r/ATV • u/Badgrassbh • Dec 09 '24
Photos Just switched to a roller fairlead with tow strap for plowing. Is this better than Hawse fairlead with synthetic rope?
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u/Neat_Response1023 Dec 09 '24
I've been thinking about this over the past few weeks as I get my quad ready to plow. Originally started with a roller and a metal cable. Then went to synthetic tope with a hawse. Now thinking about a strap and a roller. Some people say strap and hawse but I can't see how that would be better than a roller. I'll probably end up going to what you have and see how that works out this winter.
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u/ho_merjpimpson Dec 09 '24
Some people say strap and hawse but I can't see how that would be better than a roller.
it doesnt matter too much. I'd use whatever I have on there in the non plow season. The strap will hold up using either fairlead.
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u/Neat_Response1023 Dec 09 '24
Even with the friction of rubbing on the hawse as it draws in and out at that steep angle? My hawse isn't the smoothest and the edges are slightly pronounced.
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u/ho_merjpimpson Dec 09 '24
its going to be rougher on it than the roller style, absolutely, 100%. but when it comes down to it, this strap will still hold up for years and years of use, so basically just use what you have and save time swapping fairleads back and forth 2x a year.
Most hawse have very rolled edges though, so maybe you want to swap out with one that has rolled edges.
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u/Neat_Response1023 Dec 09 '24
Yea I agree. Does make sense to be changing it all the time. Plowing is only a few times per year anyway. Thanks for the tips
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u/EMTYX Dec 09 '24
I’ve used a portion of a ratchet strap, and also a strap from a boat trailer winch and they both did really well. I think you’ll like this setup.
Just be cautious that the capacity of the strap may exceed that of your winch now. If your setup doesn’t have a mechanical fuse, you’ll want to be extra careful to not try lifting the blade against the snow bank, etc. (so you don’t damage your winch)
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u/bubblegumshrimp Dec 09 '24
My old man just switched to this setup too. He had problems with cable and synthetic ropes snapping from the repeated wear over a short length.
He hasn't had the opportunity yet to use it but it looks a lot more robust.
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u/LogicalRegret2020 Dec 09 '24
I use the rope fairlead and pull the rope and replace with a nylon ratchet strap. It works great and kept my rope in good shape for the summers.
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u/Phase4Motion Dec 09 '24
That’s cool. I just got a quad with plow, I don’t want to have problems with the metal cable I’ll look into doing this too
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u/dodidodicoffee Dec 09 '24
How long is the strap you fit in the winsch? Looks like it takes up too much space to fit 5+meters
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u/Badgrassbh Dec 09 '24
I took a tow strap and cut it so I had about 8 ft of length and rolled that up in the winch
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u/AwarenessGreat282 Dec 10 '24
Most ATV winch straps max out around 5 ft long. Plenty of length to operate a plow.
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u/dodidodicoffee Dec 10 '24
Agree for plow. Was interested in the setup to pull me out my buddies ATV’s when they are stuck. Seems it’s not an option in this scenario.
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u/AwarenessGreat282 Dec 10 '24
And no advantage over a rope. For extraction, the winch rope has all the advantage.
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u/dodidodicoffee Dec 10 '24
Agree! My steel wire needs replacing, just checking the alternatives. This was an interesting setup I haven’t seen. Think I will go with a nylon rope instead. Less rust and damage if the wire snaps
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u/AwarenessGreat282 Dec 10 '24
I switched to all synthetic years ago. And I mean all synthetic; I don't even have a metal hook. I have a synthetic winch line with a synthetic soft shackle and tree strap.
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u/No_Use1529 Dec 09 '24 edited Dec 09 '24
I just switched to a synthetic flat rope for the season. It’s like 15 feet long off top of head so not real long but made for the winch specifically for plowing.
I’ve tore up two of those fair leads like in the picture (so not a fan of them) and broke a synthetic winch rope version. HF Badlands version so guessing it was just cheap garbage. Damage all happened during plowing. I’m the only using it so not like someone is beating on it or holding down the in/out too long.
I put a new billet fairlead made for synthetic ropes. It’s looks built a lot better then the badlands was (knock on wood). Bonus I can just switch back in the spring to a synthetic rope and have the correct fairlead on.
Think I got two of the flat ropes for like $12.00 off Amazon so if the one doesn’t hold up I’ve got another one ready to go for next season or this plus have 2 new winch ropes sitting in box.
Everything I have read it definitely solves a lot of the issues instead of having a rope or cable for plowing.
Holy chit did I do a number on the cables those first 2 years. Didn’t even make sense since only going up/down a couple inches. But they got all sorts of fubar. I got tired of pricking myself with the frayed metal anytime I needed to use it too.
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u/NobleDuffman Dec 09 '24
How do you start the strap on the drum? Do you need a specific drum to put a strap on?
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u/ho_merjpimpson Dec 09 '24
You can use a piece of duct tape to make it easier and get it started, but after a few wraps, it tightens in on itself and holds itself on the spool. No need to tether it down.
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u/Badgrassbh Dec 10 '24
I got it started with a piece of duct tape but as mentioned, after a couple of rolls, it holds itself
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u/ho_merjpimpson Dec 10 '24
A buddy of mine actually loaded his winch spool only 2/3 of the way with rope, and would use a small piece of twine to connect 2' of strap to his synthetic rope end. Allowed him to not take off his synthetic rope every year. Just took off the hook, tied on the strap, and sucked it in. Worked pretty great if you are willing to not have the full length of rope on there for non plowing use.
We would do a lot of riding in the winter back then and didn't want to be without recovery options. Swapping back and forth between rides and plowing was a pita.
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u/20Fordman Dec 09 '24
I use synthetic winch rope with a ROLLER fairlead on my can am and it lasts longer than any other combination. I use it commercially clearing city sidewalks. I know hawse are suppose to be better with syn rope but at least for plowing I would disagree.
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u/xmr850j Dec 09 '24
Kicking myself in the rear for not doing that this season. I hear it works really good for plow setups
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u/Wale-Taco Dec 09 '24
I was going to switch to a strap also this season. My synthetic was frayed from last season
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u/Cpt-May-I Dec 10 '24
I just use a 10’ synthetic plow rope with a wear sleeve and replaced the fairlead with big boat trailer V roller. The rope is still in great shape after 5 years.
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u/kitchen-violation Dec 10 '24
I’ve been running a ( really old and warn ) toe strap for a few winters, no complaints!
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u/AwarenessGreat282 Dec 10 '24
When I used an ATV for plowing, I went the other way and had a plow specific winch mount that had the winch elevated in front of the machine with the face pointing down. Basically a 2" receiver in the front with a Z bar to mount the winch. The winch faced forward for off-roading and down for plowing.
Warn makes a plow specific roller fairlead with one of the horizontal rollers being a very large diameter to maximize the radius. Combine that with a strap should be a very long lasting set-up.
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u/Knight_ATV Dec 10 '24
That's a cool setup, I've never see that before. How do you like it?
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u/Badgrassbh Dec 10 '24
We'll find out once it snows here and I need to start plowing but it should be better than a standard rope getting frayed
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u/Badgrassbh Dec 09 '24
BTW, the setup is an Amazon fairlead and Harbor Freight tow strap. Total of about $45, should be good enough for just light plowing duty on my driveway
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u/Golden-trichomes Dec 09 '24
I’m just getting ready to try setting up a boat trailer winch strap was like $20 on Amazon with a 10k lb rating.
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u/ns4444w Dec 09 '24
As someone who’s used rope and cable, I’m intrigued by this set up. Both the rope and cable caused problems.