Which winch hook/shackle do you guys recommend.

[LLANERO]

Here is my set up: WInch Thimble, 26,000 lb rated rope and a big D ring. If I am pulling I am pulling LARGE out of rivers, Pritchett Canyon, Jeep the went over a cliff (and landed upright, not to much damage) but it was difficult pull as the drop was about 20-25 ft. I have saved a lot of Jeepers on some gnarly trails.

This is the original Winch Thimble, Patented.

Nice. I glad the cliff drop didn’t cause too much damage.

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[Old Jeeper]

Nice. I glad the cliff drop didn’t cause too much damage.

He was going too fast and jumped out, guessing he could stop fast enough to keep from going over. His jeep landed in some soft mud...it was a BITCH to get out. First I had to break it loose from the mud and drag it up to the cliff edge; luckily, it was not concave. There was enough slope to let the wheels touch. I carried a piece of carpeting folded over about 4 times in the bed of my Jeep. I used that to put on the edge of the cliff so the Jeep can drag over without getting hung up.

I got him over to the main trail leading to the hardtop, and he could call a wrecker and get it towed somewhere. The Jeep did sit a bit lower from some bent metal...

 

[Pareto Offroad]

I like that this thread has shifted to nearly free options that perform better than all the fancy expensive stuff. I feel like there’s a big divide in the Jeep world amongst those that equate $$$ to solution quality and those that know better. (Not saying this is always true, but winch line ends are a great example).

 

[1996cc]

I like that this thread has shifted to nearly free options that perform better than all the fancy expensive stuff. I feel like there’s a big divide in the Jeep world amongst those that equate $$$ to solution quality and those that know better. (Not saying this is always true, but winch line ends are a great example).

I drank the candy-colored anodized kool-aid for quite a while. One day when I set it down in the powdery snow and it sank over a foot down, I thought, “that thing is super heavy and I have to get a soft shackle out anyway, why don’t I just take out the heavy thing!?!”

 

[maxp0wers]

I'm still curious if anyone has actually seen a factor55 product fail. I haven't seen any reports of it.

Is it really a case of safety concern?

I suppose the argument could be made that if you use cheap recovery equipment that the factor55 ( or any hook ) could come flying back at you.

In my example, I've got an ARB tree saver, Crosby shackles, winch line dampner, warn zeon 10-S synthetic line winch.and factor55 flatlink e. In doing a self recovery would anyone not trust this setup?

Speak freely. It's a genuine question rather than a challenge to anyone.

 

[dragoneggs]

I have Factor 55 FlatLink E and their Rope Pulley. Have used them a couple of times. I can’t imagine either failing and never heard of any failures.

 

[1996cc]

I'm still curious if anyone has actually seen a factor55 product fail. I haven't seen any reports of it.

Is it really a case of safety concern?

I suppose the argument could be made that if you use cheap recovery equipment that the factor55 ( or any hook ) could come flying back at you.

In my example, I've got an ARB tree saver, Crosby shackles, winch line dampner, warn zeon 10-S synthetic line winch.and factor55 flatlink e. In doing a self recovery would anyone not trust this setup?

Speak freely. It's a genuine question rather than a challenge to anyone.

I wasn’t worrying about the flatlink failing, but winch lines can snap no matter what brand they are. Soft shackles can be attached wrong, etc.

 

[Terrymo]

@maxp0wers
My thought, being overly cautious, is to remove as much metal from the equation as possible and practical.

 

[Tank2112]

Really depends on how much you will realistically use the winch?
Or is a "look" you are going for?
Basci Warn hook that came with winch served me fine over the years when I did a lot of hard-core rock crawling. Lots of winching.

With my new Jeep, I knew I wouldn't use winch much, I tried to keep it as simple as possible. I ordered a factory 2024 Jeep fairlead for clean look.
Remote mounted winch control pack inside engine bay for lower profile. Warn Zeon 12S.

 

[RudeJeepin]

In my example, I've got an ARB tree saver, Crosby shackles, winch line dampner, warn zeon 10-S synthetic line winch.and factor55 flatlink e. In doing a self recovery would anyone not trust this setup?

Speak freely. It's a genuine question rather than a challenge to anyone.

I would say as long as your shackles are properly sized then you should be fine.
My biggest worry with that list would actually be the synthetic line. I know how I use and abuse my steel cable by dragging it over logs, dirt, rocks etc. Synthetic wouldn't stand up to the abrasion.

 

[dragoneggs]

I think the big key to longevity and safety is to keep your recovery gear as clean as possible. After you get home using it. Run your line out, clean/inspect, and get any grit off all your accessories.

 

[THAW]

I run the standard Warn hook...

with an AEV isolator to protect the fairlead/hold the hook tight against the vehicle..

swapped the split cotter pin in the clevis pin on the hook for a small reusable brooch style...

to quickly/easily remove the hook for a closed system using a soft shackle through the standard Warn rope thimble...

cost under $40 for the extra parts (isolator and cotter pin).

I probably won't ever use the hook but it's there in a pinch, and I like the classic look on the front of the Jeep - I've wanted a Warn winch since I was a kid.

The metal weight of the thimble is sub-optimal during a recovery, but I like the protection it provides the rope loop and the bend radius it creates on the soft shackle.

 

[STW]

...
My biggest worry with that list would actually be the synthetic line. I know how I use and abuse my steel cable by dragging it over logs, dirt, rocks etc. Synthetic wouldn't stand up to the abrasion.

This was my concern too when I sold off my 8274 still mounted on the TJ. I knew synthetic line has been around a long time but I had always used steel cable and just didn't have the familiarity.

I wouldn't fault anyone who has excellent recovery skills with steel cable for just sticking with what they know well. But when I was choosing a winch for the new JLR I decided that since I'm still in learning mode with recovery tools anyway, that I should learn how to use synthetic line since it's already standard equipment in most settings.

Later after I'd installed a winch with synthetic line, getting a handle on it, I had participated in a couple recoveries with synthetic line. It was starting to seem less strange not to use steel cable, and I was appreciating the advantages.

Then I happened to watch this 4Wheel adventure series on one of the streaming services. It was a muddy offroad race overland to the top of Alaska, between 8 or so vehicles. Because of the conditions, the series was showing the details of winch pull after winch pull--so many messy recoveries--and all of them with synthetic line (maybe one old 4Runner had steel cable?). Seeing how tough synthetic line was in theses conditions, and how these experienced teams managed with it without a single concern or synthetic-related problem, made me realize all I needed was to be more familiar with the new technology. Not saying TV is where people should learn recovery methods, haha, but it did show me my own concerns were based on just lack of knowledge.

 

[RudeJeepin]

This was my concern too when I sold off my 8274 still mounted on the TJ. I knew synthetic line has been around a long time but I had always used steel cable and just didn't have the familiarity.

I wouldn't fault anyone who has excellent recovery skills with steel cable for just sticking with what they know well. But when I was choosing a winch for the new JLR I decided that since I'm still in learning mode with recovery tools anyway, that I should learn how to use synthetic line since it's already standard equipment in most settings.

Later after I'd installed a winch with synthetic line, getting a handle on it, I had participated in a couple recoveries with synthetic line. It was starting to seem less strange not to use steel cable, and I was appreciating the advantages.

Then I happened to watch this 4Wheel adventure series on one of the streaming services. It was a muddy offroad race overland to the top of Alaska, between 8 or so vehicles. Because of the conditions, the series was showing the details of winch pull after winch pull--so many messy recoveries--and all of them with synthetic line (maybe one old 4Runner had steel cable?). Seeing how tough synthetic line was in theses conditions, and how these experienced teams managed with it without a single concern or synthetic-related problem, made me realize all I needed was to be more familiar with the new technology. Not saying TV is where people should learn recovery methods, haha, but it did show me my own concerns were based on just lack of knowledge.

I would imagine part of it was that they knew they were gonna replace the line after the event.
Sure synthetic can be abused, but it's not gonna live as long as steel. Plus there is more maintenance to it.
My old winch is on my son's TJ with the original 30 year old steel cable. No way synthetic would of lasted that long with my usage.
I'm not saying that people should or shouldn't use one over the other. I'm just not for buying into the 'latest and greatest' just cause others say so. Ya I know synthetic it's new.
I'm not against synthetic, I have a 150 and 25 foot lengths of 5/8" AmSteel Blue for extensions. I know when and how to use them, clean them, make loops, tie knots, etc. But my winch has and probably always will have steel cable.
Steel isn't for everyone, neither is synthetic. Everybody needs to make their own choice and they need to know the plusses and minuses of each.

Kinda like, don't buy into the old saying that synthetic doesn't store energy. As in it won't recoil if snapped, because it will.

 

[Philly_]

I would imagine part of it was that they knew they were gonna replace the line after the event.
Sure synthetic can be abused, but it's not gonna live as long as steel. Plus there is more maintenance to it.
My old winch is on my son's TJ with the original 30 year old steel cable. No way synthetic would of lasted that long with my usage.
I'm not saying that people should or shouldn't use one over the other. I'm just not for buying into the 'latest and greatest' just cause others say so. Ya I know synthetic it's new.
I'm not against synthetic, I have a 150 and 25 foot lengths of 5/8" AmSteel Blue for extensions. I know when and how to use them, clean them, make loops, tie knots, etc. But my winch has and probably always will have steel cable.
Steel isn't for everyone, neither is synthetic. Everybody needs to make their own choice and they need to know the plusses and minuses of each.

Kinda like, don't buy into the old saying that synthetic doesn't store energy. As in it won't recoil if snapped, because it will.

Definitely agree that there is a place for both, and one may be better for you depending on the situation.

Overall I am happy with switching to synthetic on my Jeep. For how infrequently I use my winch, it was worth it to me just to shed weight, but that might not make sense for everyone. I do like that in every event I've witnessed with a synthetic line snapping, the recoil was straight back to the connection points, and with steel, I've seen it unravel and recoil with less predictability.

The important thing is to take the proper safety precautions regardless of the line you're using, and keep in mind these things are dangerous no matter what.

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