Synthetic rope from wire? (winch)

[DmccartneyFF2TB]

Just wanted to see what you guys thought about changing the wire to rope if possible? thoughts?

[Trail X]

I think we've talked about this. I know Teebes and I have syn line. It's much easier to handle, and saves about 20/25 lbs on the winch weight, and it floats in water. No down sides, except the cost.

Interested in buying some extra steel cable? I have some!

[bartonmd]

No down sides, except the cost.

There are down sides! Namely the lack of UV resistance and the lack of abrasion resistance... If you're going to keep the winch on the vehicle, you need to keep it covered, and if you're pulling on the winch line over a rock or ledge or something, you need to have the abrasion guard on the rock... This works well for self extraction, but can cause a problem if you're winching somebody back up a steep hill or something, where the line is actually sliding over a rock or the edge of the road or something like that...

Mike

[Trail X]

True about the abrasion resistance. However, either way, dragging it over a rock will shorten the line's life a certain amount, steel or synthetic.

If you get "better" types of synthetic line, the first 20 feet, or so, has a special coating on it. This coating is meant to be wound as the outer layer, and it apparently helps the line resist UV better. How long would it take UV to effectively reduce the line's strength properties? I haven't yet seen a study on that.

[bartonmd]

Yeah, but the difference is, you can actually cut the synthetic line...

I'm not saying it's crap, and I'm not saying I wouldn't own it… I'm just saying that you may have to use it slightly differently than steel line, and if you use line a certain way (i.e. block yourself on a tree and winch somebody or a log or whatever over a hill), it may not work out for you… My grandpa had a '65 Power Wagon with a Braden PTO winch on it, that he used around the farm for years, to pull logs up to landings, and all kinds of stuff… Used the same cable for years and years. It sat outside when he wasn't using it, and it was still intact when he sold the vehicle. Absolutely no way synthetic could have lived through that.

Mike

[DmccartneyFF2TB]

Yea understandable i like the idea of it being lighter. I was also thinking about getting a 50 footer... How often would you have to use all 100 feet. and ofcourse i will still have the cable wire as a back up.

[mikepeters1983]

I love the robe better then the wire, but I figure that I might as well get the use out of the wire. So when mines goes back I will be upgrading lol.

[Trail X]

Yea understandable i like the idea of it being lighter. I was also thinking about getting a 50 footer... How often would you have to use all 100 feet. and ofcourse i will still have the cable wire as a back up.

I originally had that mindset - but 100 feet is much less than you actually think once you're on a trail.

Remember also that 10-15 feet of the line needs to stay on the drum - so 50' becomes a reach of only 40 feet of use able length.

If you go with a 50' winch section, I'd surely get another 50' or 75' extension to accompany it.

[bartonmd]

I got mine with the cable, because I can get one with cable on it and buy the rope for about the same cost as the Comp version that has the rope already on it... Then I've got the cable as an extension...

Mike