Winch Cable Experts Needed

I've always used 7x19 galvanized. Strength is going to be completely a non-issue with 3/8's and very little difference anyway. I have been tempted to try some of the 19x7 rotation resistant cable but you do loose some strength and it may be more subject to abrasion.

If one is careful rewinding and keep it more or less off the rocks, steel can last decades.

 

3/8's is overkill on a CJ, no doubt about that. 5/16's is lighter and easier to handle, along with sufficiently strong. The only place you may run into problems with 5/16's is if you are trying to pull someone's well stuck one ton out but that's what snatch blocks are for-not to mention tearing the rear cross member off because you have the Jeep chained to a boulder or tree.

 

It will bend ok. I would be more concerned about it not wanting to un-bend and having a slinky for a winch cable after a few years.

 

You will never break a 3/8" cable with a PTO winch. I've tried. Broke a lot of other stuff, but never the cable.

I suppose the advantage over 5/16" would be the ability to take more damage and still deliver.

 

just shopping around . have 5/16 on warn 8274 . a few kinks (happens when you have no control over wire being rewound under load) but no breaks
5/16 cable
http://www.amazon.com/WINCH-CABLE-G...=1432930002&sr=8-3&keywords=5/16++winch+cable
3/8 cable
http://www.amazon.com/WINCH-CABLE-G...=1432930002&sr=8-3&keywords=5/16++winch+cable

 

3/8" seems overkill to me, even if it is a pto. I ran 5/16" on my Koenig pto, never had an issue. Much easier to handle and lighter than 3/8". Besides, you are using an 8k lb winch on a vehicle that weighs less than 3k lbs. Worst case you need a snatchblock.

 

I winch cable from a crane. It is very flexible.

 

Any reason not to consider the nylon or whatever type of rope instead of the cable?

Only winching I have ever done was with a chain fall ( I think that is the right term) between two vehicles that weighed the same and putting my CJ5 behind one of them as a kinda of anchor. There are places down here that have no trees or big rocks and you can really get stuck when it rains because some places are solid and others (usually on well traveled roads when dry and sun-baked) turn in to soupy messes when it rains.

 

5/16 amsteel here ,,,,,,on my mx 8000 and I have made some very hard pulls ,,,,I'd never use steel line again

 

The synthetic winch cable is made of a special gel-spun poly fiber called Dynema - not sure I spelled it right - same stuff that is used on high test, small diameter, 'braid' fishing line. It is flexible and strong and lasts if you keep it clean. I have a 75' 'Amsteel' cable waiting to roll on a Warn 8274 - if I can find a deal on one for my 2A.

I use steel cable on the Warn M15000 on the front of my F350 - been going for about 5 years and holds up well. I have used it around salt water when beach launching my boat in Baja. No rust evident.

 

Yep, And keeping in mind that most winches are rated at dead weight.......like vertical......not weight that is rolling or even sliding across the ground. You know when you have a tough pull when what you are pulling out is dragging you in.......had to chain my rear bumper to a tree or rock before.

 

5/16ths is strong enough. I was pulling out some Junipers at my parents house, just pulled my Jeep across the pavement, chained my fathers 3/4 ton Suburban to the Jeep and dragged both of them with the Koenig. Time to do some more digging and chopping.
Make sure you hook things correctly, as in don't use a snatch block and hook back up to the front of your Jeep. I have pictures of what happens if you do that. Using 3/8 line now on the Koenig. My brother has something like 100 yds of 5/16 on his wide Ramsey.
A real PITA to rewind properly, I'm sort of obsessed about that sort of thing. The Commando has an old Warn 6000 with 3/8 wire on it, overkill, but I've never stalled it so I don't know what it will really pull.