WARNING! SAFETY ALERT!
UPDATE: 8/30/11
I've been using two of these Come-A-Longs since 2007. A failure occurred on 8/29/11 that could have caused serious injury or death. I always inspect this equipment before use. Even so, close inspections while pulling heavy loads is sometimes hard to do.
Look closely at my uploaded photo image on the product page. Notice the bolts or steel pins that hold the hook and pulley. These bolts are held in place by paper-thin, U-Shaped Retainer Clips seated into a shallow grove around the tip of the bolt. If one of these retainer clips is accidentally bumped during use, it can dislodge and the bolt can come free suddenly releasing your load. This happened to me. These 5-ton pullers weigh 18 pounds each. When working with these Come-a-longs in conjunction with various cables and ropes, this can easily happen without notice. This is a serious safety issue.
I'm replacing these stock bolts and U-Shaped retainer clips with hardened steel bolts and lock nuts coated with Red Locktite 271 which must be heated to 500 degrees to remove. Coating the threads with JB Weld would also work. I strongly suggest anyone else using these Come-a-longs do the same.
It seems that I was wrong in my early reviews of this product. I apologize to those who called it cheap. I should have listened.
BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY. GOOD LUCK.
Heavy duty and top quality. As far as I can tell, since I don't have a 5-ton scale, the actual capacity is probably over 5-tons. I had several huge trees, 90-foot hardwoods, that needed to come down. With 14,000 lb. test-strength bullrope in the top of the target tree and the pully anchored with log-chain to the base of another tree, I began cranking the lever. I wanted to make certain the tree fell exactly where I wanted. I had to back off to keep from pulling some out of the trees out of the ground, root ball and all, before laying a chainsaw to them. This puller works - and it appears to be made well enough that I feel safe using it. That's very important. I inspected every detail before I put it to use. I could not find any markings indicating where it was made. That might be important to some. When placed next to the standard 2-ton come-a-long, it is easy to see the difference in size, weight and quality. Two connected in tandem to 14,000 lb. bull rope is sufficient to pull a monster hickory tree that is leaning over a house and make it fall away from the house. Tree experts wanted $800.00 for the job. I did it for less than $100.00.
UPDATE: 5-9-10 After nearly two years of use, the only complaint I have is the spring clips on the hooks bend easily and at times refuse to release whatever is in the metal hook. Recently, I broke a section of bullrope rated at 9500 lbs. test strength. The running bowline knot I had looped onto the steel hook held. The rope snapped in a place where nothing was touching it. I'll use only 23,000 lb. test bullrope from now on. And for those who are wondering why I don't use chain, chain does not stretch. Bullrope does. When 200 feet of bullrope is tightened to the limits to the top of a tall hickory or oak, several thousand of pounds of force continue to pull the tree in the right direction for several feet even as the tree begins to fall.
The average DIYer will never need more power than this. If I was needing 5-tons of pulling power on a commercial application, I'd look for an OSHA approved 10-ton device.
There is an old military saying that goes like this: Always ask for double of what you need if you expect to get what you need.
| Manufacturer | Ridgerock Tools Inc. |
|---|---|
| Part Number | 02256A |
| Item Weight | 13.38 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 28.54 x 5.79 x 4.33 inches |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Item model number | 02256A |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Size | 1 |
| Color | Clear |
| Style | Come Along Winch |
| Power Source | Hand Powered |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Mounting Type | Hook |
| Included Components | 5 Ton Come-A-Long |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
