If you question whether wire rope is a necessity when off-roading, let me help you draw a definite conclusion with this little tale: In preparation of their upcoming off roading trip, Mike and Carl decided to go through their packing list one more time.
Things like extra water, fuel, wire rope, survival kit, and batteries are crucial when venturing out into the wilderness on an ATV.
Confident they had everything they needed, the guys decided to head out at first light the next day.
The trip started out smoothly except for Mike getting stuck in a mud hole and relying on the wire rope of his winch to ease his ATV out of the sticky mess.
The early stages of the trip were highlighted by well worn trails and scenic views.
Carl's map indicated an ancient Indian cave painting but they were unable to locate it.
Discouraged, they set out to find a scenic overlook they had heard so much about.
Having a long ways to go and not much daylight left, they decided to ride faster than usual to get to the spot quickly.
The higher speeds wrecked havoc on Mike's cargo and he found that his six foot wire rope had come free and was dangling in front of the tire.
He found that problem just in time because if it would have become tangled in the tire, Mike could have had a serious accident.
See, wire rope is extremely strong, relatively lightweight, and very durable.
When used with winch systems, it's a reliable and easily maintained material quite capable of connecting a stuck vehicle to another.
Assuming the dominant vehicle has a solid footing, the wire rope transfers the kinetic energy from the dominant vehicle to the one that's stuck.
That energy can be used to overcome almost any mud hole.
Unlike natural or synthetic rope, wire rope will not fray, nor is there any real danger of unraveling or accidental cutting.
Next time you plan on taking your 4x4 out on an adventure, don't forget the wire rope, winch and s-hooks.
It could save you time and money by avoiding a tow truck.