What winch shackle are you running?

[antwon412]

Factor 55 ProLink on both the TJ & JT. Used in conjunction with soft shackles.

Picked them up used but in near perfect condition for $50/each from forums. Can’t beat that.

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[aqcjeepGlad]

Okay so I'll ask the question and take my lumps if it is a stupid one. Looking at all these different shackle/end links, the prices are all over the place as are the styles. The question: aside from the looks of a hanging hook, a flat shackle or a fancy machined round stopper or some other thing, can't I just hook a soft shackle to the eye in the winch line and use that for my connection to whatever I am hooking the winch to? I realize I'll need to protect the synthetic line from the sun and any abrasion from hanging around while driving on or off road.

I'm asking because I am looking to get the simplest little device just to hold the line taut while driving (that looks good) and possibly removing it from the link if/when winching.

Let the whipping (educating) begin!! Thanks

 

[Beemer533]

Okay so I'll ask the question and take my lumps if it is a stupid one. Looking at all these different shackle/end links, the prices are all over the place as are the styles. The question: aside from the looks of a hanging hook, a flat shackle or a fancy machined round stopper or some other thing, can't I just hook a soft shackle to the eye in the winch line and use that for my connection to whatever I am hooking the winch to? I realize I'll need to protect the synthetic line from the sun and any abrasion from hanging around while driving on or off road.

I'm asking because I am looking to get the simplest little device just to hold the line taut while driving (that looks good) and possibly removing it from the link if/when winching.

Let the whipping (educating) begin!! Thanks

You aren't crazy, that is exactly what I am going for. I don't want a big chunk of metal at the end of my line (or anywhere really)..

See my previous post: https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...nch-shackle-are-you-running.57782/post-971859

But you don't even need that, it's just a really nice way store and protect the end of the line. You could just put a hook or clip on the end for storage and then remove it for winching with a soft shackle.

 

[aqcjeepGlad]

You aren't crazy, that is exactly what I am going for. I don't want a big chunk of metal at the end of my line (or anywhere really)..

See my previous post: https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...nch-shackle-are-you-running.57782/post-971859

But you don't even need that, it's just a really nice way store and protect the end of the line. You could just put a hook or clip on the end for storage and then remove it for winching with a soft shackle.

Thanks, okay so I better understand what that fairlead does now. It allows you to put the end loop of the synthetic line around a place to tighten it up. So you just remove the metal eyelet on the synthetic line? This is pretty nice, but wow they are proud of that fairlead. This does give me some ideas though on how I could just add a long bolt to the current fairlead and use it as the stopper/holder for the line. Thanks again for the help!

 

[Beemer533]

Thanks, okay so I better understand what that fairlead does now. It allows you to put the end loop of the synthetic line around a place to tighten it up. So you just remove the metal eyelet on the synthetic line? This is pretty nice, but wow they are proud of that fairlead. This does give me some ideas though on how I could just add a long bolt to the current fairlead and use it as the stopper/holder for the line. Thanks again for the help!

Yeah, you got the idea. It isn't cheap, that's for sure, but I really like how it works (and looks lol).

You might be able to remove the thimble, but you'll probably end up damaging the synthetic.

It's pretty easy to just cut it off and make your own brummell splice.



You don't need a commercial fid either, a coat hanger, tig rod or something like a ball point pen and some tape works fine.

 

[fourfa]

Simpler, cheaper option than the fancy machined Yankum fairlead:

https://rustysoffroad.com/products/...ount?_pos=7&_sid=c359b75ea&_ss=r#.YuDHiC-B2gQ

 

[aqcjeepGlad]

Anyone know if the orange on the Agency6 BILLET WINCH SHACKLE - ORANGE matches the Mojave tow hooks? What about the weight of the Shackle?

Thanks

 

[bailer]

I finally did some work on my winch shackle… or shackle alternative I guess.

I removed the Warn factory hook and thimble from my ZeonS. I replaced it with a 10” length of 3/4” abrasion sleeve and spliced a closed loop. The abrasion sleeve prevented me from doing a proper fixed end locking brummel, but I did the double weave and bury the tapered tail method I see commonly used. I used a rubber sleeve wrap to keep the weave locked when slack.

I have a Maximus3 hook anchor. My system pretty much mimics the Yankum setup…. which I probably would have gone with if I had known about them earlier.

Regardless, I’m pretty happy with the look and like having the abrasion sleeve on the loop as well.

 

[Geoarch]

F55 Flatlink (grey)

 

[fourfa]

I removed the Warn factory hook and thimble from my ZeonS. I replaced it with a 10” length of 3/4” abrasion sleeve and spliced a closed loop. The abrasion sleeve prevented me from doing a proper fixed end locking brummel, but I did the double weave and bury the tapered tail method I see commonly used. I used a rubber sleeve wrap to keep the weave locked when slack.

This looks great. Can you link to the sleeve you used? 3/4" tubular webbing is way to small, 1" can just barely fit, 1.5" would be comfortable but it's pretty rare, 2" is oversize and loose. Abrasion sleeve must be measured differently than rock climbing style webbing?

Any links to the weave and bury method you used? I'd like to copy this basically

 

[Artsifrtsi]

I'll be going with the TRE Safety Thimble and its matching fairlead... the safety thimble is a better system, as it eliminates the pin that Factor 55 thimble uses to attach the thimble to the line. The fairlead stowes the thimble out of the way of rocks and other obstacles.

 

[Divided_Wood]

I have a Viking thimble. No issues over 6+ years of ownership and I like that you can use a shackle either way (pin side or shackle side) unlike a flatlink.

 

[bailer]

This looks great. Can you link to the sleeve you used? 3/4" tubular webbing is way to small, 1" can just barely fit, 1.5" would be comfortable but it's pretty rare, 2" is oversize and loose. Abrasion sleeve must be measured differently than rock climbing style webbing?

Any links to the weave and bury method you used? I'd like to copy this basically

The sleeve I used for the loop portion was sourced from Northern Strands, a local industrial hose and cable supplier. I measured it, and it is actually 1.25” flattened diameter. Pretty sure they called it 3/4”…
The larger sleeve in the first pics is the included 3’ Warn sleeve which measures ~1.75” flattened diameter.

I measured 10” for the loop, plus 24” for the tail, which included 8” of tapered tail. I wrapped the splice in rubber tape rather than heat shrink so I could redo it if necessary.


The link for the splice method is:

and also:


Note that the anchor plate I have is the Maximus3 which is very sturdy. The Warn hook anchor plate is very light duty and will bend when torqued down so don’t recommend it.

Some closer pics of what I did:

I left the red webbing separate so I could remove it or attach as shown.

 

[LostWoods]

I'll be going with the TRE Safety Thimble and its matching fairlead... the safety thimble is a better system, as it eliminates the pin that Factor 55 thimble uses to attach the thimble to the line. The fairlead stowes the thimble out of the way of rocks and other obstacles.

Did the same. They're pretty outstanding other than the fact they leave the line exposed to the sun. I still prefer the design because they are stupid easy to repair if needed and have the fewest points of failure.

 

[Viper501]

I went with agency 6 flat link. Similar to the factor 55 at a lower price but still made in USA and good looking.

How has this been working for you?

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