New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

Cable pullers like the one pictured are okay under favourable conditions but like all equipment - you get what you pay for. They're generally lighter to carry than a chain block or tirfor style winch but with lighter weight comes weaker construction.

I used to work in the building industry and we sometimes used winches of various types to move and erect components on site. I've actually seen a two ton cable puller buckle well short of its stated SWL. Better off to stick with a chain block or tirfor which can both be used safely in either direction under load, whereas it's fairly risky releasing or paying out cable under load on the type pictured.

If you're able to spend a little more you could probably do worse than look at the tirfor knock offs that Super Cheap Auto sell. A mate got one a couple of years back and gives it a hiding every winter winching his 4WD in the mud over on the West Coast and it's still going strong. From memory a 2000kg model sells for around $170.

My two cents worth.

Yes, we've used several over the years, like Karl says, you get what you pay for. One of our best buys was a rock net ( made of cable) from Keenes, its worth its weight in gold and has halted our heart-stopping practice of cleaning out under big goulies form all sides, praying the beggars wouldnt fall over while we were underneath!