Aluminum hawse for use with synthetic winch rope
The debate between a roller fairlead and aluminum hawse fairlead is one that has no cut-and-dried answers, but here are a few guidelines to follow in making your decision.
Tight Wheeling vs. Open Spaces
Sometimes a couple inches of extra clearance could make the difference in getting you a better approach angle and preventing your rollers from getting jammed up against a rock. If you wheel in tight spots, a hawse fairlead will give you that extra clearance. It can also give you a better approach angle. If you wheel in open areas, however, a couple of inches won’t make any difference.
Steel or Aluminum Fairlead
The type of material matters. If you choose to use a hawse fairlead, make sure it’s an aluminum hawse if you run synthetic winch line. A steel hawse is designed for use with steel cable only. Synthetic rollers are available for use with synthetic rope, although new steel rollers can work with your rope, too—as long as there are no nicks or sharp edges on the steel.
Aluminum is lighter than steel, so if you’re looking to cut every pound that you can, go with an aluminum hawse and synthetic rope.
Considerations for Synthetic Rope
With the old-style roller fairleads, it was possible to pinch the synthetic rope between the rollers, but with the newer style rollers, there is almost no chance of pinching the rope.
Whether you use new rollers or an aluminum hawse with your synthetic cable is basically up to you. Plenty of guys run rollers and synthetic line without any problems. As long as the rollers are not roughed up by steel cable, rollers should work fine with synthetic rope. If you are switching from steel cable to synthetic rope, purchase a new fairlead (either hawse or roller). It’s not worth cutting a brand new synthetic line by “making do” with your old fairlead.
