Winch Tensioners

A wire-rope tensioner can help keep the cable under light pressure so it doesn't loosen and tangle while you're freespooling, and it can help the cable wind back onto the drum more evenly. It won't replace proper respooling, though. Winch rope still needs to be wound onto the drum under the load recommended by the manufacturer.

Match the tensioner to your winch and drum size. Tensioners aren't universal—the current WARN tensioner is made for compatible WARN Industrial winches with a 10-inch drum. Check the winch model and drum size before buying rather than choosing a tensioner because it looks like it will fit.

Don't assume you can. The tensioner currently offered here is specifically designed for wire rope. Synthetic rope behaves differently on the drum, so use accessories the winch or rope manufacturer specifically approves for your setup instead of adapting a wire-rope tensioner.