Winch Cable or Winch Rope?

[alwayzbroken]

I recently snapped my 5/16" winch cable on my Warn M8000 winch. I obviously need a replacement line and am curious about your opinions on synthetic winch rope vs. winch cable. What are the pros and cons of either from those of you that have experience with them? What are your general thoughts and experiences with either?

[79coyotefrg]

you wont rip your hand open on the rope

[CTENG in KS]

From what I hear they are great, but you need to do some reading because some hold up to mud and dirt better than others.

[DTB]

Good: significant weight difference (easier to pull off the spool too)
-will not store (dangerous) tension in the cable
- higher breaking strength than steel usually at least 25 percent for similar steel
-wont rust, kink, or recoil.
-wont get wound up like cable when u take it off the spool
- will not "creep" (permanant stretch)
- possibly have a longer line if u use a smaller diameter line with the same breaking strength
-ummmm it floats?
- u can splice the line if it breaks

Bad: MUST use a hawse type fairlead (though that's probably more good)
- must use a rock rash guard
- more expensive
-abrasion from dirt and mud in line
-its slippery and can make it tangle on the spool. it can "cut" thru the winds on the spool
-heat can kill the line, watch spool/motor temps, most degrade around 150 degrees and melt at 300

hope that helps

[Hottrod81]

I like the rope for the safety factor.

[All_Set]

I hear good things about amsteal blue and plan to try it.

[alwayzbroken]

Any Opinions on specific brand? I have heard of Amstel Blue, X line from ORO, and master pull.

[BikerTrash]

I don't actually have my winch yet but I know from working on towboats that I MUCH prefer synthetic rope to cable.

It was just so much easier to work with that it was unreal. I cant see any winch on a truck would have cable thick enough to actually make it difficult enough to handle that it would be a a hassle but regardless the rope seems like it would have to be easier anyway.

the only bad thing I have noticed with it is the need for chafing gear to keep it from cutting on sharp (or sometimes even not so sharp) edges.  In two years we only broke three face cables, and every time it happened it was because the boat was sitting lower in the water than the barges, moving around 10 mph and ran into a sandbar and came to a dead stop while 60,000 barrels worth of barge wanted to keep going. in that situation even wire rope would have broken.

Long story short. To me, the price is more than worth it.

[jimbo74]

you can use a roller fairlead, several places actually make them for syn rope, they jsut use delrin rollers

[alwayzbroken]

How does snythetic hold up to moisture and mud?

[Rocksurfer]

Coming from the towing industry and winching more vehicles than anyone here from some very odd and tough places I'm sticking with wire rope. The abuse steel can take over synthetic is incredible, and I've seriously abused them. Though I would not use the wire rope offered with most winches since they are pretty wimpy looking.   Here's a link to AW Direct, not just your average wire rope supplier, they have lots of stuff that offroaders may want beside rope:


http://awdirect.com/

[TurtleTappers91]

I have ORO x line. It is sooooo easy to handle and if you are one of those  :drooling:that likes to drape you'r cable all over you'r bumper and truck, you'll love the rope it wont even scratch anything. A must too if you wheel alone.

[Shamb]

I'd personally never use the rope... only because I hear it will tear easly when pulling against objects like rocks/tree's... or anything with a rough surface.

good ol' steel braided line does the job for me.

[rednk1980]

The only reason i went to the rope was for the saftey factor. Its a pain most of the time because you alway have to watch where the line is so it doesn't catch on trees and rocks a tear or fray it. But it wont cut my leg off if it breaks.

[RTA]

After I saw my cable snap!!!!!!!    I saw how dangerous it is I would go with the rope for sure!

[DTB]

winching is a dangerous activity in general...anything you can do to make it safer is worth it imo

[Shamb]

I hear what your all saying and agree... but on the other side of the coin what happens when you need to winch yourself up or away from something and you cant because the rope just tore in half?  kinda defeats the purpose.

[alwayzbroken]

I hear what your all saying and agree... but on the other side of the coin what happens when you need to winch yourself up or away from something and you cant because the rope just tore in half?  kinda defeats the purpose.

My wire rope snapped the second winch pull I ever made.

[Shamb]

My wire rope snapped the second winch pull I ever made

what the hell were you dragging the cable across?  molton lava?

what was the thickness on the cable?  3/8's?   

[alwayzbroken]

what the hell were you dragging the cable across?  molton lava?

what was the thickness on the cable?  3/8's?  

5/16" and it wasn't dragging on anything. Straight pull to a tree.

[Shamb]

looks like your using your front tire as a bull dozer in the dirt.

when you were giving it a hard pull was the truck moving at all?

[TurtleTappers91]

You can repair/resplice the synthetic rope if it breaks. Even on the trail if you are carrying a splice kit and some knowledge. Abrasion guards are important and if not used, yes the rope will get damaged. DOH!
Look at the pull ratings, though. The syn is stronger than steel cable by a whole lot....And if you are concerned about weight, the rope weighs squat.
Safety first was the only reason I needed.....

[robinhood4x4]

If it breaks, just splice it back together in about 5 minutes, good as new.  Lets see you do that with steel. 

It's soooo easy to fix on the trail.  Look around on the web and you'll find how to do it. 

[alwayzbroken]

looks like your using your front tire as a bull dozer in the dirt.

when you were giving it a hard pull was the truck moving at all?

Yeah it was moving which is what I don't understand. It looks worse than it was. I could drive no problem up until the tire blew, then I needed the winch. It wasn't as hard of a pull as it looks.

[DTB]

i cant even see the tire looks buried

[alwayzbroken]

i cant even see the tire looks buried

The bead is blown and it was all jammed up. You can see the tire if you look hard.

[TurtleTappers91]

The bead is blown and it was all jammed up. You can see the tire if you look hard.

hairy situation 

[Shamb]

If it breaks, just splice it back together in about 5 minutes, good as new.  Lets see you do that with steel

yea if it was moving that is strange.. i've burnt up solenoids on my winch many times before the cable ever thought about snapping... weird.

[alwayzbroken]

The truck was on solid ground and was only stuck since the tire was blown 

[Shamb]

was the cable previously frayed or damaged at all?