Winch Fairlead Poll

[mountainpete]

Let's talk about everyone's experience and preference regarding fairleads!

Conditions: Synthetic winchline, ARB Bullbar and a Warn M8000 winch.

Option 1: Delrin replacement Rollers ~ $70.00

More info on this one here: http://www.winchline.com/fairleads.htm

Option 2: Alluminum Fairlead ~ $40.00

So... which would you choose and why?

Pete

 

[BigAl]

I thought you had to go with option 2 for synthetic cable?? Wouldn't the rope wedge itself into the gap at the end of each roller??

 

[DaveInDenver]

The club had a seminar put on by ARB and the rep said something I did not know. You can use regular metal fairlead rollers as long as they are new and not previously used with wire rope. I dunno if there are conditions which make that untrue, but that was new to me. Personally, I don't have a winch yet, but when I get around to filling the hole in my bull bar I'll go with rollers, be those metal or Delrin.

 

[Dirty Harry]

I think that the hawse fairlead is better for rockcrawling since it offers a better approach angle, but for expedition trips where the chance of side pulls is greater and the approach angle issue is not as big of a deal I can see an advantage to the delrin roller fairlead.

 

[mountainpete]

I thought you had to go with option 2 for synthetic cable?? Wouldn't the rope wedge itself into the gap at the end of each roller??

Good point Al. Here is what Winchline.com says on their FAQ page:

4. I have heard that you can pinch a synthetic winchline between the rollers, what's up with that?

We have tried to do that without success . Provided you are using equipment in good working order and based on our extensive testing it is not possible to get the line pinched between the rollers or between the roller and the steel roller housing.

Also, in 4WDTO magazine Bill Burke mentioned something similar.

 

[Scott Brady]

Even better, use the Viking aluminum caged roller with delrin rollers. Half the weight of a similar steel roller.

 

[mountainpete]

Even better, use the Viking aluminum caged roller with delrin rollers. Half the weight of a similar steel roller.

Scott,

I don't see a special caged roller on the winchline.com site... just the rollers.

And by half the weight, aren't we talking about just one or two lbs (without the rollers)?

Pete

 

[Beowulf]

Is this a new product for them? I am more than willing to buy a nice aluminum cage and derlin roller fairlead if they have it. If not I'm going to paint my superwinch cage black and install their derlin rollers.

They are also coming out with some more in line cable protectors. Here are two versions. One more on the way.

Per stu olson's site:

"Winchline.com is coming out with a new protector in a few months that can be kept in the recovery bag until needed. It will wrap onto the line for use and can then be removed and put back into the gear bag once you are done winching."

 

[lowenbrau]

UHMWPE

Cheap and effective.

http://www.sky-manufacturing.com/accessories.htm

 

[Beowulf]

Also, Stu has a great write-up with safety information here:

http://www.stu-offroad.com/recovery/winchline/winchline-1.htm

 

[Scott Brady]

It is about 5.5 lbs. for the cage and rollers, as opposed to 14 lbs. for standard rollers.

The cage is aluminum and the cross shafts are SS, with delrin

Call Viking as they can hook you up.

 

[big sky trapper]

Ive had both over the years but only with steel line. I just dont quite trust the systh line yet, even tho its been used for several years by just about every one but me haha.

Any more my personal pref is still the steel/iron hawes fairlead. The rollers Ive had in the past really made no dif in cable life, in spooling under loads/and side pulls, compared to the hawes. I use my winch daily durring my winter trap line (sept to apr). Getting through snow and ice drifts ect, deep mud, (no real rock crawling)

The only serious complaint i ever had with a roller was under a couple of EXTREME side pulls My cable did get between the horizontal and vertical rollers and a mess was made. The stress of the pull bent the roller frame. So mountain petes comments I can can verify but that was using steel rope.

Put me down for the hawse even if its aluminum.

 

[Lost Canadian]

A great many ARB's have recessed fairlead mounts, and are designed for roller applications. Without a roller on many ARB's, on angled pulls you risk chafing the line. If you're going with an ARB bumper and are going to use syn. line then delrin rollers are the best way to go in my books. Of course I'm biased because that's the way I roll, so you should take what I say with a grain of salt. :elkgrin:

 

[Dirty Harry]

It is about 5.5 lbs. for the cage and rollers, as opposed to 14 lbs. for standard rollers.

Does the weight really make that much of a difference when a 90 lb. winch is bolted to a 100 lb. bull bar? It does not seem to me that the cost would justify the weight savings.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Does the weight really make that much of a difference when a 90 lb. winch is bolted to a 100 lb. bull bar? It does not seem to me that the cost would justify the weight savings.

That was my thought, too. But I guess the combination of synthetic rope and Delrin rollers can cut a lot of weight. If you can shave 25 lbs (say 10% of the winch/bumper combo), that's weight that is leveraged way out there away from the suspension. Can't hurt. Is it worth the price? Now /that's/ a good question.