Winch Cable

[Conky]

I have a 9500 warn winch and need a new cable. Where is the best place to purchase a new cable. I went to Lordco in Mission and I could buy a warn cable( expensive tho ) or I could buy a cable and then put the ends on myself ( not going to happen, might fall apart on first use).

[Mad fab]

Bison Wire rope in coquitlem

[DMMcG]

I have a 9500 warn winch and need a new cable. Where is the best place to purchase a new cable. I went to Lordco in Mission and I could buy a warn cable( expensive tho ) or I could buy a cable and then put the ends on myself ( not going to happen, might fall apart on first use).

Given what you do for a living, you should really consider going with synthetic rope and 'doing it yourself'.

Quite a few people have gone to the Samson Amsteel Blue synthetic winch rope from wire - MUCH safer than wire rope. See the write-up by Steve Dillen here: http://bc4x4.com/tech/2005/winch%20rope/

Steve mentions a $2.00 per foot cost 'retail' in the article, but you can get it for cheaper than that if you buy bulk and split the cost. I think my cost was closer to $1.25/ft, but that's just an old brain struggling to reconstruct something that happened too long ago to be clear.

...something to consider.

[lars]

Steve mentions a $2.00 per foot cost 'retail' in the article, but you can get it for cheaper than that if you buy bulk and split the cost. I think my cost was closer to $1.25/ft, but that's just an old brain struggling to reconstruct something that happened too long ago to be clear.
...something to consider.
I'm thinking about it, too. Do you know if tangles ever happen with synthetic rope? I had major cable tangle issues the last time I went 'wheeling on the island. Given the frequent winch use over there, rope is looking more and more appealing.

...lars

[DMMcG]

I'm thinking about it, too. Do you know if tangles ever happen with synthetic rope? I had major cable tangle issues the last time I went 'wheeling on the island. Given the frequent winch use over there, rope is looking more and more appealing.

...lars

If you've got a bigger drum winch, then go with 3/8" rope. I think it'd be even easier to work with than a smaller diameter.

The 5/16" that I have hasn't gotten 'tangled' per se, but it does have a tendency to slip down into the wrap still on the drum. You can alleviate this by spooling out a little excess and doing a figure eight wrap back in for a couple of turns, before actually pulling on anything. Also, my front bumper (Serious Metal Fab) has a smooth, round hoop that is ideal for reverse-winching the rope out from itself.

The synthetic rope is soft and has no real 'memory' to speak of. It falls limp where you put it (and floats). You can toss this stuff forever. If you get one of the high-tensile aluminum ends (I've still got my Warn 15,000 lbs winch hook that Chris so kindly threw into the mix when I bought my winch at NSOR), then you've got a very light, but incredibly strong recovery tool.

I can't see that you'd have tangling issues unless you allow the rope to get tangled.....it's very easy to work with as far as rope goes. I would imagine that if you got a big length of it into a pool of water and then had people walking over it and stirring it around, that you could get a tangle.....but that's something pretty easy to avoid. It's so light and simple to work with, that there's no excuse for it getting tangled.

Steve has worked with it much more than I (he does do 4x4ing with a 2-wheel drive, after all :D); maybe he'll offer a comment or two.

This stuff is so safe and versatile, that everybody should have a length of it in their vehicle, whether they've got a winch, or not. It has no real stretch and can be used with a highlift or come-along to good effect.