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If you wrench on the road, you know the struggle: no bench, no work surface, just a truck bed and a job that needs both hands. A truck mounted vise slides right into your 2-inch hitch receiver, turning your tailgate area into an instant workshop. The right one clamps steel tubing, pipe, or flat bar securely for cutting, bending, grinding, or threading, then detaches for storage.
I’m Mo Maruf — the founder and writer behind GoCarLife. This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
This lineup of the best truck mounted vises delivers the grip and weather resistance you need, ranked by owner experience, jaw capacity, and mounting style.
Our Picks at a Glance
How To Choose The Best Truck Mounted Vise
A truck vise is a portable bench substitute, so jaw opening, throat depth, and mounting style determine its usefulness on your rig. Match the jaw opening to your biggest workpiece, check throat depth for how deep you need to reach, and make sure the mounting style fits your truck.
Jaw Width vs. Jaw Opening vs. Throat Depth
Three different measurements control what you can hold. Jaw width is how wide the clamping faces are side to side — a 6-inch jaw grips wide flat stock. Jaw opening is how far apart the jaws can spread, which sets the biggest round or square piece that fits. Throat depth is the distance from the jaw top to the slide below, and it decides how deeply a workpiece can sit in the jaws before it hits the frame.
Clamping Force and Material
Material determines how much force the vise can withstand. Ductile iron (often called SG iron) is tough and resists cracking under sudden impact. Some models publish a clamping force in kilograms or tons — higher means a firmer hold on smooth round stock when you are cutting threads or bending plate. A sintered or powder coat finish helps the bare metal shrug off rain between jobs.
The Anvil Question
Most truck vises include a flat anvil surface for shaping and forming, but not every anvil is built for serious hammer blows. If you plan to wail on metal, look for a beefy anvil casting. If your work is mostly clamping, cutting, and grinding, a lighter anvil is fine — just treat it accordingly.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Best For | Jaw Open | Clamping Force | Material | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilton ATV All-Terrain★ Best Overall | Portable hitch work with great portability | 5-3/4″ | — | Alloy Steel | Amazon |
| Mophorn Screw Bench Chain Vise | Budget pipe and tube holding | 1/8″–5″ pipe | — | Cast Iron | Amazon |
| Forward 1705A 6″ Hitch Vise | Serious workbench-strength clamping | 5.5″ | 5500 lbs | Ductile Iron | Amazon |
| Olympia Tools Hitch Vise 38-652 | Heavy-duty trailer and utility use | 6″ jaw width | 1.1 ton | Alloy Steel, Ductile Iron | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Wilton ATV All-Terrain Truck Hitch Vise
Our pick — over 4.5★ from 400+ verified ratings; the strongest balance of quality and price.
The portable favorite that turns any 2-inch hitch into a go-anywhere workbench, with a carrying handle built right in.
The reigning crowd favorite at 4.6 stars across 400+ owners, this is the vise you see riding on tailgates everywhere. It mounts straight into a standard 2-inch hitch and locks in place with a hitch pin, so the moment you back into the driveway you have a clamping station. At 39.7 pounds it is heavy enough to feel planted, but the integrated carrying handle makes it easy to tote from truck to bench — the included mounting bracket even lets you bolt it down for shop duty.
Owners consistently praise its functionality and versatility. This is the unit that goes “everywhere with you,” as some put it — on the truck for road jobs, on a custom bench mount for garage work. Squeeze it around round stock from 3/4″ to 3″ in the pipe jaws, or remove one jaw insert to grip as small as 1/2″. The 360° locking handle stays put while you drive and repositions when you work.
You get room for mid-size workpieces with a 5-3/4″ max jaw opening and a 5″ throat, plus a big striking anvil for forming and shaping. A water-resistant coating keeps rust at bay in weather, though the anvil surface itself can show surface rust under a heavy hammer. The honest trade-off, per owner reports: the anvil is on the thin side, the vise does not swivel, and some find the jaw opening a touch narrow for the largest jobs — so this one is best suited to solid everyday clamping.
What wins people over
- Portable design with carrying handle and hitch pin for quick setup
- Pipe jaws grip round stock from 3/4″ to 3″ (down to 1/2″ with one insert removed)
- 360° locking handle stays secure while driving
- Water-resistant coating holds up in the weather
What gets caveats
- Anvil surface can rust and is on the thin side
- No swivel, and a 3/8″ too-narrow jaw opening for some users
- Hitch receiver use may need a riser
Reach for this if: you live between truck and garage, and want one solid vise that shifts between them without bolting anything down.
Think twice if: you need a swiveling head, or you regularly clamp workpieces wider than the 5-3/4″ opening.
2. Mophorn Screw Bench Chain Vise
The budget pick that clamps pipes and tubes from 1/8″ to 5″ with a chain around a cast iron body — no bench required.
This budget-friendly truck mounted vise uses a chain-style design instead of a jaw-style hitch mount. Instead of a receiver shank, you get a chain-style vise with a rugged cast iron base that bolts to “any secure surface like a workbench, truck, or a tripod stand.” Owners confirm it works right on a bumper or other flat surface. At a compact 4.2 x 3.2 x 6 inches, it is tiny compared to the Wilton’s 19.25 x 6 x 7.25 inches — a 4.6x gap in overall size — which makes it the easy-stashing option.
Buyers describe this as “top tier” shop gear that gets used constantly. The heavy-duty chain wraps around pipe and tubing, and the neoprene-coated jaw grips securely while protecting softer materials. A crank handle drives a screw to tighten the chain, so you can fix 1/8-inch to 5-inch pipes firmly in place without much effort. The cast iron frame and chain give it the durability owners rave about.
The main caveat is mixed grip feedback on some pipes, and mounting hardware is not included. If your truck work is mostly pipe, tubing, and round stock rather than flat plate, this is a smart, budget-friendly choice.
Owner verdict: “Grips like the hulk” — small pvc pipe or big black gas line, the chain holds it fast, per the review pages.
Fit note: the grip earns mixed feedback, and you will need to source your own mounting bolts.
Grab it for: pipe-heavy roadside work and tight budgets.
Look elsewhere if: you mostly clamp flat plate, where a jaw vise holds better.
3. Forward 1705A 6″ Hitch Vise
The strength king — a published 5500 lbs of clamping force when hitch mounted, with a ductile iron body built to take real punishment.
This one flexes the numbers that matter. Forward rates the clamping force at 2500kg (5500lbs) when hitch mounted and 3500kg (7700lbs) when benched, backed by a 60000PSI tensile-strength ductile iron casting. Buyers confirm the hold: they report bending 3/16″ steel plates 90 degrees for a frame repair without breaking it, and cutting threads on a smooth 5/8 stud under heavy torque with no slipping.
At 6 inches of jaw width, 5.5 inches of jaw opening, and a 5-inch throat, this is a generous mouth for mid-size work. Replaceable jaws and permanent grooved pipe jaws grab 1/2-inch to 3-1/2-inch pipe, and the precision-machined main screw keeps the action smooth. It slides into a standard 2-inch receiver and pins in with the hitch pin and clip. Owners note it runs light enough to lug around, making it a “good choice for a trail tool or mobile service truck.”
The honest caveats: exposed steel rusts in the first rain, so treat it as a tool that needs a wipe-down, and the anvil portion is not built for heavy hammering. Owners still rate it light, useful, and functional — one even used it to open a stuck sewer cleanout. It is tough to top for the money when raw holding power is the priority.
Choose it for: heavy bending and thread work where a firm hold at 5500 lbs is non-negotiable.
skip it if: you plan to hammer hard on the anvil, or want the tool to stay rust-free with zero maintenance.
4. Olympia Tools Hitch Vise 38-652
A seriously heavy 38.8 pounds of steel and ductile iron, rated for 1.1 tons of clamping force with a handle that locks anywhere.
This is the professional-grade pick for the buyer who wants the heft. A 6-inch jaw width, 1.1-ton clamping force, and a powder coat finish over steel and ductile iron construction — all in a 38.8-pound package that owners call “seriously heavy duty.” It is the tool one buyer bought after almost going with a pricier Wilton, finding it just right for working on guns and projects out in the fields.
The spring-loaded handle hub is the standout feature: it lets you lock the handle at any position, partially or fully extended, and it turns smoothly. That is a genuinely useful touch for working in tight tailgate spaces. Owners slide it into a utility trailer frame and pull it out for storage, calling it super convenient. It has threaded pipes for projects and held up through field use without complaint.
Owner complaints are minimal, with near-universal satisfaction. The trade-off is weight and a price that sits at the premium end of this list. There is no published jaw opening or throat depth in the data, so size your workpiece needs against the 6-inch jaw width. For hard, repeated field work, this is the one that feels like a permanent fixture.
Built for the long haul
- 1.1-ton clamping force on a 6-inch jaw
- Handle locks in any position via the spring-loaded hub
- Powder coat finish resists rust
- 38.8 pounds of steel and ductile iron heft
The price of weight
- Heavy to haul around
- Premium price tier
- No published jaw opening or throat depth to size against
Get it for: contractors and serious field work who want rock-solid holding power with rust resistance.
Pass on it if: you need a light, easy-tote option for quick roadside jobs.
Understanding the Specs
Jaw Opening vs. Jaw Width
Jaw opening is how far the jaws spread apart, and it sets the biggest workpiece that fits. The Wilton opens to 5-3/4″, the Forward spreads to 5.5″. Jaw width is the side-to-side face length — both the Forward and Olympia offer 6″ — which matters for gripping wide flat stock without it tipping.
Clamping Force and Tensile Strength
Clamping force is how hard the jaws squeeze, usually in pounds or tons. The Forward publishes a hitch-mounted 5500 lbs and a bench-mounted 7700 lbs; the Olympia rates 1.1 tons. Tensile strength, like the Forward’s 60000PSI, tells you how much stress the casting resists before cracking — a real sign of frame durability.
FAQ
Will a truck mounted vise fit my 2-inch hitch receiver?
How much weight can a truck mounted vise hold?
What size pipe can I clamp in these vises?
Will rain and weather rust a truck vise?
Can I use a truck vise on a workbench too?
What is the difference between a chain vise and a jaw vise?
Is the anvil on a truck vise good for heavy hammering?
How much does a truck mounted vise weigh?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For most people, the winner is the Wilton ATV All-Terrain because it nails the portable, go-anywhere promise with a 2-inch hitch fit, integrated carrying handle, and owner-verified versatility. If clamping force is your obsession, grab the Forward 1705A with its published 5500 lbs hold and ductile iron body. And for pipe-heavy work on a budget, the Mophorn chain vise is the one to reach for — the value play that still delivers “top tier” durability per owners.
How We Picked
We do not accept paid placement. Every pick is matched to a real buyer and a real use-case; we do not hands-on test units.
Sources & Methodology
Specifications: manufacturer listings and product documentation. Review insights: verified customer reviews, as of August 2026. Pricing: not shown on this page (it changes often); check the current price via the retailer link.
As an Amazon Associate, GoCarLife earns from qualifying purchases. This does not affect which products we feature.