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Winch using steel cable vs synthetic. What is the best?

8005 Views 14 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  Treacherous
Hi guys,

I never have one or use one before.

I plan to use a winch occasionally to do work on the land but most likely it would be use for winching my ATV when it stuck or when my partner is stuck. One of my friend want to create new trails or go where no one ever gone before. He already has a Polaris HD 3500 nylon on his Polaris 500 HO.

I would prefer spending less money if I can. Does it worth to by a steel cable?

The Polaris dealer told me the steel cable is durable. I’m not sure. Some say after using a few times a steel cable it splices easily. It is more dangerous when this one snap. I could damage your vehicle or yourself.

Nylon required more maintenance, is it has durable as Steel? I’m not a strong believer in synthetic. As example, If one day I have to pull a tree and I’m scraping the cable on a sharpie rock. Would this cable will survive? Mae be I’m wrong to think this way.

Should I go for Polaris HD 2500 or Polaris HD 3500? Nylon /steel ?

If you can tell me your experience or opinion that will help me to me more selective.
Best regards
JS
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
Go for the rope. Under pressure, if the rope snaps, it drops to the ground. If the cable snaps, it could/will come back on you.
absolutely get the rope.. So much easier to work with.. Steel will tear your hands apart when handling without gloves, and as stated above.. If it lets go under tension, it can be extreemly dangerous..
absolutely get the rope.. So much easier to work with.. Steel will tear your hands apart when handling without gloves, and as stated above.. If it lets go under tension, it can be extreemly dangerous..
Totally agree!
^^ X4 Rope, like said, the steel has stored energy built up when under pressure, so when it snaps that energy is released in the form of steel whip coming at you, your friend, or your ATVs! A rope does not have that stored energy and will just drop to the ground. The rope will not kink or slice your hand either, just make sure to put a rubber boot or something between the hook and fairleads as if those get knicked up it may start to fray your rope prematurely.
I've had both and personally would never, ever go back to cable. But there are apparently some out there that wheel in extremely sharp rocky areas and who prefer steel in those locations. So I guess there are places for both.
I do put the cable back on for plowing as the rope will freeze and break, (also change out fairleads as to not wreck them for when I put the rope back on)

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1) Rope makes steel obsolete.

2) for plowing I use a short (10' or so) rope. That eliminates over-wrap and it also decreases the torque required of your winch. Less strain on the winch.
switched mine to rope from new much better
I have had both and prefer steel. Just replace as necessary and it will serve you well. I can replace the cable for $20 at Lowes each year and have never had one break. The rope is safer as long as it doesn't shear on a rock as you are winching yourself out of trouble. My synthetic looked like crap after a year (stock Warn synthetic) in the rough and Rocky Mountain terrain I ride. The steel had many times the abrasion resistance synthetic rope. I thought it would be great too but went back to steel.
After having rope this time I will never ever go back to steel even if I have to replace it every two years.

You plow guys, are you just adding thick rope to the end of your rope or taking yours off completely? I kinda need my winch all winter with ice fishing and all.
I am still using the cable, will replace with the rope come spring.

You can plow with the rope, maybe keep a ripe for plowing, swap it out cone spring, and keep it as a yow rope.
Thanks guys for all your great comments. I will go for a rope.
JS
I've had both and personally would never, ever go back to cable. But there are apparently some out there that wheel in extremely sharp rocky areas and who prefer steel in those locations. So I guess there are places for both.
I'm in the rocks so it's cable for me.
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