Synthetic winch rope discussions

[Ba-Riedo]

So since I work for Masterpull I want to know what YOU guys and gals think of synthetic lines. Not just our products but every synthetic line that is on the market today.

What do you like?
What don't you like?
What do you want to see?
What issues have you had with synthetics?
Have a story where a line failed or worked really well?

Or pretty much anything relating to synthetic winch ropes or a Masterpull product, post it up!

If this should go in a different area please feel free to move this, mods.

-Alex

[Disco Mike]

I run a 4 or 5 year old set of your 3/8thX100' on my Warn 9500 HSI and wouldn't use anything else.
I refer many people to your site because of the great selection of different ropes and also because of your great hooks, I have many people look at my hook and ask where I bought it.
Keep up the good work.

[Rugbier]

I have bought your line before, and now I bought a Superwinch Ep9.0iS and I like their line a tad more just for the fact that comes with the rock guard on the line.

Other than that, I don't see myself on cable ever again

[Ba-Riedo]

Originally Posted by Rugbier

I have bought your line before, and now I bought a Superwinch Ep9.0iS and I like their line a tad more just for the fact that comes with the rock guard on the line.

When you say rock guard, do you mean the black sleeve that comes on the line? Usually those are about 10 ft long and meant to go on the first wrap of the line, it keeps the heat of the drum from melting the line.

-Alex

[Dantelaterra]

I would like to get rid of my cable and get a rope, rope seems so much easier to wind up. plus I've never heard a negative thing about a rope

[antichrist]

Originally Posted by Dantelaterra

I would like to get rid of my cable and get a rope, rope seems so much easier to wind up. plus I've never heard a negative thing about a rope

Here are some:
- Doesn't like heat.
- Doesn't like abrasion.
- Doesn't like being dragged through the dirt.
- Been known to break with no warning at all, even when brand new.

All that said, I don't use synthetic, but I have nothing really against it except for the last. Most people are never need to worry about it, but I would never use it in a situation where your life, or your rig's life, depended on it not breaking.

I've been using winches for over 35 years and have never had a single wire rope break.

[Rugbier]

Originally Posted by Ba-Riedo

When you say rock guard, do you mean the black sleeve that comes on the line? Usually those are about 10 ft long and meant to go on the first wrap of the line, it keeps the heat of the drum from melting the line.

-Alex

Nope, besides the black sleeve, comes with a blue sleeve about 6 ft long

[Dantelaterra]

Originally Posted by antichrist

Here are some:
- Doesn't like heat.
- Doesn't like abrasion.
- Doesn't like being dragged through the dirt.
- Been known to break with no warning at all, even when brand new.

All that said, I don't use synthetic, but I have nothing really against it except for the last. Most people are never need to worry about it, but I would never use it in a situation where your life, or your rig's life, depended on it not breaking.

I've been using winches for over 35 years and have never had a single wire rope break.

That's the first negative feedback I've heard, and it seems like enough to make me want to keep my cable

[Rugbier]

well you must have a winch that likes Synthetic with the brake outside the drum instead of inside and VOILA .. no heating issues

Abrassion, use the Rock Guard sleeves, you can even install multiples

Drag through mud? well easy rope to clean

Break, well they all have the chance

[Ba-Riedo]

Originally Posted by Rugbier

Nope, besides the black sleeve, comes with a blue sleeve about 6 ft long

Can you take a picture of this for me please, I think I know what sleeve you are talking about but I want to be sure.

-Alex

[Ba-Riedo]

Originally Posted by antichrist

Here are some:
- Doesn't like heat.
- Doesn't like abrasion.
- Doesn't like being dragged through the dirt.
- Been known to break with no warning at all, even when brand new.

All that said, I don't use synthetic, but I have nothing really against it except for the last. Most people are never need to worry about it, but I would never use it in a situation where your life, or your rig's life, depended on it not breaking.

I've been using winches for over 35 years and have never had a single wire rope break.

These are all valid points, and it depends on the line you get. I really have no fears of my line breaking (I use our Superline XD) because it is rated to 4x the weight of my vehicle. I also keep a close eye on it to check for any weak spots or problems with the line.

Originally Posted by Dantelaterra

That's the first negative feedback I've heard, and it seems like enough to make me want to keep my cable

If you can be careful with synthetic rope then you can use it and not worry about it, the problem that people have with it is they neglect it. If you are winching through mud or your rope gets very dirty you should unspool it after your trip and wash it out. I inspect my line after every trip to make sure I haven't damaged it. You also want to get the twigs and sand out of the fibers. Things like that can damage the rope from the inside while it is on the drum.

-Alex

[Rugbier]

Originally Posted by Ba-Riedo

Can you take a picture of this for me please, I think I know what sleeve you are talking about but I want to be sure.

-Alex

Alex, here it is



Please note, I also carry couple of your line guards and put them on top in case or rough terrain/sharp rocks

[NHWheelin]

I would also highly recomend sythetic to wire. Within a few uses of my wire line, it had begun to start loosing its shape and fraying. The wire didnt come with some cheap winch, I have an EPi 9. So I ordered a synthetic line and havent looked back. I keep the wire "just in case".

[antichrist]

Originally Posted by Ba-Riedo

These are all valid points, and it depends on the line you get.

No, it doesn't. At least I haven't seen any synthetic where these aren't all issues. Of course, you can take precautions to mitigate them, but that doesn't mean the issue doesn't exist. If you put chains on your tires because they aren't effective in snow, that doesn't mean your tires aren't still ineffective.
Brand new 3/8" synthetic breaking probably has little to do with maintenance or its weight rating.

I'm not trying to dissuade people from using synthetic (I have synthetic extension line), just trying to provide more information and considerations.

More of a training issue than anything else, but I see people using very unsafe winching practices with synthetic, I assume because they think it can't hurt you.

[Ba-Riedo]

Originally Posted by antichrist

No, it doesn't. At least I haven't seen any synthetic where these aren't all issues. Of course, you can take precautions to mitigate them, but that doesn't mean the issue doesn't exist.

Winch Rope Master-Pull Superline XD Winch Ropes

This is the line I use, you're right it doesn't solve all the issues with synthetics but it is a step above every other line. When I said it depends on the line I meant that some lines are better then others and you can be rougher on them. Since this line has a outer cover that is woven very tightly it doesn't mind being drug through dirt, and won't be as easily marred up. The heat issue is a tricky one, we have a new coating we are trying out that well solve that problem hopefully.

-Alex