Lug-All Winch Hoists and Hardware Store Pullers: Maximum Capacity
When you compare Lug-All come along ratchet winch hoists and hardware store come alongs and pullers, hardware store products have one apparent advantage: the cost. If you walk into a local hardware store, you can probably pick up a basic rope or cable puller for around $40. But the benefits of cheaper pullers start and end with the sticker price.
Disadvantages
One of the most obvious disadvantages of cheaper hardware store pullers is the lower-quality materials and construction. Most hardware store pullers are made with stamped steel parts, which is why they can be sold for such a low price. But these cheaper materials don’t have the strength and durability of Lug-All Hoists’ cast frames and drop-forged hooks. The cheaper material makes these hoists more likely to fail under a load.
A less obvious disadvantage of hardware store pullers is the post-purchase cost. While it is true that the sticker price is less than the cost of a Lug-All winch hoist, there are more costs after the initial purchase. The lower-quality material makes the cheaper puller more likely to break, which means you’ll have to replace it. If the replacement puller breaks, you’ll need another replacement. Each time you replace a broken tool, that cost continues to rise.
Lug-All winch hoists are designed to last; the high-quality materials allow them to reach their maximum load safely again and again without failing. Every part of a Lug-All winch hoist is also replaceable, so if any component does break, you can repair the hoist instead of replacing it.
Hoisting Capacity vs. Pulling Capacity
It’s important to know the maximum capacity of any hoist or puller before you use it. Unfortunately, accurately calculating the actual capacity of a hardware puller depends on numerous conditions; the weight of the object being pulled, the slope of the surface, and the friction of the surface are all determining factors. The capacity rating system for hardware pullers can be misleading. Hardware pullers are not intended to lift loads vertically, so the rating on a hardware puller does not mean you can lift that amount into the air. A hardware puller with a 1,000-pound rating will not be able to lift 1,000 pounds.
Lug-All winch hoists can safely lift a load vertically, so the maximum capacity is given as the weight it can lift vertically. A 1,000-pound capacity Lug-All can pull with a force of 1,000 pounds and lift an object that weighs 1,000 pounds.
Overload Protection
Hardware pullers do not have an overload detection system, and their safety coefficient may be as low as 1:1. This 1:1 safety coefficient means that once a hardware puller reaches its maximum capacity, it could potentially fail immediately.
Lug-All winch hoists do more to protect the user. All Lug-All winch hoists are manufactured with a minimum safety coefficient of 3.26:1. Incorporated overload protection mechanisms also protect the hoist from damage in overload conditions. These safeguards break or bend when the hoist is overloaded to protect the user from injury. When the overload protection is activated, you can simply replace the overload protection component, instead of the entire hoist.
Safety
When using a tool that produces a high amount of tension, such as pulling a heavy load with a come along, safety is an important factor. Lug-All cable and web strap winch hoists are designed with user safety in mind.
The simple, clear capacity rating of a Lug-All winch hoist lets you know exactly how much weight the hoist can handle. High-quality materials ensure that it can safely reach that limit many times. Overload protection keeps you and your equipment safe in the event of accidental overloading. Rigorous quality control testing makes sure every Lug-All come along ratchet winch hoist meets the highest standards of strength, durability, and reliability.