Installing Winch Rope on Your UTV - Replace Winch Cable with Synthetic Rope [Polaris General 4]

After a year of riding, we decided to replace the steel cable that came with our Polaris 4500 winch with synthetic rope. It's a fairly easy process that anyone can do and should take about an hour to do with the right tools.
The advantages of synthetic rope:
MUCH SAFER than steel cable when winching
Won't fray or drive metal splinters into your hand
Won't kink
Easier to fix on the trail
Stronger than cable
Disadvantages:
Needs to be washed occasionally
Easier to be damaged from abrasion and UV light
After a lot of research, we found some of the aftermarket winch ropes had mediocre reviews, and some of the fairleads had lower quality anodizing. We wound up purchasing a kit with everything we needed: 50 feet of 3/16th synthetic rope, 5" Hawse Fairlead, rubber winch rope stopper & hook plus mounting hardware. The rope came finished and taped at the end so it was easy to feed into the spool. We haven't had to do any winching yet, but the fairlead looks really sharp and everything seems to be good quality. For the few bucks we could have saved by going with a non-name brand product, we felt was worth the convenience of having everything together by a company with a good reputation.
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
For the Polaris General install you will need:
Metric wrenches (ratcheting wrenches are REALLY nice here, I recommend you pick up a set if you're going to be doing a lot of work on your machine. It'll save you a lot of time and hassle)
Metric ratchet set
3mm allen wrench
Electrical tape
Rag to clean spool
compressed air
Work light
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Website: northwoods.family/
Facebook: / northwoodsfamily
Instagram: @thenorthwoodsfamily

[@kevinjohnson6051]

Perfect timing on this video! Cable snapped on my General yesterday.

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

Oh no! Hopefully no one was injured 😧 Glad the video might help in the repair/upgrade process!

[@cardiocasey]

Best assistant ever.

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

She’s solid. Very dependable!

[@denisbrazeau5031]

Well done thanks for sharing!

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

You bet! I should have learned how to do this years ago…

[@reedembley5197]

Good info . . . thanks!

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

You betcha! Thanks Reed.

[@puppy4500]

Good video ,thank you

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

Glad you enjoyed it! thanks 🙏🏼

[@AlarianDarkwind]

I've always just tied a double knot in the end of the rope. Never had a problem with it pulling out.

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

I don’t know that there’s anything wrong with that. If it works, it works!

[@livinglifemyway7349]

gloves man, get ya some gloves when you get a hold of a frayed cable you will be a believer in gloves.

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

I have gotten a sliver that way before and you are 100% right on that.

[@garyreck6880]

Can you tell me what size rope you got 3/16 or 1/4 inch Thanks .

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

3/16… I forgot off the top of my head what the breaking strength is… maybe 2500 or 3000 lbs? Significantly more than the cable.

[@probegt75]

Does anyone know why not to use the roller type fairlead with a synthetic rope? It seems like there would be less friction with the roller style.

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

You absolutely can use rollers… just make sure they’re new so they don’t cut your rope and make sure they overlap so the rope doesn’t get caught. I’ve just found that rollers overtime start to not roll very smoothly. But some people prefer rollers with rope.

[@garyreck6880]

Where did you get your upgrade kit ? Thanks

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

I think I found it on Amazon.

[@garyreck6880]

@@TheNorthwoodsFamily Was that 3/16 th or 1/4 inch Thanks

[@brianrice8974]

I think the flat side of the hook guard goes against the fairlead.

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

That would make a lot of sense… I didn’t even notice if the two sides were different! 🤷‍♂️ will have to check when I get home! 😆 thanks!!!

[@ArizonaKid]

Did rubber stopper backwards. I’m sure u figured that out

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

Lol I did thanks! Hadn’t noticed the indentation on one side.

[@craiglinnenbrink4706]

What is the pros and cons of a rope verse a cable

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

Good question. Mainly rope is a lot safer if it breaks. It doesn’t have as much mass so if it even hits you, it shouldn’t seriously injure (or kill) you like cable could. Go KZbin videos of winch cables snapping. It’s wild. Rope is stronger (this one surprised me) working load limit for this rope is 3500 lbs versus about 840 lbs for 3/16 cable, rope won’t kink and if it breaks, you can tie a knot it it in a pinch versus a cable you need some tools and hardware to fix. Only downside with rope really is you have to care for it a little more. You want to wash it occasionally to remove abrasive dirt / sand which can wear it down.

[@craiglinnenbrink4706]

What is the benefits of a rope verses a cable

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

Mainly safety. Cable has more mass so if it snaps, a lot more energy comes flying back at you, your machine or anyone in the area. A snapped cable could seriously injure or kill someone. With rope, we switched to soft shackles and snatch rings - also lighter to carry and less dangerous than steel snatch blocks and bow shackles. The rope is stronger too actually, which I didn’t know til I looked into it. This 3/16” rope has a working load limit of 3500 lbs. 3/16” steel winch cable is typically rated around 840. Rope doesn’t kink, if it breaks in the field it’s easier to fix, it’s lighter weight and if it drags it won’t give you splinters like wire cable. The only downside of rope is you gotta maintain it. Occasionally wash it to get abrasive dirt / sand out of it so it doesn’t wear.

[@scottkuhlman5483]

Did you Know there is maintance with this rope. You need to clean it to keep dirt and sand out of it. The dirt will grind into the rope and fray it. I found this out the hard why when the rope on my jeep broke several times during a climb out west. Someone told me thats why it broke and i soak the old rope in a bucket of water and was amazed how much dirt came out. I put cable back on it. Just saying

[@TheNorthwoodsFamily]

Yep! Appreciate the advice. Definitely a downside of the rope…. And it will get dirty the way we ride lol. Soaking and even washing with a mild soap occasionally or after use is something you gotta do. One nice thing with cable is it pretty much needs zero maintenance. Thanks!!!