switching to synthetic rope

[AKbigsub]

I am going to be getting rid of the stupidly heavy 9/16 wire rope on my 16.5TI and wind some synthetic rope on there. The question I have is about drum capacity. If I go with 3/8 synthetic (20,400 lb. breaking strength), how much can I fit on the drum? It currently has 90 feet of the 9/16 wire rope. I have done some searching and have not been able to find this information.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Most winches can fit more rope/wire than they come with.

Here is my experience on my 8274:

I had 125' of 5/16" cable on it. I switched to 100' of 3/8" rope and it seemed to take up about the same amount of space on the drum.

The problem with trying to run a lot of cable/rope on the drum is that during a long pull the cable/rope can bunch up on one side and touch things they're not supposed to and/or bind.

I think you would be good with 100'.

 

[redneckdude]

The problem with trying to run a lot of cable/rope on the drum is that during a long pull the cable/rope can bunch up on one side and touch things they're not supposed to and/or bind.

and the fact that the closer it is to the drum itself during respool, the more mecanical advantage/leverage the winch actually has.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

^^ that too!

 

[AKbigsub]

I fully understand mechanical advantage and the ramifications of trying to pull when there are multiple raps on the drum. The problem I have is that there are many places up here where the suitable winch anchors are much further than my 90' of cable will reach. Some here have up to 150' on winches such as the Warn 8274 and can reach most anywhere they need to. If I could get 125' to 150' on my drum I would be very happy.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

There probably aren't very many people on this site running 16.5Ti winches (a few at most?). I really have no experience with a winch of that capacity, nobody runs them in the rocks.

If it took 90' of 9/16", I bet you could fit 125' of 3/8 but it will probably take up more room on the spool than the stock cable (which is ok if you make sure it doesn't bunch up on one side).

You can always use a strap to make up that extra 25'

 

[dremu]

Or you could make an extension from your old wire cable, put a hook on each end ... prolly cut it in half or something, but have it handy. Keep 90 or 100' of rope on the winch, and if you need more, grab the rolled up wire from your toolbox and you're golden.

-- A

 

[4X4HIGH]

Or you could make an extension from your old wire cable, put a hook on each end ... prolly cut it in half or something, but have it handy. Keep 90 or 100' of rope on the winch, and if you need more, grab the rolled up wire from your toolbox and you're golden.

-- A

This probably defeats the purpose of going to synthetic rope. Using a strap would be the best alternative though like 38377k5 said.

 

[dremu]

This probably defeats the purpose of going to synthetic rope. Using a strap would be the best alternative though like 38377k5 said.

Eh? You still get the benefits of synthetic on the winch, i.e. won't snag, won't kink, etc... you still have the risk of breakage on the extension line, plus the weight, but I don't think weight is an issue with a Burb

-- A

 

[4X4HIGH]

AFAIK most people are using synthetic rope for the safety factor of no stored energy if the rope breaks, having a steel cable as an extension WILL store energy and do some serious damage if either the rope or the cable were to break.

 

[dremu]

AFAIK most people are using synthetic rope for the safety factor of no stored energy if the rope breaks, having a steel cable as an extension WILL store energy and do some serious damage if either the rope or the cable were to break.

Fair nuff. I just figgered since the wire rope is there, it's a cheap solution, ya know? Straps can break too though ... persumably they're preferred since they're harder to break?

-- A

 

[Hossbaby50]

I would order 125-150' of 7/16" Synth. I personally wouldn't run only 3/8" on a 16.5K winch. It may be rated for the load new but down the road when it starts to get a little used it won't be as strong and your winch will have a higher potential to snap the rope.

If you order 150' of 7/16" you just spool on as much rope as you think you should have on the drum and cut the rest off and make an extension rope out of it. Then if for some reason you need more then 150' you add a strap to the end.

Rope doesn't wrap as tight as steel but even it the 7/16" rope wraps like 1/2" steel you should still fit more then the 90' of it on your drum so you will be ahead of your current length.

I personally have a Warn 12K with 125' of steel. I am going to order 110' of 3/8" rope when I do mine since I know 125' isn't going to fit. I wheel in tight spots though and have never even come close to using more then about 60' of cable when winching so loosing 15' of cable won't hurt me.

Harley