Metcalf
Expedition Leader
I would only uses a hawse with synthetic line. Tool grade aluminium or stainless. I do use steel wire though and when I do I swap to a roller fairlead. I use string cored mild steel wire rope for extracting timber and recovery of plant
Lots of Warn winches used to come with steel ( cast or forged maybe? ) hawses back in the day for use with steel rope. It wasn't too bad. I've seen lots of them 40+ years old and still functional.
I'm sure they have drawbacks, but I don't think it is a super critical option. They are simple. No moving parts to fail. They are also very compact.
For me I use synthetic line and an aluminum hawse on all my rigs. I honestly haven't noticed a huge difference in the quality of the aluminum being an issue. The one on my flat fender is almost a decade old and was $20 or so on Amazon or Ebay. No issues. I have used that winch A LOT over the years.
I try not to get too stuck on buying a name. There are lots of good decent products out there that likely come out a different door of the same factory. I enjoy testing and evaluating things. I honestly don't find that much junk out there anymore. I think a lot of people buy the name as a status thing, not because the product really works better honestly. It might make them 'feel' a little better. It might be a HAIR more safe. I find most people RARELY actually use their recovery gear.....they don't even practice with it. They end up in really bad situations and then have to figure it all out on the fly. I just don't get that.....