Anyone use Amsteel Blue Rope?

[Garycw]

Looking at getting some Amsteel Blue, Yellow, etc rope to replace some chains. Mainly used for towing, pulling, lifting etc. is there a difference in the colors or same quality? Also wondering if 5/16" would be large enough w/12,000 lb strength ? Or should I look at larger.?

 

[RedNeckRacin]

We used the big inch and a half stuff in the coal mine and I have some 3/8" on my 12k winch.I have some of the big stuff from the mine that is rated at over 100k for my pulling ropes. That stuff is absolutely fantastic. Be very careful with sharp edges though. It will slice through the rope very easily when under tension. The colors don't mean anything

 

[Garycw]

Thanks, I was wondering about the chafing or pinch points. So you're saying I should go 3/8" min? I'd love to have some 1" but that stuff is $$$

 

[yamatitan]

I have some on my 12k winch as well its good stuff just have to watch pulling it against sharp objects.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Well I would recommend a breaking strength of about 2 times what you are intending to pull with it. I would also recommend buying some different lengths. Tying that stuff into knots creates weak spots and to say untying it is difficult is a major understatement. The factory eyes are the strongest connections for that stuff.

 

[ovrszd]

I've used rope in Winches and stretch ropes for yanking for years. They've got their place. And in it, I love 'em. Out of it, I'm not so amorous about 'em.

As Gary said, you gotta be very careful when using winch rope. I run a 6-8ft sleeve over my Jeep ropes. Move the sleeve to where the chafing risk is, and then be constantly aware of any other hazards. Also, you might Google "rigging ropes". I have a 30ftx3/4" rigging rope that is completely covered with a very durable sleeve. No stretch. Easy to handle. Pretty well protected, although I've cut the sleeve in a couple spots over the years. Loops on each end.

Stretch ropes require the same caution in regards to chafing or cutting. Additionally they have a very high recoil risk. I could tell stories that are hard to believe of the danger of stretch rope. Always identify which rope you are using and caution everyone else involved in the use. Never include a chain in the mix, it will become a destructive projectile if/when things go bad. If you use clevis' make sure they are the screw in pin type and that they are rated well above the rope in use. Never connect two ropes together with a clevis. It also becomes a projectile.

All types of ropes are to be highly respected and used with caution and careful deliberation.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I've used rope in Winches and stretch ropes for yanking for years. They've got their place. And in it, I love 'em. Out of it, I'm not so amorous about 'em.

As Gary said, you gotta be very careful when using winch rope. I run a 6-8ft sleeve over my Jeep ropes. Move the sleeve to where the chafing risk is, and then be constantly aware of any other hazards. Also, you might Google "rigging ropes". I have a 30ftx3/4" rigging rope that is completely covered with a very durable sleeve. No stretch. Easy to handle. Pretty well protected, although I've cut the sleeve in a couple spots over the years. Loops on each end.

Stretch ropes require the same caution in regards to chafing or cutting. Additionally they have a very high recoil risk. I could tell stories that are hard to believe of the danger of stretch rope. Always identify which rope you are using and caution everyone else involved in the use. Never include a chain in the mix, it will become a destructive projectile if/when things go bad. If you use clevis' make sure they are the screw in pin type and that they are rated well above the rope in use. Never connect two ropes together with a clevis. It also becomes a projectile.

All types of ropes are to be highly respected and used with caution and careful deliberation.

Good post! ... What about dirt getting in the rope. ... Seems like it could be a sleeper grinding the fibers up. Have you found this a problem?

 

[ovrszd]

I recommend a breaking strength many times stronger than the weight of the "tow" vehicle. I don't use any rigging ropes or tree straps with less than 30K break strength. You will invariably back up to get some slack and then yank it. Things get ugly quick doing that.

As for tying them together. There is a wrong way and a right way. As Redneck said, if you do it wrong you will more than likely have to cut one rope to get them apart.

First picture is the wrong way. It's accomplished by running loop of rope #1 thru end loop of rope #2. Then taking other end of rope #1 and running it thru it's other end loop, the one you just poked thru rope #2 loop. This is the most common way to loop two objects together and has been misused in this application thousands of times and caused the destruction of thousands of ropes.



Second picture is the right way. It's accomplished by running loop of rope #1 thru end loop of rope #2. Then taking other end of rope #2 and running it thru the loop of rope #1 that you just poked thru rope #2. Clear as mud right.

 

[ovrszd]

Good post! ... What about dirt getting in the rope. ... Seems like it could be a sleeper grinding the fibers up. Have you found this a problem?

Yes. I try to keep my ropes clean and avoid dragging them in the mud if I can. I mainly use them for vehicle retrieval. Wouldn't even consider using one to skid logs for example.

With winch rope it will begin to get "fuzzy" at the hook and work it's way back as it's used more. I'm sure it's losing strength when this is happening because there are less fibers holding the load. I've not broken a winch rope because of that though.

With stretch ropes/straps it's also an issue. Again, that's why I use equipment that's rated for far larger loads than I put on them to try and avoid breakage. With a stretch rope/strap you can total the tow vehicle or one being towed if improperly used. Years ago I saw a 4 wheeler friend using a stretch rope with a chain to get more length. Was getting 15-20ft of slack and hitting it with a 4x4 Chevy pickup. The clevis on the towed vehicle failed. What was left of the clevis, a 16ft 3/8" log chain and his 30ft stretch rope went thru the back glass of his PU cab, out thru the windshield, and was laying stretched out in a perfect line in front of his truck. He never got a scratch. Only because it went thru the center of the cab rather than where he was sitting. Any time I pull with a stretch rope/strap, I lay down in the seat. Kinda hard to hide on a tractor though.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Good points fellas about the rope types. I can personally vouch for the amsteel blue not being a stretch rope. We snapped a 1" rope yanking a power center underground and the rope looked like an explosion happened inside it, but it dropped right to the ground.