Synthetic winch rope

Alright guys, you warn winch m8000 owners. Since its cheaper to buy the winch with the steel cable then buy aftermarket synthetic line to replace it with thats my plan. Plus you have all that extra cable leftover now too, to use for whatever ya like.

So the question, hoping some of you guys have done this.
That winch comes with 5/16's line @100ft. If i were to buy synthetic line @3/8" would i still be able to fit a full 100feet on the spool ya think? Its only a 16th of an inch in diameter difference but dont wanna screw myself, have too much line and overcrowd the drum. Prolly just stick with 5/16 synthetic line anyway but i like the idea of that next size bigger due to the load increase it offers. Its more than the winch could pull anyways but still curious.

 

@SoutheastOverland

He should be able to answer any questions you have.

 

Where ya at @SoutheastOverland ?

Or anyone else that might have some insight?

 

Just from doing the Math it is not going to fit.

The 3/8" what I did after my idiot neighbor used my winch and kinked the metal cable in numerous places.

I had the 3/8" synthetic line for my 12,000 pound winch just never installed it.

I am not sure what I ended up with but I spooled the cable on till I thought the spool was full enough to not cause a problem.

Measured what I had not on the drum (been a few years ago) unspooled all the synthetic line cut the extra off the back end installed the line.

Just a thought !!

 

Currently, I have the 5/16" line @ 100' and the spool is full. I don't think it'll take much more of the same size if it were available.

I can only guess but I'd say no.

Good luck.

 

Thanks fur the info guys! Guess ill stick with the 5/16's synthetic.

 

Generally speaking, for each line size you go up you lose 15% capacity. So if you wanted to step up from 5/16" to 3/8" you would lose 15% of 100ft, that comes out to 85ft of 38" winchline that you can fit on that drum.

Thanks
Jeff

 

Hey thanks Jeff!! Good to know. Ill definitely stick with the smaller size. It has plenty of load capacity anyhow.

 

Keep the original line as an extender and you'll have plenty of reach. Just keep a pair of gloves handy when you use it. I poked a couple holes in myself the other day because I was too lazy to get my gloves out. The synthetics are a pleasure to work with though.

 

Definitely keeping the steel line fur sure! Im sure it'll come in handy at some point.

 

I fit 100' of 3/8

 

Well heck, it looks like it fits on there pretty good hu!? No issues thus far?

And that winch had 100 ft of 5/16 to begin with? M8000 correct?

 

My winch actually only had like 60-70 feet of 5/16 steel. Yeah and that's without tension too. When I spooled under tension it fit even better

 

Why did it only have 60 or 70 feet on there?

 

My winch only came with 65' spooled. Barely fit too lol... It was actually 3/8"

 

So it is a warn m8000? Cause as far as i know they only come with 5/16" cable. And most of their winches in that line up style with 3/8" cable usually spool up 94 feet of line.

 

Badlands 9k...buy 100' a cut of needed

 

Go with 3/8". I use 75' on an 8K Ramsey, 100' would "fit" but I find 75' more practicle on every level and it behaves better on the spool not to mention it's cheaper. When the 3/8 gets a little worn and frayed it will still be as strong as 5/16 is new.
I had an additional thimble swaged to the original 100' steel line to serve as an extension in addition to two 30' web straps.

My "alloy" of choice is Technora, same stuff is used for parachute shrouds on the Mars landers.

 

I havent found any 3/8 to be cheaper than the smaller 5/16 in the same brand of line.

Also curious to know why you think a shorter line is more practical than longer?

Another question, ive never used synthetic before. Does it get kinda frayed and damaged fairly easily?

 

Obviously don't abuse it by winching around rocks and trees but we use synthetic on the boat and it holds up fairly well getting dragged across non-skid (basically REALLY coarse sandpaper). I just bought the smittybilt line from 4WP and it came with chafing gear but you can add some pretty easily.