Charley Hoyt

It is time to get a new winch for my enclosed trailer and I am looking at the Superwinch S5500. There are two options available, cable or synthedic rope. Anyone have any recommendations on which is better?

Thanks,
Charley

fleming23

If you can swing it, synthetic rope is much nicer to deal with! It is pliable and won't hurt your hands. An added bonus is the weigh savings as well. I have used AmSteelBlue rope on my last few winches! Highly recommend.

TrackAire

Just helped install the unit with synthetic rope....definitely go synthetic as it is so much nicer to handle and can be used without gloves, etc.

Get the wireless remote from Superwinch...super easy to use.

We installed the next size bigger (S7500) but it is identical to the S5500 unit, just geared a little lower....not really necessary for a car trailer IMO but that's what the owner wanted. I think the S5500 is the best trailer winch on the market right now.

brkntrxn

I'll echo the rope recommendations. My winch has the synthetic rope and it is MUCH better to work with than a steel cable.

Dan H.

I've used the Superwinch 4500 this year on my trailer and it has worked well. Car has always been a roller so its really easy hasn't been tested and lets hope that it won't be anytime soon.

I'd say the cable and its the worst part of it. There is about quadruple the cable I need, so much that it jams up against the frame of the winch. I can't just drag it out. I would recommend the synthetic rope if you can swing it.

eogel

I also have the synthetic rope and it is far superior to the steel cable on my previous winch. Very easy to work with, no wires in your hands, flexible and no damage to anything it touches.

Ed

chpmnsws6

Always a synthetic rope, but watch it rubbing on anything. They don't tolerate the abuse much. I've put my warn M8000 through hell for the last 6-7 years. First sitting out in the open on the front of the Jeep, then for the remainder being used for both the car and around the farm.

Hi Volts Z06

No comparison. Steel cable will cut your hand open in a heartbeat and offers no real benefit. Synthetic rope is plyable, water and mold resistant, lays nicer on the capstan and is strong as hell.

Charley Hoyt

Thanks for all the input! It is very helpful.

Charley

Nokones

I would use some caution when the rope gets up there in age especially if you are winching on an incline. I just had a 1 inch synthetic tow rope rated at 6,000 pounds snap on me pulling about 2,000 pounds. The rope was about 15 years old.

I noticed that the size of the rope on the S5500 winch is 1/4" and the S7500 winch is 5/16".

I have been totally happy with my wireless S4500 for the last 15 years with no problems even with the steel cable.

fleming23

Certainly something to be cautious of, especially if constantly exposed to the elements, but a 1" rope was only rated at 6k? My 5/16" AmSteelBlue is 12,300.