Thimble or Hook

[Viggen]

I was looking into Master Pull rope for my Warn and noticed there were two types of hooks and then there was just a thimble/ loop end. What are the advantages/ disadvantages of each set up?

 

[freeze]

I went with a hook. There's some instances where getting a bow shackle to fit into an awkward recovery loop doesn't work making the winch useless.

 

[FullsizeJimmy]

I think it boils down to cost. Go with just the thimble if you want the cheapest option, and you already have a hook that can be reused, or you want to use a shackle. The safety latch on the cheaper hook is not as rugged as the more expensive option. The other thing to consider is if you want to be able to remove the hook for any reason, it looks as if the hooks they install are put on as the eye is formed. I don't think most of us could remove it.

 

[Viggen]

I was just looking as a Master Pulls stuff as theyre the sponsor and the first I saw. Ive seen equal parts loop and hook. I was just curious as to the adv/ dis of each.

 

[brasskey]

I was just looking as a Master Pulls stuff as theyre the sponsor and the first I saw. Ive seen equal parts loop and hook. I was just curious as to the adv/ dis of each.

I think a lot of it is preference. People can see negatives and positives of each depending on applications in the field or experiences with one or the other. I can't really chime in on that as I went with the best of both worlds - I have a loop (safety thimble) and then a Gunnebo Removable Hook. I hardly ever use the hook as shackles usually suffice, but it leaves me with a lot of options.

 

[Master-Pull]

We actually just designed a new thimble that should hit the website shortly, there are some pictures of it floating on the web. It is called a winch stop and is meant to be used without a hook.

If you are like me, you want simplicity, and therefore I always will have a tube thimble and sling hook. This allows me to hook up to someone as fast as I possibly can. Shackles work great, but I have had instances where you grab the wrong size shackle or it doesn't fit in someones receiver or thimble. It just can get to be a mess especially if you are trying to do a recovery in a time crunch.

Beyond that I would say always purchase the tube thimbles over the stainless steel ones, the tubes are stronger and protect the rope better. I have bent quite a few stainless steel thimbles when my bumper has hit immoveable objects.

Stainless and a hook:

Tube and a hook:

Tube thimble:

Hooks:

-Alex

 

[Nonimouse]

I like the way the rope is knotted on tah tube and hook picture - anymore pictures of that.

I usually use a metal thimble with a large hook and heavy duty mouse

I've had a length of Viking string on test for a while and it has one of those safety thimbles on it. I have tried but I just can't get on with it. It takes forever to rig a pull and has trashed an alli hawse. As I have an SS hawse on the 110 I have had to fit an old radius arm bush on the rope to stop accidental damage to the thimble. When I stuff the bonnet net there is nothing to hold the rope in plaec as there is no hook. Looks nice mind. However this is my personal point of view; and I am not attempting to change the minds of others by a deliberatly inflammatory negative response tot he previous poster

 

[Corey]

I have used both the yellow safety hook, and now a thimble.
I prefer using the thimble with a shackle on it.

 

[timmer2008]

crosby group shur loc s-1316

 

[Viggen]

We actually just designed a new thimble that should hit the website shortly, there are some pictures of it floating on the web. It is called a winch stop and is meant to be used without a hook.

Tube and a hook:

Alex, thanks for the information there. I never thought about the thimbles hitting things and bending. I like the arrangement pictured above. Is the hook removable?

 

[Master-Pull]

Alex, thanks for the information there. I never thought about the thimbles hitting things and bending. I like the arrangement pictured above. Is the hook removable?

We can do it with a removable hammer lock type hook, those types can be removed a few hundred times before they stop working.

BTW this is the hook that you will see almost every Master-Pull employee running, it is a great hook that allows a little more flexibility.

-Alex

 

[Viggen]

Im going to bring this back up as Im closer to buying line now. Whats the difference between the 5/16" Superline XD and the Superline? I think Ill be going with a tube thimble that way I have the option of a hook or running a shackle.

 

[Master-Pull]

Im going to bring this back up as Im closer to buying line now. Whats the difference between the 5/16" Superline XD and the Superline? I think Ill be going with a tube thimble that way I have the option of a hook or running a shackle.

Superline is a rope that has been heated and pre-stretched, the fibers elongate and shrink in diameter giving the entire rope a smaller diameter. This is why we can have a 5/16ths Superline that is rated to 21,000 lbs vs a 5/16ths basic rope rated at 13,000 lbs. Another advantage to these ropes is that you get a much denser and tighter package, because of the way the rope is stretched during the manufacturing process. This protects the rope better because it is less likely to snag on a tree limb, rock, or anything else it might drag over. The rope also is less prone to having grit work its way between the fibers which can potentially degrade the line.

Superline XD has Superline at its core with a tightly woven cover of sk75 Dyneema (the fiber that all of our winch ropes are comprised of) over the entire line. This adds extra UV and abrasion resistance and at the same time gives you a rope that will last longer then normal synthetics.

Last week I had a Superline XD sent in that was purchased in 2005. The hook that was on the rope seized up but the rope was still in good shape, after we put a new hook on and examined the rope I sent it back out. Five years old and I wouldn't hesitate to run it for another 3 to 4 at least.

-Alex