Single do it all device for occasional pulling and maybe lifting

[YesIHaveAHammer]

What would you have as a general handy multipurpose thing to have around?

I believe the main relevant options are wire rope come alongs, or lever ratchet chain hoists. I read a few threads on here and think I get the pros and cons of each.

I definitely want to pull: slightly stuck vehicle or trailer (both small by US standards), small equipment (e.g. log splitter, whacker bot 100+kg) up the ramp into trailer. I also have future interests in lifting, but not essential now: roof things onto vehicles (50-80kg?), wooden beams for small barn.

Wire rope come along:

• Long working length in a light compact device
• Unused cable is contained within, during use and for storage
• Relatively low ratio, so faster but more effort required
• Used one before, it was a bit of a pain with the mechanism, although probably wasn't a good quality one
• Pretty cheap (lot of generic ones it seems, no mid ground, then big premium pro ones)
• Not for lifting

Lever ratchet chain hoist:

• Heavier bulkier device, despite shorter working length
• No chain containment
• Relatively high ratio, so a lot of lever throws (~1" each) to move distance but lower effort
• Pretty expensive due to being rated for lifting, especially for a trustworthy brand
• Can be used for lifting
  • However the lever is way up there at the hanging point, above the load
  • Excess chain will dangle down, fouling and damaging things below
  • Can quickly pull the chain through to take up slack
  • Controlled lowering (flick switch through neutral while auto brake holds it presumably)
  • Still slow
  • Chain fall hoist is better for lifting, but not suitable for anything else

So I'm kinda seeing the lever hoist can do both but pretty compromised for both too. Forget about the lifting for now and get a wire rope come along?

 

[RivennHewn]

https://www.amazon.com/WARN-101570-Handheld-Portable-Drill/dp/B082N5Y2R4?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

https://www.amazon.com/WARN-101570-Handheld-Portable-Drill/dp/B082N5Y2R4?tag=atomicindus08-20

Thanks.

I think I'd rather put money towards separate manual devices for pulling and lifting, than that much for drill winch that's only for pulling. Although of course that's what Amazon reviewers are doing.

Not sure I'd want to subject my drill to that workload either.

 

[LopezBart]

I've used a Dutton-Lainson Company worm gear winch to good effect on a log arch for lifting several hundred pound logs. It would work equally well loading a trailer. Crank handle, or run it from a drill w/ a 3/4" socket. Grease it once in a while and you're set...

 

[gimpyrobb]

A long time ago, a buddy turned me on to an ebay auction for some "lug-all" brand come-a-longs. At the time I thought they were too expensive but know when to take advice from someone smarter than I. I purchased 4. They have been a life saver in more than one instance AND see used almost weekly. I didn't realize at the time the wire rope was stainless, that was an oversight I will tell EVERYONE about. I can't believe how good of condition they are still in! If you can find them with stainless wire, get those. Needs vary, mine are rated at 1500lbs but I also got a "****** block" to double the rating if need be.

Another thing to consider is what length wire is on there. I now have some rated much higher, but have WAY less length and often have to pull the load and re-set to pull the load a second time. Kinda a pita.

Edit: very similar to the ones I have:

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[Torque&Recoil]

Hmm. Honestly, I don't like either of your options. I used a wire rope come-along decades ago. Yes, I was able to swap engines and transmissions with it, but what a PITA. If you are going to pull a lot of rope, it will take forever. I have not personally used a chain hoist, but I expect it to have the same issues.

I guess if I did it over again, on a budget, I would get something like the Dutton-Lainson for the boat, and an electric hoist for the lifting. Vevor has some stupid cheap prices on electric hoists (I just bought two of them).

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

worm gear winch

Looks like to mount in a permanent location.

Another thing to consider is what length wire is on there. I now have some rated much higher, but have WAY less length and often have to pull the load and re-set to pull the load a second time. Kinda a pita.

Yes I was seeing this with lever hoists, many only 1.5m as standard. Guess for lifting we can't reach much higher anyway.

Honestly, I don't like either of your options.

Agreed both seem far from ideal.

Vevor has some stupid cheap prices on electric hoists

Not sure I'd trust such brands for anything I care too much about dropping or above anything I care about getting dropped onto.

 

[dscheidt]

Another thing to consider is what length wire is on there. I now have some rated much higher, but have WAY less length and often have to pull the load and re-set to pull the load a second time. Kinda a pita.

Yep. Used to do a bunch of pulling with come-along, and the rope was never long enough. Lots of sketchy load holding while reseting...

 

[cody1325]

Wyeth-Scott More Power Puller. Mine's 50 years old and still going strong (except the cable's worn out--I've got a replacement my Granddad never installed, but I'm thinking about going with Amsteel Blue for safety reasons).

The More Power Puller®, Portable Winch, Cable Puller, Come Along Winches | By The Wyeth-Scott Company

Buy The More Power Puller Online Today! Shop puller models & replacement parts, FAQs, operating and repair instructions. Contact us online or 800-743-4521.

www.wyeth-scott.com

 

[whateg01]

Thanks.

I think I'd rather put money towards separate manual devices for pulling and lifting, than that much for drill winch that's only for pulling.

I don't think I've seen a come along rated for lifting either. Most devices for lifting are specifically for lifting.

 

[GeoBruin]

It's going to cost you OP, but you wanted this!

Lookup the terms Tirfor and Griphoist.

They have an infinitely long pull (or at least as long as the cable you have handy), they're rated for lifting and pulling, they're reversible (can travel both directions along the cable) and they're incredibly controllable.

Truth be told, for lifting, I prefer a lever hoist, but if I could only have one lifting/tugging/pulling device, it would be a tirfor.

 

[GaryM909]

I lent my neighbour a 3 ton lever hoist when his winch on his car trailer quit.
He said it took forever to get the car on the trailer.

 

[GeoBruin]

I lent my neighbour a 3 ton lever hoist when his winch on his car trailer quit.
He said it took forever to get the car on the trailer.

Yes, a lever hoist is slow. Also, pulling horizontally with any kind of chain hoist is less than ideal because minding a chain ***** (it's loud and clanky on the deck of a trailer, gets hung up on things, is heavy, etc.).

As I mentioned above, I prefer a lever hoist for lifting, but they're not ideal for pulling in my opinion.

Something like a Maasdam rope puller is actually really nice because the tope feeds conuously through the puller (it does not load up on a spool), it's light, and quiet. But, they tend not to be rated as high as cable/chain pullers.

Otherwise, a conventional cable come along, strap puller, or something like a Wyeth Scott more power puller with a dyneema rope are going to be preferable. Or, as mentioned above, a tirfor.

 

[liliysdad]

Chain fall for lifting, come a long for pulling. There is no good single solution, nor is there any real reason to search for such.

 

[Roert42]

In my experience a lever hoist is for making small adjustments in positioning something large. Last time I used one was when we moved the Mill with the forklift. Hung the mill using lifting straps from the forks, and used the lever hoist between the mast and the mill to keep it right side up.

For lift straight up, you want a chain fall hoist. You can normally get a good 10 feet of if left from a basic 1 ton unit. You have a smaller secondary chain that goes from the unit to the floor, works kind like those pull strings for large curtains. Pull one side and it goes up, pull the other and it goes down.

They have electric ones too, but that limits where you can use it. the manual ones can be used anywhere you have a good size tree.

 

[gahrajmahal]

I was using my small come- along this week to install a new mailbox for a friend. Their post has been at a steep angle for years and I always wanted to straighten it up. The ground was frozen and the come along wasn’t moving it so I found her shovel and dug out in front of the cement set post. Then it came over nicely. I added the soil to the back part then put on the new locking mailbox.
I also have a chain lifting hoist. Both of these are small and are used infrequently.

 

[zimman]

I have one of these for less than a engine hoist. I'm going to build a base for it and use it in the shop to lift heavy ****. I also have a chain fall and a winch. I can combine all three and lift the house. LOL
Zim

 

[lowbucktruck]

Have used both. Recently had to use both come-alongs and a lever (long pry bar) to move a chicken coop/shed into place on its new gravel base. There may have been some coarse language involved.
Really depends on what it is you need to move, how heavy and whether you are pulling or lifting. (sometimes both).

I like zimman's track crane, a good option there.

I am considering an upgrade to a small electric winch, installing it on my UTV for some of the smaller pulling jobs.

 

[txvwnut]

It's going to cost you OP, but you wanted this!

Lookup the terms Tirfor and Griphoist.

Them sob's ain't cheap! But they do look quite handy.

Since this is the garage journal and it has been mentioned, a forklift will lift and pull. Might not be the most effective for away from the shop work but for around the shop ya can't beat it.

 

[GeoBruin]

They are not cheap. However:

1) There are knock offs. They appear to be designed almost identically to the Tractel/Griphoist and their cables are interchangeable.
2) They are available used. I picked one of mine up from a pipeline contractor and it was dirty and had the sheaplr pins in the handle broken off but was in otherwise fine mechanical shape.

Again, I consider the maasdam rope puller to be a much more accessible product that has a lot of the same advantages as the griphoist and it is much cheaper (and lighter) but it isn't likely rated for lifting, and it's not rated for quite the same capacity.

Here's a quick video I made comparing a couple different griphoist models and their pros and cons.

 

[cannuck]

I have a huge amount of rigging and equipment for lifting and pulling - from years of working the big ****. By far my favourite "adapted" tools are DC truck and RV winches - but the OP seems to want manual operations. For that I would recommend the hand winch in post #4 or equivalent but shell out for a composite rope instead of wire rope. If attempting any heavy vertical, though, a chain fall of appropriate rating is infinitely better than anything else. Works horizontal for pulling but limited travel.

 

[willf650]

Thanks.

I think I'd rather put money towards separate manual devices for pulling and lifting, than that much for drill winch that's only for pulling. Although of course that's what Amazon reviewers are doing.

Not sure I'd want to subject my drill to that workload either.

I bought an off brand version of that if it makes it more tolerable.
Chinese winch
I never expected to use it enough to pay for a Warn. Only a couple times a year.

I bought it specifically for winching my motorcycle up a steep ramp backwards into my toy hauler. It works well for that purpose as I walk next to and hold the bike up while simply pulling the trigger on the drill.

I’ll be using it tomorrow to lower a heavy pump into a pit and suspect it will also serve me well for that purpose although all the warnings scream at you it’s not for lifting.

 

[seber]

Cable types **** for lifting. You need a ratcheting release to lower the load. Lever chain hoists are slow for pulling but they get the job done. Everything else is just annoyance.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

Thanks folks.

Yes these devices all make tradeoffs to be good at one purpose, which means they're pretty mediocre at the other. So write off the single device idea.

Tirfor type - interesting, plenty of length, pretty heavy. Seems pretty cumbersome to set up as presumably you need to feed through the whole excess cable.

Rope puller - Maasdam puts them at 1:10 leverage ratio, cable pullers at 1:30, and strap pullers 1:20.

Wyeth-Scott More Power Puller - more than I need and so pretty heavy. Svero 15SL12 is a smaller alternative of these better types of wire comealongs, also Lug-All.

 

[zimman]

Have used both. Recently had to use both come-alongs and a lever (long pry bar) to move a chicken coop/shed into place on its new gravel base. There may have been some coarse language involved.
Really depends on what it is you need to move, how heavy and whether you are pulling or lifting. (sometimes both).

I like zimman's track crane, a good option there.

I am considering an upgrade to a small electric winch, installing it on my UTV for some of the smaller pulling jobs.

That orange winch I got was less than $300, 12,000 lb capicity and I use it almost every week. I used it working for the Forest Service too. Outstanding purchase.
Zim

 

[KnurledNut]

I have an AB Chance hoist that's rated for lifting but is also designed for lineman to use for horizontal pulls.
https://hubbellcdn.com/catalogfull/1100-MechanicalH-EN.pdf

I also have a basic wire rope Maasdam PowrPull with the 2:1 ****** block on the dynamic end and it has done way more than it ever should have.

 

[nh_yota]

As you said no single device is good for everything.

Here are my thoughts:

• Come-a-long - Good for applying tension or pulling something a short distance
• Chain hoist - Good for lifting something in place but you can't move it unless it's on a gantry
• Engine hoist - Good for lifting something and/or moving it around on a hard surface
• Winch - Good for pulling something or lifting something a longer distance

 

[whateg01]

• Winch - Good for pulling something or lifting something a longer distance

Winches are not for lifting. Hoists lift items.

 

[nh_yota]

Winches are not for lifting. Hoists lift items.

I see your point but where I come from winches are used to raise or lift lighter weight stuff all the time.

 

[whateg01]

I see your point but where I come from winches are used to raise or lift lighter weight stuff all the time.

Yeah they get used that way. I've even used ratchet straps for lifting short distances. But that's not what they are meant for.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

Are heavy duty comealongs so good that countries are keeping them all to themselves?

The few things there isn't a cheap Chinese version of, and it's barely available outside the manufacturing country.

Lug-All (US)
Wyeth-Scott (US)
Svero (Sweden)

Anyone else?

 

[KnurledNut]

Anyone else?

Maasdam has some heavy duty models.

 

[liliysdad]

Winches are not for lifting. Hoists lift items.

Yeah they get used that way. I've even used ratchet straps for lifting short distances. But that's not what they are meant for.

Don’t tell that to a set of gin poles or a wrecker bed….

Winches are used all over the world to lift things everyday, in all sorts of settings.

 

[GeoBruin]

Don’t tell that to a set of gin poles or a wrecker bed….

Winches are used all over the world to lift things everyday, in all sorts of settings.

And slip joint pliers are used to tighten hex bolts all over the world, every day...

 

[liliysdad]

And slip joint pliers are used to tighten hex bolts all over the world, every day...

So, by your assertion, these are improper applications of winches….

 

[kbeefy]

Is there anything a ridgeline can't do?

 

[kbeefy]

So, by your assertion, these are improper applications of winches….

I'd bet those are rated for overhead work.

Is the rating just to do with the brake? Maybe no freewheel setting on the gearbox.

 

[GeoBruin]

So, by your assertion, these are improper applications of winches….

Not necessarily, but those are not really vertical lifting applications. That is the domain of cranes. And as mentioned above, the necessary safety mechanisms may be in place in those specific applications.

In any case, this is not a relevant discussion. The OP is not building a tow truck, or even a gin pole truck. They're asking about portable winches and hoists and someone thought it was important to mention that winches shouldn't be used as hoists. That is good, safe, advice. You can bring up some possible exceptions that may exist under a narrow set of circumstances that are not relevant to the discussion, but the take away remains.

 

[liliysdad]

I'd bet those are rated for overhead work.

Is the rating just to do with the brake? Maybe no freewheel setting on the gearbox.

Those are extreme examples…for effect. There are hundreds of thousand of smaller versions running around the country running off the shelf PTO, Hydraulic, and Electric winches.

Pierce winches, for example, builds a worm drive winch similar to the Ramsey. This winch is the same as the old Desert Dynamics winches. These winches are used on 1-ton winch trucks all over this part of the country, since they are made in Henrietta, TX. They are the same winches sold to anyone for any other use. No difference. Ramsey winches are used in the same manner. These winches are on winch trucks, gun pole trucks, and wreckers all over the place.

 

[mikegt4]

I solved my heavy lifting needs long ago, an Oliver OC46 loaded and an Oliver OC3 loader before that. A everyday engine hoist or a chain hoist for indoor jobs and a Warn winch for loading my trailer. I also have a come-along but it is a last resort tool after using it to load a car on the trailer a couple of times. I have my Warn winch mounted on a trailer hitch so I can also mount it in the receiver on the back of my van or pickup truck for other winching jobs. Needless to say my track loaders can cover my pulling jobs as well.