Help me pick a hawse fairlead

[ArmyRN]

I've got a Warn M-8000 winch on my Jeep. I switched out the steel cable when it kinked for a synthetic line. I changed out the metal rollers on the fairlead for some Daystar non-metal replacement rollers. I'm not trusting them. I've since read poor reviews, and you can see in the picture where the line rubbed and caused an indent on one of the side rollers. Time for them to go.

Daystar Winch Rope Rollers for Synthetic Winch Line

Daystar Products now offers a simple and economical way to upgrade a standard winch roller fairlead to work with any synthetic rope. Daystar's Rope Rollers replace the steel rollers on any conventional fairlead so you can retain the benefits of a roller fairlead while running synthetic winch rope.

www.quadratec.com

So I want to get a good quality aluminum hawse fairlead. I want one that's at least 1" thick, I've read bad things about finishes coming off or the aluminum anodizing on some brands of hawse fairleads. I've narrowed it down to two options (if you know of any that are better than these two and are at least 1" thick let me know). Poison Spyder sells one and it looks nice, but other sites reported it as 5/8" or 3/4" thick so it didn't make my list. https://www.quadratec.com/p/poison-spyder/aluminum-hawse-winch-fairlead )

1. Warn 1" Premium Series Polished Hawse Fairlead ($70.00)

WARN Premium Hawse Fairlead Polished

When in the market for a hawse fairlead look no further than the stylish Warn Premium Hawse Fairlead. Made from 6061-T6 billet aluminum these fairleads will take on whatever the weather throws at it without corroding or fading due to UV rays.

www.quadratec.com

2. Factor 55 Hawse Fairlead in Gunmetal ($72.00)

Factor 55 00016 Hawse Fairlead 1.0

Factor 55 introduces a new line of Aluminum Hawse Fairleads. The 1.0 and 1.5 fairleads are CNC machined from 1 and 1.5 inch thick USA 6000 series aluminum bar. The industry standard fairlead thickness is .75 inches thick.

www.quadratec.com

So the price difference is negligible between the two. Has anyone had issue with the anodized surface on the Factor 55 coming off with use? Anyone having issues with the Warn Premium one? I'm looking for real-world experience here, not brand fanboys.

Thanks! I'm wanting to order one soon.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

I run the stock Warn hawse fairlead that came with my Zeon 10-S. I don’t know if that is the “premium” version, but I don’t know why it would be different as the Zeon was their premium winch at the time. It is 1.25” thick.

Never an issues with it, and the finish is still good after many years. But most importantly, no nicks or blemishes to catch the synthetic line.

 

[ArmyRN]

Warn seems to have two similar looking hawse fairleads:

1. https://www.quadratec.com/products/92118_0010.htm ($57.00)

They don't mention how thick it is.

2. https://www.quadratec.com/p/warn/premium-hawse-fairlead/polished ($67.00)

They mention this one is 1" thick.

And yes - nicks and blemishes are my main concerns. Factor 55 likes to tout how durable their finish is.

I know I'm linking Quadratec sites - it is just making it easier. They're my usual go-to place to look for things first, but I do shop around. I've been looking all over on different sites to try and get specs and reviews. And Quadratec doesn't carry all brands and options.

 

[pagrey]

The fairlead is a wear item. If you can afford to replace an expensive one then go for it. I like the Go-Fab fairlead, it's the most I'd pay and has the correct anodizing on it to make it wear well. The Harbor Freight option isn't bad if you can sport Badland. I personally like the Mile Marker but it's not inexpensive for what it is. If you shop around for that one the price is about half-way between the Go-fab and the Badland. You can also just get generic chinese that'll work fine. Ebay for around $30 shipped. They'll all get the job done. The ones mentioned before my post I wouldn't consider but everybody has their thing, my post is just food for thought, I have my own bias and all. I'd never run the Warn and I'd consider the Factor 55 if it weren't for the Go-Fab.

 

[ArmyRN]

I try not to be a snob. A lot of my hand tools and shop equipment are from Harbor Freight. I'm a Harbor Freight fan. My lil' adventure trailer is based off a Harbor Freight trailer frame. I was in Harbor Freight today for something else and while there roaming the isles I was actually looking at their Badland hawse fairlead (that's what literally reminded me I wanted to swap out my current fairlead set-up before my next adventure). But I just can't put something that says "Badland" in front of my Warn winch.

I looked on Amazon at their aluminum hawse fairleads. They do have some inexpensive ones. But for this go-round, I'm hoping spending a little bit more money will get me a better product. When it comes to winching, I try not to cheap-out - too much anyways.

And that Go-Fab one mentioned above is 1.25" thick.

Winch Fairlead — GoFab | Design | Engineer | Fabricate

Machined from 6061-T6 aluminum 1/2" radius reduces stresses imparted on winch rope 1-1/4" thick Clear hard anodize (Type III) For use with synthetic winch line Made in America

www.go-fab.com

 

[NashvilleTJ]

The fairlead is a wear item. If you can afford to replace an expensive one then go for it. I like the Go-Fab fairlead, it's the most I'd pay and has the correct anodizing on it to make it wear well. The Harbor Freight option isn't bad if you can sport Badland. I personally like the Mile Marker but it's not inexpensive for what it is. If you shop around for that one the price is about half-way between the Go-fab and the Badland. You can also just get generic chinese that'll work fine. Ebay for around $30 shipped. They'll all get the job done. The ones mentioned before my post I wouldn't consider but everybody has their thing, my post is just food for thought, I have my own bias and all. I'd never run the Warn and I'd consider the Factor 55 if it weren't for the Go-Fab.

I would not call a good hawse fairlead with synthetic line a wear item. Please give me your thoughts there, Paul.

I’ve been running mine for nearly a decade. I believe it is not coated, but rather just polished aluminum - although I could be wrong. Either way,I can’t imagine the synthetic line wearing it out. It still looks brand new.

 

[ArmyRN]

I would not call a good hawse fairlead with synthetic line a wear item. Please give me your thoughts there, Paul.

I’ve been running mine for nearly a decade. I believe it is not coated, but rather just polished aluminum - although I could be wrong. Either way,I can’t imagine the synthetic line wearing it out. It still looks brand new.

I don't want it to be a "wear item". These shouldn't be a wear item. I don't winch that often, so I want this to be a "one and done" purchase. You shouldn't be able to tell one of these have been used after being used with synthetic line. Cost is not an overriding factor, but I want it to look nice and wear well. I've read that thicker is better (probably to a point), hence my want for it to be at least 1" thick (weeds out a lot of the cheaper ones, and that's ok).

But I've read some hawse fairleads come with a paint or coating that'll wear off - I don't want finishes chipping and causing a rough edge. I know aluminum can anodize (and that's why some may come with some sort of clear coat - a catch-22). Factor-55 likes to brag about their MIL-A-8625F TYPE III gun metal gray hard anodized finish - it sounds good at least.

 

[TJ Starting]

I can predict the future,,, TRE will be mentioned.

 

[pagrey]

I would not call a good hawse fairlead with synthetic line a wear item. Please give me your thoughts there, Paul.

It depends on how you use it. In mud, in dry desert conditions where sand is everywhere things get worn. One look at my hood and the difference between the lives our Jeeps live should be obvious. Mine is torn to shreds from stand storms and sun. Maybe I'm just careless but the result is that the fairlead is a wear item. It obviously isn't for you, I get that.

I don't winch that often, so I want this to be a "one and done" purchase.

Look at the Or-fab instead of the Factor 55, it is really worth consideration.

 

[JMT]

I believe there is a clearcoat on the Warn unless there are two different versions.

I sanded one down due to corrosion and it was thick. Had to use a flap disk. Then smoothed it by going down to 0000 steel wool. The painted 1K gloss clear

 

[ArmyRN]

I can predict the future,,, TRE will be mentioned.

Provide a link that has them available and specs.

Here on the TRE website they say they are out of stock, and it doesn't mention the thickness.

Aluminum Hawse Fairlead - Standard

Aluminum Hawse Fairlead - Provides the proper radius needed to keep from damaging or fraying your winch rope under load or angled pulls.

www.tacticalrecoveryequipment.com

 

[ArmyRN]

It depends on how you use it. In mud, in dry desert conditions where sand is everywhere things get worn. One look at my hood and the difference between the lives our Jeeps live should be obvious. Mine is torn to shreds from stand storms and sun. Maybe I'm just careless but the result is that the fairlead is a wear item. It obviously isn't for you, I get that.


Look at the Or-fab instead of the Factor 55, it is really worth consideration.

Coming up blank. Nothing on their website. Link?

 

[pagrey]

Coming up blank. Nothing on their website. Link?

Sorry, Go-fab, what I linked to originally. Too many vendors...

Winch Fairlead — GoFab | Design | Engineer | Fabricate

Machined from 6061-T6 aluminum 1/2" radius reduces stresses imparted on winch rope 1-1/4" thick Clear hard anodize (Type III) For use with synthetic winch line Made in America

www.go-fab.com

 

[NashvilleTJ]

It depends on how you use it. In mud, in dry desert conditions where sand is everywhere things get worn. One look at my hood and the difference between the lives our Jeeps live should be obvious. Mine is torn to shreds from stand storms and sun. Maybe I'm just careless but the result is that the fairlead is a wear item. It obviously isn't for you, I get that.


Look at the Or-fab instead of the Factor 55, it is really worth consideration.

That makes sense. I can see continual pulls with a sand/mud/grit impregnated synthetic line wearing into the aluminum.

 

[MountaineerTom]

Provide a link that has them available and specs.

Here on the TRE website they say they are out of stock, and it doesn't mention the thickness.

Aluminum Hawse Fairlead - Standard

Aluminum Hawse Fairlead - Provides the proper radius needed to keep from damaging or fraying your winch rope under load or angled pulls.

www.tacticalrecoveryequipment.com

It says 9x3x1 inch in the additional info section.

 

[ArmyRN]

It says 9x3x1 inch in the additional info section.

I saw that. Most of these fairleads I'm looking at have a 10" center-to-center mounting hole distance. So I don't trust those numbers (9"?) if this is for a full-size winch mounting system.

 

[pagrey]

I saw that. Most of these fairleads I'm looking at have a 10" center-to-center mounting hole distance. So I don't trust those numbers (9"?) if this is for a full-size winch mounting system.

The only TRE fairlead available is the one that holds the thimble vertical. The other has been out of stock for what seems like a year. Their fairlead is 10" center to center so it'll work fine. I don't know if they even sell an ATV fairlead.

 

[JMT]

I saw that. Most of these fairleads I'm looking at have a 10" center-to-center mounting hole distance. So I don't trust those numbers (9"?) if this is for a full-size winch mounting system.

TRE makes the best stuff.

I wouldn’t hesitate to get a Warn

I ran a SuperWinch fairlead that looked generic to me. Never had a problem.

 

[MountaineerTom]

I saw that. Most of these fairleads I'm looking at have a 10" center-to-center mounting hole distance. So I don't trust those numbers (9"?) if this is for a full-size winch mounting system.

I didn’t think about that (10” center to center).

I have one and can measure the thickness tonight when I get home from work if no one else has.

 

[tworley]

I ran a SuperWinch fairlead that looked generic to me. Never had a problem.

My SuperWinch fairlead was steel. It was heavy and didnt take long to rust (Not sure why superwinch thought it was smart to sell a hawse fairlead with a steel cable).

X whatever to TRE. Very lightweight and keeps the thimble out of the rocks.