Armchair Laners

3 hidden dangers in switching your winch to synthetic rope


so you’ve got a great winch still in its prime but you want to switch to synthetic rope

Superwinch’s Senior Design Engineer Scott Peterson has 3 dangers you should consider before spooling up that new line

not heeding his advice could lead to dangerous winching , rope failure , or even leaving your truck stuck and walking back home


Danger 1 – Brake in the Drum


two facts work against a lot of winches in switching from steel cable to synthetic rope


Fact 1 Most winches have the brake for the winch inside the winch drum

just like the brakes on your truck

this brake can create heat when it operates

the result — heat gets to your new rope


Fact 2 Dyneema (the most popular synthetic rope out there) has a critical temperature of 150 degrees F where degradation of the fibres (strength loss) begins

combine the two and you could be damaging your rope just powering in or out the length of your line

Superwinch’s synthetic-equipped vehicle winches have the brake located on the end of the gearbox to protect the rope


Danger 2 – Used Parts


if you plan on re-using your fairlead , hawse or pulley blocks , you must inspect them closely

if steel cable has run through them , chances are pretty good that there’s a cut , scrape , burr , or other sharp area that needs attention

if you’re using a roller fairlead , do all of the rollers still roll  ?

also check your winch installation are there any areas where the rope could scrape across the edge of your mount plate or the opening around your fairlead ?

synthetic rope is susceptible to cuts so it’s imperative to check anything that will come in contact with the rope

it’s not uncommon to have to lightly grind down or sand smooth your drum or fairlead or consider purchasing new parts

checking out and maintaining your gear regularly is the key


Danger 3 – What Rope , and how do I install it ?


anyone and everyone wants to sell you rope

is it real Dyneema ?

the only way Superwinch buys rope is by purchasing it from a trusted source (Viking and genuine Samson Rope in this case) with certifications

rope that’s not certified is a risk Superwinch is not willing to take

does the rope come with an abrasion sleeve ?

Superwinch includes a 10’ moveable abrasion sleeve if your rope needs to go over a rock ledge or around a rock in your recovery

does it have a thimble ?

you’ll find a thimble on every synthetic rope Superwinch sells

this ensures a safer , stronger coupling to your hook

lastly, be sure to check that the rope you’re buying is compatible with the rope attachment method of your winch

some winches use a lug on the end of the rope attaching to the drum or drum flange

Superwinch uses a hole through the drum

where the rope is fed through and a ‘tail’ is placed down the drum and the rope wound on

this ensures a strong , reliable connection

buying synthetic rope on price is a risky proposition in Superwinch’s point of view

if you can’t trust your rope , there’s more risk with every pull