Flat straps need a special winch drum. My preference is 6mm stainless steel cable to replaced galvanized steel cable. I replaced mine when it reached the end of it's life with the stainless. Very nice
Chris........
Chris, there is nothing special about the drum on my winch, it simple has a small bolt that goes through it to secure the strap and it winds just like any other winch. I have also had them in the past, that had a bolt and a plate that went through a metal reinforced grommet on the strap and it worked as normal.
Now don't get me wrong, I like the synthetic cables, I just ordered a 125 foot one yesterday to replace the 3/8" steel cable on my 12,500 pound recover winch on my truck because during the winter when you get the ice and snow froze in the steel cable it is a real pain to work with, especially on a full pull at 90 feet and it is stiff to try and get through a tackle block. I ended up snapping a cable last winter pulling a tow truck out that slid off the road, so figured I didn't want that whipping cable flying around anymore. So I went with a synthetic rated for more than what the winch is rated for.