Wasted $80 on a cheap winch cable and it snapped on my first pull at a muddy spot in the Poconos

Honestly, I figured a budget cable would hold up for light use, but it frayed after 30 feet of tugging. Had to call a buddy with a tow strap to get me unstuck. Anyone else regret skimping on winch gear?

2 comments

2 Comments

sarahpatel3d ago

Cheap stuff always costs more in the end, that's just life.

amy9753d ago

Yeah the "light use" thing always gets people. The thing is though, even a light pull in mud can put way more stress on a cable than you'd think. It's not just the weight of the truck, it's the suction from the mud and the angle you're pulling from. $80 is pretty much the bottom of the barrel for winch cable, and those cheap ones are usually made with lower grade steel that's more brittle. I learned the hard way too, had a cable snap and whip back, almost hit my buddy's truck. For anyone reading this, a good rule of thumb is to spend at least double what you think you need on recovery gear, especially if you're going to be in mud or snow.