Dyneema Winch Rope Vs Steel Cable

Ever imagine dragging around a 6 steel rope and end fitting.

Dyneema winch rope vs steel cable.

Synthetic rope is even mandatory in many big sanctioned off road events. They re 4 times lighter in weight than steel cable and don t store kinetic energy like the steel cable does. Standard drum winches traction winches best stuff since canned beer and sliced bread. Been using dyneema rope on offshore winches for 20 plus years.

One guy can pull 150 feet of 1 2 dyneema tight. Consider what 1 2 steel cable weighs in comparison. Rope breaks heaps easier than steel cable. If you actually use a winch or a steel cable frequently like search and rescue tow company or absolutely anything to do on water than synthetic line is what you should have.

Pound for pound dyneema fiber rope is up to 15 times stronger than steel and up to 40 stronger than aramid fibers otherwise known as kevlar rope. Plus the d d ratio of a sheave is less than half of steel. Though the synthetic winch rope has a higher breaking strength it is breakable. So if the cable breaks it will not snap as powerfully as a steel cable does.

It is also needs more maintenance once there is dirt in the rope as it goes under strain the dirt will sever the fibres so keeping it clean is important.