Factor 55 is a renowned name in the world of off-road recovery gear, known for its innovative and high-quality products. 

Their UltraHook Rope Guard is no exception, designed to provide added protection to synthetic ropes from wear from UV rays and during recovery operations too. Join us for a closer look at the UltraHook Rope Guard and step-by-step installation guide. 

 

Factor 55 UltraHook Rope Guard
The UltraHook Rope Guard is specifically designed to work with Factor 55’s UltraHook. We take a deeper look at the shackle mount and hook hybrid in the articles linked here and here.

UltraHook-Rope-Guard-Unboxing

UltraHook Rope Guard comes with rivets, an instruction sheet and an extra sticker in case you mount it “upside down”.

The guard protects your winch’s synthetic rope from damaging UV light as well as impact and abrasion damage. When the Rope Guard is in use, all exposed synthetic rope surfaces are positioned behind the guard and fairlead. Factor 55 points out an additional use – rock crawlers may utilize the guard as a skid surface when attempting to climb tall vertical obstacles too.

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The Rope Guard is constructed from 6000 series aluminum and features a durable powder-coated finish for added longevity. 

 

Installation Guide

Tools

1. Gather Your Tools

You’ll need a few basic tools for the installation. We used a hammer, brass punch and flathead screwdriver.

Remove UltraHook From Your Vehicle

2. Remove UltraHook From Your Vehicle

UltraHook needs to be removed from your winch line so it can be more easily worked on.

UltraHook-Rope-Guard-Install-1

3. Remove UltraHook’s Rubber Pads

Remove all four of its rubber pads on both sides. We used a flathead screwdriver to gently pry the rubber pads off. You will re-use two of them so be careful not to shear off the rubber tabs on the reverse side.

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4. Tape It All Up

We recommend taping up the Rope Guard and UltraHook so you don’t inadvertently scratch them. (Ask us how we know.) We didn’t do this at first and ended up with a boo boo that you’ll see down further.

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5. Align the Rope Guard and a Rivet on UltraHook

Place the Rope Guard on UltraHook and place one rivet into a hole.

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6. Hammer It In

Working on one rivet at a time, carefully but forcefully hammer in the rivet. We used a brass punch but any punch should do. Use enough force to mushroom the rivet into place.

UltraHook-Rope-Guard-Rivet-Close-Up

Here’s a close up look at a hammered in rivet.

UltraHook-Rope-Guard-Mistake

Warning: Be careful when hammering. We slipped and made this mistake. Don’t let it happen to you.

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7. UltraHook Rope Guard rivets installation complete

UltraHook-Rope-Guard-Reverse-Side

8. Replace the rubber pads on the reverse side of the UltraHook.

Last Steps
Finally, re-install UltraHook to your winch rope and test the installation Before heading out on the trail, perform a visual inspection of the installation to ensure everything is secure. Now you can enjoy the added protection of Factor 55 UltraHook Rope Guard and the peace of mind knowing your synthetic rope is protected from UV rays and during recovery operations.

 

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An extra Rope Guard sticker is included in case you have your UltraHook installed facing the other direction.

Final Thoughts
The Factor 55 UltraHook Rope Guard is a practical accessory for your UltraHook that ensures your synthetic winch rope remains protected from the sun and stays behind the fairlead. By following this installation guide, you can quickly and easily add an extra layer of protection to your synthetic rope, ensuring it stays in top condition for years to come.

 

Factor 55 UltraHook Rope Guard

 

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