Come Along Puller: What It Is and When to Use One in the UK
In short: A come along puller is a hand-operated ratchet tool that pulls, tensions and drags a load over a short distance. In the UK the name is used loosely — sometimes for a wire-rope or webbing puller, sometimes for a chain lever hoist used horizontally. The distinction matters: most wire-rope come-alongs are rated for pulling only and must not be used for overhead lifting, whereas a G80 chain lever hoist will lift, pull and tension. If you want one tool in the van that covers all three, a chain lever hoist is the safer choice.
A come along puller is one of those tools people reach for before they know its proper name. When a load has to be pulled, tensioned or nudged into line without a power supply, a compact ratchet puller earns its place quickly. For a mobile plant engineer working to a breakdown SLA, that moment usually arrives on someone else's site, with the power off and the access awkward — exactly when a second trip back to the van, or a second visit tomorrow, is the thing you cannot afford.
What is a come along puller?
A come along puller is a manual pulling device that uses a ratchet and lever to build mechanical advantage, so one person can move or tension a load far heavier than they could by hand. It has a hook at each end — one anchors to a fixed rated point, the other attaches to the load — and a length of wire rope, webbing or chain that the ratchet draws in stroke by stroke.
The key point is that a come along is fundamentally a pulling and tensioning tool. It is at home dragging a skid across a plant room, tensioning a line, straightening steelwork, or pulling a pump back into alignment. It is not, by default, a general-purpose lifting device — and that single fact decides which type you should buy.
Wire-rope come-along vs chain lever hoist
Two very different tools share the "come-along" label in the UK. Choosing the wrong one either wastes a job or creates real risk.
| Feature | Wire-rope come-along | Chain lever hoist (this product) |
|---|---|---|
| Pulling medium | Wire rope or webbing | Grade 80 (G80) load chain |
| Overhead lifting | Generally not rated — pulling only | Rated to lift, pull and tension |
| Direction | Horizontal / angled pulls | Any direction, including vertical |
| Wear visibility | Internal strand failure can be hidden | Chain wear is visible and measurable |
| Typical use | Fencing, recovery, dragging loads | Alignment, short lifts, tensioning on plant |
Honest boundary: a wire-rope come-along must never be used to lift a load overhead where a failure could drop it on someone. If the job involves any vertical lift, use a chain lever hoist or a chain block rated for lifting — not a wire-rope puller. When you are not certain a tool is rated for overhead lifting, treat it as pulling-only.
When a come-along is the right tool — and when it is not
Reach for a pull-only come-along when the task is horizontal: dragging a base into position, tensioning, or recovering a load along the ground. Reach for a chain lever hoist when you need the same controlled pulling and the option to take a load's weight — say, lifting a pump clear by a few centimetres before you pull it into line. On breakdown work, where site power is unpredictable and you rarely know in advance whether the next job is a pull or a lift, one tool that will do both is worth more than two that each do half.
Choosing a come-along for van stock and breakdown work
- Reach. Short travel is the classic cause of a second visit. A full 6 m of chain reaches high anchors and awkward plant-room geometry that a 3 m tool cannot, without stopping to re-rig.
- One tool, three jobs. A lever hoist that lifts, tensions and pulls keeps the van light and covers the job you did not expect.
- Capacity with certainty. Match a clearly marked working load limit (WLL) to a known load. The ManualLift unit is a 0.75 tonne (750 kg) rating for verified sub-750 kg work.
- Storage. 6 m of chain stows in a bucket or chain bag and drops straight into a van drawer; keep it dry and off the floor to slow corrosion between call-outs.
- Value over the year. If you are asking whether occasional use justifies £204.90, weigh it against one avoided second visit or one day of hire lost to breakdown time — the tool usually pays for itself the first time reach is the difference.
Safe use in a nutshell
Whichever type you use, the basics are the same: anchor only to a rated point, keep the chain or rope straight and in line with the pull, make sure hook latches close, and never exceed the marked WLL. Lifting equipment and lifting accessories are covered by LOLER and PUWER in Great Britain — for the compliance detail (thorough examination intervals, documentation and pre-use checks) see our lever block safe-use guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is a come along puller the same as a lever hoist?
Not exactly. "Come-along" is often used for a wire-rope puller that only pulls, while a lever hoist uses a G80 chain and can lift as well as pull. This product is a chain lever hoist that works as a come-along for pulling but is also rated to lift.
Can I lift a load overhead with a come-along?
Only if the tool is specifically rated for overhead lifting. Wire-rope come-alongs generally are not. For any overhead lift, use a chain lever hoist or chain block. See our manual chain hoist guide for the difference.
What length of chain do I need for plant work?
Enough to reach the anchor without re-rigging. On confined plant and higher anchors a full 6 m of chain removes the short-reach problem that causes repeat visits.
One tool that pulls, tensions and lifts. The ManualLift 0.75 t lever hoist ships with a full 6 m G80 chain as standard — sized for van stock and breakdown reach.
Shop the ManualLift 0.75 t 6 m lever hoist — £204.90Next: compare the exact specification and value in our manual lever chain hoist buyer's guide.