Come Along advise

[Mainiac Mat]

Hey gang,

I'm gearing up to build another timber frame and am getting my tools organized. Last time around I had a really cheap pair of come alongs that were trashed when I put them to hard use.

I'm looking for a new pair, but I'm suspicious that the load ratings on the imports are just made up numbers.

Can anyone recommend a quality come along? Or advise me what features to look for? Or what to avoid?

 

[y'sguy]

Come-alongs are handy. Although, honestly I've only used the jancky cheap HF version. It worked for what I needed. But I was forever messing with the thing to get it to change in the proper direction when necessary. Then I always felt like it was going to catch my fingers.
So, no help here except to say I hope you find some and i am interested in what others share for ideas.

 

[Mainiac Mat]

like it was going to catch my fingers.

I've been pinched pretty hard messing around with my old come alongs. Newer models I've looked at have either a lever tab extending to disengage the ratchet pawl, or a slot to stick a flathead screwdriver in for the same purpose.

No fun trying to back them off when under heavy tension.

 

[metaleltr]

Personally I prefer to use lever style chain hoists in place of cable come alongs.

 

[shawhite]

What capacity do you need? How long of a reach? What is your budget?

 

[GeoBruin]

Wyeth Scott Company - More Power Puller

Also, Lug-All.

 

[Sumboodie]

SPECSTAR Lever Chain Hoist 1-1/2 Ton 3300 Lbs Capacity 10 Feet with 2 Heavy Duty Hooks, Chain Come Along for Warehouse Building Automotive Machinery https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09286BGPQ?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Wolley]

Maasdam pullers work nice with rope and are continuous pull.

 

[Hohn]

Wyeth Scott Company - More Power Puller

Also, Lug-All.

These look like the only real options for a GJer.

 

[RAS61]

Personally I prefer to use lever style chain hoists in place of cable come alongs.

Yes! Had a Jet come-along, thought the brand name would assure quality, but pot metal in the gear/brake system failed under a very modest load. Might be the worst tool I've ever bought, not what you want to hear when moving heavy loads. Replaced it with a good chain hoist and the results have been excellent, never disappointed or wanting, and works with vertical loads too, C/A's are really only suited for horizontal pulling. Only issue is limited chain length, but an inexpensive tow strap solves that problem

 

[Mainiac Mat]

Thanks for all the responses.

For racking the frame square and possibly lifting timbers in place with a Gin Pole, I suspect (a true) 1,000# capacity would be adequate. The cheap 2,000 stamped metal ones I previously had were a joke. I'd say my budget is <$100/ea. as I need to get two. 10' of cable or chain would make life easier.

The More and the LugAll are impressive, but beyond what I have to spend. None the less, it's valuable to see how they are constructed. No stamped and stacked metal gear wheels or ratchet pawls seems like a minimum standard for a come along.

Maybe something like this one.



I have an old rusty chain hoist (pull chain type), but it's pretty light duty.

I like the looks of the Specstar ratchet model linked by Sumboodie...



Perhaps I'll order one of each.

I've got the opportunity to purchase an 8 year old Grizzly China mill from work for short money. The only thing stopping me right now is I don't have the means to unload it once I get it home. If I could rig some towers/beams, perhaps I could back the trailer into the garage and pick it with the chain hoist.

 

[cgrutt]

I've been happy with the one I bought from Tractor Supply about ten years ago. If I were buying today I'd probably get one that uses nylon webbing or rope instead of steel cable. I think it would be easier to handle could be wrong. Believe Tractor Supply still has a decent selection if there is one nearby.

 

[RAS61]

I'd say my budget is <$100/ea. as I need to get two.

I've got the opportunity to purchase an 8 year old Grizzly China mill from work for short money. The only thing stopping me right now is I don't have the means to unload it once I get it home. If I could rig some towers/beams, perhaps I could back the trailer into the garage and pick it with the chain hoist.

Look for a good used chain hoist if you can't a afford a new one, superior to a come-along in my opinion

How heavy is this mill, ceiling joists can handle a lot of weight, especially if braced with some 2X posts?

 

[Mainiac Mat]

How heavy is this mill, ceiling joists can handle a lot of weight, especially if braced with some 2X posts?

Ship weight is advertised as 2,100 lbs. There's probably 100-200 lbs or so in the crate.

My tractor can only pick 1,000 lbs with the forks (on a good day).

I have 26' attic trusses 24" o.c. and a finished ceiling. I'm not touching it.

I'm thinking a loose stacked cinder block tower at either side and an old I-beam I've got kicking around.

 

[jack stand]

Matt you can get by with some webbing type slings (one at each end to protect the timber) and a length of 1/4 or 5/16 chain and a screw type "load binder. It's a little more cumbersome to set up but that should put you in the $100 range for each setup.
Mardens is a good place to get the chain and hooks, HF has some slings @ about $10 each and a Chinese binder should be about $40-50.

 

[Mainiac Mat]

Matt you can get by with some webbing type slings (one at each end to protect the timber) and a length of 1/4 or 5/16 chain and a screw type "load binder. It's a little more cumbersome to set up but that should put you in the $100 range for each setup.
Mardens is a good place to get the chain and hooks, HF has some slings @ about $10 each and a Chinese binder should be about $40-50.

Only a fellow Mainiac would recommend Marden's

 

[RAS61]

Depending on the trailer, maybe you could use the tractor to slide it off? You can also rent a gantry, but that might not be in your budget - Good Luck!

 

[mervyn]

Personally I prefer to use lever style chain hoists in place of cable come alongs.

That's what I ended up with recently. Had never used a come along and the more I looked at em the more I decided they were crappy and dangerous.

 

[Pexto]

Lincoln (Lug-all) hoists are expensive but they are really nice. You can find military surplus ones on ebay, at a considerable savings.

Last year I bought a surplus Lincoln hoist and respooled it with synthetic winch line, mostly to use as part of my snowmachine recovery gear. It worked so well that once they saw it in action, all my buddies immediateley wanted one. So I got a bunch more. A year later, everybody still raves about them.



In use:

 

[jack stand]

Once you use one like @Pexto shows above, you'll know that the BS laminated and riveted throw away Harry homeowner $15 "come along" is a great example of you get what you pay for.
I've got several lug all's that are over 25 years old and still work perfectly.

 

[dutchgray]

Personally I prefer to use lever style chain hoists in place of cable come alongs.

Or a genuine Tirfor winch if it must be a cable.
Lifting equipment is not the place to go cheap on.

 

[mike93lx]

Ship weight is advertised as 2,100 lbs. There's probably 100-200 lbs or so in the crate.

My tractor can only pick 1,000 lbs with the forks (on a good day).

I have 26' attic trusses 24" o.c. and a finished ceiling. I'm not touching it.

I'm thinking a loose stacked cinder block tower at either side and an old I-beam I've got kicking around.

Rent a drop deck equipment trailer and a pallet jack

 

[jrsavoie]

Maasdam pullers work nice with rope and are continuous pull.

Their cable pullers are also one of the better brands.

I've been using their rope alongs for at least 40 years.

Problem with most come alongs is being overloaded.

 

[Oldsnapper]

I have the Wyeth Scott and it works very well. Had to replace the cable last year after approx 20 year due to cable fraying. You will not bend or damage this frame.

 

[paulsomlo]

Any opinions on Deuer? I saw these on Harry Epstein's website, they're fairly inexpensive:
https://deuer.com/index.php/mini-mule

 

[Sumboodie]

Only a fellow Mainiac would recommend Marden's

I shudda bought when I saw it at the Mardins

 

[Beauregard]

Maybe a portable handheld winch?

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[MJD1]

Much prefer the lever hoists with chain. Have several with chain lengths between 5 and 20'. Much easier to use especially when lowering. Another nice thing to have especially for lifting moderately heavy items is the pullzall made by warn. I have an electric version but I believe a cordless model is available.