What size winch cable.

[Zac]

I am getting a ramsey re 12000 and it doesnt have any cable. What thickness and length should I get?
thanks
Zac

[Kaiserjeeps]

Most 8 or 9K winches have 5/16 cable. Your 12K winch might have 3/8 cable. I personally run 3/8 because the last thing I want is to take a trip down hill unexpectedly. I would guess about 100 feet in length. The manufacturer should be able to tell you......

[bigblack'74]

i also "up'ed" the cable size on mine to 3/8 i have 100 feet on my old Alexander..

[Zac]

what about 100 ft of this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2562460987&category=41490)
Zac

[Gregorio]

I think I would like something stronger than the 14.5k wire rope on ebay.

Take a look at AmSteel Blue (http://www.samsonrope.com/home/pdf/new/Amsteel-Blue.pdf) It's more expensive but I think it is worth the price

[Oracle]

I have the ramsey 12k on my 1 ton cummins dodge. 3/8's and 100 to 125ft will do you fine. Mine is an 90 and has pulled one HELL of a lot of people up the Golden Spike. Some hints, when you get your cable 'stretch' it a bit, then take the time to CAREFULLY roll it up on the spool under some tension so it packs tightly. You might hit it with some sort of spray lube that dries so as to not hold grit/sand what have you like grease will do. Also, take some time to review the various 4x4 forums on winching technique. You WILL love that Ramsey but you are dealing with some rather serious machinery there that can and WILL kill you or someone else if you do something stupid. Think each winching scenario completely through before you even start. Imagine in your mind all the possible things that can go wrong and act accordingly. I'll give you just one possible which I actually witnessed years ago.

We had a big boulder, maybe 5 tons or more, block a trail. Well our resident "winch expert" [you've all met him right? i.e. the guy with the 50k rig, and a nickel's worth of common sense?] Anyway, this certified YAHOO hooks up his brand new rig to a big azzed chain and drapes this chain around the boulder so he can pull it off the trail and into the river below on the other side.

Now over the years, I've lost most if not all of the admittedly tiny bit of patience I ever had with these YAHOO types and have concluded that I will offer my advice ONCE only and let them either take it or leave it. I walked over and inspected how this guy had hooked up and started out with my " er uh..you know you might have done this a bit differently..." at which point he cut me off explaining that he was an "expert at this" and would I please just get out of his way...

so I shut my trap, got in my own rig and backed WAAAAY up then watched as he jerked that rock loose at which point it rolled across the trail and off the edge sailing towards the river below...all while still solidly hooked to the front of this guy's brand new big buck rig.
It was a 'KODAK' moment when the slack came out of the cable and the truck started marching towards the river following dutifully the much heavier boulder like a lemming to the sea smile.gif

Every time I think I have 'seen it all" some YAYHOO figures out another way to screw up badly. At least this time all the guy did was trash his truck, he didn't maim or kill himself or someone else, others have. Winching is serious business, treat it that way and you'll do fine smile.gif

[Kaiserjeeps]

I forgot to mention....If your hands are closer than 4 feet to your fairlead, You are risking severe bodily injury should a fray catch your glove and pull your hand through your fairlead.
You probably already know this, but its worth mentioning...

[Zac]

Thanks for all the advice.

Gregorio how much would 100ft by 7/16of the amstel blue cost.
Zac