I am curious as to the general consensus here.
Do you prefer a hook at the end of your winch line or just the thimble?
Why?
Do you prefer a hook at the end of your winch line or just the thimble?
Why?
Winch line hook or thimble?
- Thread starter traveltoad
- Start date
I use the thimble with a d-shackle. I've always felt uneasy using a hook. I know that many use them with no issues, but the d-shackle gives me piece of mind.
When I ordered my syn. line I was planning on just using the hook from my steel Superwinch line with it, but it didn't fit over the thimble. For tha last few months I've been using just the thimble with a shackle and it's been working great. It does take a little longer to connect in some cases, but I like to take time and think hard about my recoveries anyway. The onle problem I've found is that when connecting to an RTE front bumper or an sort of shackle receiver you need two shackles as neither the thimble or the line is big enough to fit around the "bow" end where the pin goes through, not quite sure what the downside of that could be beyond having more weight at the end should a recovery point fail.
I can not think if a single time when I DIDN'T connect the hook to a shackle when I had a hook on the end of my winch line. Naturally, when I switched to synthetic line, I didn't bother with the hook at all.
Ive been using just the thimble on my synthetic for about a year and am actually considering putting the hook back on.. just quicker to hook up.. sometimes while under water, that few minutes is worth it!
traveltoad said:
Thimble.
You want a positive connection to the item being pulled on/from. A thimble style connector and a shackel won't slip off like a hook could, resulting in a whipping line or a vehicle rolling back. Plus a thimble to vehicle hook is safer/stronger than a winch hook to vehicle hook (when nothing else is available). You're also not tempted to girdle a tree and run the cable back on itself when doing things in a hurry.
Thimble only, I see no value in the hook for my personal situation.
ive seen these blinged out fisher price looking thimbles. I'm not sure how i feel about them. I guess its okay, but i wouldnt go and pay for one myself.
ive seen these blinged out fisher price looking thimbles. I'm not sure how i feel about them. I guess its okay, but i wouldnt go and pay for one myself.
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D
DiscoDino
Guest
I use a HUGE hook from ROckstomper...I agree with your POVs on the D-ring, but I also like to put a LOT of stuff through my hook fast and easily...
+ never failed me...yet...
+ never failed me...yet...
yeh ditch the hook. mine froze up within 6 months of getting my syn line, so now it has a D shackle attached to it permanently . i'll get around to cutting the hook off.
The saftey thimble as shown in bor's post solves the problem with the D-ring as it slips through and you can hook directly to a hitch receiver or a RTE pull point or anything the bolt will fit through.
I believe John C at 4x4AG is getting some of these in.
I believe John C at 4x4AG is getting some of these in.
I use a Warn M12000, and I am very uneasy about the hook. Been waiting to save up for synthetic line, and when I order, the thimble will come too. My hook has the cotter pin and shaft arrangement, so I'll keep it for those certain times where I wish I had it; but for every day use, I'll feel better with a thimble on there.
Jeff you won't even consume high fructose corn syrup or hydrogenated oils, so don't tell me you live on the edge you sissy. sissy man.
G
gil stevens
Guest
i use thimble, just like robs, for the reasons above, plus the fact that you cant suck the thimble into the fairlead.