Is the Badlands 9,000 lb Harbor Freight Winch a Good Buy?
Hey everyone, I read some positive reviews about the Harbor Freight Badlands winch, so I decided to buy one for $150 with my employee discount. However, I’m not a fan of the steel cable and want to switch to a synthetic winch line. How can I determine the appropriate length and thickness for the rope? Also, should I use a hawse fair-lead with synthetic line instead of a roller?
Use a fair-lead and opt for a 3/8 inch synthetic rope that’s 100 feet long. This is typically standard for 8,000 to 10,000 lb winches.
How much 5/16" wire rope did it come with? You should use 3/8" synthetic rope, but keep in mind that the winch will hold less of that compared to the 5/16" wire rope.
A roller fairlead is actually better for synthetic rope and is gentler on it than a hawse. The initial belief that a hawse was necessary for synthetic ropes has been proven incorrect. I switched back to a roller fairlead years ago.
For synthetic ropes, Thor at www.winchline.com is a great, experienced resource, and he’s a Jeeper as well. 
Not all roller fairleads are created equal. You can use a roller fairlead as long as it’s designed so the rope won’t get pinched in the corners and is smooth without any burrs.
The amount of line you can use depends on the specific winch model and can vary between manufacturers. What size and length of line does this winch come with?