michaelgroves
Explorer
One big difference between vehicle recovery and rope rescue (and climbing in general), is the safety margin of the equipment. Climbing ropes typically have a breaking strain of around 8 times the expected load. Winches, in contrast, will usually be able (and expected) to generate pulling forces very close to the limits of the ropes they are used with.
The obvious result of this is that any "abuse" of a winch rope is much more likely to cause it to break or be damaged, than in the case of a climbing rope.
Other than stretching or abrading a winch rope, the usual cause of damage or failure is putting a compression strain on some part of it - tying a knot, or putting it around a small diameter post, or using clamping devices or cleats, like the ones pictured in this thread.
Of course, if one uses a much stronger line in the first place, that opens the doors to a lot of techniques for multiple anchoring, changing pull direction, etc.
The obvious result of this is that any "abuse" of a winch rope is much more likely to cause it to break or be damaged, than in the case of a climbing rope.
Other than stretching or abrading a winch rope, the usual cause of damage or failure is putting a compression strain on some part of it - tying a knot, or putting it around a small diameter post, or using clamping devices or cleats, like the ones pictured in this thread.
Of course, if one uses a much stronger line in the first place, that opens the doors to a lot of techniques for multiple anchoring, changing pull direction, etc.