anyone ever use a comealong in place of a winch/ tow vechile?

as in use like a 4 ton comealong (example) to pull a truck out of mud or a hairy situation, instead of hooking the one truck up to another, just hook one end of this to a big ass tree and start pullin?

seems like a good cheap way to get the guy behind my though whatever i just made it though, without beating the crap out of my truck to do it

 

Yes sir, I've used that to pull my truck out of some snow. One side of the truck was in the snow (tires buried half way almost) and I was just spinning tires. So.. I hooked it up to a tree and cranked as much as I could, moved half an inch and cranked again etc... till I was out. Not fun doing it in snow up to your waste, but it did the job.

 

It will work but you work your a*@ off. Get a good tow strap...

 

have a good tow strap, but im never the one that gets stuck which pisses me off, im always the one that has to sit there killing my tranny yanking on other people, would much rather toss them a comealong and say "ill be up ahead" lol

would it be a smarter idea to just buy a hi-lift, get a comealong and jack for relatively the same price?

 

which would you rather be-
- the one who gets stuck and has to ask for help
... or ...
- the one who will never be stuck and everyone admires
...?

and helping people doesn't necessarily mean you have to kill your rig... what about a winch?

 

Funny story: We were coming down from high country on a access road that this one section was eating underbuilt rigs like crazy. I mean sitting on the frame stuck. So I go help unstuck the first guy. As I'm heading back to my rig another guy gets stuck. Alright I'll help again. Before I can get back...well you see the pattern. I'm getting pissed and try to go around, well no luck I'm frickin stuck. And PO'd well this drunk guy in what appears to be a soccer moms jeep, you know with the wood panels. The rear of his jeep has worked its way over to inches from the side of the road, which is the side of the mountain. So I holler to stop. Deciding once more to help these drunken jerks. Go and inventory their recovery gear. Well a comalong and logging chain and straps. Perfect off to a tree at the 9 o'clock from the jeep, apply gas to spin rear tires to slide, and rachet it over no worries. Well drunk guys want to do it there way. The tie off to the 10:30 position so the tires can't be spun, now the rear is being dragged over by the comalong. WTF do I care right. None the less he's out. We strap and chain the two remaining stuck vehicles, one being mine to the other three vehicles and train everyone out. Drunk jeep boy goes to leave slams the rear hatch, bang it bounces back up. And again, again... The unibody was bent so the rear door wouldn't latch. So off he goes rear hatch swinging in the breeze. We laughed our heads off and somehow it made all the earlier frustration ok.

 

yes many many times. Helped a few tractors out with one too.

 

cant you use a hi-lift jack for the same thing? i have a hi lift but not a come-along

 

yes..but don't skimp on a comealong..lol.if its rated for 4ton..but it cost $20..chances are it isn't as strong as it claims..lol..

but a GOOD come along cost's a good bit of money..lol

get at least an 8 ton just to be safe..lmao..of course 6 would be enough lol

 

I saw the video of a guy doing it, but I did't like it the time I tried it. Felt like if it kicked back I was right in the way of that 4 foot handle. I wussed out and had a buddy winch me.

 

yes you can winch with a hi lift as well as spread AND clamp. Hi lift has a really good youtube channel with quick little 2 min vids that'll teach ya how to use it all the way around.

http://www.youtube.com/user/hiliftjacks

 

pretty bad a$$. i look forward to pulling myself out of something now.

 

This was the time I tried to use the Hilift for a winch. The video had me pumped too. I didn't like it cause there is no way to do it without being in the way of a kickback. I'm sure it can be done. I got a T-max so perhaps I'll never find out, makes a good jack though.

 

Mine jambed up first time I used it. I think it was a 4K lbs. A HiLift is much more versatile and can be used as a come along. It won't jamb up either (crud gets between the hand, the frame and the spool). Come alongs only have about a 10 foot range too usually.

Buy a HiLift Jack, some chains and hooks- more versatile and durable

 

I used a come-along to get my celica with 2 flat tires out of a mud hole. It took a lot of time and effort, that's for sure.

 

yes and this one works awesome!

http://www.izook.com/reviews/mppuller/mppuller.htm

 

Yup and it worked great. Had snatch blocks on the front of my truck and routed back to myself. Didn't even have to work that hard to get out of some nasty muck with that setup.

 

I have had one of those for about 20 years (I'm an old fart) It is about due for a new cable but they are awesome. Wyeth Scott has been making them for about 100 years or more. has 20 feet of cable on it.
Works front or rear, to the side and portable


I have probably gotten enough beer and misc small cash payments over the years helping people out to have paid for it.

An a shovel also makes self recovery easier....
Hi Lift is a valuable tool but also practice with it. I still want a winch but here is what I take wheeling with me:


comealong and a high lift won't do squat for you if you don't have attachment or lifting points to hook up to...IE bumpers, sliders.

 

If using a Hi-lift jack be ready to stop and restart every 48-60 inches. The kick can hurt but majority of the time it's controllable. A great ad-on tool to the hi-lift is the Jack-Mate My wife got me one for my b-day a few years ago and it turns your hi-lift into a new toy that rocks! One of the coolest little tools you should have in your truck.

 

i keep a comealong in my rig even with a winch. they have saved my ass many times. but i would go with a comealong with a snatch block on the hook end and not a direct pull line like the first one pictured.