How Much Cable?

Just guessing here but I think most PTO owners prefer using 3/8 steel cable.
That cause PTO winches will usually pull till something breaks.

I think most electric guys prefer 5/16 because its slight less battery drain during spooling and provides more length for self extraction.

Synthetic rope is better concerning recoil but does not stand up near so well to dirt and abrasion.
I guess it can be washed.

I think a person could get by with a quality nylon kernmantle rope (climbing rope),
That's roughly 8000 pound straight pull for 10 mm rope
If nylon rope breaks there is minimal recoil danger.

 

Whoa up there!!!
Static kermantle is on thing, Dynamic is another.

Most climbing ropes are dynamic and stretch considerably, to absorb energy in a fall. They would recoil very badly.

 

Right lots of stretch with nylon ropes.
But I'm guessing they would have little impact in case they snapped.
I'm just saying they could be relatively cheap, very easy to handle and I think ??? would be very safe to handle.
O.K. I confess I never tried using Nylon rope.
Has anyone tried it ?
I do know its easily washable.

 

The nylon rope itself would have little momentum, but any hardware (such as a hook) attached to it would become a lethal projectile from a giant slingshot. A trailer ball can become a cannonball aimed at your windshield.

…"has anyone tried it?"
Oh yes.

 

I live in a heavily forested area.
I suppose I was thinking more like tying a ring knot or bowline around some tree when winching.
No hooks or chains involved.
But yeah that video is really scary and might save someones life.

 

Timber hitch works good too.

I have a 50' power company rope, about 1-1/4" nylon kernmantle. Even that stretches enough that I'm scared when I use it, in case it fires the whole rear half of the truck frame at me.