Winch line lead.

[Yota_Tech87]

So.... I recently added the winch in the front bumper, I went with a Come-up SEAL GEN2 9.5rs, and I'm looking into a winch line lead. I have become fond of Factor 55, and more so their UltraHook lead. My question is, 1) does anyone run this? and if so, any input? also, 2) Anyone run any of their other products? if so, any input is appreciated. 3rd) and lastly, Anyone have any other ideas or companies that they like or use? I am open and like to hear reviews of those who have used the items. thanks in advance.

 

[derryck]

I have their Hawse fairlead and their ProLink and have been very happy with both. They make a quality product so I'd be willing to bet it's the same with the Ultrahook.

 

[Airmapper]

I use this, a lot cheaper and does the job:

https://tacticalrecoveryequipment.com/product/safety-thimble-2/

Nothing wrong with the Factor 55, but they are kinda overrated in my opinion. They don't really live up to the concept of reducing points of failure given all the fancy doo-dads and pins in them. I mean they are not very likely to fail, but in rigging the general idea is to eliminate things that could break meaning the less hardware between the line and the point you want to connect to, the better.

My synthetic line wraps the safety thimble and connects back into itself, there is no separate thimble with a pin in it to break. It also results in more line being looped around the thimble spreading the load on it more. It can't get any more closed system than that.

All I need is one shackle to make connections. This can be a soft shackle for even less metal hardware to fly if anything gives. The thimble is just an aluminum guard for my line if you will since the line wraps around it. If I use a metal shackle, I can use the bow end or pin end, meaning one shackle can link back into a recovery point or other rigging, not 2 shackles. (One in the recovery point, and one in the thimble...)