Hitch Master: A Block And Tackle In Your Pocket
By Benjamen Johnson
With a few Hitch Masters and some rope you have a compact and versatile system for pulling, lifting, or keeping stuff tied down — at least that’s what Anderson Products claims. Weave a rope the right way through the several hooks and you have something like a block and tackle to multiply your pulling force without the pulleys. Weave the rope in another way and it serves as a tie-down.
You can pick up a pair of small Hitch Masters for $25, a large pair for $35, or a kit with a pair of large and small Hitch Masters, 30′ of rope, a U-pulley, and carrying case for $60.
Hitch Master [AK Cool Tools]
October 15th, 2009 at 11:22 am
I have my doubts about this. The friction of sliding the rope across all those right angles would overcome any benefit. Maybe it could be used for lowering, but even that could damage the rope. Has anyone out there used one?
October 15th, 2009 at 11:36 am
I’m with Chris. No way in hell you can lift with that setup they have in the picture.
What is the point anyway - avoiding the bulk of block and tackle? because it’s not saving money…
Here’s a 4000lb block and tackle (with rope) for $25
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001Z0WELC
and double pulley’s are $6
http://www.amazon.com/National-N199-810-1-1-Double-Pulley/dp/B000BD8N0A/ref=pd_sim_dbs_hi_3
October 15th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
I concur with Chris, seems very unlikely you’ll get much advantage out of this, and I could see it just making life difficult.
October 15th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
They also make the Clamptite. It makes hose and other clamps from wire stock. I lusted after one back when I fixed carpet cleaning equipment.
http://www.akcooltools.com/clamptite.html
verbage from the site
Finally, there’s a better way to make clamps. You can make custom clamps, any size, any shape, anywhere, from wire. We recommend stainless steel wire because of its strength and durability. The ClampTite tool will work with all wires, but you have to match the wire to the application. By simply cutting the wire to the length you need, you can have a clamp of any size.
October 15th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Chris,Jim
I would totally agree. I carry a “Deer” hoist in my car from harbour freight and found it to be very handy. I would suggest replacing the line with some para-line
ShopMonger
October 15th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
I think the primary use for this is as a knotless trucker’s hitch…..hence the name “Hitch Master.” The block and tackle application is kind of ancillary.
For those of you who don’t know your knots, a trucker’s hitch is what real men use instead of those cheesy little ratchet straps.
October 16th, 2009 at 12:57 am
Unless youve seen a product in person and seen it work you shouldnt judge it based off of what you see in a picture. Ive used the hitchmaster, its compact, great for hunting, you can use it to pull your 4 wheeler out of a mudhole if you dont have a winch, use it to pull your snowmobile out if you get it stuck, it has a lot of applications.
October 17th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Dave P - the truckers hitch kicks ass. Try one with an alpine butterfly for the top loop sometime.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpine_butterfly
October 18th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
It (the real thing) is called a tackle, not a “block and tackle”. Any sailor should be able to tell you, not only this, but that the line is not meant to be bent to that small circumference and, if it works at all, won’t last long.
Especially that nasty, cheap polypropylene in the pic!
October 19th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Bryan, I don’t need to buy something before expressing my doubt. I would love to see a video of someone pulling a stuck vehicle out of a ditch with this thing, but I don’t think I will.
November 9th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
I have one in my 4WD. It gets used a lot, and works really well. It’s simple, cheap, and effective. Sorry I haven’t got a vid of me pulling my 4WD out of a mudhole, but it does do it. For the cost and how much space this doesn’t take up, it cannot be beaten.