What winch cable for semitrailer braden winch?

Blocking..... seen a man pull a pickup out of a ditch with a walk behind gravely and some snatch blocks. You can multiply pulling strength greatly with snatch blocks.

 

Like the others have said, check with the winch manufacturer and get some specs. It depends if you have a 12k or a 20k winch. I have a 20k on my equipment trailer and I use 1/2" SS as per the manufacturer of my winch. Call a local wire rope/cable supplier and they can tell you what is the most popular for your set up.

 

What goes up, must come down...
I'm getting older, so it's starting to be down more than up

 

I was thinking of trying one of those inverted gismos advertised on TV, but the though of nuts residing under my chin has dissuaded me.

Sorry OP, this isn't helping is it?

 

It is perfectly normal for a winch to be rated much higher than the cable that goes in it. It's your responsibility to not exceed safe wll for the cable.

One of the reasons for this is that as you wrap cable around the drum, and start adding layers, the winch becomes less powerful, based on the basic principles of torque. So a winch rated for 18000 lbs in the first wrap will be rated for much less on say, wrap five.

If you want flexible and abrasion resistance, buy a steel cable with a fiber core. Get American made, they really do make a difference here. Get the largest one that fits in your winch, the usable cable sizes should be listed on your winch plate. If that cable isn't strong enough for your needs make sure it's long enough to use a snatch block. Make sure your snatch block is large enough and properly rated for what you need to do.

 

You want a steel with synthetic core. Roles better than steel and handles shock loads better than all steel. Esp. cold weather. However you don't ever oil this cable. I would carry a snatch block or two. Allows you to get creative and it allows winch to work easier. Try AW direct.com if you don't have a towing supply store close by. Or see if a pal at a local wrecker outfit would order you one.

 

Winch builders like tulsa, or ramsey will tell you what size and how much fits, that's it. They don't sell or install cable. Then your winch rating is pointless as long as long as its big enough for the job. Your cables WLL is what you care about. You will never install a cable stronger than winch. Wont fit. Now the tricky part if we wanna get into it. Your WLL changes per amount of raps of cable on the drum. Less raps, less wll. Then a snatch block is not to be used to increase wll its to lower, but dead heading line back making a 2 part line will double power, not WLL. While staying with in cable,winch, snatch block limits and paying attention to raps on drum.

 

Plus when using a snatch block or side puller. Forget about it winding straight. To many forces. Finish job, try not to make a birds nest. Rewind after load is removed. But use weight to rewind to have raps tight on drum. Not advising this but a good yellow pole in a parking lot release the brakes and winch truck back to rewind after a job. On large wreckers we would put a 20k medium duty truck on cable in a straight line, have a guy ride the brake and winch in to have a nice rap on drum. You dont want cable loose on the drum. Watching 100k drop 6" is hard on cable shock load and undies! Solid steel cable in sub 0 you have a better chance of folding it up and putting it in the side box than winding it.

 

One last thing. When you are down to the last two raps on drum STOP. You need to get closer, or add a chain. The weight is carried from cable to drum surface. The cable attachment dog is to aid in installing, Not allowed to apply weight to it. It will come right out. This is why you want a couple raps on drum.