AW Direct Product Support Specialist compares synthetic winch rope to other winch lines, including fiber core, independent wire rope core and swaged winch line.
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Video Transcription
Hi I'm Eric and this is Paul, one of the product support team members with AW Direct and today we want to talk about synthetic rope for towing. It's a newer type of winch line and we're seeing it on more and more trucks and that means we've been getting a lot of calls about it. So Paul, should tow operators put synthetic rope on their truck?
Well the short answer Eric, is it depends. Tow operators have four options they can use for winch line. Fiber Core, Independent Wire Rope Core, Swaged winch line and then synthetic rope. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages which are important to understand when determining which winch line will be the best for you.
Let's start with fiber core winch line. This is a steel cable with a small core fiber inside of it. This gives you more flexible steel cable for easier handling but at a reduced working load limit. For a 3/8 inch diameter cable it will have a working load limit of three thousand seven hundred and eighty pounds.
The next one is independent wire rope core. Also known as steel core. This has been a traditional winch line that has been used for years. This is a solid steel cable making it stronger and more resistant to crushing. The independent wire rope core at 3/8 diameter has a working load limit of 4,800 pounds. This line provides increased working limit compared to the fiber core but it's also a little stiffer. Overall a very good balance between strength and flexibility.
The next step up is swaged winch line. This too is a relatively new type of winch line. Swaged winch line is a larger diameter cable that has been swaged or compressed down to a smaller diameter. Swaged is more resistant to abrasion pigtailing, kinking and crushing and will be stronger than other winch lines of the same diameter. For this type of winch line a 3/8 inch diameter cable will give you a working load limit of 5,700 pounds. So you get an increase in working load limit but is less flexible than standard IWRC cable. It is also smoother to the touch than fiber core or standard IWRC.
Then we get to synthetic. Synthetic is totally different winch line and has many advantages. It weighs significantly less than steel winch lines, it's very flexible making it easier to handle and use, it's smooth to the touch reducing the chance of cuts to the hand. Synthetic is extremely flexible and has no memory so it does not get flat spots or kinks like steel cables. Bird nesting is not an issue with synthetics since it causes no harm to the rope. It floats on water and does not require lubrication so it reduces grease to gloves and maybe most important it doesn't keep as much tension in the line as compared to steel cable reducing whiplash should a brake happen. The working load limit for a 3/8 inch diameter synthetic rope is 4,100 pounds.
The one thing to keep in mind is that synthetic is a premium cable. I would recommend it for a tow operator that's more conscientious of how they're treating their winch line. The reason I say this is that with all the advantages it is a synthetic line just like synthetic straps. So while abrasion-resistant, avoid tensioning the line over an edge. If you do have an edge there reroute the line or use a wear pad like any other synthetic strap.
Paul, thanks for sharing your insights on synthetic rope with us. Make sure you give product support a call for any questions about synthetic rope or any other towing product sold by AW Direct. For Paul, I'm Eric and you stay safe out there.
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