Come-along and rigging

A come-along — also called a hand chain hoist or ratchet cable puller — is a mechanical advantage device that lets one person move loads that would otherwise require a truck, a tractor, or a team. A 2-ton, 4,000 lb (1,800 kg) come-along weighing 8 pounds (3.6 kg) can drag a car, pull a fence post, straighten a bent gate, tension a wire fence, or drag a downed tree off a road. It does this with no fuel, no battery, and no motor. It requires only an anchor point and a hand.

The limitation is cable length. Most come-alongs ship with 7 to 11.5 feet (2.1 to 3.5 m) of cable — enough for direct pulls in tight spaces, but insufficient for longer-distance work unless you add rope extensions or a block system. Understanding how to extend reach and multiply mechanical advantage is what separates a come-along user from a come-along operator.

Capacity and selection

Come-alongs are rated by their pulling capacity in tons. Common sizes:

• 1 ton — 2,000 lb (907 kg): Fence tensioning, light equipment positioning, moving large appliances. Affordable and light enough to carry in a bag.
• 2 ton — 4,000 lb (1,800 kg): The general-purpose choice. Handles most vehicle unsticking scenarios (on relatively flat ground), moving small tractors, dragging fence posts. Cable typically 7 to 9 feet (2.1 to 2.7 m).
• 3 to 4 ton — 6,000 to 8,000 lb (2,700 to 3,600 kg): Heavy vehicles, large equipment, building frame work. Heavier and more expensive.
• 5 ton — 10,000 lb (4,500 kg): Industrial rigging, heavy timber, large vehicle recovery. Dual-gear models give faster cable advance when unloaded. Cable length typically 10 to 11.5 feet (3 to 3.5 m).

For general property preparedness, a 2-ton model is the practical starting point. It handles the scenarios most likely to arise — vehicle recovery, log removal, fence repair — without being too heavy to carry.

Horizontal vs. vertical ratings

Most come-along ratings are for horizontal pulls. Vertical lifts (hoisting) typically use only a fraction of the horizontal rating — often half. Check the manufacturer label for both ratings before using a come-along as a hoist. An incorrectly rated lift is a mechanical failure waiting to happen.

Rigging basics

The come-along itself provides mechanical advantage through its ratchet and cable system, but adding blocks and redirects multiplies what it can do.

Direct pull: The simplest configuration. Hook one end to an anchor — a tree, a trailer hitch, a buried anchor — and hook the other end to the load. Pull the ratchet handle until you've taken up slack, then work in short strokes. One person can develop a sustained pull of several hundred pounds through the handle alone; the ratchet multiplies this into tons at the hook.

Snatch block redirect: A snatch block is a pulley that opens on one side to accept a rope or cable without threading it through. Rigging a come-along cable through a snatch block anchored to the load, then back to a fixed point, creates a 2:1 mechanical advantage — doubling pulling force at the cost of halving cable travel per stroke. This is the most useful single addition to a basic come-along setup.

Snatch block angle loading

When a cable runs through a snatch block at a tight angle (approaching 0 degrees between the two cable segments), the force on the block can reach nearly twice the load being pulled. If you are pulling 5,000 lbs (2,270 kg) and your angle is near-parallel, the block is experiencing close to 10,000 lbs (4,500 kg) of force. Always use a snatch block rated to at least twice your expected pull load. A snatch block failure under load is not a tool breaking — it becomes a projectile.

Extension with synthetic rope: When the cable is too short for the distance, add a synthetic rope (not natural fiber — it absorbs water and weakens; not old wire rope — it frays and snaps with little warning). A 30-foot (9 m) length of 3/8-inch (10 mm) synthetic winch rope extends your reach significantly and adds little weight to a kit. Connect rope to cable with a proper rigging shackle — not a carabiner, not a clip, not electrical wire tied in a knot.

Tree anchor: When using a tree as an anchor, protect the bark. A nylon tree strap 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) wide distributes load over bark without cutting into living tissue. Do not use wire rope directly around a live tree. Do not anchor to limbs — anchor to the trunk at the base, where the tree's mechanical support is greatest.

Vehicle recovery

A come-along can extract a vehicle stuck in mud, sand, or snow under specific conditions: the pull angle is roughly horizontal, there is a suitable anchor within cable reach (direct or extended), and the vehicle is not buried to the frame.

Basic vehicle recovery sequence:

1. Identify your anchor — a tree, a fence post set in solid ground, another vehicle. The anchor must be capable of handling the load. A fence post in soft ground is not a vehicle recovery anchor.
2. Attach the tree strap to the anchor. Connect the come-along hook to the strap's D-ring. Do not wrap cable around the anchor directly.
3. Attach the pulling hook to the stuck vehicle's tow point — the designated recovery hook or tow loop. Do not hook to bumpers, frame components, or any point not designed for tow forces.
4. Take up all cable and rope slack before applying load. Slack in the system becomes shock load — a brief spike of force several times the steady-state pull — when it comes taut. Shock load destroys equipment and creates projectiles.
5. Apply load with steady ratchet strokes. If the vehicle doesn't move in 10 strokes, stop. Evaluate whether the stuck vehicle needs to be dug out, the anchor repositioned, or the pull direction adjusted before you continue. A come-along at its maximum capacity being pushed harder breaks.

Field note

Drape a heavy jacket, tarp, or weighted blanket over the cable midway between the come-along and the stuck vehicle. If the cable snaps under load, the weight of the cloth stops or slows the recoil. A steel cable under 5,000 lbs (2,270 kg) of tension that parts instantly becomes a whip capable of cutting through a car door. This is one of those habits you adopt before you need it.

Log and debris removal

After a storm, a fallen tree across a driveway or road is among the most common obstacles that heavy come-along use is needed for. The chainsaw cuts the tree into moveable sections; the come-along drags them off the road surface.

For a 100-pound (45 kg) section of log on flat ground, a 1-ton come-along with a direct pull is more than adequate. A 400-pound (180 kg) hardwood round on wet ground with friction creates significantly more resistance — a 2-ton come-along with a snatch block to create 2:1 advantage handles it reliably.

Rolling friction is much lower than sliding friction. Whenever possible, split a log section with a splitting wedge to reduce weight before dragging, or roll it rather than slide it. A peavey (log-rolling hook) or a stout pole used as a lever reduces the come-along load dramatically.

Rigging safety checklist

Every rigging setup — not just new ones — warrants a systematic safety check before you apply full load. Equipment failures under load do not give warning. This check takes two minutes and prevents the majority of rigging accidents.

Anchor selection and rating: - Confirm the anchor is structurally capable of holding at least 150% of the expected pull load. A living tree with a trunk diameter of 8 inches (20 cm) or greater at the base is generally adequate for come-along work up to 2 tons; smaller or visibly compromised trees are not. - For fence posts: set-in-ground wood posts are anchors for light pulls only (fence tensioning, sub-1,000-lb loads). Steel T-posts driven into soft ground fail unpredictably under vehicle recovery loads — do not use them for anything greater than 500 lbs (227 kg). - Check that the anchor is not affected by the pull direction. A tree on a bank that would be pulled toward you, rather than laterally, may uproot under sustained load.

Cable inspection: - Run gloved fingers along the full length of cable before each use. You are feeling for broken wire strands (they catch the glove), kinks (permanent deformation in the cable), and corrosion. - A single broken wire within a 6-inch (15 cm) section is a replace warning. Six broken wires in any section, or any kink, is a mandatory replace — take the tool out of service. - Bird-caging (where strands splay outward) indicates overloading. A bird-caged cable has already exceeded its design load; discard it.

Load rating verification: - Check the label on the come-along body for both horizontal pull rating and vertical lift rating. These are different numbers on every unit. - If using a snatch block, verify that its working load limit (WLL) is at least twice the expected load (due to the doubled force on the block at shallow angles). - All shackles and rigging hardware in the system must be rated equal to or greater than the come-along's rated capacity. Mixed hardware where one piece is underrated creates the lowest-rated failure point in the chain.

Pre-load check sequence: 1. No bystanders within one cable-length of any tensioned component. 2. Draping weight (jacket, tarp) placed over the cable before tension. 3. All hooks and shackles visually confirmed seated and locked. 4. One quick manual check that the ratchet pawl engages before committing to full load.

Common failure modes and prevention

Understanding how come-alongs and rigging fail prevents the majority of field accidents.

Cable snap under overload: The most dangerous failure. It occurs when the rated capacity is exceeded — typically because friction or stuck vehicles require more force than the rated pull. Prevention: stop pulling if the load does not move after 10 full strokes; reassess before continuing. Add a snatch block for 2:1 advantage rather than exceeding capacity. If the handle becomes very difficult to ratchet, the system is near or at capacity.

Hook roll-out: Hooks open under sideways loading — when the load shifts direction and applies force to the side of the hook rather than straight down the throat. Prevention: use hooks rated for side-loading, or keep the load aligned with the direction of pull throughout the operation. Never side-load a standard hook.

Anchor failure: The most common vehicle recovery failure. Soft-ground anchors (fence posts, small trees in wet soil) yield progressively before failing suddenly. Prevention: choose tree trunk anchors minimum 8 inches (20 cm) diameter, use a properly installed earth anchor, or use a second vehicle. Test the anchor with 20% of expected load before committing to full pull.

Ratchet pawl slippage: The pawl skips on the ratchet gear when the gear teeth are worn, fouled with grit, or lubricated with thick grease (which attracts abrasive grit). Prevention: light machine oil only, kept clean. If slippage occurs under load, do not release tension suddenly — ease load off with another support before inspecting.

Synthetic rope abrasion: Synthetic rope that runs over a sharp edge (rock corner, rough metal edge) under load will cut in seconds. Prevention: pad all contact points with a section of garden hose split lengthwise or a folded piece of leather. Inspect rope for surface wear after any use over terrain.

Integration with other mechanical advantage tools

A come-along is strongest when it is part of a rigging system rather than operating alone. Several tools complement it directly.

Block and tackle: A set of pulleys (blocks) with multiple rope passes can extend a come-along's reach and multiply its force. A 3:1 block system fed by a come-along creates an effective 6:1 mechanical advantage — enough to move loads that exceed any hand-rated come-along capacity. The trade-off is cable travel: each unit of movement at the load requires three units of cable at the come-along. This is the configuration for moving very heavy loads short distances, such as repositioning large timber or extraction of deeply mired equipment.

Hydraulic floor jack: For vertical lifts and vehicle frame work, a hydraulic jack provides precise controlled lift that a come-along's vertical rating cannot safely match. Use the come-along to hold lateral position while the jack provides lift — they complement rather than substitute.

Peavey and cant hook: For log and timber work, a peavey (logging hook with a pick spike) or cant hook (hook without spike) allows repositioning of sections once the come-along has broken initial friction. The peavey rolls a log; the come-along drags it. Combining both reduces the force required from the come-along by eliminating the sliding friction that makes log extraction so demanding.

Chain binder and load chain: For securing or tensioning loads rather than moving them, a chain binder (ratchet or lever type) paired with log chain provides holding force that a come-along's hook-and-cable design isn't suited for. If you're tensioning something that needs to stay tensioned (a fence line, a load on a trailer), a chain binder is the right tool; the come-along is the right tool for moving loads to position them before the chain binder secures them.

Inspection and maintenance

Before each use:

• Inspect the cable for kinks, broken wires, or frayed sections. A single broken wire is a warning; multiple broken wires near each other or a kink in the cable means replace it. Damaged cable fails suddenly, not progressively.
• Check the hook latches on both ends — safety latches must close and stay closed under load.
• Verify the ratchet pawl engages cleanly with no slipping or grinding.
• Test the release mechanism with no load before applying load.

After use, retract the cable fully and lightly oil it. A thin coat of general-purpose machine oil prevents corrosion and keeps cable strands from seizing. Avoid thick grease — it attracts grit that acts as a lapping compound on the cable strands.

Store in a dry location. UV degrades synthetic rope over time; keep it out of direct sunlight when not in use.

Come-along readiness checklist

• Select minimum 2-ton capacity for vehicle and timber recovery scenarios
• Inspect cable for kinks, broken wires, or frayed sections before each use
• Verify hook latches close securely and ratchet pawl engages without slipping
• Keep one snatch block rated for twice your expected pull load in the kit
• Keep a 30-foot (9 m) synthetic extension rope and two rated rigging shackles in the kit
• Never attach cable directly to a bumper, un-rated frame point, or living tree bark
• Drape weight over tensioned cable before applying full load — always
• Oil cable after each use; store in a dry, UV-protected location

The come-along pairs naturally with the chainsaw in storm response: the saw cuts, the come-along moves. For large-scale vehicle recovery and load-moving that exceeds what a hand winch can accomplish, a vehicle-mounted winch covered in the vehicle kit section adds the next tier of capability. The anchoring and leverage principles on this page apply across most rigging and lifting tasks — hand tools covers the pry bars, sledges, and mechanical advantage tools that complement the come-along for the same class of work.