Thread: Synthetic Winch Ropes

Hi Adam,

I would confirm with the supplier or manufacturer, but I dont think synthetics are very good with heat. For example some people dont like running synthetic on rear winches used for lowering cars because of heat build up from the internal brake. (I dont know if it would actually be an issue though or is just an old wives tale)

I would think wire is a lot more rugged and less likely to casue issues in your situation.

Rgds
Pete

Definately not suitable.

It will melt at a relatively low temperature. That is why reverse winching on a low mount (standard) winch can not safely be performed. When reverse winching the brake comes in to play generating heat and will melt the synthetic, obviously on a fire type vehcile that makes it unsuitable.

They way around it is to use a high mount winch but that won't solve the fire/heat situation.

With a low mount, you not need to reverse winch to damage synthetic winch rope - just powering out with no rope tension, instead of using free spool and pulling rope off by hand, will damage the rope.

The brake inside low mount winches is automatically applied when the drum is powered in reverse and most definitely creates enough heat to cause damage. The first sign (to casual inspection) is brown discolouration of the rope.

Having said that, not all low mounts have the brake inside the drum, but many/most do.