portable gas caps. winch

[rydnruff]

I want to buy a winch for pulling wood to the trailer, lifting limbs, etc. money is tight so i need a universal type deal. im really leaning towards the portable gas winch from wes spur. my question is has anybody ever used one to catch a ride up the tree by grabbing the running end coming off the spool or if its even possible. this heat and humidity is killing me and the first climb to the top of tall poplars is sucking all my energy and im pretty much spent for a bit. i feel that if i could " catch a ride" my day would be more productive until this heat dies down some. i have been watchin this site for a while behind the sceen and have learned so much without ever needing to post so here is my first question.

 

[TimberMcPherson]

I do have a capstan type chainsaw winch, and its great, but I would only use it to get up a tree if I had a very good guy controlling it from the ground and had a normal rope set as a backup. To many things to go wrong otherwise. Climbing can at time be hard, but falling is a real killer

 

[treeguyinoh]

I agree. I cant think of too many people I would trust to run a capstan with me on the other end. A quality come a long can do a lot of work, and a Big Shot and some ascenders will make you think differently about climbing.
Many, many people get the same idea as you, that they can save a lot of labor by just getting hoisted up, but wait until your groundie sets an idling saw down on a nest of hornets, and see how well he runs that winch.
All in all, I really see devices like the capstan winch, lewis winch as more of a rigging tool as opposed to personal support.
At select times, they can be very useful, but the job can usually be acomplished with some rope and blocks, and a come a long. And at a lot less $$$, with more versatality.

 

[rydnruff]

as far as human powerd stuff goes what would you use to lift branches and pretension wood, a rope winch or the fiddle block. within a hund or so but well under 1300.00

 

[treeguyinoh]

I have a More Power Puller. Cast iron, and very solid. The handle will bend before you destroy the come a long. I think I gave about $150 for it. Add a porta wrap and a prussic, and you are in business. It can be a little heavy, so i keep a smaller one (from tsc, i think)handy too. However, do not try to go nuts with a small come a long, but the more power puller will take most that you will throw at it.
As far as fiddle blocks go, I have a groundie at about 140 lbs and another nearing 300. You can guess who can put more force to a fiddle block, but they are about tied on a come a long.