WInch line

[jeepmauler]

I have 25' of 7k working load static rescue line/caving rope.It is Kernmantle rope(google) so it has a built in sheath to protect the core.
My winch is an OLD M6000 warn(still pulls hard) that I cut down to a 4" drum and mounted to the axle...it's sole purpose is to suck my front end down and in a pinch aid my stuck/broke ass in forward movement.I had winch rope on my last car,100+ feet on a warn 8K and that **** broke continuously, even when brand new.And yes rope does whip when it breaks....it just doesn't have any real weight/mass so it only stings a little.

 

[CrustyJeep]

I had winch rope on my last car,100+ feet on a warn 8K and that **** broke continuously, even when brand new.And yes rope does whip when it breaks....it just doesn't have any real weight/mass so it only stings a little.

Any theories on why it broke so much, and why it whips? Shock load? Rock rash? Etc.?

My theory, based on rope's lower stretch, is that it doesn't handle shock load nearly as well as steel.

 

[jeepmauler]

I'd almost have say it was a bad batch because it always broke....became a joke after a while.There were so many knots in my winch rope,it looked like a gnarley set of anal beads!!

edit: I won't say the brand cuz maybe they got their **** figured out.....but what I had sucked

 

[Travis1]

uh, that's how you can break either steel or syn ... and also not like it's uncommon todo ...

IMO, syn might break that way and drop safely, but cable would whip around causing bodily harm ... (and sure the rig being winched that way may also fall ...)

As far as "durable" ... obviously the steel will take abrasion better than syn, but I contend that "rope" won't "kink" and can be more "durable" over a 3-4 year timeframe of a normal wheelers winch usage.

Actually, steel puts up with the hard angle like that a LOT better than synthetic. the cable starts fraying and showing signs of wear but it's not going to break right away. Synthetic has a tendancy to do that.

Cable does NOT automatically whip around nor does it automatically cause bodily harm when it does. So you can't just say cable will whip and harm and synthetic won't - which is paraphrased version of your paragraph. Rig it wrong and it's more likely it's going to whip - but that doesn't mean it will.

Actually, steel should have a longer life span than synthetic - especially in the PNW when it's exposed to sand, mud, water, etc. It wears hard on the rope when those contaminates start working their way in to it. When there is dirt in it and you put tension on it, all those particles start grinding away at the fibers weaking it.

There is conditions in which I would have no issues running synthetic - for a regular trail rig I won't. If I was competiting and planned to regularly replace the rope I would. Rope does kick cables ass in weight and manageability.

 

[Digger 5]

It seems like the synthetics lines I've seen are prone to get stuck in the drum. That is, under a hard pull, they part winch line layers 2 or 3 rows deep and get stuck when you try to spool out the next time. I'm sure this means that the line wasn't spooled tightly but is this really a common problem?

 

[CrustyJeep]

It seems like the synthetics lines I've seen are prone to get stuck in the drum. That is, under a hard pull, they part winch line layers 2 or 3 rows deep and get stuck when you try to spool out the next time. I'm sure this means that the line wasn't spooled tightly but is this really a common problem?

I've seen plenty of that with steel, too.

 

[Jaydog]

I've seen plenty of that with steel, too.

X2, I've had that happen several times myself.

 

[Money Mark]

There were so many knots in my winch rope,it looked like a gnarley set of anal beads!!

:haha:

I'm picking this up as a sig before it becomes QOTD. :beer: