A come along (manual cable puller) is used to pull or slightly lift heavy objects by ratcheting a steel cable or strap between a solid anchor and the load. Used correctly, it gives a lot of controlled pulling power with relatively little effort, but it must be handled with strict attention to safety.

What a come along is

  • A come along is a hand‑operated winch with a ratcheting handle, cable or chain, drum, and hooks on each end.
  • It is commonly used for jobs like vehicle recovery, fence tensioning, moving sheds, logging, and small lifting tasks where precise control is important.

Safety first

  • Always inspect the tool, hooks, and cable/rope for frays, kinks, cracks, or bent parts; do not use it if you see damage.
  • Wear gloves and eye protection, and keep your body and hands out of the line of tension in case something fails or slips.
  • Never exceed the rated capacity stamped on the tool or its hooks, and use only solid, fixed anchor points like trees, posts, or structural beams.

Basic step‑by‑step use

  1. Choose and set the anchor
    • Select a strong anchor point that can handle more than the expected load: a tree, steel post, or secure vehicle recovery point.
 * Attach one hook of the come along to the anchor using the correct orientation and any needed shackles or straps.
  1. Attach to the load
    • Hook the other end to the load (vehicle frame, log, fence wire, etc.), often via a recovery strap, chain, or lifting sling to avoid damage.
 * Make sure the hook’s safety latch closes fully and that the pull line is as straight as possible with no sharp bends.
  1. Take up slack and engage the ratchet
    • Use the release or free‑spool position (if present) to pull out or shorten the cable until it is just taut between anchor and load.
 * Move the selector or pawl into the “pull” or “tighten” position so the ratchet mechanism will advance the drum when you work the handle.
  1. Ratcheting and moving the load
    • Stand to the side of the cable path, grip the handle, and pump it in its full stroke so the ratchet advances one tooth at a time.
 * Work slowly and steadily, watching the load move and pausing if anything twists, binds, or looks unstable.
  1. Securing and holding
    • Once the load is where you want it or the line is properly tensioned (for example, on a fence), make sure the primary pawl is fully seated in a tooth.
 * Avoid shock loading: do not jerk the handle or let the load bounce on the line, as that can exceed the rated capacity suddenly.

Releasing the load safely

  • Most come alongs use a secondary pawl or release lever; you typically move the handle to unload the main pawl slightly, flip the release, and let the drum step back one tooth at a time.
  • Always keep a firm grip on the handle and release tension gradually, because if the handle gets away from you it can whip violently.

Practical tips and common mistakes

  • Keep the cable neatly wound on the drum and avoid letting it pile up on one side, which can crush strands and cause kinks.
  • Many experienced users use a screwdriver or similar tool to engage the ratchet teeth during setup to keep fingers clear of pinch points.
  • Do not use a come along as a permanent lifting device over people or for overhead suspension where a proper hoist is required.

TL;DR: Inspect the tool, pick a strong anchor, hook to the load, tension the cable, then pump the ratcheting handle to pull, always standing out of the line of fire and releasing the load slowly with the release pawl.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.