Best Come-Along Winches: Hoisting Power When You Need It

Whether pulling an engine, dent, or stump, these come-along winches will get the job done

byMike Aguilar, Nikola Petrovski|
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BYMike Aguilar, Nikola Petrovski/ LAST UPDATED ON February 10, 2023

Come-along winches can be used for many jobs around your property and shop. They can be used to pull dents out of car panels and straighten bent frame extensions. People love them because come-along winches can be used to pull heavy objects such as stumps and help erect framing and roofs on structures small and large. Come along with us and check out our choices for the best come-along winches, all of which have at least 2 tons of pulling power.

Best Overall
Maasdam Pow’R Pull 8000SB

Maasdam Pow’R Pull 8000SB

Summary
Made in the USA. This is a 4-ton weight capacity manually-operated heavy-duty winch with 6 feet of 5/16-inch diameter cable.
Pros
The steel cable is aircraft-grade for added strength. This cable puller winch has a notch-at-a-time let-down feature so your load can’t spring back or fall. It also has OSHA-approved safety latches on the hooks, so it won’t accidentally break free at the wrong moment.
Cons
Six feet of cable length puts you pretty close to the work area. Smaller winches have longer cable lengths. Some users report the winches bind under heavy loads and the notch-at-a-time feature does not work under lighter loads.
Best Value

Maasdam Pow’R Pull 144SB-6

Summary
This 2-ton capacity come-along winch has features found on heavier-duty winches and comes with a 3/16-inch diameter cable with a 6-foot maximum lift. It will get most jobs done around the house, property, and shop. This hand winch works great as a dent puller.
Pros
Comfortable non-slip plastic ratchet handle grips keep your hands from slipping even when hot and sweaty. It’s precision fit, all load-bearing parts are made of high-quality steel alloy. The one-piece alloy ratchet wheel provides years of trouble-free use and safety.
Cons
The cable isn’t plastic coated, so care must be taken to ensure it doesn’t fray. Users report their winches breaking under lighter loads, while others have reported the product arrived broken and the warranty was not honored.
Honorable Mention

Warn 88500 PullzAll

Summary
Warn is one of the most respected names in winches, and this one has an easy push-button operation. This heavy-duty come-along winch has a no-load line speed of 13.8 feet per second, so it rewinds onto the spool quickly.
Pros
Warn winches to last long enough to be handed down at least once. Its one-ton capacity makes lifting walls and roofs and pulling dents a snap. The variable speed trigger allows you to precisely place the load where desired.
Cons
The company is American, but the winch is manufactured in China. This winch requires 120 volts AC. If you’re off in the back 40, that means a super-long extension cable or a generator will be required. Customers report poor quality control and unit failure under light loads.

Summary List

Our Methodology

We came up with this list of come-along winches based on features, price point, and versatility. Our selection is composed of both under $50 and $100 and up, with the higher-end possessing the most features and versatility. There are hand cable pull-type units, as well as electric. Warn might be the most recognized name here, too, as this company's been a household name for many years. The best uses for come-along winches is they lift heavy objects and save time and stress—whichever model does this best certainly wins. For more on how we select our products, check this out.

Best Come-Along Winch Reviews & Recommendations

This American-made winch has a weight capacity of 4 tons. It's designed for construction, automotive, landscaping, boating, camping, and vehicle recovery and rescue. It's a heavy-duty, manually-operated winch with 6 feet of 5/16-inch galvanized cable. It comes with steel alloy pawls and a safety spacer sleeve for consistent alignment.


The non-slip plastic grip is comfortable. Also, the ratchet guard keeps your hands and clothing clear. The steel cable is aircraft-grade for added strength and has a notch-at-a-time let-down feature so the load doesn’t spring back or fall. It meets ANSI/ASME specifications and has OSHA-approved safety latches on the hooks so it won’t accidentally break free at the wrong moment.         

    

One problem with this winch is that the 6-feet cable length puts you rather close to the work area, and many smaller winches have longer cable lengths. Also, some users report the winches bind under heavy loads, and the notch-at-a-time feature does not work properly under lighter loads. 

This 2-ton capacity winch includes features that are typically found on heavier-duty winches. It includes a 3/16-inch diameter cable with a 6-foot maximum lift and is suited for a variety of jobs around the house, property, and shop. It works great as a dent puller, and the galvanized, aircraft-quality cable is rugged and strong.


The non-slip plastic ratchet handle grips are very comfortable and prevent your hands from slipping even when they're hot and sweaty. Its precision fit, all load-bearing parts are made of high-quality steel and aluminum alloy. The one-piece alloy ratchet wheel is wear-resistant and provides years of trouble-free use and safety. The product also includes a reinforced ratchet guard and durable heat-treated bolts.


One issue with this come-along winch is that the cable isn’t plastic coated. As a result, special care must be taken to ensure it doesn’t fray. Some users also report that the winch fails under lighter loads. Others have complained that the winch arrived broken and the warranty was not honored.

Honorable Mention

Warn 88500 PullzAll

See It

Warn is a respected manufacturer of off-road equipment and accessories. This heavy-duty winch has an easy push-button operation. Its no-load line speed of 13.8 feet per second enables it to rewind onto the spool quickly. It's designed for use in auto shops, garages, construction, ironwork, equipment maintenance, machine shops, and more.

    

Warn winches are so durable they're often handed down at least one time. This one's 1-ton capacity makes lifting walls and roofs and pulling dents simple. The variable speed trigger allows users to precisely place the load where desired, and the device features an electronic load limiter with an LED indicator.     

    

One downside with this product is the company is American, but the winch is manufactured in China. Also, this winch requires 120 volts AC. If you’re in the woods, that means an extra-long extension cable or a generator may be required. In addition, some users report poor quality control and unit failure under light loads.

This four-ton TR Industrial unit is a good inbetween: not necessarily lacking any features, but also sub-$100.

    

It's 30 percent lighter than a lot of its competition, generally easy to use, and has a massive handle for good leverage and sure grip.     

    

On the negative side, it's not the best for pulling vehicles, and the tension can't be relieved if there's load. This might just mean changing up one's conventional method of using a come-along.

For those in search of the cheapest option possible, this model by popular tool company Big Red could be your answer. It might last a good long while, or it might be a great purchase if you only rarely ever need to a come-along. Regardless, it's got some good things going for it.

    

Two-ton capacity has a good range of use, including farm and ranch work, light vehicle off-roading, and in anyone's workshop. It's simple, but in a no-frills, durable way as the finish, cabling, and components' strength ought to last a good, long while.     

    

Though, it's less than thirty dollars for a reason. The handle doesn't have much grip to it, it's a very simple and therefore rough way of winching, will almost definitely need to be kept well-oiled, and it's a good idea to keep an eye on its components for premature wear.

Showing up on our list as Harbor Freight's best offering, this Haul-Master model is an excellent consideration.

    

While it has a no-frills appearance, its four-ton capacity is more than enough for more applications, and is at-home on the ranch as it is on the trail. Everything about it is heavy duty, from this massive capacity, to its construction, and aircraft-grade cabling. It has easy useability thanks to its flexible hook attachment, and users report that they have excellent durability.     

    

Though, it can be hard to release, it's cumbersome to use, and you have to keep an eye out to make sure lines aren't tangling.

Our Verdict

Our top pick for best come-along winch overall is the Maasdam Pow’R Pull 8000SB. This winch has enough capacity for most jobs big and small. The Maasdam Pow’R Pull 144SB-6, our pick for the best value come-along winch, is strong enough to pull stumps and get your car out of the ditch.

FAQs

Q: What sort of placement accuracy can I expect with a come-along winch?

A: That greatly depends on the winch and the load. With a powered winch, you can get an accuracy of less than an inch. With a manual winch, accuracy depends on the distance of the locking pawls.

Q: Can I use a come-along winch to pull stumps on my property?

A: Yes. As long as you don’t exceed the capacity of the winch and pay attention to safety procedures, stump removal is easy with come-along winches.

Q: What are some tips for using come-along winches?

A: Make sure you firmly secure the winch hooks to your polling location and your load. Incorrectly securing the hooks can cause them to slip. 

Keep the area between the winch, pulling location, and the load clear of all obstacles, especially you. Failure to do so can result in injury. 

Make sure your pulling or winching location is strong enough to pull from. Don’t try and pull a bent frame out using a wall stud if you don’t want to be standing in debris in your shop.

Look for a ratchet puller with a steel frame. Aluminum makes for a lighter power puller but can bend more easily.

Q: Can I pull my car or truck out of a ditch with a come-along winch?

A: Yes, with provisions. As long as you don’t have the wheels buried up to the fender in sticky mud or clay and/or the vehicle doesn’t exceed the winch capacity, pulling a car out of a ditch should also be easy.

Q: I know shouldn’t anchor to a stud to straighten a frame. What should I anchor to?

A: You should anchor to the floor of your shop. You need to measure the height of the piece being pulled and the angle at which it needs to be pulled and use concrete anchors to secure your pulling point to the floor of your shop and get it at the required height.

Why Trust Us

Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.

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