Thread: winches - plasma rope or wire cable?

Sorry to revive this old thread but I am considering changing the steel rope on my winch for Dyneema Synthetic Rope.

My winch (an Aldi version of the IronMan 9500lb) doesn't actually get used very often at all but it still needs to be maintained and the regular process of unspooling the cable, cleaning it, oiling it, then respooling it is, as has been mentioned. a PITA mainly due to the weight and awkwardness of the steel cable.

Based on comments previously made regarding synthetic rope needing more turns around the drum and and the drum being able to take on more length of synthetic rope compared to steel rope would it be worth going for 35m long rope to replace the existing 30m steel?

Originally Posted by sam_d

Sorry to revive this old thread but I am considering changing the steel rope on my winch for Dyneema Synthetic Rope.

My winch (an Aldi version of the IronMan 9500lb) doesn't actually get used very often at all but it still needs to be maintained and the regular process of unspooling the cable, cleaning it, oiling it, then respooling it is, as has been mentioned. a PITA mainly due to the weight and awkwardness of the steel cable.

Based on comments previously made regarding synthetic rope needing more turns around the drum and and the drum being able to take on more length of synthetic rope compared to steel rope would it be worth going for 35m long rope to replace the existing 30m steel?

If you want synthetic rope to last then there is heaps more maintenance compared to a wire rope. Just driving through a mud hole that submerges your rope will mean a complete removal and careful washing and drying, too much bull**** for my liking, Regards Frank.

Not sure about more maintenance? If the synthetic rope gets wet, what happens? I can't see it rotting or rusting. Two issues with synthetic, they will degrade with exposure to ultraviolet radiation (I'd get a velcroded sleeve I could wrap around the drum to keep the sun off the rope). Second thing is that the rope is not as tuff so if you are going to drag a vehicle and the rope has to touch rocks when under tension then it is likely to fray, you would need something to place between the rocks and rope to stop the scuffing.

and when the synthetic gets full of mud and sits there loosely wound rubbing against itself it chafes itself apart.

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

and when the synthetic gets full of mud and sits there loosely wound rubbing against itself it chafes itself apart.

Have you ever actually had synthetic rope own your own personal winch?

yep, had a winch that came with it on.

Turfed it because of the crappy condition it was in and it was supposedly only 2 years old. the damage was a combination of knots from where it had been broken, chafing and UV exposure had made it flakey. IT also wasnt helped by the fact that it was on a thomas winch that had the grooves on the drum to get the first layer of SWR to sit correctly.

The plasmas Good stuff and has is better in some applications than SWR, And SWR is better than plasma in others. IMHO the plasma is just not as durable as the SWR (and a lot more expensive given my sources of SWR)

The rough method I use for selecting which of the 2 should be applied is to work out which part is moving.

If Im pulling the vehile towards an object then generally the Plasma wins it hands down, its lighter, easier to work with and spool than the SWR. If Im pulling the object to the vehicle or reeving I prefer the SWR as your then potentially dragging the rope through the terrain

As im also a big fan of the Tirfor the plasma has one more disadvantage. It wont work in a tirfor, most wire winch cables will.

(its also on Laras winch which is my dads ride, and its great for him being easy to handle and friendly on old semi arthritic fingers and wrists)

Originally Posted by Yorkshire_Jon

Get on the fence why don't you

I sort of agree with you in an ideal world, but we don't lie there!

Not many people carry both, or could be arsed to change rope-wire or vice versa every time they get stuck!

J

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Sorry I missed this post earlier...

I'd just about put a 5er on if you went to an outing and needed a winch you would have a choice of 3-4 vehicles with winches of those some would run Steel others would run plasma. you can now pick which is the most suitable winch for the job you have at hand.


End of the day it doesnt bother me too much as my main winch is a capstan (just got to finish fitting the bugger) so bring on your steel, plasma, hemp, synthetic and jute fiber ropes. If its min turning diameter is inside the narrow diameter of the capstan and I can get the required number of turns on to make it grip its Winch on baby.

Its a shame the Landy Capstan is only rated at 3000 pounds.