Stupid winch pretension error (DUH)

[Sloth]

I made a stupid mistake yesterday while pretensioning my winch rope. I had it all spooled out with the hook end properly rigged to a tree saver/shackle. I started to winch in while sitting in the Bronco riding the brake to maintain tension (thank you electric parking brake). I would get out every 10-15 seconds to check that the rope was spooling back onto the drum smoothly. I got out to check at the 2/3 point and saw that the spooled rope was damaged and fraying. It was then that I realized I was pushing the wrong button on my winch controller and I was spooling the rope backwards over the top of the drum (hitting out button instead of in). The angle and tension was causing the rope to chaff behind the hawse resulting in the pictured damage.

My questions… Who makes a good rope to replace the one that came on my Warn Evo 12s? Any issue using a 100’ rope or should I not go longer than the 90’ that came on it?

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[Strizzo]

You can cut off the damaged section and splice the rest back together, or just use what’s left. You don’t want to go longer really because the more line on the spool the lower the actual winch rating will be (winches are only max rated at one wrap on the drum). You’d probably be better off running a 50-75’ line on the winch and carrying a 50’ winch extension. Most winching situations won’t be very far from your rig and you’ll have the extension when you need more line.

Also keep in mind winch lines and extensions are labeled nominal length, meaning the length is before the splicing of loops and hooks, so 100’ winch line is really only about 94-96’ and a 50’ winch extension will be closer to 42’ after splicing loops.

 

[Mikerider]

Check out https://www.masterpull.com/synthetic-winch-lines/ for a replacement, I have been running their superline XD for years on my 3 rigs and they are vastly more durable than other ropes I have used.

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