Should I buy/carry a come-along?

[ShooterMcGavin]

I have done searching and reading... Yes, I know everyone who writes about the topic says a come-along doesn't hold a candle to a winch. I agree, winch >> come-along!! However, winch mounting also (usually) requires a fancy bumper or custom mounting/welding plates. I'm not set up for welding. A bumper would add $500+ to the cost, so at least $800 total (winch + bumper). I can get a 4 ton come-along (NOT the ideal solution, I agree) for under $100. At least to get me out of a bad situation, isn't a come-along kinda worth it's weight in gold vs. nothing??

Or, is it a waste of money?

 

[HiLife]

It's not the proper tool for the situation but...when the time comes when only you can save yourself,
I think it's better than having nothing and having to walking home or to the nearest help.
If you get stuck it would be better if someone can pull you out with their rig. Keyword is "if".

 

[I_bRAD]

A 4 ton come-along might get you into an even worse situation right quick if it breaks on you. Are there any come alongs with a higher load rating at least?

 

[BrianSD_42]

If you have a two strap and apply the buddy system when wheeling you don't need all that other stuff.

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

A 4 ton come-along might get you into an even worse situation right quick if it breaks on you. Are there any come alongs with a higher load rating at least?

I would definitely like to find one with a higher rating. I will look.

If you have a two strap and apply the buddy system when wheeling you don't need all that other stuff.

I totally agree with you. However, I don't have any friends who take their trucks off-road.

 

[Doc2012]

Get a couple straps and a Hi-lift.

WAY better than a come-a-long, but still can be used like one.

Come-a-longs break VERY easily(ask me how I know.....:zoom

 

[Limbwalker]

This^^^
I have a couple come-alongs but have never used them for a recovery(just pulling dead vehicles onto trailers and such). That could be pretty dangerous. If you cant afford a winch, a highlift is a pretty good come-along if you have an assortment of straps/chains and D-rings, and a buddy to operate it while you drive. But another vehicle is a hell of a good come-along too

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

I like that a Hi-lift has another, longer-term, use to it... as it is a jack. But, I see 4 feet of movement to be less ideal than a come-along. That might be my solution though.

How much pulling power is a Hi-lift rated for?

 

[Limbwalker]

I like that a Hi-lift has another, longer-term, use to it... as it is a jack. But, I see 4 feet of movement to be less ideal than a come-along. That might be my solution though.

How much pulling power is a Hi-lift rated for?

Theyre both pretty short movement-wise as my 4 ton is about 5' when the line is doubled up (and it better be for something that heavy!)
Theyre both slow as hell.
they both really could get someone hurt if youre not careful.
In a pinch with no other way out? yeah... Ive done some stupid shit, lol, but I think saving up for a winch is totally worth it the first time it saves your @ss

 

[Gerdo]

Back when I couldn't afford and also I didn't think I would really ever need a winch (young and less educated) I carried a 2 ton come-along. It got me out of a few situations. I now have a winch but still carry that same come-along. It is my winch backup and also if I need to do a side or rear pull, it's there.

My take, YES carry a come-along if you can or can't afford a winch.

 

[wc11]

You could also get a trailer hitch mounted winch.
All kinds of them on eBay.

 

[slapdappy]

4 ton come along

I bought this 2 months ago. Allied HEAVY DUTY DOUBLE GEARED 4-Ton Come Along(CABLE PULLER) at Arizona Tools. I paid 60 + 11 shipping.
I have a 30' snatch strap. Still need a tree strap. I have no kind of ground anchor.
I did not want the expense and weight of a winch. I do not plan on using it and will have it with me if I screw up. It is plenty strong to get done what will need doing. I estimate my max trail GVW at 4500-5000 lbs. I may get a snatch block and a separate length of cable/wire rope but I'm not rock crawling and at a certain point I get tired of buying an endless list of equipment to cover every possible scenario.
This was instructive: Pirate4x4.Com - Extreme Four Wheel Drive. Posted by Bill Vista. These are his charts showing pulling capacities + ramp angle + surface friction.

 

[white_n_slow]

Join a club, make some new friends or convince your friends to buy a truck and beat it up with you in the woods. The end.

 

[cj80cruiser]

This is the only one I would trust to work if I didn't want to spend $800 for a winch and bumper.

Expeditions West: Black Rat Recovery Hoist / Hand Winch

 

[nevada]

A 4 ton come-along might get you into an even worse situation right quick if it breaks on you. Are there any come alongs with a higher load rating at least?

while I don't think a higher rating is a bad idea, does he really need it?
that's 8,000 lbs, the same as most winches.

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

I bought this 2 months ago. Allied HEAVY DUTY DOUBLE GEARED 4-Ton Come Along(CABLE PULLER) at Arizona Tools. I paid 60 + 11 shipping.
I have a 30' snatch strap. Still need a tree strap. I have no kind of ground anchor.
I did not want the expense and weight of a winch. I do not plan on using it and will have it with me if I screw up. It is plenty strong to get done what will need doing. I estimate my max trail GVW at 4500-5000 lbs. I may get a snatch block and a separate length of cable/wire rope but I'm not rock crawling and at a certain point I get tired of buying an endless list of equipment to cover every possible scenario.
This was instructive: Pirate4x4.Com - Extreme Four Wheel Drive. Posted by Bill Vista. These are his charts showing pulling capacities + ramp angle + surface friction.

Thanks for linking to that, slap. It is a good resource with lots of good info. I have read the whole page before, but it never hurts to re-read it!

This is the only one I would trust to work if I didn't want to spend $800 for a winch and bumper.

Expeditions West: Black Rat Recovery Hoist / Hand Winch

Thanks. I will read about that.

while I don't think a higher rating is a bad idea, does he really need it?
that's 8,000 lbs, the same as most winches.

Actually, I agree with both of you!
If the come-along is truly rated for a full 8,000 lbs, it should be good to go while I use caution. However, I am aware that even 8,000 lbs can be deceiving. Are we need to be concerned if that is max breaking strength of 8,000, or SWL? Big difference.

If I were to carry a come-along, I would not push it to its limits (assuming that it is rated properly). It would be for minor help. I stuck myself into a snow bank a couple weeks ago - I was trying to push as far as possible into the snow bank, to pack it down and make space for a smaller SUV to have space to turn around, on a trail where he shouldn't have even been. It only cost me 10 minutes of shoveling to get out. No big deal. I'm just trying to think/plan ahead... what if I high-centered on a stump/rock instead? Or if I got into mud a little deeper than I had planned? Sometimes, digging won't fix the issue and a pull is what is needed.

 

[cj80cruiser]

Thanks for linking to that, slap. It is a good resource with lots of good info. I have read the whole page before, but it never hurts to re-read it!



Thanks. I will read about that.



Actually, I agree with both of you!
If the come-along is truly rated for a full 8,000 lbs, it should be good to go while I use caution. However, I am aware that even 8,000 lbs can be deceiving. Are we need to be concerned if that is max breaking strength of 8,000, or SWL? Big difference.

If I were to carry a come-along, I would not push it to its limits (assuming that it is rated properly). It would be for minor help. I stuck myself into a snow bank a couple weeks ago - I was trying to push as far as possible into the snow bank, to pack it down and make space for a smaller SUV to have space to turn around, on a trail where he shouldn't have even been. It only cost me 10 minutes of shoveling to get out. No big deal. I'm just trying to think/plan ahead... what if I high-centered on a stump/rock instead? Or if I got into mud a little deeper than I had planned? Sometimes, digging won't fix the issue and a pull is what is needed.

I had a 4 ton (maybe larger) come-along that I bought from a heavy duty parts store in Opelika but it broke the first time I used it. I was in my Landcruiser at the time which is a little heavier than the 4runner.

 

[nevada]

I had a 4 ton (maybe larger) come-along that I bought from a heavy duty parts store in Opelika but it broke the first time I used it. I was in my Landcruiser at the time which is a little heavier than the 4runner.

for you, and the others that have had them break, what exactly was it that broke?

ive used come-alongs for various things over the years and never had one break.
*I* have damaged a few, due to improper use, but never from a fault of the tool.

 

[cj80cruiser]

for you, and the others that have had them break, what exactly was it that broke?

ive used come-alongs for various things over the years and never had one break.
*I* have damaged a few, due to improper use, but never from a fault of the tool.

I cant remember if it was the gear or the piece the gear rotated on...happened in 2009.