Wire or Synthetic Rope?

Winch cable finally had enough. Main use is with the plow. Tempted to go synthetic. Opinions?

If it’s for a plow then get one of the short ropes or flat straps made for plowing

I always ran synthetic and never had any issues

I went synthetic a long time ago. I need length in the summer time when we pull docks and drag logs out for cutting but in winter it’s just the couple feet the plow needs. I leave a 30 footer on all year.

I burn thru both pretty quick.
One thing I learned is when backing up and lifting the plow, only lift the plow up high enough to clear the pile.
I actually retired the ATV/Plow and went back to a 2 stage because I was sick and tired of retying the broken rope.

If you can with anything besides metal cable you will need a different fairlead also. If you try and use a roller fairlead if will burn through the rope over time

Eelpoutguy wrote:

I burn thru both pretty quick.
One thing I learned is when backing up and lifting the plow, only lift the plow up high enough to clear the pile.
I actually retired the ATV/Plow and went back to a 2 stage because I was sick and tired of retying the broken rope.

You have a fairlead made for rope?

Eelpoutguy wrote:

One thing I learned is when backing up and lifting the plow, only lift the plow up high enough to clear the pile.

I been pretty good at that until today. Had a bunch of snow piled on the windshield and couldn’t see the plow. Hit the switch and pop!

Coletrain27 wrote:

If it’s for a plow then get one of the short ropes or flat straps made for plowing

Do you attached those straps to the end of your winch rope? Or install the strap only?

Aha, now I see can am makes a plow specific winch rope that is only 8’ long.

I have 5/16″ amsteel blue on my truck winch. I had to pull a few large trees down last summer and it worked great. My new 3/8″ arborist rope would break, but not the 6 year old amsteel.

Joe Jarl wrote:

Aha, now I see can am makes a plow specific winch rope that is only 8’ long.

Yep they are shorter that way they don’t bind up and get tangled on the drum

Can’t add much to what others have said other than go synthetic-and this is from a guy who’s never owned one. But having run a wire one for 4 years now I’m eager for when the time comes to replace it with synthetic.

Coletrain27 wrote:

fairlead made for rope

Yes.
But it’s the angle that put’s too much tension on the rope/cable

I have broke both cable and 50′ of synthetic rope on my Polaris ranger with a kfi poly plow. I just put on the flat strap with extra pulley on the plow last week. It is already wearing out due to rubbing on one side.
I can’t wait for spring!

Synthetic all the way. Also, don’t winch up when you are smashed into a snowbank. Back up just a hair before you start to winch up.

I bought a fairlead specifically made for plowing off Amazon this season and have had no more problems using rope. Previously just used roller type fairlead and would break multiple times a year

I have ran synthetic for a long long time and have never broke it. Both plowing and pulling stuck machines out in the summer time mud

Going with a synthetic plow rope for now and then a regular synthetic winch rope for summer. Thanks for the input!

Joe Jarl wrote:

Going with a synthetic plow rope for now and then a regular synthetic winch rope for summer. Thanks for the input!

Best of both worlds