Synthetic Winch Ropes

[Reloaderguy]

I know this subject has been discussed but most of the older discussions contain dead or stale links so let's do it again.

I'm looking for a reasonably priced synthetic winch rope. As much as I'd like to spend $1K on Gucci floss I think there is probably a middle ground. What are you guys running and where did you get it? Do you have a deal you're watching or know of a great value winch rope? I'd prefer references to lines you've used so I don't have to be the guinea pig. I'd also prefer to buy from an American so those direct from China lines are probably out. So, lay it on me, what do you recommend?

[Colibri]

Reasonable price and I believe made in America

http://www.asroffroad.com/7-16-synthetic-winch-rope/

[olyelr]

Reasonable price and I believe made in America

http://www.asroffroad.com/7-16-synthetic-winch-rope/

Holy moly, is that what soft shackles cost or are those misprints?!

http://www.asroffroad.com/extreme-soft-shackles/

[BlkWgn]

Reasonable price and I believe made in America

http://www.asroffroad.com/7-16-synthetic-winch-rope/

Holy moly, is that what soft shackles cost or are those misprints?!

http://www.asroffroad.com/extreme-soft-shackles/

better be a misprint, the one I bought was about 40 bucks

[bstefanic]

Ha, take a look at the sizes and what they're rated for. That sounds about right for the 1/2 million lbs ones lol

[olyelr]

Ha, take a look at the sizes and what they're rated for. That sounds about right for the 1/2 million lbs ones lol

Sure, they are rated for a lot, but my gosh. The 1" shackle is $450, yet you can get 20 feet of the same stuff (kinetic energy rope) for $119. I am sure I am missing something, though.

[olyelr]

How long of synthetic rope can be fit onto our winches?

[BlkWgn]

Ha, take a look at the sizes and what they're rated for. That sounds about right for the 1/2 million lbs ones lol

I read the sizes and it did not even register in my head. Think it may be time for a nap

[TwinStick]

Over 100' I think, but most people put less on so they have less to unwind to get to full pull on the last layer/wrap. Personally I can't see the logic there, I would rather have more line any day. Can always use a snatch block or 2 if need be.

[bstefanic]

Ha, take a look at the sizes and what they're rated for. That sounds about right for the 1/2 million lbs ones lol

Sure, they are rated for a lot, but my gosh. The 1" shackle is $450, yet you can get 20 feet of the same stuff (kinetic energy rope) for $119. I am sure I am missing something, though.

Not to sidetrack this thread...but my only guess is you would use these when operating in really tight spaces but still need to lift a ton. We have a couple of winches on the ship designed to retrieve 185 ton LCACs along with move all sorts of other items. Obviously not lifting that amount but we would never use synthetic shackles...like I said probably for super tight spaces, specialty gear warrants specialty gear prices

[MSCH2112]

Winch Line and Extensions:

http://www.bubbarope.com/winch-lines

Made in the USA. A little pricey but on my wish list.

Mike

[RAM4ROKS]

I've got Southeast Overland soft shackles and honestly I use them more than steel shackles anymore. I just picked up a Bubba Rope Gator Jaw soft shackle to try out too but, havent gotten a chance to use it yet. Soft shackles offer a TON of versatility!!!

[Pit Slave]

http://www.samsonrope.com

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

[scoutermike]

I went with 75' of http://www.amsteelblue.com/ and a 25' extension. I won't EVER have steel cable on my winches.

[ramv]

I would recommend avoiding the rope for heavy, non competition rigs. We broke a ton of Amsteel blue recreational wheeling, (usually on my buddies Amigo with a Warn 9500, but lots of other rigs like TJs and LJs). Both 5/16" and a 3/8". Just doesn't like heavy use. I know they claim less recoil, but I have broken steel and rope and the steel is way less scary. Broke windshields with the rope. It's ugly, especially in critical pulls when the vehicle could fall or roll if the cable fails. Probably a good choice for sub 4k lb comp rigs with bystanders and I would run it on ADV MC and sleds, but trucks, absolutely not. Too dangerous for the limited weight savings. Not to mention pricey and harder to repair than steel. Also, if your rig spends much time outside or in mud/snow/rain expect to replace the rope frequently.

Admittedly, I have only used genuine Warn steel cable, and upgraded my 9,500 XP to 3/8" steel (after a hard 100 deg+ pull against a hawse fairlead that broke the 5/16") but my M6000 is running the original steel rope even after dozens of pulls on my second gen and my Avalanche 2500, both weighing 7k lb.

[RustyPW]

At work. We had to replace all synthetics every 4 years. Inspect it every time we used it, and after. Threw a lot away. Synthetics don't like being sled over rocks or things. Don't like oil, heat, or UV. Other then that. It's great stuff.

[Pit Slave]

I installed ½" rope on the truck. I really don't recommend anything less. Yes, it's crazy overkill. However, I really shouldn't have to worry about if it will be overloaded as anything I deal with will be a multiple under the WLL.

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[Reloaderguy]

I would recommend avoiding the rope for heavy, non competition rigs. We broke a ton of Amsteel blue recreational wheeling, (usually on my buddies Amigo with a Warn 9500, but lots of other rigs like TJs and LJs). Both 5/16" and a 3/8". Just doesn't like heavy use. I know they claim less recoil, but I have broken steel and rope and the steel is way less scary. Broke windshields with the rope. It's ugly, especially in critical pulls when the vehicle could fall or roll if the cable fails. Probably a good choice for sub 4k lb comp rigs with bystanders and I would run it on ADV MC and sleds, but trucks, absolutely not. Too dangerous for the limited weight savings. Not to mention pricey and harder to repair than steel. Also, if your rig spends much time outside or in mud/snow/rain expect to replace the rope frequently.

Admittedly, I have only used genuine Warn steel cable, and upgraded my 9,500 XP to 3/8" steel (after a hard 100 deg+ pull against a hawse fairlead that broke the 5/16") but my M6000 is running the original steel rope even after dozens of pulls on my second gen and my Avalanche 2500, both weighing 7k lb.

Amsteel does not recommend 5/16 or 3/8 for 15K pound winches. Minimum recommended size for synthetic lines for out trucks is 7/16 or 1/2 depending on the manufacturer. I'm specifically looking at 7/16 or larger lines.

[Reloaderguy]

Masterpull is having a 30% off Black Friday sale on Superline. http://www.masterpull.com/black-friday-deals/

[ramv]

Amsteel does not recommend 5/16 or 3/8 for 15K pound winches. Minimum recommended size for synthetic lines for out trucks is 7/16 or 1/2 depending on the manufacturer. I'm specifically looking at 7/16 or larger lines.

I bet, the 3/8" was not even adequate on the 9.5k lb winch on a 5,000 lb Isuzu.

[TwinStick]

Synthetic winch rope: It seems you either LOVE it, or you don't. I don't. I have seen it fail no less than 4 times, all on atv winches & 3 out of the 4 were light duty pulls IMHO. No reason it should have failed at all. Caught everyone by surprise. And it was the first time it was used, so can't blame it on prior use/abuse. They were all bragging about how superior it was when they got the winch with the synth line. Some was even rated at 2x what their wire rope on their old winches was rated.

Pros:---------Yes it is lighter. Yes it does not carry as much kinetic energy. Yes, it does not make your hands bleed if it pokes you.

Cons:----IMHO, it breaks when you need it most. Is VERY high maintenance. Is affected by dirt. Is affected by heat. Is affected by sunlight. Is affected by even the slightest little burr on any metal surface it comes across. MUCH harder to get unraveled if submerged in water/mud & then it freezes in the winter. (Yeah, we have been there, done that.) So, pretty much every single thing that is present when off-roading, can shorten it's life & lead to failure. That is the reasons I'm not fond of it.

My wire cable: On there when I took delivery, still on there today. I have used my winch only 6-12 times. Only maintenance has been to rewind properly after each use & spray it with some fluid film every couple of years. With some common sense & very little maintenance wire rope seems to last a good long time. If I lived in a warmer/dryer climate, I very well might have it myself. But not where I live.

The one thing about my wire cable that sucks: It seems that most times, when I have needed it (for myself), I had to winch at almost a 90* angle because thats where the only tree is that will hold the weight. When doing that, I have to stop every couple of turns of the drum, back it off, unhook, pull it out a little, then re-wrap it properly, so it does not kink the cable. THAT SUCKS BIGTIME. VERY time consuming & tiring when walking through 4-5' of snow.

[olyelr]

Synthetic winch rope: It seems you either LOVE it, or you don't. I don't. I have seen it fail no less than 4 times, all on atv winches & 3 out of the 4 were light duty pulls IMHO. No reason it should have failed at all. Caught everyone by surprise. And it was the first time it was used, so can't blame it on prior use/abuse. They were all bragging about how superior it was when they got the winch with the synth line. Some was even rated at 2x what their wire rope on their old winches was rated.

Pros:---------Yes it is lighter. Yes it does not carry as much kinetic energy. Yes, it does not make your hands bleed if it pokes you.

Cons:----IMHO, it breaks when you need it most. Is VERY high maintenance. Is affected by dirt. Is affected by heat. Is affected by sunlight. Is affected by even the slightest little burr on any metal surface it comes across. MUCH harder to get unraveled if submerged in water/mud & then it freezes in the winter. (Yeah, we have been there, done that.) So, pretty much every single thing that is present when off-roading, can shorten it's life & lead to failure. That is the reasons I'm not fond of it.

My wire cable: On there when I took delivery, still on there today. I have used my winch only 6-12 times. Only maintenance has been to rewind properly after each use & spray it with some fluid film every couple of years. With some common sense & very little maintenance wire rope seems to last a good long time. If I lived in a warmer/dryer climate, I very well might have it myself. But not where I live.

OF COURSE!

[RustyPW]

Synthetic winch rope: It seems you either LOVE it, or you don't. I don't. I have seen it fail no less than 4 times, all on atv winches & 3 out of the 4 were light duty pulls IMHO. No reason it should have failed at all. Caught everyone by surprise. And it was the first time it was used, so can't blame it on prior use/abuse. They were all bragging about how superior it was when they got the winch with the synth line. Some was even rated at 2x what their wire rope on their old winches was rated.

Pros:---------Yes it is lighter. Yes it does not carry as much kinetic energy. Yes, it does not make your hands bleed if it pokes you.

Cons:----IMHO, it breaks when you need it most. Is VERY high maintenance. Is affected by dirt. Is affected by heat. Is affected by sunlight. Is affected by even the slightest little burr on any metal surface it comes across. MUCH harder to get unraveled if submerged in water/mud & then it freezes in the winter. (Yeah, we have been there, done that.) So, pretty much every single thing that is present when off-roading, can shorten it's life & lead to failure. That is the reasons I'm not fond of it.

My wire cable: On there when I took delivery, still on there today. I have used my winch only 6-12 times. Only maintenance has been to rewind properly after each use & spray it with some fluid film every couple of years. With some common sense & very little maintenance wire rope seems to last a good long time. If I lived in a warmer/dryer climate, I very well might have it myself. But not where I live.

OF COURSE!

[TwinStick]

You guys got to get me a T-shirt !!!

https://www.google.com/search?q=fluid+f ... qUxovDM%3A

[olyelr]

You guys got to get me a T-shirt !!!

https://www.google.com/search?q=fluid+f ... qUxovDM%3A

Lmao!