Hawes Fairlead or Roller Fairlead?

[Hammertime]

Just getting ready to buy my winch rope for my 8274. which fairlead should I go with? Pros and cons of each ?

[don]

Funny, I just got a Viking rope from Brown Santa today and was thinking I should replace the rollers. So interested what people recomend as well...

[Firemanshort]

Did you get a cool hat too? (the same brown santa visited me today with the same package).

I recommend the Pangolin plastic hawse. Well made and cheap.

[Cred]

Did you get a cool hat too? (the same brown santa visited me today with the same package).

I recommend the Pangolin plastic hawse. Well made and cheap.

Why go with plastic when aluminum ones are not costly either 35 bucks or so?

[Buckon37s]

Either is fine. The Hawes is smaller, cheaper, and lighter. Seems like a no brainer.

[130Tdi]

I was encourage to change from rollers when I went from wire to synthetic. The argument was that if the (in my case amsteel blue) line gets in one of the corners the rollers might shred it. The steel rollers get rusty looking quick if you use your winch with wiire rope.

[evilfij]

I have seen the line wedge into the corner of the rollers and snap.

[JFD]

Anybody using webbing on their winch ? just curious...

[evilfij]

Anybody using webbing on their winch ? just curious...

What is webbing?

[JFD]

What is webbing?

http://www.liftingandcrane.co.uk/offroadrecovery/winchweb.php

[Santiago]

So I should not use a roller fairlead with a synthetic winch rope? It is not just a myth?
Anybody doing this?

Sorry to insist.
Cheers,
Santiago

[JFD]

Use a hawse, don't take no chance, synthetic lines are expensive.

[cgalpin]

FWIW, Bill Burke says use a roller fairlead with synthetic too. With a hawse there is constantly friction against the rope. With a roller, there isn't. Yes there is the possibility of getting it wedged between the rollers, which he says has only happened to him one or two times in many years of winching, but he says if you are paying attention and take proper measures it shouldn't and the line will be in better condition in general.

I don't have a personal opinion on this yet as I have never owned a winch. Truth be told I'll likely get a hawse when I do though :)

[Ray_G]

Watch the plastic...the pic below is the aftermath of this weekend's off center line pull. Bear in mind I've had this setup on the truck for 2 years and countless winchings, but still-the worst part was the line ended up wedged in there and was a bit of a PITA to get out. I'll be switching to aluminum.
r-
Ray

[Ren Ching]

ditto on that. have had the same thing happen with side pulls on plastic hawse fairleads. best to avoid both :)

Watch the plastic...the pic below is the aftermath of this weekend's off center line pull. Bear in mind I've had this setup on the truck for 2 years and countless winchings, but still-the worst part was the line ended up wedged in there and was a bit of a PITA to get out. I'll be switching to aluminum.
r-
Ray

[dmarchand]

Roller fairlead with derlin rollers.

[LFORGUE8]

Roller fairlead with derlin rollers.X2 I had delrin rollers but lost one during a rainy night run ( i think it was because of the pins and c clips were not tight enough, changing to bolts and nuts) and i just bought the daystar rollers so wee'll see how those do...........

[AmityD90]

I saw that article in a RN Newsletter also about the hawse fairleads. Steering me away from them.
You can probably argue for either one, but since I have rollers already, it makes my decision much simpler.

I've been told if you have a new winch setup with new steel rollers, you should be fine putting synthetic. The problem comes if you are replacing a steel line with synthetic. The steel line creates nicks and burrs on the rollers that could cause the synthetic to fray.

Best bet if you are replacing your line with synthetic, go with replacement derlin rollers.
Here is a nice link to the different options
http://www.winchline.com/fairleads.htm

[Santiago]

The more I read about it, the least decided I am about what to do.

I have a used synthtic rope, a used aluminium hawse fairlead and a new roller fairlead.
The things is that because the the Milemarker drum is slightly displaced to one side (not on the centre of the vehicle) I will have to modify the bumper in order to install the aluminium hawse fairlead. Beacause the roller fairlead is considerably wider, I think I can fit the roller fairlead without major modifications to the existing bumper.

Are roller fairleads always wider than aluminium hawse fairleads ( mine is 7 inches wide).

[Red90]

Aluminum hawse for synthetic. It works great. The fairleads do not wear and it does not damage the rope at all.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/Red90rover/DSC00480.jpg

[Buckon37s]

Aluminum hawse for synthetic. It works great. The fairleads do not wear and it does not damage the rope at all.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/Red90rover/DSC00480.jpg

Yes,

I gotta say, with synthetic ropes, rollers are pointless. Even plastic ones. They dent easily, the metal holding them can smash. The winch line can get chewed up in the corners. And they hurt approach angle. Go AL like in the pic and be done with it. They are like $15 on ebay.

[Santiago]

OK, that's it, I am going aluminium hawse fairlead, thanks for all the opinions.
I will do the required modifications.

By the way Red 90, beautiful picture! Makes me wish being there with my 110, double ARB's, 2.8 and BFG MT.
Was that stuff slippery?

[bjf]

perhaps a dumb question - My truck has a roller fairlead. Can I just switch it to the hawes if I go synthetic? Same mounting points?

[Red90]

Was that stuff slippery?

Yes, couldn't stay on t he trail and it in a big drop off on the far side. Probably would have been OK when dry.