Synthetic winch rope is safe, durable, and lightweight.
If you’ve been using wire rope for years, you might well be a skeptic when it comes to believing that any type of rope would be tough enough for offroad recovery work. Synthetic winch rope is still fairly new in the offroad world, but it’s gaining ground because of the many advantages it has to offer—including the fact that it’s safer, lightweight, easy on the hands, and able to float in water.
Will synthetic winch rope melt on the winch drum?
If you use your winch properly, your synthetic rope should not cause any problems when it comes to overheating. Under heavy loads, synthetic rope will compress and flatten. Too much compression can make the rope look like it’s fused, melted, or deformed, but if you flex the rope by hand, the fibers will separate and retain their original shape.
What about abrasion?
Avoid exposing your synthetic winch rope to sharp edges and excess abrasion. Synthetic rope is tough, but too much abuse will cause damage. Use an abrasion guard to protect the rope from chafing where it comes in contact with sharp edges, logs, or rock. Also, use an aluminum fairlead to avoid scuffing or torn strands caused by a weathered roller fairlead.
Why is there a fuzzy layer on my synthetic rope?
If your rope looks a little fuzzy, count it as a good thing. That extra fuzz is meant to protect your rope, not weaken it. Light fuzzing is normal and expected. Deeper abrasion, broken strands, and cut fibers are signs of weakness.
Will it hold up in salt water?
Synthetic rope was originally used for marine applications. It’s designed to hold up in salt water without degrading. The closed fiber rope does not allow salt water to penetrate into the fibers.