Cord

I've had some failures with synthetic and have switched back to steel. I actually had a synthetic line once part in a terrifying manner. I was winching up a hill that was too steep to drive up. We stopped to rehook and tied the vehicle off using a strap. The winch was then played out so the line was slack. Put the winch into free spool and grabbed the hook to pull the line out. At this time the line parted with little effort. I don't understand how the line could have held when we were winching only to break when pulled by hand, but it happened! Best I can tell, the drum was warm and the line got singed. By the time we released the free spool it had no strength left. The break wasn't cut, but looked like each fiber had unraveled. There was a very slight singe mark and that's what got me thinking about temperature. Called AmSteel and they didn't have any idea. When I inspected the remaining line, I could see other signs of the cable having been singed. The line was replaced having been used only a couple of times.

Dirttracker18

Besides the obvious cleanlyness of synthetic, safety was the big factor for me switching. I have seen synthetic break and there is no significant backlash. The rope does not go far and has no energy to injure, aside from perhaps rope burn.

I also like the stretch in the rope as it seems to have a little give.

Red13

I picked up a TC 12.5k winch for under 400.00. Thanks for all the insight guys.

Cord

That's too much winch for the price. You bought a piece of chinese junk. I've bought these before. The sweet price will wear off when it breaks on the sixth pull.

ak_cowboy

One other thing to consider is the weight of 100' of rope vs cable. It's a little lighter

Red13

Well all but one winch is made in the USA and I cant afford to put 1,200.00
for a Warn winch a this time. Even the ****tybuilts are made in China. Most Electronics and power tools are MADE in China and Indonesia these days.

It is a great "Uh crap" tool to have, none the less.
Here are a few of the report from the customers that LOVE them.
http://truckandwinch.com/tuff-stuff-...stomer-reviews

Watt-maker

This^^

I have seen an un-weighted steel line break and it wasn't pretty. Luckily no one was hurt except the winching vehicle. Between that and the lighter weight of the synthetic, I'll take the synthetic.

Having said that, I still have a Warn 9k mounted on a cradle with the original steel cable and it works great but use extreme caution around it. Someday I'll switch it over to synthetic especially if I decided to permanently mount it on my truck.

Iron bottom

I have seen nylon break. It knocked a dent about 3 ft around and 4" deep in some 1/2" steel plate. It was a 1 1/2" or 2" line and was being used as a spring line. The ship was being backed down on this line to swing the stern away from the dock. The line handler didn't have a clue and the line jammed on the bit. It had stretched and shrunk to about half its regular size and started smoking when the command to "RUN" was given and was obeyed by all.

There may be a lot of heat being generated in that synthetic line under tension and may explain the singed portions.

When you have fish hooks on wire rope it is time to change it right away. That stuff breaking can be fatal.

Red13

^^ I really dont think I will be using it that often.
I do drive a Ford not a Heavy Chevy. Thanks for
the heads up. I will keep it maintained and checked
once a month with my maintenance schedule.

papa tiger

My winch naturally goes thru hell so steel it is.