synthetic winch rope - recommended?

[gaylon]

Hello all,

I am getting ready to put a M12K Warn on my 60. It has an old style ARB Bumper with connected sliders. A lot of weight already. Adding the 125# winch is just that much more weight. I am thinking of putting on a synthetic winch rope for a few reason - no corrosion, safer to use, lighter, easier to work with, ability to put 150 ft on the winch. Any concerns running a synthetic winch rope versus a steel cable?

[e9999]

those are great. Safer. Expensive.

Only issue in my mind being using them where they hit the ground. Could get damaged easily.

[gaylon]

They are pricey, Rockstomper.com has 5/16 x 150 ft. for $235. Rated for 13700#. I will keep the cable that comes with the winch to use as an extension, I think.

[e9999]

Originally Posted by gaylon

They are pricey, Rockstomper.com has 5/16 x 150 ft. for $235. Rated for 13700#. I will keep the cable that comes with the winch to use as an extension, I think.

Yup, can do that. Kind of heavy and unwieldy to carry around all the time, though.

[brownbear]

As a wheeler I think I would want the synthetic rope. As an "expedition" vehicle, the section your asking in, I would use a wire rope. It's tougher and can be replaced or shortened easy when out in the world or far flung places. Going into a repair shop in central america is going to have cable and ability to deal with it. As I have seen cables on the front of trucks in winter for years not corrode badly. Still serviceable even when old. Just as long as it's inspected for flaws and kept clean.

If I'm pulling thru the jungle with a winch I want a steel cable.

[e9999]

well, one advantage of synth is that it should be pretty easy to splice the cable with minimal practice, so repairs should not be too bad. And I imagine it doesn't get damaged on the spool by crushing etc as readily as wire rope.

[Darby Darrow]

Originally Posted by e9999

well, one advantage of synth is that it should be pretty easy to splice the cable with minimal practice, so repairs should not be too bad. And I imagine it doesn't get damaged on the spool by crushing etc as readily as wire rope.

In fact the current issue of 4WD Toyota Owner magazine has an article on splicing a line with pictures.

[Adam R]

I wouldn't run anything less than 3/8 inch rope. I run 100 feet on my 9.5 ti which normally can carry 125 feet of 5/16 wire. Less line yes, but my breaking strength is around 19.5 or 22K. I like rope and it's easy to splice if necessary. I carry some extension pieces I'm made from an old rope that I broke too many times to be useable.

It is definitely safer for most recoveries, but if I were hanging off the side of cliff, I'd want to be hanging from wire. I've broken my old x-line rope numberous times, but haven't broken the amsteel blue line I'm currently using yet. If it is a life and death recovery, I'd prefer to use steel wire if possible.

You do need to be a little more careful with how you handle the rope and keep it from rubbing on stuff/keep it clean, but the pluses outweight the minuses in most cases.

Adam R.

[WristPin]

Originally Posted by Darby Darrow

In fact the current issue of 4WD Toyota Owner magazine has an article on splicing a line with pictures.

I was just going to mention that.

Isn't that magazine awesome?!

[sandcruiser]

I use synthetic. In the jungle.

As others have mentioned: synth is more prone to wear on sharp/rough surfaces, but much, much easier to field fix it (you can literally tie a knot if you really have to- it won't lay straight later, but it'll pull you out).

I'd say that for expedition use, the weight reduction outweighs all other considerations. Depending on where you go, there are other big plusses-- synth floats, which is fantastic when doing water recovery vs. a wire that is who-knows-where under water. Synth is also safer- so if you are out far far away, it is nice to have that additional safety margin. Synth is also more multi-purpose. If you know some knots and hitches, you can use it as a very strong (though slippery) line. Wire cable doesn't do that.

Something else that has occured to me: in a heavy rainstorm, with lightning about, I think I would rather be working with my truck tied to a tree via synthetic line than steel cable. Probably wet synthetic will conduct lightning too, but it can't be a better conductor than steel.

The only time I might prefer wire rope would be if I was doing a lot of rocks and/or anything with lava. Synthetic just won't hold up as well.

Finally: to keep your synthetic line less damaged, get something to slide over it. I've seen climbing webbing (use it myself) but the real deal would be something tougher, maybe some old fire hose or something like that.