Lighter synthetic winch rope! ! cool!

Hey look at this.. all the 4x4 nuts are tell'n me this is the way to go.

MUCH, MUCH safe, to use and it makes a portable winch like mine almost 20lbs or so lighter!!!!!!

http://www.rockstomper.com/catalog/recovery/ropes.htm

Spot

It says that the 5/16th rope will replace what I've got and it's good for 14,500lbs.. so I guess I'll get a 125 ft of her.

I'll have to pay the last couple hundred off the winch before I get it but it takes some of the worries out of it.

I'll also have to replace the hawse fairlead with an alumin. one but there only 50 or 60 bucks so it's all good.

Spot

Just some thoughts.

Have you winched out a vehicle????  It is never picture book perfect.

The best is high quality steel cable, with a 20 foot "snatch" rope.  Cape doesn't stretch that is good.  But some stretch will actually help you by slowly applying pressure.  That is what a "snatch "rope is for; it slowly brings up the pressure and "builds" the force till the vehicle slowly moves.  This is really good if you have it stuck bad and want the 4 WD to help as the winch pulls.

ALL syn rope is bad.  It stretches its full length.  That means if you have 50 foot out you might need to get 15+ foot of stretch before the winch even begins to pull with 1000 pounds.

That stretch can get you in trouble, if you short line.  You can get so you can't relax the rope.

In addition the syn will never reel coil properly after the first time you use it.  Syn takes a set.  And when it winds under pressure it tightens against itself, you may get it so tight on the drum that it will not pull off freely.  If you are not stuck, it is good to have another vehicle pull it of, then reel the vehicle back on a driveway to keep only some pressure on the line.

Syn will snag an fray easier than steel, you need to check both.  Personally I think chain and a snatch rope are good.  Cable is also good.  I'd not load up any syn on a winch reel more than 5 layers.

Most of the times you get her stuck is where there isn't a tree, etc.  A good "Deadman" is the best extra weight to carry. 

 I don't mean SS

BEAR

Logging chains ...tire chains....maybe some bondage chains!  Chain is were it is at!

BEAR

"it's regulations"

More drunken 4x4 guys out there again!   I'd trust the horse and mule ranglers more.....they are always drunk and make lots of sense.

BEAR

Spot, Free advise is worth what you pay for it.

That guy that says "syn rope just drops to the ground" is crazy and wrong.  Think of a rubber band breaking, the stored energy has to go some place! Movement is the only way to dissipate the energy, the more it stretches the more energy stored in the rope. SNAP.

I've personally broken syn lines while moving heavy objects.  The rope and anything attached will fly wildly.  I've seen them break and throw metal hooks hundreds of feet.

Now, my advise is free also...and worth the same.

What every you buy.  NEVER stand close to the cable/rope.  Be sure to get a remote switch/lever for the winch.  A friend lost part of his arm to a winch that was mechanically connected to the PTO (power  take off) on the front of his winch.  The mechanical brake/clutch levers were adjacent to the spool.  It was a 1965 Jeep and they didn't have any safety in those days.

BEAR

Thanks for the info Pedro.  If it doesn't stretch it would be great.  If you are lucky most of a winch ropes life shold be spent on the spool.

Think I'll try some of the no-stretch stuff.  x-line?  But I'm keeping my steel logging chains (and the bondage ones also).

BEAR

Sounds good to me.

I hate the steel cables as they also get burrs.  Man can that stuff cut your hands.  Heavy leather gloves only.  But some how I alway manage to get some of those deep razor cuts from loose strands.  Hurts just thinking about it.  Syn sounds better all the time spot.

BEAR

Brian,

   The pulleys thing makes good sense.

Spot