I have a 20910 Warn 8,000lb winch and I just replaced the 80 foot cable with a 100 foot cable. I would like to take my 80 foot cable and make it into an extension cable. What is the best method? should I cut it and make 2 40's? leave it in one piece? How do I best make a loop in the end that was originally fastened to the winch?
the ubiquitous wire clamps are a standard way and accepted way of making loops in a wire rope, and should be safe providing you follow the standard recommendations (number of clamps, spacing, correct side, etc).
actually I am always amazed this works so well. And even more so that the ferrules work as well as they do...
the 2 x 40 sounds more versatile, but one issue would be that you would need a shackle to connect them, i.e. an additional heavy projectile in case of failure... I'd be leaning to a synthetic rope for an extension, and retire the wire rope to more static or damaging tasks (e.g. drag trees on your personal range )
actually, there is a better method for this where you re-braid the cable ends....combined with the ferrule's, it's the strongest method....
I've got a few done this way at home, and will try to do a photo-run on the method this weekend....in short, cable consists of 7 braided major strands....separate into one group of 3 and one group of 4, cross them in the center, and reverse braid them....sounds strange, but it works perfect...
hate to say it, but you couldn't give me cable anymore....I only run stuff from Winchline anymore...90' on the 80, 50' extension in the back, and about 100' on the 8274 on the 40.....run the alum eyelet on the 80 and a mongo hook with a crushproof thimble on the 40....
I have driven 4WD vehicles for over 30 years and have had winches for the majority of that time and I have had to recover myself exactly 3 times...........2 of which were on the same day a couple weeks ago. I need more gear.............
I have driven 4WD vehicles for over 30 years and have had winches for the majority of that time and I have had to recover myself exactly 3 times...........2 of which were on the same day a couple weeks ago. I need more gear.............
Man I winch myself or someone nearly everytime out.
There is a commercially made synthetic winch extension available. Mine was given to me by our search org, but I am sure an E search may turn up something.
Dan-There will be a rigging shop in your town somewhere-have them bind the eyes professionally. The best method is a "splice" which I think is what Woody is describing. It's a reverse braid/splice that is difficult to do unless you know what you are doing. The other way is a compression ferrule. That works great, It's what warn does at the factory. Not elegant at all.
I was a rigger on a crane in a former life-and learned enough about splicing to be dangerous. You need an old-timer graybeard kind of guy to do this right, but when done right, the splice will be a strong as the wire rope itself.
Just me, but if you need an extension, you need an extension. I'd leave it in one 80 foot piece. To be honest, though, wire rope is too heavy and bulky to carry as an extension, and if you really want one, that is an ideal use for the synthetic rope like Amsteel.
Chapman Piloting & Seamanship has a lot of illustrations demonstrating the different ways to splice rope. The eye splice is what you want. I've done it with heavy hemp ropes and it's a bitch to get right. But it is far and away the strongest way to add a loop.
I second Andy's recommendation of going to a rigging shop to have it done.
One question, why not just use a snatch strap for an extension? It would serve double duty.
The snatch/kinetic strap simply stretches for a while before actually doing some work. Perhaps some predictability is lost with this method but can be used in extreme cases if needed.
The snatch/kinetic strap simply stretches for a while before actually doing some work. Perhaps some predictability is lost with this method but can be used in extreme cases if needed.
I'm thinking if you need more than 80' of cable you are already in an extreme situation. Storing a Snatch strap, which we should all have anyway, is a lot better than storing/hauling 40 or 80 feet of wire rope. I guess it's all about playing the odds.
Just a random thought but might that extra stretch help in some situations? Like when you are winching out of a mud hole and the rig gets a little traction for a moment? The stretch would act as a buffer to take up slack in the line until the winch caught up.
I'm thinking if you need more than 80' of cable you are already in an extreme situation. Storing a Snatch strap, which we should all have anyway, is a lot better than storing/hauling 40 or 80 feet of wire rope. I guess it's all about playing the odds.
Just a random thought but might that extra stretch help in some situations? Like when you are winching out of a mud hole and the rig gets a little traction for a moment? The stretch would act as a buffer to take up slack in the line until the winch caught up.
In winching exercises "stretch" always= BAD (in my opinion).
Snatch straps...as you say, are "easy to store" and make a good recovery tool for "mild" extractions. But when you get to the point where a winch is needed, they should not be used except in short lengths (preferably doubled).
I use mine ONLY to wrap around a tree or other suitable anchor point (or sometimes to connect to two points on a vehicle). When used this way, make certain you have a strap that is well overrated for the task...and has minimal (if any) stretch.
Nearly every incident involving damage or injury I seen....involved a "snatch strap" and improper use.
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