Amsteel Blue Winch Ropes

"It is Samson's position that AmSteel Blue is an excellent product for use with winches on off-road vehicles provided proper operating conditions are used..." (Dave Strauss, Western Regional Sales Manager, Industrial Division, Samson Rope Technologies)
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I decided that I would put it to the test when I did my yearly New Year's trip to Moab, Utah. When we were pulling out the Amsteel Blue rope to hook to the anchor point, it was a joy. So light it felt like string, we literally threw the hook to the anchor point. After the first winching, we were sold on the ease of use. Knowing we were winching again ahead I just wrapped it up on my arm like--hey, a rope--and bungied it to the front ARB bar and drove on up the trail.

In the tough winching I did during testing I stalled the Superwinch X-9 twice with a pulley block in the line. Yes, I stalled at 11,900 lbs resistance to the winch, using a pulley block to try to extricate my Rangie! I then looked under the rig and saw the rock ledge holding the axle housing at the diff and thought I better get a rock under the tire to lift the axle up a bit. The second time I was in a 4 foot snow drift. The rope didn't even flinch under the load. 

That whole day I used various riggings for the winch extrication of my Rangie and my clients' rigs--double line with a pulley block, angle single line with a pulley block on a bend in the trail, single line to the Pull-Pal anchor. You name it I tried it; this rope really impressed me. It made winching much easier. I even was abusive to the rope, in that during winching, it got crossed up on the drum and on angle pulls, I let it build-up to one side with nary a fray. And I didn't have to worry about those needle-like splays that wire rope is known to have that cut through gloves so easily.

At the end of the 5-day trip, I picked a 4+ trail called "Behind-the-Rocks," ran it up-hill and in a blinding snowstorm that added 8" to the already 9" on the ground. It was really great 4-wheeling. I used the winch on my Rangie to pull me and my clients over a dozen times that day, climbing rock ledges, slick-rock (really slick, too) mounds and 4 foot deep drifts. You know, a typical 4-wheeling day in wintry Utah.

One thing to hold in mind is the first layer must be wound on TIGHT! I used the same set screw as was on the wire-rope. I did tape the end of the rope before setting it into the retaining hole and set screw. In testing I found that I could get to about half the bare drum and the rope would hold tight to pull up the slack before actually winching. I would recommend you have at least most of the first layer wrapped before winching! You will definitely need to have a roller-fairlead on your winch as it will be a lot easier on the rope. The fraying (or anti-fraying) capabilities are very high, but why push it! In the long run, I will be testing it to see how it weathers while hanging out on my front winch. If they leave it on the deck of ocean vessels in all sorts of weather then I think it will do fine on my winch. I am going to order some 3/8" for my Defender 90 next! (1999)

(Originally written in 1999, updated 2003)
©©Bill Burke's 4-Wheeling America LLC