Hook or thimble for synthetic line on a Wrangler Unlimited?

[Comanche Scott]

rope length versus water resistance, and yet another choice

Now I'm just totally stumped on what Warn to get. :coffeedrink:

90% made up my mind on an XD9000i, but then I see this TJ yesterday with a 9.5xp that gives me a moment of pause...

Both great winches, I can see your dilemma. About $400 difference would give me pause though. So I'd really have to think about how I'm going to use it, and could that extra cash be used for support gear (like a snatch kit so I wouldn't necessarily have to use the winch, and a winch support kit with some extra tree straps, shackles and blocks).

Just for some analysis paralysis, here is the Warn web site for each of those winches. :elkgrin:
https://www.warn.com/truck/winches/XD9000i.jsp
https://www.warn.com/truck/winches/95xp_winch.jsp

Looking at the two winches; from my perspective it's a choice of an extra 20' of rope versus better water resistance.

I'm going to throw in a third choice, that sits between the two price wise:
https://www.amazon.com/Warn-97550-9-5cti-Winch/dp/B004YTOL8K
This gives you more rope, and better water resistance, but it does have a very different look. It is also very fast, and took me a bit of practice to get comfortable with. Now I love the speed, but at first it made me uncomfortable, and I kept tapping the controller button, which makes for a bad pull.
https://www.warn.com/truck/winches/95cti_winch.jsp

Disclaimer; The 9.5cti is the winch that is on my Jeep, because I found it brand new for $700 from a Chrysler dealer back east (in a Mopar box).
That said, just because it's on my Jeep doesn't make it the best choice. There are a lot of really great winches out there, including the two you are looking at.
That you are looking at winches made in America, by people who have the same goals and desires we have, puts a big smile on my face. :victory:

Good luck with your choice! :beer:
Hope I didn't make it more difficult.

 

[BlindingWhiteTaco]

Check out the Factor 55 Splicer. That would be my go to with synthetic line. The rope is threaded through it and spliced back together. The opening for the shackle is oblong so you can fit the pin or the bow through it.

 

[JakeH]

How come nobody ever discusses shackle quality around here? In my stage rigging days, the hook attached to the motor from the factory was a non issue, the shackles & spansets & other connection gack was what we argued about. Van Beest green pin vs. CM domestic orange pins was a hot topic. Lift-all endless roundslings vs. Spanset brand was another. Domestic wire rope slings worth the price vs. imported, etc.... Who do y'all use?

 

[Comanche Scott]

Organized fun

I don't have a brand preference as long as the company is reputable, and preferably American, that's good enough for me.
I've had all kinds of stuff over the decades, kept in an old metal milk crate. As long as it was serviceable, there was never an issue.

What I have done now is limit myself to two gear bags. One for snatch gear (the kit that came with the Rubicon), and a Warn winch support kit with some extra blocks and straps.
This has made life very easy, as things stay clean and organized.
What I like about the Warn kit is the chain stays in a plastic sleeve at the bottom of the bag so none of the nasty sap from downed logs, or grease and oil from the undercarriage of a vehicle, contaminates the straps. It also has pockets to keep things organized, so it's very quick to use.

The "Old Milk Crate-O-Mess" is now someone else fun.
This is pretty much all I carry now when out exploring. It was a bit unnerving at first as it's pretty minimalist, but so far, so good.