Pull-pal and Hi lift
- Thread starter cnskate
- Start date
AFSOC
Explorer
I have never used a Pul-Pal but it is on Santa's list. Are you planning a solo outing? If not [IMHO], then consider comfort items ahead of the winch and the seemingly endless of additional expense one brings (mount, batteries, huge cable, clevis', extension cable, Pull-pal and on and on). Even if soloing, you can still have the time of your life tooling around while passing on the routes that pose a risk of major extraction.
SAR_Squid79
Explorer
I'd rather spring for the winch instead of the Pull-Pal.
Winching with the Hi-Lift is a b!+ch, and potentially very dangerous. If you get stuck in an area with nothing to winch from, you can bury your spare tire, and winch from that - and that will STILL be faster and easier, and safer than rigging and winching with the Hi-Lift. Also - if you're winching in the desert sand with the Pull-Pal, using the Hi-Lift... Having the jack and rigging that close to or on the ground is going to SUCK! - if it will even work at all...
I'd rather have my winch any day than those other things you listed.
...IMO, anyway...
Winching with the Hi-Lift is a b!+ch, and potentially very dangerous. If you get stuck in an area with nothing to winch from, you can bury your spare tire, and winch from that - and that will STILL be faster and easier, and safer than rigging and winching with the Hi-Lift. Also - if you're winching in the desert sand with the Pull-Pal, using the Hi-Lift... Having the jack and rigging that close to or on the ground is going to SUCK! - if it will even work at all...
I'd rather have my winch any day than those other things you listed.
...IMO, anyway...
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xcmountain80
Expedition Leader
cnskate said:
Well I got a less $$ awning option from Shady Boy of Canada I think it was shipped for $300+/-. Engel is a cool $600+, Hmm I have a T-Max winch which has yet to let me down, $600 shipped. Man you are looking to spend some cash huh? Now if low budget is your game a tarp properly affixed can solve the awning issue, nothing can replace the Engel I don't know what I did before mine. Hi-Lift will work for recovery but be ready and know how to use it. They can be extremely dangerous if not used properly or wisely.
Aaron
xcmountain80 said:
Ice won't replace an Engel, but it does precede it if you haven't tasted the forbidden refrigerated fruit
Tarps harsh my mellow, and I've wanted a Shadyboy for awhile. I will probably be travelling solo, so I will be cautious, but the stakes are higher. Another concern with a winch is the fuel economy and vehicle strain with the extra 200lbs of winch, winch bumper, and extra battery. Wouldn't an electric winch with cable line be potentially more dangerous than using a Hi lift for jacking? I thought they were most dangerous when jacking.
I won't be in a rush if I'm stuck, I mean I'll be stuck, right. But it seems like you have to pull a Pullpal several feet before it really works, so would that be realistically doable with a 48" Hi lift?
Thanks for the input.
SAR_Squid79
Explorer
If you're gonna be going solo, I think you're just asking for trouble going without a winch.
That's like Wheeling rule #1 - Go with a buddy, or go with a winch.
That's like Wheeling rule #1 - Go with a buddy, or go with a winch.
If you do not want the expense of an electric winch but something more efficient than the Hi-Lift option, try this http://www.expeditionswest.com/equipment/general_equipment/black_rat_winch.htm. Along with this http://www.expeditionswest.com/equipment/general_equipment/black_rat_recovery.htm or some simmilar accesory kit you shoud be set. :26_7_2:
Bighead
Adventurer
cnskate said:Ice won't replace an Engel, but it does precede it if you haven't tasted the forbidden refrigerated fruit
I will probably be travelling solo, so I will be cautious, but the stakes are higher. Another concern with a winch is the fuel economy and vehicle strain with the extra 200lbs of winch, winch bumper, and extra battery. Wouldn't an electric winch with cable line be potentially more dangerous than using a Hi lift for jacking? I thought they were most dangerous when jacking.
I won't be in a rush if I'm stuck, I mean I'll be stuck, right. But it seems like you have to pull a Pullpal several feet before it really works, so would that be realistically doable with a 48" Hi lift?
Thanks for the input.
I'm with Squid in saying you should go with a winch. A hi-lift is a great tool but for recovery ops it is secondary to my winch. You can cut the weight down a bit by swapping the wire rope for synthetic line. Also, you don't need to have a dual battery set-up to have a winch installed.
I've used a pull-pall quite a bit but have only used with a winch.
xcmountain80
Expedition Leader
No, at least with a winch you can be 8'-12' away and if it's new, and your vehicle isn't super close to weight capacity you should be ok with a winch. It's not the winch that it dangerous its that damn cable stuff! A hi-lift is good and a hand winch (non electric coffin hoist etc) are good too but almost as much as an electric winch. The Hi-lift becomes dangerous when weight is applied either lifting or pulling, now from actually breaking one while lifting (3X) times they break slow the metal is soft in a sense and will give before tearing apart, doesn't shear off so to speak. If all you can afford is a long *** rope and some shackle and a hi9lift you should be fine just remember to bury the spare or the pull pal. While not fast the HL is effective been there and done that. If you are gugho on the HL make sure to enlarge the upper and lower holes so your 3/4" shackle pins will pass through, or get the shackles from tractor supply that don't thread and use a pin with a retainer pin. I'll measure the 2 tonight and let you know which will fit. Heck for that matter pm me or give me a call. I run a winch and fridge and dont have dual batteries. I'm on a batt. tangent now I don't like optimas because I have purchased 5 reds and 3 yellow in the past 3 years for various vehicles and 70% fail early. I'm thinking the group 65 from sears $150 while not leak proof or agm it will work. I'm done with the fancy the other to consider is Odyssey $200+. The Shady Boy is awesome, easy to set up with 1 person easy to tear down. Nice construction for years of use and there Canadian!
Aaron
Aaron
grahamfitter
Expedition Leader
A question from the uninitiated: if you have a winch mounted to the front of the vehicle, what happens if you need to pull yourself out backwards? Wouldn't a hi-lift or other manual winch be preferable because you can use it on both ends?
Cheers,
Graham
Cheers,
Graham
DaveInDenver
Middle Income Semi-Redneck
Good question. One would assume that it might be possible in at least some cases to simply drive out backwards, since you drove in to begin with. Obviously not a solution if you've driven off the road crown. Anyway, I believe that even with a front mounted winch, having a Hi-Lift with rigging to make it a come-along is important for backwards, sideways, flopped on your side and gosh knows what other configuration you might need someday.grahamfitter said:
xcmountain80
Expedition Leader
True true!
Aaron
Aaron
big sky trapper
Adventurer
YES Ive done it, in some experiments with home made pull pals....BUT you better have a lot of patients and at least one other person as well plus pre bury the pul pal ect.
Trying to mannage the weight of a high lift by your self getting all the rigging set, getting PP set and getting it all moving can be an exercise in futillity! But it can be done.
You might consider something like a Black Rat puller, alot easier to set and as some have said safer as well. carry and extra cable or two and should be able hit something....
I have a thread in here somwhere about pull pall alternatives (needs some serious updates when I can get good pics...there are some plans in there to build one in a few hours for under 60 bucks. Update it is holding up fine on my fullsize chevy...)
Trying to mannage the weight of a high lift by your self getting all the rigging set, getting PP set and getting it all moving can be an exercise in futillity! But it can be done.
You might consider something like a Black Rat puller, alot easier to set and as some have said safer as well. carry and extra cable or two and should be able hit something....
I have a thread in here somwhere about pull pall alternatives (needs some serious updates when I can get good pics...there are some plans in there to build one in a few hours for under 60 bucks. Update it is holding up fine on my fullsize chevy...)
xcmountain80
Expedition Leader
Trapper I think you've got it. Tat looks like an extremely functional design and all for under $60 dammmmmn. I like it, so much in fact while thinking PP were just to much money and that would just buy extra line I might just make one of these darn things.
Aaron
Aaron
