How Long Should A WInch Line Be?

[cnynrat]

I've got a new winch and am going to swap out the steel line for a synthetic line. Since you get more pulling power as you get down towards the inner layers of the coil, it seems there is a case to be made for not just filling up the spool with the most line possible. That way for shorter pulls that presumably may be more common you don't have to pull a bunch of line off (and then spool it back on). Longer pulls could be handled with an extension when needed.

My winch will hold up to 100' of 3/8" line. I'm thinking of something like 80', but would appreciate advice from those with more winching experience. How much line would you put on the winch, and how long an extension would you carry?

Thanks.

 

[IH8RDS]

I have the 100' steel still on there and sometimes I think that is to short. I have never been a fan of extensions. I would fill up the spool if I had synthetic. If you need to use the strength from the last inner layers, buy a bigger winch to compensate. I use a Warn M8000 and I have never had an issue with pulling at completely unwound to the last layers or just a short spool, with over half the line on the spool.

 

[AndrewP]

100 feet is about minimum and gives you more choices in a complicated pull. I'm running 125 feet of 3/8 on my 8274 and I've never had it all out. If yours will hold 100 feet, I'd run 100 feet.

 

[motomech]

I'm running 150'on my 8274.. sometimes i use a snatch block and that doubles the amount of cable needed

 

[jcbrandon]

How much wood...

"How long should a winch line be?"
Long enough to reach the nearest tree!

I'm no expert, but it would seem difficult to have too much winch line. And too easy to have not enough. Kinda like horsepower. Nobody ever says, "Gee, I wish my truck was less powerful."

 

[crawler#976]

Last winter I used 90' of the 100' on the drum, two 25' extensions, a 25' tree saver, a 10' tree saver, a 30' x 3" strap, two snatch blocks, and seven 3/4" shackles. Both snatch blocks were used as direction changing points to rig a straight pull down the road vs. pulling off to the side. I was able to make a full pull in exactly the direction I needed to go instead of ending up in deeper drifts in the bar ditches. The first tree I pulled from was 20' up a bank and 130' away. I ended up re-rigging the setup 2 more times to get to a point I could turn around, and then one more time to get out. It was a long but fun couple hours. I could have made a series of short pulls, but once every thing was rigged, I could move 90' at a time.

I'll be buying a 50' extension and three more shackles before the winter because I used every thing I had, and it was just enough to rig what I needed that time.

So, I guess it's up to you, but if I could get 125' on my drum, I'd do it. You can always double line if you want to pull closer to the drum.

Mark

 

[UK4X4]

"How long should a winch line be?"
Long enough to reach the nearest tree!

or the nearest buried rock.......

100ft out shackle and 25ft extension....

If the last rock failed we would have had to walk out......

 

[762X39]

Like most of the responders, you can never have enough in certain situations. I have used a 200' extension to keep my Unimog where I wanted while I pulled a tractor out of a nasty spot. A handful of shackles, treesavers, misc straps and at least 1 snatch block are standard kit even when I am in my work truck.Just because the work truck doesn't have a winch has never stopped me from using parts of the recovery kit or lending it to a tow truck driver on a wintery day to help with an extraction.

 

[cnynrat]

Well, the response is pretty clear - put as much line on the winch as will fit. Seems that's more valuable than conveniently being able to get max pulling power on a short pull. Probably true that max pulling power isn't needed most of the time either.

Thanks all for the advice.

 

[tdesanto]

Now the important thing is determining how much line will fit on your winch.

For example, I have the Warn XD9000. It came with 100' of 5/16" steel line. When spooled all the way in, the steel cable pretty much fills it up.

So, can I only go with 80-90' of the 3/8" synthetic, or does the synthetic take up less space?

Is it even possible to get 125' of the 3/8" synthetic on there?

Does anyone have a link to a chart of popular winches and the amount of synthetic that will fit?

 

[Willman]

I would go with an 80' line and have an 50' extension or so....

Oh and it is a good idea to travel in packs!

Lots of goodies here:

http://www.sierraexpeditions.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=88

 

[Willman]

Does anyone have a link to a chart of popular winches and the amount of synthetic that will fit?

Is this what you are looking for:

http://www.masterpull.com/results.cfm?catid=959



:26_7_2:

 

[ntsqd]

My thinking was to find a higher rated line than what was supplied in the winch. Then look at how the next smaller OD cable's rating compared that of the original cable.

The idea being that I could back off on the cable diameter and have the same length of equal strength but smaller OD cable on the drum, resulting in a reduced loss of pulling power on the top wrap. This is possible in some of the synthetics, but you're skating on the edge of the strength ratings.

Could also then decide to rig to offset the top wrap loss and put more cable length on the drum.

 

[StumpXJ]

I agree with most responses here, I have never said "dang, I have too much winchline". I just got rid of my steel cable for a 100' of synthetic winch line, and went with the amsteel blue 5/16th line, my old cable was 5/16 steel, and was 90 feet long. The synthetic fit on much easier, because of the line compression as I spooled it on.

~James

 

[tdesanto]

Is this what you are looking for:

http://www.masterpull.com/results.cfm?catid=959



:26_7_2:

Yes. Thanks Nic.