Fairlead replacement

[vtl]

I have a WARN EVO 12-S winch with delaminated and corroded hawse fairlead (p/n 104219). Paint gets damaged easily on these when crawling through the shrubs, then the winter salt we have plenty on the roads kills it in no time. Looking to buy a replacement, but all WARN fairleads seem to have this same problem. Perhaps, all aluminum fairleads have this problem, brand does not matter?

Anyways, what is my best course of action? Is there a known hawse fairlead that does not oxidize easily and fray the very expensive synthetic rope? What about classic roller-style fairleads? I don't mind the look, if only they don't rust easily. Unfortunately, I went with hawse one in the first place because most, if not all, roller fairleads on vehicles around here in New England are rusty.

 

[1911]

... What about classic roller-style fairleads? I don't mind the look, if only they don't rust easily. Unfortunately, I went with hawse one in the first place because most, if not all, roller fairleads on vehicles around here in New England are rusty.

I have had good luck with the Warn roller fairlead (they still sell them, or at least they did when I bought mine some years ago). Mine is still not rusty after 15 years, the last several parked outside - but north Texas, while humid by my standards, does not have the problem of ocean salt and salt on the roads.

 

[vtl]

Thanks for the hint! My 21 y.o. winter beater has a hot zinc double-dipped subframe, it has zero rust after all these years. And I also was not happy with dirty hawse-style fairlead fraying the rope.

Actually ordered a similar looking Bulldog fairlead, for 1/3 of WARN price. Could go with WARN, but $180+ for such a simple piece of equipment is a lot of revenue margin to ask for.

 

[vtl]

Well, I don't hate the new look. Gives another hue of oldschool, but my pin-striped Gen 2.5 aesthetically is so far in past compared to the Lego trucks and SUVs of 2026.

 

[Augustiron]

Maybe find an anodized one instead of powder coated?

I have an anodized 4x4labs one, but haven't gotten a winch in there yet to see how it holds up to the line over time.

 

[vtl]

Maybe find an anodized one instead of powder coated?

I have an anodized 4x4labs one, but haven't gotten a wich in there yet to see how it holds up to the line over time.

Friction will damage the anodized layer, then the damn salt we have everywhere in winter will eat it again.