Reader L. in Tucson recent wrote to
ask for some guidance on buying come-alongs for his new retreat ranch in
northern Arizona. Here is my advice:
Ratchet cable hoists (commonly called
"Come-Alongs") are crucial tools for life on a retreat and for
off-road driving. They have umpteen uses for everything from wire fence
stretching to lifting elk carcasses for butchering. These should be purchased
in pairs, for the greatest versatility. We keep four come-alongs here at
the Rawles Ranch: Two that are 2-ton capacity and two that are 4-ton capacity. All four are American-made,
by Maasdam under the trade
name Pow'R Pull. I highly recommend them.
I recommend that you carry at least
one come-along--together with a tow chain and a choker chain--whenever driving
off of paved roads in any season. And in winter months this gear should be
carried even when traveling on pavement.
Keep your come-alongs well-oiled and
out of the elements and they will give you many years of service. Inspect the
cable after each use for any signs of fraying. Also, be sure to never attempt
to crank on a cable when the spool is nearly empty. (Always have at least one
and a half wraps on the spool, before you crank it under any load. (Otherwise,
the cable's terminating "button" might shear off, and send your load
plummeting!) - JWR
Addendum:
Hi XXXX,
I'd like to mention another heavy duty come-along/manual winch you and your readers may be interested in. It is built by a long time American manufacturer, Wyeth-Scott. Please note the pull ratings are based on dead lift capacities and, as they state, pull ratings are approximately double those. Please see their notes regarding rating differences between lifting and pulling. A vehicle on a flat road or a tree, through mud, up a hill. Thanks, - Guy S.
Dear Mr. XXXX, and Readers,
Always be careful where you place your fingers around come-alongs. I always warn people who are using them that ""these things are responsible for more amputations than any doctor in the world." This is an exaggeration, of course, but care is warranted. I still have all of my fingers, but when I was first using these tools, there were some near misses. - Sam in Nebraska
Addendum:
Hi XXXX,
I'd like to mention another heavy duty come-along/manual winch you and your readers may be interested in. It is built by a long time American manufacturer, Wyeth-Scott. Please note the pull ratings are based on dead lift capacities and, as they state, pull ratings are approximately double those. Please see their notes regarding rating differences between lifting and pulling. A vehicle on a flat road or a tree, through mud, up a hill. Thanks, - Guy S.
Dear Mr. XXXX, and Readers,
Always be careful where you place your fingers around come-alongs. I always warn people who are using them that ""these things are responsible for more amputations than any doctor in the world." This is an exaggeration, of course, but care is warranted. I still have all of my fingers, but when I was first using these tools, there were some near misses. - Sam in Nebraska
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