Ropes are a series of 15 quest items that have to be collected from Snapshells in Camp Calluna during the quest "Rope Repairs" (T00001) given by Tanoak and are used as replacements parts for the Ferric Lifts.
The player has also to collect 10 of those Ropes dropped by Matterhorns during the sidequest "Building a Bridge" (AK0001) assigned by Bandero Arkose. Those ropes will be used to create a bridge over Blueridge River.