Start from the load, not the handle length
Manual come-alongs are sold by rated pulling capacity and cable length. A “4 ton” badge does not excuse weak trees, soft soil anchors, or worn hooks. This site maps load weight to two verified VEVOR US classes using a 1.5× shopping margin.
Why multiply by 1.5
Friction, binding, and start-up inertia make real horizontal pull higher than free weight. Multiplying by 1.5 before class matching keeps light loads on the 2 ton ladder and pushes mid loads toward 4 ton. Vehicle recovery still needs GVWR-based winch math — not this screen.
Class ladder on this site
ComeAlong maps required pull to 2 ton / 4,409 lb and 4 ton / 8,818 lb consumer cable pullers. Above 8,818 lb required pull returns NO_MATCH instead of recommending an undersized ratchet puller.
Limits and honesty
Affiliate tracking is pending. Product links are ordinary VEVOR merchant URLs. Never lift people with a come-along. Inspect cable, pawls, and hooks before each use. Sources: VEVOR US come-along listings checked 2026-09-10.