Winch question

I have a Ramsey JR-246-R winch (8000 lb limit with a drum that's 2X10"). I'm fairly certain I'm going to purchase the Amsteel plastic rope, but can't decide how much to get. The 1/4" stuff is rated at 7'700 lb breaking strength and the 5/16 stuff is 12,300 lb.

The winches I worked on Army vehicles were PTO driven and had shear pins to protect them. The Ramsey one doesn't seem to have any safety built in and that worries me. So, the 1/4" 7,700 pound stuff sounds like the best choice as it will fail before my winch/PTO, it's only 300 lb below my maximum winch weight, and I should get more length by choosing the smaller diameter (Am I the only person on the planet that has always missed a winch point by "that much"?).

Given my drum size (I know I get less force as the spool fills up) how much 1/4" cable should I get, or, how much 5/16" if you're passionate about that choice?

And as always, thanks for the advice.

 

I personally go with the larger line. If you have to use a snatch block you will go over that 7700lb capacity quickly.

 

2x I think you could get into just as bad a situation with a snaped line as with a broken winch. A snatch block can double the line pull. Personally, I would be using 3/8's.

 

I’d go with the bigger line also, but don’t forget to include the cost of buying a synthetic rope compatible fairlead as one for steel line, particularly the roller type, can actually pinch and fray a synthetic line.

 

Iirc the Ramseys don't have "shear pins" but do have keys designed to shear when overloaded. I'd also go the larger rope/cable.
Just because the winch isn't loaded more than capacity doesn't mean the rope/cable can't be. Like the snatch block example given.

 

Get the bigger line - line size should not be your 'overload fuse' so to speak.

 

I never considered the snatch block scenario; and that, ladies and gentelmen is why I ask so many questions. Thank-you one and all.

What length 3/8 line will my drum intelligently hold.

 

I went from 110' of 5/16 steel to 100' of synthetic.

 

Wouldn't the snatch block reduce the line load by half given the same amount of pull?
Maybe I don't understand, my 2000lb Power Pull becomes a 4000lb Power Pull with the addition of one pulley. It also reduces the available pulling distance by half, so I would go with more of the smaller line.

 

The pull on the line is the same with the snatch block there or not. It's the snatch block pull that's doubled. The snatch block travels half the distance with twice the power of the line.

However, pulling cable around a snatch block should reduce the cable's breaking strength, just like a knot will reduce the strength of a rope. I don't know how much the breaking strength of the cable is reduced, but I would err on the safe side.

 

personaly i would go with the bigger line, but i do not think for one minute a snatch block is gonna weakin your line, you have two full cabels pulling at the same time, so at the block is actually half the pull if the end is conected to the winching vehicle, now if the end is connected to say a tree insted of the winching vehicle you may have a issue (example: winch line run from vehicle to a snatch block and then back to another point besides the winched vehicle IE another anchor point)

 

I can see that bending the line around a pulley would reduce the strength somewhat. Not very much if the snatch block wasn't too small or bound up in the frame. Isn't the 7700lbs the safe working limit, with the breaking point generally 3x that amount? I also thought the winch rating was for the first wrap, with a reduction for every course out, so the 8000lb goes down with more line. I certainly like stout stuff, but how many times do you use the full capacity of a winch that is easily rated at twice the weight of the vehicle it's on (in this case)? I would want as much line as would fit and I could afford. Double it up for a hard pull, reach out a little further when you need less. I suppose it all depends on where you plan to get stuck the most. As long as you are not doing yo-yo dozer work.

 

All, my apologies for my ignorance. On further study to educate myself, the loads given are the breaking strength under new perfect conditions, the used average is less. There is not a built-in safety rating like a hook or shackle. I would like to amend my responses to jump on the larger line bandwagon, better to stall the winch than break the line. Does 100 foot of 5/16", with 50 foot of 3/8" extension sound about right?
In reading about plastic rope the phrase "rectangular profile under tension" comes up. Is there a different pulley or snatch block that needs to be used to address this?

 

for what its worth, my winch has 180 ft of cable, and i have never had the need to pull it all out, it is troublesome too, it wants to wind up and bind, thinking seriously about cutting it in half, and just coiling up the other 90 ft put two cleavices on it and pack it along in the back if i ever do need it.

 

I have 95' of 5/16" line on my REP8000 winch. It's always been more than enough for what I do. I carry two extensions, but not sure how long they are. I have a snatch block, but have never used it. I've never felt that my winch is working that hard with single line pulls. A tree saver (or short recovery strap) is very helpful for attaching to trees.

 

I have been running synthetic line for over 5 years and will tell you it is better and tougher than steel. My first rig I set up came with 150 of steel rope 5/16and I got 100 feet of Synth line 3/8with a temperature barrier and a friction sleve on there with no problems at all. On my wifes jeep the winch came with 100 feet of 3/8s and I got 80 feet of synth on with temperature barrier and friction sleeve. The thickness of both of those was around 20 feet or so worth of Line.

I use the snot out of the winch doing adopt a trail duties and never have had an issue with line being pinched in a roller fairlead. I will say synth

 

In the FWIW category I re-read an antique sales brochure for my Ramsey Winch. It claims the winch came with one-hundred-fifty feet of 5/16 steel cable. I ordered as much in the Amsteel blue.