How much synthetic line should I get?

[Reyn]

If winch has 90ft of 3/8 cable then how much 3/8 synthetic line will fit on it if I swap out?

 

[Mark W]

90 ft


Mark...

 

[Reyn]

Ok,I thought it might spool tighter or compress some.

 

[Southeast Overland]

90 ft

Mark...

Probably this if that is what came stock in the winch. What winch is it and I'll look up the capacity for you.

 

[Reyn]

Probably this if that is what came stock in the winch. What winch is it and I'll look up the capacity for you.

Husky 10

 

[Southeast Overland]

Husky 10

A Superwinch Husky 10k winch currently holds 90' of 3/8", so 90' is going to be the most you want to go with.

 

[TrekboxX]

Remember with synthetic it's nice to have a little extra room. If it doesn't spool right and piles up, contacting the solenoid or tie bars is more damaging to the line than it would be with steel. I took 100+ feet of steel off and replaced it with 80 feet of synthetic. I carry a 100' extension. YMMV

 

[1911]

Remember with synthetic it's nice to have a little extra room. If it doesn't spool right and piles up, contacting the solenoid or tie bars is more damaging to the line than it would be with steel. I took 100+ feet of steel off and replaced it with 80 feet of synthetic. I carry a 100' extension. YMMV

Yeah, I only put 80' of 3/8" on my 8274 that will hold 150' of 5/16", because most of my pulls are not that long and I like to pull with fewer wraps on the drum. Like you, I also carry an extension just in case for a long pull.

 

[Southeast Overland]

Remember with synthetic it's nice to have a little extra room. If it doesn't spool right and piles up, contacting the solenoid or tie bars is more damaging to the line than it would be with steel. I took 100+ feet of steel off and replaced it with 80 feet of synthetic. I carry a 100' extension. YMMV

Unless your bars are eaten up by previous contact with steel cable it won't hurt the synthetic much if any at all. I've seen winches many times all bound up from improper side pulls and the synthetic line was just fine when respooled.

 

[TLC76]

I put 125' of 5/16" on my 8274, since I've broken down about 124' from the anchor point in the past. Winched my brother's 2500 GMC diesel and a 28' toyhauler up a muddy hill with a single line pull with most of the line spooled on the drum. Now I trust it to hold up.

 

[TrekboxX]

Unless your bars are eaten up by previous contact with steel cable it won't hurt the synthetic much if any at all. I've seen winches many times all bound up from improper side pulls and the synthetic line was just fine when respooled.

Agreed, if they are smooth. But like on my epi9 before I moved the solenoid, if the line got piled up along the side it could take damage from the casting. Not to mention almost impossible to get out if it's really bound and your truck is stuck (really just have to loosen the solenoid, but a pita). I just play it safe, leave extra room, carry an extension, and a pull-pal. Then your anchor is always within reach!

Also- sometimes it's hard to determine whether a line has taken damage or it's fibers are breaking down until something ugly happens. When I used to sling load peeps from a helicopter, we spent a lot of time inspecting the ropes for unnatural wear. We still discarded any (expensive) lines that saw a shock load and replaced even new ropes on a schedule.