i just have a quick question

i allready have the winch in my truck
thinking of changing over the the nylon winch cable any idea of the size i would need
i have room for 80-100 feet on my spool
just not sure of the thinkness i need
i have an 8000 pound winch should i think use 5/16 or 3/8
my cable now is 5/16 i believe need to check it this weekend
i cant find a graph on the rating on the sizes for the nylon winch cables
http://www.amsteelblue.com/Index.aspx this is the site that sell them

thanks for the help

 

try this

 

5/16" steel is equal to 3/8" rope. You wont be able to fit as much on your winch tho FYI. I would also purchace an extension you can keep in the truck.

 

You have that backwards, at least for masterpull, which both my winches have. Syn lines are stronger than steel, so you can run more and thinner. It's not the cheapest, but it is the best IMHO.

Here's a chart and their website..
http://www.masterpull.com/results.cfm?catid=959

I beleive I got 125' of 5/16 on my Warn x8000, which had 100' of 3/8 cable IIRC before I got syn. Probably could fit another 25' on it, but more is not better on a winch.

Your winch pulls best with less wraps on the drum (always keep the min wraps of course!), so put 100' or so then carry an extension. Otherwise you will have to wind out the extra length to get a stronger pull.

 

I'd use the same size X-Line; same as my wire cable both OD and the length.
http://www.offroadonly.com/products/recovery/x-line/
It winds better and is lighter so keep the same thing and all should be good.
Or as others have suggested chk the rated strength of the cable and match it in syn-cable.

 

How often do you use the winch?

If you are safe with the steel cable and maintain it they last for several years. You get sand in that synthetic cable and you never get it out , but syn snaps and goes directly to the ground while steel travels horizontally until it hits , unless you put weight in the middle...

That being said I know alot of people that run each and most of them say that now that the winches are getting so cheap, and the upgrades over the previous years, they just plan on replacing them every few years and they don't care whats on the drum.

I have a Warn M8000 , a 9.5ti , and a XRC8 - the 8000 is 10 years old, the 9.5ti is 4 and the XRC is 1 but never been out of the box ( won it last year in a raffle ) I have run synthetic and steel, and really for the cost - I'd rather put that money elsewhere.
If you do swap , keep your cable and use it as your extension piece...

 

thanks guys