About to invest in a winch and was wondering which line would last longer.
My thought it that the Synthetic my rot, being exposed to the elements like that. It would seem, the cable would not have this issue. I only see myself using my winch a couple times a year.

 

Can't comment about the durability, but there is also wear and tear on a steel cable that isn't a factor for synthetic: Kinking, breaking strands. At some point in time, even if the steel cable is still quite usable, you may decide that the hassle of strands poking holes in your skin, and of messing with a tangled cable makes the ease of use of the synthetic cable worth the extra expense.

 

Don't worry about rot. Synthetic lines are just that - synthetic. They rot about as quickly as a tire...and probably slower than steel rusts.

 

The synthetic lines were first developed for maritime use then adapted for our winches.

 

seer1 is correct. Samson (the people that make Amsteel Blue) do the vast majority of their business for tugboat/fishing/dredging type lines. If they can survive the constant sun, abrasion, and salt water exposure that is seen there, life on the front of a Jeep is pretty easy.

 

How much weight savings would you expect to see in synthetic line vs. cable ?

 

Lot's...I think my 100' of 5/16th only weighs in a 3-4 pounds if that. The hook I have weighs more than the entire line..

 

I saved about 45 lb off my front end swapping synth in for wire rope.

That includes the rope itself, and replacing the roller fairlead with an AL Hawse fairlead.

Weight on the front bumper is cantilevered weight, which multiplies the effect, so weight savings there have a great ROI.

The Synth is also a lot safer, as when it breaks, unlike steel, it just falls...instead of whipping through the air like a angry weed whacker.

The synth was also a lot stronger for the same diameter. My steel line was rated for 9,500 lb, my synth for ~ 21,000 lb

 

 

I weighed the fairleads and lines, and that was the difference, 45 pounds.

It made a huge difference.

I have 125' of line on a Warn 9.5xp....and that line went on that winch quite a few years ago...and its been bullet proof....I'm VERY happy with the swap.