What do you think about the synthetic winch cable? Better than steel?

http://www.quadratec.com/products/92124_202.htm

 

It depends...

Synthetic is easier to handle, weighs less, and most of all is safer if it snaps in two (not that the hook on the end couldn't still do some serious damage). However... it just won't last as long and they are spendy to replace.

Wire rope can last much longer if well maintained and taken care of, it's harder to handle, weighs more, and can do some serious damage if it snaps in two (which can be avoided if proper winching procedures are used and the cable is in good condition).

I'll be getting synthetic with my winch when I eventually get one...

 

check out Masterpull.com for GOOD synthetic winch lines.

If synth. line snaps IT WON'T KILL YOU.
It doesn't store energy like Steel cable does.
If it snaps it drops to the ground.
It floats on water
It weighs absolutely nothing so your front suspension will thank you for freeing it from 30+lbs of steel cable.
It is stronger than steel cable even with a thinner line of the synthetic.
By using a thinner line, you can fit more on the drum.

Great investment all around.

I replaced my 3/8" x 100' Milemarker steel line with
5/16" x 125' of Masterpull line. Extra 25' of line, only weighed 7lbs compared to 30lbs.
Add that to the safety end of it, and it should be a no-brainer.

good luck.

 

+1 for Masterpull, just picked up some of the XD line, the stuff is amazing and built to last with some very high quality.

 

amsteel is a good line but you do need to be aware that excessive heat can melt it. in other words, if you are doing a lot of hard pulls for a difficult recovery, the drum on your winch can get hot enough to damage this line. FWIW, most people won't ever get to this point but it is something to be aware of. there are other synth lines out there that can handle heat much better and some are designed specifically to resist it outright.

 

There's been a lot of discussion of synthetic rope, I recommend you search and read up. Lots of opinions and more than a little misinformation (unintentional) going around.

Masterpull is good, Viking (winchline.com) is also very good. Check with Northridge4x4.com and alphaexpedition.com (JKF vendors) for pricing on Viking synthetic rope, you may find them to be pretty competitive. Other options also exist, amsteelblue.com is a division of Masterpull with lower prices on very specific configurations (i.e. can't customize like you can with northridge or alphaexpedition). customsplice.com is yet another options as well.

The biggest downside to synthetic rope is that it can lose strength when abraded. For that reason I've seen recommendations not to downsize your width but to stick with 3/8" line; the additional strength margin is intended to offset some abrasion-induced strength reductions.

Back to the first paragraph though, do some searching and you'll find lots of pre-existing discussion on synthetic ropes. Take whats written with a couple grains of salt and don't take any single individual's word as gospel. Remember also that its origins is in ocean-going applications (cargo, sailing).

Oh also, remember there's a significant strength difference between Amsteel and Amsteel Blue

 

guys I know that run synth line have the kind where the wraps close to the drum are a heat resistant material. Minus the fact that it costs more, I think that synth line is superior to steel in almost every way. The line costs a good deal more, and if you already have a roller fairlead and snatchblock, etc. the cost can get kinda high cause the burrs on the rollers will ruin the synth line.

One thing I did not see mentioned is that if your synth line breaks, you can splice it on the trail.

 

Can I remove the steel cable of a Milemarker or a Warn and replace it with a synthetic cable ?

 

I hope so, cause that's what I just did! Does anyone know if I have to stretch it like a steel cable?