Winch rope

If you can afford $ 11.00 / Meter for synthetic rope then why would you even contemplate buying steel wire rope .

On their ad they have some yellow latch hooks. The way they look to work, the only time the latch is forced closed is when there is load on the hook. Surely that's not when hooks come adrift; isn't it when the hook is unloaded that they are at risk of coming free? Also, because the line is attached to the latch rather than the hook, the load looks to be taken by the pin that attaches the latch to the hook. The pin doesn't look up to it.

Yes, I know they are tested, but it just looks wrong to me. No?

Cheers Frank.

Click here

I'm using synthetic rope, got mine at a better price than $11/m too. I've only used it once in anger and was very impressed. Alos helped a mate while he was using it. It's very easy to handle being so light and no nasty stell splinters. i'll be interested to see how it lasts long term.

It is also great for using as winch extension straps etc and fit through a snatch block which conventional extension straps don't.

Synthetic is very good if you do a reasonable amount of winching but it does have its disadvantages. You need to get a serious protection sleeve to avoid it fraying if you run it over any obstacle. I use a Michelle's Sacks one which is quite good but you could easily make one. It floats and has very limited shock loading but needs to be kept absolutely spotless as dirt abrades the fibres quite quickly so it needs a regular wash. Apart from that if you are chasing weight over the front suspension then every kilo counts. To reduce abrasion the dnyamica guys provide a set of sacrificial fairleads as well.

I have used both on my Ox 10,000lb electric and they work well. Choice is yours and depends on both cost and the amount of use you get from the winch. As a trainer I am using mine most weekends and given that the synthetic doesn't birdnest the way wire does that is a plus in its own right.

Put simply the synthetic has its advantages over wire but you need to be prepared to put in the effort to look after it.

Enjoy

Rob