My buddy's winch cable snapped on a muddy hill last weekend

We were out near Red Creek Trail last Saturday and his cheap winch cable gave out right when we needed it most. The truck started sliding backward down a slick slope and that cable just popped like a rubber band. I told him three months ago to get a synthetic rope but he wanted to save forty bucks. Now he's replacing the whole winch setup and missing the next two rides. Has anyone else had a cable snap on them at the worst possible moment?

2 comments

2 Comments

linda_mason8211d ago

Oh man, that's rough! I was reading on a forum last week about how those cheap steel cables can have hidden microfractures from just regular use, especially if they get kinked. Hope his new setup works better.

parkerrodriguez11d ago

Switched to braided synthetic line after a similar scare with steel cable on my rig. That stuff can snap without any warning and it whips back like a freight train. Took my buddy's advice and got a quality Dyneema rope instead. Lighter to handle, way easier on the hands, and if it does break, it just drops instead of turning into a deadly projectile. Cost a bit more upfront but peace of mind is worth every penny. Plus it floats, which saved me once when I had to recover a truck near a creek.