and fulfilment issues than design faults.
Worth knowing before you buy: the mounting plate is sold separately and the fairlead isn't attached to the winch itself. That explains the couple of reviews complaining about a missing bracket.
Check the Winch Equip winch accessories range for mounting plates and related recovery equipment. Confirm the plate, bolt pattern and available space before fitting.
Wireless handsets and replacement controls
Two wireless handsets are included with the Stealth 13500 V2. That is a useful feature at this price, particularly for trailer users or recoveries where more than one person needs access to the controls.
If a handset does not work straight out of the box, check the batteries, receiver connection and instructions before assuming the winch itself has a fault.
The How to Pair a Lodar Remote Control: Step-by-Step Guide covers Lodar systems specifically. It is not a pairing guide for the Stealth wireless controls, but it is useful if your existing recovery setup uses a separate Lodar receiver and handset.
For Lodar-equipped winches, see the Lodar replacement handset range. Check the receiver model and function layout before ordering. A Lodar handset is not automatically compatible with the Stealth wireless system.
How it compares
Stealth 13500 vs Winchmax
Winchmax is another name most UK buyers look at in this bracket.
The Stealth's main points are its 13,500lb line pull, full steel gearing and two wireless handsets included as standard. The right choice depends on the exact vehicle, mounting arrangement, voltage and controls required.
Check the individual specification and included equipment rather than comparing price alone.
Stepping up within Warrior
If you need faster line speed or heavier-duty operation, the wider Warrior range is the natural next step.
The Stealth remains the entry-level option. Moving higher in the range may be justified when the winch will see frequent commercial use, when parts support matters more, or when you need performance beyond occasional recovery work.
Verdict
For recovery operators, trailer users and 4x4 owners who want 13,500lb of pull and two wireless handsets without breaking the bank, the Stealth is almost impossible to beat.
If you need a winch for heavy daily commercial use or premium dealer support, look further up the range.
About the author
I'm Chris, and I've been in the winch trade for 20 years and I'm still in it. I've watched the Stealth evolve from the very start, and I've answered the phone when things went wrong.
Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links and I earn commission if you buy through them. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I also do occasional paid work for Warrior Winches, who manufacture the Stealth range. Neither Warrior nor anyone else has seen or influenced this piece before publication, and the opinions here are my own.