Truck-mounted cable pulling system

An equipment module for use in a cable pulling system which includes a vehicle with an on-board hydraulic drive system having a reservoir of hydraulic fluid, a pump and associated plumbing with first and second access locations at which coupling to the plumbing may be readily effected, said module comprising:

• a frame discrete from the associated vehicle, means for removably mounting said frame on the associated vehicle, a hydraulic control console mounted on said frame, means for coupling said control console to the hydraulic drive system when said frame is mounted on the vehicle, said control console including valve means operable among three conditions for respectively supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid only to said first access location or only to said second access location or simultaneously to both of said access locations, a hydraulic winch motor, first support means mounted on said frame for removably supporting said motor in a storage condition, said first support means including means accommodating movement thereof between first and second positions for respectively supporting said winch motor in stowed and access positions, a cable take-up reel, second support means mounted on said frame for removably supporting said reel in a storage condition, a hydraulic sump pump, third support means mounted on said frame for removably supporting said sump pump in a storage condition, hydraulic conduit means having one end thereof coupled to the hydraulic system at the second access location, and fourth support means mounted on said frame for supporting said hydraulic conduit means.

A cable pulling system comprising:

• a truck having a cargo bed;
• a hydraulic drive system mounted on said truck, said hydraulic drive system including a reservoir of hydraulic fluid, a pump coupled to said engine for driving thereby, and plumbing interconnecting said pump and said reservoir and having first and second access locations on said truck at which coupling to the plumbing may be readily effected;
• an equipment module discrete from the truck and removably mountable on said cargo bed, said module including a frame, a hydraulic control console mounted on said frame, means for coupling said control console to said hydraulic drive system when said module is mounted on said cargo bed, a hydraulic winch motor removaly supported on said frame in a storage condition, support means movable between first and second positions for respectively supporting said winch motor in stowed and access positions, a cable take-up reel removably supported on said frame in a storage condition, a hydraulic sump pump removably supported on said frame in a storage condition, and hydraulic conduit means supported on said frame and having one end thereof coupled to said hydraulic drive sytem at said second access location when said module is mounted on said truck bed;
• mounting means on said truck for mounting said winch motor and said take-up reel in a use configuration for pulling cable;
• and means for coupling said winch motor to said hydraulic drive system at said first access location when said winch motor is disposed in its use configuration.