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Upgrading Winch Line

PyrPatriot

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I bought a Smittybilt X20 with steel cable. The synthetic was $160 more. I am considering upgrading to a synthetic line if I can at that price point. Any suggestions?

All the ones on Amazon are sketchy. I have yet to come across a review where someone didn't get a shorter line or the eyelet attachment to the drum wasn't bad. Sure most have positive reviews. I won't risk it though.

I need 3/8" synthetic line that is 98f (SB says theirs is 98.5). I could probably get away with 100ft and just hang the extra 1.5" across the bumper hooks.

This one has a quasi-review, but the reviewer got it for free.

The Smittybilt XRC line is 3/8" and 94ft, it should fit? On sale for under $200 and available locally. SB fairlead is like $30, though I'll probably go Factor55

I will probably upgrade after having to use it once or twice. The local recovery guy for the trails says steel cable is dangerous because it gets burs, frays, etc. So I won't be using steel long, just got it to get in the game.
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Blade1668

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Check out H.F. winch line a hook and AL fairlead is in that range. I bought a hook from there. I local found a place selling winch line by the lbs and got a bunch of it. On my next days off I'm changing out my winch, I will be moving the hook to new winch. The H.F. line is larger dia. But safety in over size line. Otherwise Q-tec has some good ones too with a known company to back up product, and other 4×4 know company's. The line I replaced on my Ramsey was from Q-tec (over due on replacement) now if you don't use the winch much it might not be cost effective to change, no sun damage to cable. That's the OEM Ramsey winch cable 20 plus years old. Been in weather for over 15 years. I changed it out due to high and heavy use.

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PyrPatriot

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Thanks. Lots of options from HF and Quadratec for the price range but not for near 100 feet. 80ft from HF, just cant get over the lack of line length. Still, might be worth it.
 

Blade1668

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Thanks. Lots of options from HF and Quadratec for the price range but not for near 100 feet. 80ft from HF, just cant get over the lack of line length. Still, might be worth it.
Well being only 80 ft will be made up on larger dia than 3/8 and will fill drum. You get "more pull out of winch the lower wraps on drum" as a loss of about 20% per wrap making it "higher geared" so getting down to second or first layer reduces winch load. Then a winch line extension or 2 can make the difference. ;) :like:
A factor on rigging "Army" planning purposes line though snatch blocks is a loss of 10% pulling power per block. Safety is part of it, friction is the other. I've ran a double snatch block rigging once with my XJ and Ramsey winch. Longer winch line needed then. On pulls I have came up short on cable a few times but about the only winch that doesn't is Warn 8274 w 150 ft cable.
 
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PyrPatriot

PyrPatriot

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Well being only 80 ft will be made up on larger dia than 3/8 and will fill drum. You get "more pull out of winch the lower wraps on drum" as a loss of about 20% per wrap making it "higher geared" so getting down to second or first layer reduces winch load. Then a winch line extension or 2 can make the difference. ;) :like:
A factor on rigging "Army" planning purposes line though snatch blocks is a loss of 10% pulling power per block. Safety is part of it, friction is the other. I've ran a double snatch block rigging once with my XJ and Ramsey winch. Longer winch line needed then. On pulls I have came up short on cable a few times but about the only winch that doesn't is Warn 8274 w 150 ft cable.
I didnt think of it that way. Less line means more pull, add extensions. Cool!
HF is still 3/8” diameter though :/
 

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Blade1668

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I thought it was a larger dia than that. :like: heck I probably have 10 plus synthetic winch lines scattered around my vehicle's and a few well used old lines. Time to get moving for work tonight.
 
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PyrPatriot

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Another problem with the lines that are 85ft, they are actually only 70ft! Smittybilt says that you should never (yes they used the word never) go below 5 wraps on the drum, and mark their lines in read to show that. So while the X20 has 98ft of line, they state at maximum pull on the last layer you have only 85ft of line out.
 

Blade1668

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Most only need to leave 5-8 wraps of line not quite 5 or more feet.
 
 



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