Product Review - Tugger Lift Straps

Apr. 01, 2005 By ORC STAFF

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A Better Place to Grab

At the end of last summer I was in an uncomfortable position. We had been riding on a singletrack that followed the spine of a very steep ridge. The trail cut sharply up and to the right to go around a tree that had fallen. I tried to make it over the tree but was not successful. Since I was completely stopped I backed up so I could get a clear shot at the 20 feet of diverted trail that cut straight up the hill and around the fallen tree. I backed my bike up a foot or so, and before I knew it my rear tire was off of the single track and I was sliding down the steep hill covered in loose rock and wet vegetation.

Of course my riding buddy had cleared the section and was no where to be seen so I spent the next 15 minutes solo trying to haul my bike back up the side of the hill to get back to the trail. Unfortunately for me it seemed like I never could get my body in the right position to yank on the bike. I pulled on the fenders; I pulled on the tires; the handlebars and anything else I could get a finger around. By the time I made it up to the trail I was exhausted, and my friend Brandon was just returning after noticing my absence after a few miles. The energy I wasted dragging my bike seem compounded by the fact that there just never seemed like the right grip to give the bike a good tug. I'm sure that most would agree, when you're stuck on the side of that hill with no cavalry in sight, a good hand grip could be worth its weight in gold.

Just to rub in my sidehill excursion, a few months ago Brandon sent me a link to the "Tugger" website (www.highline-recreation.com). This was a new product designed by a couple of guys who had experienced situations similar to mine, and decided to build a product that could help a stuck rider give a better "tug" on their bike.

1" Strap with custom Embroidery

Hardware tucks nicely into side panels

The Tugger is a unique and well-built product. Essentially it consists of a section of webbing (that you can get embroidered with lettering for a few extra dollars - given my affinity for getting stuck, Brandon suggested a few different words I could get stitched on the webbing, none of which I can repeat here) that ends with two laser cut aluminum buckles. These buckles then pivot on a pair of machined tubes that act as pivots and seat bolt washers through which the seat bolts are located for most bike applications. The length of webbing is adjustable and is custom built for a specific bike, and the webbing also has a section of heavy-duty elastic sewn in to ensure the Tugger sits flat against the seat when not in use. The construction of the Tugger is burly with super-duty stitching, solid aluminum parts and no-nonsense function. The Tugger is designed to be used help get the bike unstuck, or move it around on a trail, and it is not intended for use as a tie-down location or lots of heavy lifting around the shop.

When I first put the Tugger on the not-so-lightweight DRZe, I was concerned that I might bend the seat bolts, or perhaps rip them out of the subframe completely during a heated tugging session. Well after a couple of months of riding and testing I can say that the Tugger lived up to all of the expectations and looks no worse for the wear. I used it on more than one occasion and was glad to have it with me. Even though I'm fairly tall and have a tendency to move around a lot towards the back of the seat, the Tugger was barely noticeable during riding. Most riders may not notice the added strap at all. It should be noted though, that the Tugger seemed to loosen up the seat bolts after a longer ride. I suspect it was the result of me moving back and forth across the strap causing a bit of torsion at the seat bolt. No worries though, Just a quick check of the seat bolts (which you should be doing anyway!) between rides ensures a trouble-free journey. Other than that, the Tugger proved to be a worry-free addition to the bike.

I guess the Tugger is not for everyone...some bikes have nice handholds, and are fairly light. But if you've ever thought that an extra grab location would be exactly what you need to get out of the tough spot, the Tugger proves priceless. It is a good value for the price; a solid product, and made in the USA. What more could you ask for? Perhaps a muscle-bound riding partner who can extract your bike from the side of the hill while curling a Red Bull? For the rest of us we'll just have to settle for the Tugger.

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