No offense taken. It's true, but it still happens. People get distracted and aren't paying attention and the next thing you know there's yelling and screaming to stop the pull. This is exactly why they are called "safety thimbles". And it's why there are warnings with every winch manual I've ever seen to never handle the winchline by the hook, and why there is a red flag to place on the hook by which you're supposed to grab the hook--if it pulls through your hand should slip off.

 

Yes - it can happen. Winches don't stop when you let off the button. My 9.5ti spools like 3 more feet after releasing the button. Scares me when I'm trying suck in the last few feet of line

 

I love my factor 55 thimble


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Just wondering why you've got a hook instead of a shackle on your factor? That's the main point of a factor 55 hooks can come of.

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I actually prefer the Factor 55 flatlink to the prolink.

One advantage to either though is that they both sit flush against your fairlead, eliminating any wire or line sticking out from your bumper (such as if your shackle or hook is attached to one of your D-rings). If you accidently bump into it, you can easily pinch the line/wire and either break it or damage it. Hooks or shackles just don't sit flush as well.

Factor 55 makes some other pretty cool products and I know they have a few more in the works.... including a shorty tree saver strap.

All their products are destructively tested to ensure that they will withstand the rated force.

No, I don't work with them, but they are a local company here in Boise, and I know the owner and only employee (who is in the same jeep club as I).

 

This hook cannot come off it's allot easier to use then a shackle also

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what hook is that?

 

I do not have the Warn hook, but I do have the matching shackles - waste of money. They are made in China, and they started to rust the first rainstorm I had. "Cerkote" is a joke on these and is only to look pretty in the shop window. I like the looks and they have a high strength rating (18K pounds), but not worth the extra cost.

 

Monster hook swivel

 

Winch hooks, used correctly, are just fine and completely safe.

The fanboi love of a certain product line is humorous at best, many have missed the point of it, and even some have chimed in with bad advice/usage examples... they do make a nice kit, but it is completely unnecessary.

Why don't you clean the rust off your current hook and revitalize it with a fresh coat of paint? I bet ten bucks in materials (beer, paint, steel wool/etc.) and less than one hour in time.