Winch cable load rating

[spindlewood]

I find it odd that 12000 lb electric winches (mine is a Harbor Freight) come with 3/8" aircraft cable that, although they have a Breaking Strength of 14400 lb, have a Working Load of 2880 lb.

The definition of Working Load Limit is "the maximum load that includes mass or force, that should ever be applied to load carrying equipment in a specified configuration or application. Any rigging device or configuration is only as strong as its weakest, or lowest WLL rated, parts."


So how can these winches be advertised as 12000 lb? When I am matching parts for winching (e.g. snatch blocks, hooks, etc.) which minimum rating should I be matching components to in order to not be the weakest link - 12000 or 2880?

 

[RDrancher]

Warn also uses 3/8" for their 12k winch. It's pretty much the standard for 8k-12k winches.

In my years of offroading, I've seen both 3/8" and 1/2" snap. It usually happens under a slack/grab situation. When they became available, I switched out my cable for synthetic rope from Masterpull. All of my clevises, snatch blocks and tree-saver straps are rated at 20k or more.

 

[CalG]

I find it odd that 12000 lb electric winches (mine is a Harbor Freight) come with 3/8" aircraft cable that, although they have a Breaking Strength of 14400 lb, have a Working Load of 2880 lb.

The definition of Working Load Limit is "the maximum load that includes mass or force, that should ever be applied to load carrying equipment in a specified configuration or application. Any rigging device or configuration is only as strong as its weakest, or lowest WLL rated, parts."


So how can these winches be advertised as 12000 lb? When I am matching parts for winching (e.g. snatch blocks, hooks, etc.) which minimum rating should I be matching components to in order to not be the weakest link - 12000 or 2880?

Nothing to do with the winch capacity, but if you use blocks etc in multi purchase configurations, those elements could see significantly higher loads than the single cable working load.

Size according to application.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Personally, I would want the pulling force of the winch to be the limiting factor. Your gear is going to wear and age over time so that the strengths will decrease at an unpredictable rate.

 

[custom splice]

Hey guys,
When dealing with Electric winches they are rated on a 45 Degree Incline, So a 10,000 lb rated winch will only lift 5000 lbs, on the bottom layer.
So 3/8 AmSteel Blue rated at 19,600 LBS Breaking Strength would give you almost a 4:1 safety factor.
Now when your dealing with Hydraulic/PTO and other winches they can be rated either way.

When your dealing with snatch blocks your winch line is sharing the load, so only the business end of the pulley is seeing double the load.

 

[RDrancher]

Hey guys,
When dealing with Electric winches they are rated on a 45 Degree Incline, So a 10,000 lb rated winch will only lift 5000 lbs, on the bottom layer.
So 3/8 AmSteel Blue rated at 19,600 LBS Breaking Strength would give you almost a 4:1 safety factor.
Now when your dealing with Hydraulic/PTO and other winches they can be rated either way.

When your dealing with snatch blocks your winch line is sharing the load, so only the business end of the pulley is seeing double the load.

Thank you for the clarification. I sold my rockcrawler a few years ago, so I haven't kept up on products. From what I've read on 4x4 forums of late is that Amsteel Blue outperforms Masterpull with better customer service too.

 

[mogwild]

You can buy amsteel blue much cheaper from ship supply places as well. Places like wessur, and seattlemarine I've found are the cheapest. Samson has video's for doing the splices on their website as well.

 

[custom splice]

You can buy amsteel blue much cheaper from ship supply places as well. Places like wessur, and seattlemarine I've found are the cheapest. Samson has video's for doing the splices on their website as well.

Yes some of those places have good prices on the AmSteel Blue, what you get from buy from someone like me is a better understanding of the fitment for your winch model. and we can supply it ready to go with different types of ends on the rope.
Thanks
Todd