steel cable vs synthetic rope on winches

[BoyNextDoor]

Anyone with experience have an informed opinion?

Vermont/NH area - so 1/2 the year in the cold and snow.

 

[Comshaw]

Anyone with experience have an informed opinion?

Vermont/NH area - so 1/2 the year in the cold and snow.

Steel Winch Cable Vs. Synthetic Rope


Comshaw

 

[GiaCat]

This question has been burning in my mind for years

 

[bobb_sledd]

Anyone with experience have an informed opinion?

Vermont/NH area - so 1/2 the year in the cold and snow.

Which ever leaves fewer scars. Oops, I read that as wenches. My bad!

 

[Saint Peter]

Steel cable. They rust, fray, store massive amounts of energy, and are not very flexible. Still, I know the devil inside. Gloves in the truck. Respect the shortfalls while using it.

The aging of the nylons is a concern. They spray the roads with mystery compounds to keep the ice away. What does that do to the life of a plastic rope?

Give me steel and a can of LPS Chainmate. Good to go.

 

[jaF0]

Stainless steel aircraft grade cable won't rust and is less likely to fray, but will cost more.

Seems like synthetic cables would stretch too much; more potential for bazingas.

 

[Rightguide]

Anyone with experience have an informed opinion?

Vermont/NH area - so 1/2 the year in the cold and snow.

Just make damn sure you buy quality rope sold by people like Viking or genuine Samson Rope. Make sure the brake drum on your winch is in good condition, excessive heat degrades synthetic rope. The best synthetic is Dyneema rope. At temperatures above 150 degrees, fibers can degrade even on this quality rope. So if you're using a roller fairlead make sure your rollers are smooth, not froze up, and no burrs or sharp edges. Make sure the rope isn't dragging on any sharp edges elsewhere. If using synthetic rope use a Hawse instead. Make sure the rope you buy comes with a sleeve and that is has a thimble. If you're switching from steel cable to synthetic rope make sure pulleys, snatch blocks, etc., anything else touching the rope is free of sharp edges. The biggest threat to a synthetic rope is heat and abrasion.

 

[MagnusRichard]

Anyone with experience have an informed opinion?

Vermont/NH area - so 1/2 the year in the cold and snow.

If buying new, the Warns with synrope are the way to go.

If replacing cable on a used winch, stay with steel.

 

[chillywilly2]

Actually, 3,000 lb atv winches are going on sale for 99 bucks at Canadian tire tomorrow...i'm getting one just cause its a good deal...I'll use it somewhere

 

[Comshaw]

Stainless steel aircraft grade cable won't rust and is less likely to fray, but will cost more.

Seems like synthetic cables would stretch too much; more potential for bazingas.

Having worked with diamond braided synthetic rope on digger derricks, they don't stretch any more then steel cable does. However they are more susceptible to damage, abrasion, dirt worked into the rope, sunlight deterioration, etc.
I think it depends on what you're doing. If you're doing occasional recovery work with a small (8000-12,500 lb.) winch like pulling other vehicles out of stuck places, pulling a log or a stump and the like and you clean it and keep the rope covered when not in use to eliminate sunlight damage and moisture absorption a synthetic rope would probably be the best. For day after day continual use steel cable is the best. For the above mentioned small winches stainless steel aircraft cable and for larger ones regular carbon steel cable. It will last longer with less damage from abrasion and dirt.


Comshaw

 

[BoyNextDoor]

Thanks all for the info. I assumed I'd get a steel cable but 3/4 of what's out there is synthetic and gets good ratings so wanted to see if I was just too old school. This is the lead contender:

Barricade 9,500 lb. Winch - I mean $300? Seems like a great price to me.

Mostly for stumps, getting stuck off road and pulling someone else out. It is for a Willys Jeep.

 

[thør]

Thanks all for the info. I assumed I'd get a steel cable but 3/4 of what's out there is synthetic and gets good ratings so wanted to see if I was just too old school. This is the lead contender:

Barricade 9,500 lb. Winch - I mean $300? Seems like a great price to me.

Mostly for stumps, getting stuck off road and pulling someone else out. It is for a Willys Jeep.

Does it free spool? Otherwise, it can eat up a lot of battery.

 

[tedsbeds]

Does it free spool? Otherwise, it can eat up a lot of battery.

SS or galvanized cable may be stronger but harder to work with especially in the cold./ Dacron or polyester line does not stretch as much as nylon and some of the high tech stuff is as strong as steel.

 

[thør]

SS or galvanized cable may be stronger but harder to work with especially in the cold./ Dacron or polyester line does not stretch as much as nylon and some of the high tech stuff is as strong as steel.

Of just use some well greased steel. Yeah, it's dirty, but it works.

 

[about__aveage]

I bought my first winch (which I still have) in 1975 and have been using them ever since. All my 4WD's have one mounted. All have wire rope.

I've never broken a wire rope or seen one break in off-road use.
I've seen numerous synthetic rope break, including the major name brands.

I primarily off-road alone so I want a rope I can rely on and experience has shown that that means wire rope. Especially in situations where breakage would result in, at the least, severe damage to my vehicle.

Whenever possible I use a snatch block to reduce the load on the cable so there's that added safety factor. Also all my shackles are CM, Crosby or Van Beest which have at least a 5:1 design factor.

That said, I do see the advantages of synthetic, primarily in weight, and have a 50' synthetic rope extension.

As for SS, I've never seen one that is as strong, all other things being equal, as carbon steel rope.
Quality synthetic of the same size is stringer than wire rope, when new. It's not new for long.

 

[thør]

I bought my first winch (which I still have) in 1975 and have been using them ever since. All my 4WD's have one mounted. All have wire rope.

I've never broken a wire rope or seen one break in off-road use.
I've seen numerous synthetic rope break, including the major name brands.

I primarily off-road alone so I want a rope I can rely on and experience has shown that that means wire rope. Especially in situations where breakage would result in, at the least, severe damage to my vehicle.

Whenever possible I use a snatch block to reduce the load on the cable so there's that added safety factor. Also all my shackles are CM, Crosby or Van Beest which have at least a 5:1 design factor.

That said, I do see the advantages of synthetic, primarily in weight, and have a 50' synthetic rope extension.

As for SS, I've never seen one that is as strong, all other things being equal, as carbon steel rope.
Quality synthetic of the same size is stringer than wire rope, when new. It's not new for long.

The wire rope on my old Warn is about 50' short. It broke where the cable wasn't properly run through the fairlead. My 'friend' who was supposed to be tensioning the cable as we picked up the slack, dropped the ball. Hence, the big bang when it popped. The bad part was rerigging everything on the steep hill in the fucking rain. Thankfully, it didn't happen in hip deep water.

 

[NJLorelei]

Out on the beaches, I normally see rope. These are weekend warriors not "pros" especially those that will inevitably "help" in a tow situation and the relative safety of rope seems to be the primary driver, as well as the impact of saltwater on any metal.

 

[chillywilly2]

We broke a 1" wire sling the other day, but we were lifting a 40 ton slag pot with a 165 ton crane.
Really should have used 2 slings.

I think rope would be a lot easier to use on a little truck winch...I hate when wire kinks...such a pita

 

[about__aveage]

The wire rope on my old Warn is about 50' short. It broke where the cable wasn't properly run through the fairlead. My 'friend' who was supposed to be tensioning the cable as we picked up the slack, dropped the ball. Hence, the big bang when it popped. The bad part was rerigging everything on the steep hill in the fucking rain. Thankfully, it didn't happen in hip deep water.

Yeah, abnormal abuse will break wire rope.
Normal use will break synthetic rope. In fact, during one published winch comparison a bran new synthetic rope broke on fist use.

We broke a 1" wire sling the other day, but we were lifting a 40 ton slag pot with a 165 ton crane.
Really should have used 2 slings.

I was talking about use on a vehicle recovery winch. I've seen wire rope break as well.

I think rope would be a lot easier to use on a little truck winch...I hate when wire kinks...such a pita

I've only had one kink once (I tend to treat winching with the greatest respect) and replaced, which should always be done, or the rope shorted to get rid of the kinked section.