Have you ever SEEN a winch cable break?
- Thread starter cruiseroutfit
- Start date
- Location
- Sandy, Ut
bobdog said:
Bob hit that on the head...
Most "tree-savers" and "winch extensions" I have dealt with have very little elasticity built into them, as opposed to "snatch straps" that are deliberately designed that way. A great point to look out for when selecting a recovery gear.
On a total side note, I have never seen a quality (undamaged, heavy duty) strap break either, winch use or not.
I've broke a TON of cables on 1500~2000lb winches... not sure if that really counts, so I didn't vote.
I use them to lift a 400lb pickup head on my sweeper they take a LOT of abuse and fray very badly before they break, it's only a distance of a couple feet, but they don't generally rebound at all. Of course on those winches they use aluminum wire rope.... why did I post in this thread again?
I use them to lift a 400lb pickup head on my sweeper they take a LOT of abuse and fray very badly before they break, it's only a distance of a couple feet, but they don't generally rebound at all. Of course on those winches they use aluminum wire rope.... why did I post in this thread again?
ZUKEYPR
Registered User
- Location
- 651.78 miles East of the Rubicon
I was the first responder on damage of a wire rope on a 5 ton. An M88 (basically a tank with a boon instead of a gun, was winching out an M1, the wire snapped, it went through the 5 ton (literally) for about 5 inches. Picture a stick of butter as the 5 ton, and a red hot knife as the cable. Got the visual? Now, my report was that the damage didn't occur over the cable itslef but the action of the boom snapping back after it was stretched significantly, putting it underload.
On a side note though, I still use wire and firmly believe if used properly and not overloaded, it does absolutely fine. Example, our club was out on the Pony Express two years ago in a snow storm and found a mini van (enterprise rental w/street tires) full of illegal aliens stuck in the snow mud mix above their rockers. When one of us could not pull them out with their 9,500lbs warn, instead of overloading it, we went with two winching vehicles side by side, then those two were anchored down by a full size first gen Wagoneer (had to anchor because we were own the mud slick road and couldn't keep from drawing ourselves into the mini van). Anyway we got it out and proceeded on. Also a basic safety tip we always use that I never see anyone else utilizing is when winching the hoods come up so that in case one does break you have something between you.
On a side note though, I still use wire and firmly believe if used properly and not overloaded, it does absolutely fine. Example, our club was out on the Pony Express two years ago in a snow storm and found a mini van (enterprise rental w/street tires) full of illegal aliens stuck in the snow mud mix above their rockers. When one of us could not pull them out with their 9,500lbs warn, instead of overloading it, we went with two winching vehicles side by side, then those two were anchored down by a full size first gen Wagoneer (had to anchor because we were own the mud slick road and couldn't keep from drawing ourselves into the mini van). Anyway we got it out and proceeded on. Also a basic safety tip we always use that I never see anyone else utilizing is when winching the hoods come up so that in case one does break you have something between you.
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rondo
rondo
- Location
- Boise Idaho
Broke a cable on my Frontier and warn winch, and it just fell to the ground. There was no weight on the center either (back before i knew better).
Broke a cable on my old Nissan and old warn winch too, which was 10 years ago. That cable didn't whip back very far.
Last summer my pal was stuck in his rig, hydrolicked in mud, and we had 3 winches on it, and he also had his winch going. His winch had a synthetic rope that snapped. But it just fell to the ground and didn't whip around.
I'm ready give up cable, but it took a long time to convert me. What did finally wasn't the strength or cost issue; it was that i ruined a used but new condition cable after being stuck in waist deep snow; winching and winding, unwinding etc put so many flat spots and frays in the cable that it was wasted. Never had that problem with my rope; winched several times with it and although it gets a bit flat, it regains its shape.
Broke a cable on my old Nissan and old warn winch too, which was 10 years ago. That cable didn't whip back very far.
Last summer my pal was stuck in his rig, hydrolicked in mud, and we had 3 winches on it, and he also had his winch going. His winch had a synthetic rope that snapped. But it just fell to the ground and didn't whip around.
I'm ready give up cable, but it took a long time to convert me. What did finally wasn't the strength or cost issue; it was that i ruined a used but new condition cable after being stuck in waist deep snow; winching and winding, unwinding etc put so many flat spots and frays in the cable that it was wasted. Never had that problem with my rope; winched several times with it and although it gets a bit flat, it regains its shape.
way2nosty
Registered User
I always put the hood up when winching and weight the cable ( 20 lb min in 2 spots) use radios no sense getting killed. I saw one Break in Moab about 4 years ago, A person Not a member of the group Climbing white Nuckle backwards. winching on a buddy broke the end of the hook off. went through the front windshield and the rear side glass. if anyone would have been sitting in the passenger seat they would have me their maker.
gijohn40
too poor to wheel... :(
- Location
- Layton, Utah
Military PTO winch break...
I once saw a Army 5ton with a pto winch break its cable due to it had kinked and was put away that way... wire does great if its put back on the drum right... that is why I always take the time to rewind it correctly on mine... and I always use a two weights and put the hood of the vehicle up so that it doesn't go thru the glass...
The reason that most wreckers don't use rope is that it doesn't come in strenghts that are need for most wreckers (20k and up)... I looked into getting one for my 12k ramsey and no one made one above 9k.
So wire rope if spooled right will last but if you do like most do and just let it wind up on the drum unevenly they are going to flat spot the wire which will in turn break with time and usage... so always wind it in layer so that it has a natural valley to fall into and it will last longer. Now with rope you don't have to do this and it will be ok.
Oh by the way the 5ton when it broke the cable was hit at the axle level and it took out the air brakes and the steering tie rod... and the hummer it was trying to pull out got a new tail gate after it dented it 4 inchs...
Hope this helps!!!
I once saw a Army 5ton with a pto winch break its cable due to it had kinked and was put away that way... wire does great if its put back on the drum right... that is why I always take the time to rewind it correctly on mine... and I always use a two weights and put the hood of the vehicle up so that it doesn't go thru the glass...
The reason that most wreckers don't use rope is that it doesn't come in strenghts that are need for most wreckers (20k and up)... I looked into getting one for my 12k ramsey and no one made one above 9k.
So wire rope if spooled right will last but if you do like most do and just let it wind up on the drum unevenly they are going to flat spot the wire which will in turn break with time and usage... so always wind it in layer so that it has a natural valley to fall into and it will last longer. Now with rope you don't have to do this and it will be ok.
Oh by the way the 5ton when it broke the cable was hit at the axle level and it took out the air brakes and the steering tie rod... and the hummer it was trying to pull out got a new tail gate after it dented it 4 inchs...
Hope this helps!!!
greenjeep
Cause it's green, duh!
- Location
- Moab Local!
I broke the cable on my almost new Warn XD9000i. I was trying to pull out a fully loaded 28ft Uhaul stuck in a mud puddle. It snapped right at the truck, I had weight on it so no damage. After the Uhaul driver released the E-brake, I pulled him out easily with the broken cable.