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12/27/2025 4:05:21 PM EDT
I inherited my father in laws quad, so this year have been using it to plow the driveway.

He has replaced the original winch with a badlands harbor freight unit. It works, however the original hook has been replaced and the cable shortened a bit.

Anyway the cable is beat up and has some fraying. I can only find on HF site the synthetic winch rope. The plow is the only thing it is used for.

Question is, how is the synthetic rope wit stuff like road salt and water. Will it deteriorat or last say 5 or more years?

Might just replace the entire winch, currently works but is noisy.

Not sure how well he maintained the winch. I will venture to say the original was a warn. He purchased the quad brand new to plow his driveway that's it.

12/27/2025 5:32:24 PM EDT
[#1]
If you're only using it to plow, 25' of 3/16" cable will suffice.  Exchange the cable that way if it's the winch which is faulty, you don't have money into it.
America is at that awkward stage, it’s too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards....Claire Wolfe
12/27/2025 6:41:55 PM EDT
[Last Edit: seek2][Edited] [#2]
On mine, mechanical wear on the synthetic cable was a much bigger issue than aging and salt/dirt. Sounds like that's probably the case with the steel cable you have as well.

A tiny part of the cable bears all the abuse from the pulley/fairlead, and the synthetic cable just simply wore through.

I just pulled out another 5 feet of fresh cable and knotted the hook back on and was back in business.
12/27/2025 8:44:21 PM EDT
[#3]
Quote History
Originally Posted By seek2:
On mine, mechanical wear on the synthetic cable was a much bigger issue than aging and salt/dirt. Sounds like that's probably the case with the steel cable you have as well.

A tiny part of the cable bears all the abuse from the pulley/fairlead, and the synthetic cable just simply wore through.

I just pulled out another 5 feet of fresh cable and knotted the hook back on and was back in business.
View Quote
This - for plowing, you're only using the last few feet of the cable.
Feb 2025 It’s 48 to 0 and we’re only 2 minutes into the first quarter
trobertson5-0 I wasn't put in jail for what I did. I was put in it for what I think. There were FBI agents posting in my threads. I've seen the discovery showing this.
12/27/2025 9:45:53 PM EDT
[#4]
Will unwind it tomorrow to see how much is on there.
Quad is a 2003 arctic cat 400 4x4 automatic.

I will use it around the property, might look for a small trailer to load downed branches and crap like that.
But that's about it.
12/27/2025 10:04:46 PM EDT
[#5]
I have used synthetic rope and steel cable.  I like the rope for off road rescues as it can be tied back onto it's self if it breaks.  The cable seems to last longer for repetition like using a plow. I have sen some places that use a strap (flatter and possibly better wear for plowing).  Don't forget the synthetic rope uses a different fairlead and the wire uses a roller fairlead.

Mike
1/2/2026 1:18:55 PM EDT
[#6]
replace the line with a strap it will last much longer. they make plow straps or some guys use boat trailer strap.
1/2/2026 1:58:15 PM EDT
[#7]
Keep in mind that if you switch to a snythetic rope you have to change out the fairlead as well.
1/2/2026 7:55:20 PM EDT
[#8]
The first 1ft of the cable from the hook is frayed in a few spots. I just cut that off and attached the hook.

Figured just use what's there until it needs replacment.
1/8/2026 11:03:26 AM EDT
[#9]
I much prefer synthetic line over steel line. I don’t mind replacing it more frequently. Funny thing though, the only line I’ve had issues with was steel. Synthetic keeps working. I have a couple I’ll probably replace in the next year or so just to be on the safe side. When you need a winch for extraction, you REALLY need it. For running a snow plow, cutting and reattaching it wouldn’t bother me a bit.
"It behooves every man to remember that the work of the critic is of altogether secondary importance, and that, in the end, progress is accomplished by the man who does things."
Theodore Roosevelt

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