Winch strap question

[jakwi]

Hi all, I have a winch on my boat trailer that has a 2.75 inch spindle. I replaced the strap last year, 2 inch for 2 inch, and the new one is just as bad as the old one and gets all bound up. I've looked for other size straps. I have found a 3 inch strap and a 2.5 inch strap.
Is there a standard? What is the appropriate size strap for my 2.75 inch spindle?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Grub54891]

If the opening is 2-3/4 I'd imagine you would need a strap of the same width. 2" will wander back and forth, 3" will roll the edges. Another issue is you have to make sure you keep tension on the strap when winching, if its loose starting out, it'll Bunch up no matter what you do. Try to get it straightened out first and see if it stays that way. Also is it in the middle where it should be? Any offset causes problems. When loading if the boat comes up crooked, it forces the strap sideways and rolls the edges also. Trailer guides help that.

 

[jakwi]

Thanks for the reply. The 2 inch definitely bunches up. I'll keep looking for a 2 3/4 inch wide strap, but I haven't found one available yet, and I'd have to imagine the correct size is available. To be honest I never crank the boat in more than the last 3 or 4 feet, and sometimes less than that, so 25 feet of strap seems like a waste. It is straight, I really think the issue is the narrow strap on a wide winch.

 

[ahicks]

Agree 25' of strap is too much. You would NEVER need more that would be required to reach the back of the trailer, and RARELY would you need more than required for half way back.

 

[jakwi]

I think I found my answer, but I'm not sure. I have a Shelby 5480 Winch. and I think it is only meant to be used with cable. I have been trying to find the manual.

 

[JASinIL2006]

You could not pay me to go back to a steel cable on my winch. I'd replace the winch before I used cable again. Those cables always seems lot have a strand or two of wire that pokes out an cuts/punctures your hand. I'll never again use one of those on my boat trailer.

 

[jakwi]

Oh I'm with you, I think I'm just going to engineer a spacer for the spindle and use a 2 inch strap. Aside from binding up on the sides because of the width it works fine.

 

[mike_i]

I'm with you 100%, cable is bad and it hurts.

You could not pay me to go back to a steel cable on my winch. I'd replace the winch before I used cable again. Those cables always seems lot have a strand or two of wire that pokes out an cuts/punctures your hand. I'll never again use one of those on my boat trailer.