Cable or Plasma?

[puddlesurfer]

Hi all,

I'd like to get a winch at some point (not yet 'cos I'm skint again!)

So here is my question: What is the advantage of plasma rope over cable and vise versa?

The winch will only be a cheap ebay one like this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[slobodan]

When rope breaks it falls limp to the floor.
When cable breaks it could launch through you or your windscreen.

Sliding rope through your hands may burn a touch.
Sliding cable through your hands will cut you to pieces (when it starts to fray)

[lord lucan]

plasma needs a lot of looking after, good soaking after off road use , must not use detergent , i have gone back to cable so have a lot of me pals , if cable is about to go it will always ping a couple of strands , lost 2 comps using plasma , take no notice from sloba he nos nothing [and cant drive ]

[slobodan]

take no notice from sloba he nos nothing [and cant drive ]

Tru dat.

(and I use cable)

[yoshie]

Plasma is £200 a pop so not really in your cheap range.

For a play day Surf, wire will do, low maintenance and low usage.

Every truck I have seen in the last 3yrs that runs challenges or is used seriously off road runs Plasma or Synthetic, which you can pick up for around £120.


Plasma does break but can be spliced/repaired in 10min {so you can go win the comp}

Synthetic is a great upgrade from wire. Remember roller fairlead is no use for Plasma or Synthetic.

[Diezel Weazel]

Plasma is £200 a pop so not really in your cheap range.

For a play day Surf, wire will do, low maintenance and low usage.

Every truck I have seen in the last 3yrs that runs challenges or is used seriously off road runs Plasma or Synthetic, which you can pick up for around £120.


Plasma does break but can be spliced/repaired in 10min {so you can go win the comp}

Synthetic is a great upgrade from wire. Remember roller fairlead is no use for Plasma or Synthetic.

Also Plasma can be chucked in ya washing machine after offroad use ....

Jess
nearly 10 years of Surfs
"Cos short cuts can cost more in the long run"

[mud skipper]

plasma is stronger,safer, repairable and easier to use.
cable is heavey,it kinks, when it snaps it can KILL with ease.
both are safe if used correctly.

[mud skipper]

just found this, it may answer your question

http://pitstop.oncourse4wd.com/2008/...ic-winch-rope/

[slobodan]

just found this, it may answer your question

http://pitstop.oncourse4wd.com/2008/...ic-winch-rope/

Quoted from above article...

"The Results"

"We’ve been using it now for about a year and I think we’ve put it through some very rigorous tests using it on the recovery course. So here goes with my purely personal opinion of the stuff."

* It’s lighter and friendlier to use.
* It has a higher safe working load than its wire counterpart.
* It doesn’t kink itself when you don’t have a straight line pull therefore less chance of causing irreparable damage.
* If it does break under load reports have said that it self dampens. But we put a dampener on for the belt and braces approach.
* It’s friendlier on the pulley when doing a 2:1.
* You get rid of those horrible roller fairleads.
* It’s easier to clean and then load back onto the drum when carrying out maintenance.
* You don’t get any stray wire strands going through your gloves.
* You can let it slide through your gloves without the risk of damaging your gloves and hands.
* Your carrying almost 12kg less on the front of your 4wd.
* It’s safer safer safer safer….
* It’s ###### brilliant.
* Lord Lucan knows everything.

[biosurf]

I think the main advantage of wire is if you are over rocky terrain. Plasma can fray quickly against abrasive edges and break whereas cable will cope.

However, as we are a more mud and goo -based offroad culture over here I would go for plasma every time by choice (I use wire myself as it came on the winch, but I am a safety nerd when I use it)

Main safety concern is that wire is dangerous if misused and when you see the sorts of things people do when the testosterone is flowing offroad (i.e. walking over stretched cables, letting their kids stand next to stretched cables and attempting to 'snatch' using cables etc. etc.) I kinda wish that everyone used plasma.

[Apache]

Best safety advice I can give you is sack off the winch and all that cr@p, and spend the money on a top weekend away, loads of curry, beer and prostitutes

[sbd16v]

just make sure you wear 2 pairs of socks

[puddlesurfer]

just make sure you wear 2 pairs of socks

While winching? Or while eating Curry, dinking beer and banging prostitutes?

[Calos]

I was stood next to Blackpoolsparks' winch line when it went, I shit myself for a second then it fell limp to the ground, I felt pretty dammed relieved I can tell you.

Plasma all the way.


peace
cal

[puddlesurfer]

I shit myself for a second then it fell limp to the ground, I felt pretty dammed relieved I can tell you.

there's got to be a joke in there somewhere!

I think I'll go Plasma when I get a Winch.

This one is the winch with plasma rope or UHMWPE - 8000KG breaking strain is that enough?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ELECTRIC-WINCH...item1e6225d41c

I assume that the rope is this one:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/100ft-Syntheti...item2561f0277b