The Tuf-Lugger cable puller is four-wheeled, maneuverable winch capable of pulling 2000lb in high gear, and up to a maximum load of 6500lb. Pulling tension will be determined by the duct geometry; while individual installations may not typically reach this force, it’s nice to have it when you need it.
 

The Tuf-Lugger has an on-board meter for measuring pulling tension, allowing you to monitor the load and make changes to the pull if needed. The calibrated Load Monitor System is an optional accessory to provide more accurate data (for fiber optic pulls, for example).
To increase the flexibility of the Tuf-Lugger, longer boom arms may be cut from standard Schedule 40 pipe or the Universal Extension can be used to rotate the pulling direction out of plane.
Underground: the Manhole Adapter can be used at the surface, combined with Sheaves or Quadrants anchored and hung in the vault itself. (Hanging Quadrants provide flexibility, since they can be moved and re-oriented within the vault.) A Duct Entry Guide is recommended to finally direct the cable into the duct.

Keep in mind that the Tuf-Lugger is not pulling the cable itself. Lightweight pull tape is installed into the duct first, linking the cable reel at the inlet and the cable puller at the outlet. The Tuf-Lugger has open sheaves and a capstan winch to accept a variety of rope sizes (from 3/8” to 7/8” typically) – the rope is then pulled by the Tuf-Lugger, and as the rope is extracted from the duct, the cable is pulled into place.
If the calculated pulling tension is too high due to excessive length or bends in the duct, a lubricant like our Tube-Lube 326 would be recommended to mitigate the friction in the duct.
See our previous cable pulling post “A Team Effort” for even more information on the cable pulling equipment that DCD Design builds.