Roller Fairleads vs. Hawse Fairleads: The Differences

Also see:

• Winch Fairleads: How to Pick the Best One
• The Best Winch Accessories For Off Roading
• All About Winch Cable

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Roller Fairleads vs. Hawse Fairleads

	Roller Fairleads	Aluminum Hawse Fairleads	Steel Hawse Fairleads
Material	Steel	Aluminum	Steel
Typical Weight	10-13 lbs	2-3 lbs	4-5 lbs
Winch line types	Steel cable or Synthetic	Synthetic	Synthetic or Steel cable
Typical winch line types	Steel cable	Synthetic	Steel cable
Bolt mounting distance	10”	10”	10”
Finishes	Galvanized	Polished or Anodized	Powdercoat
Typical Stickout	3.5”	0.75”-1.5”	1.25”

A Few Things You Should Know

Our chart has some basic generalizations about fairleads. If you want some more in-depth info and some product recommendations, check out our longer article on winch fairleads.


Here are a few tidbits you should know:

• Roller and steel hawse fairleads are usually used with steel winch cable and result in a heavier total winch weight.
• Aluminum hawse fairleads are ONLY used with synthetic winch line and result in a lighter total winch weight.
• Nearly every fairlead manufacturer makes fairleads with a mounting distance of 10", except Smittybilt's slim steel roller (11", not recommended) and Warn industrial fairleads (variable distance).
• Roller fairleads can be used with synthetic winch line if the rollers are clean and free of burrs/sharp edges. Running steel cable can often "scar" a roller, so you should clean it up if you want to use it with synthetic line.
•  Hawse fairleads give you a slightly better approach angle since they stick out a little less from your bumper.
• Type III anodized coatings on aluminum fairleads are the only coating that will last "forever". Powdercoat, galvanized, and polished finishes will eventually wear through and will rust/oxidize.