I used to carry one all the time when offroading until I got a winch.

 

i never used one on the trail. i guess i just dont trust mine, but i have used it to pull the axle out of my buddies 00 mazda 626. for some reason the axle wouldnt slip out like it should so we bolted the come along to the wall and the other end to the axle and ripped it out. worked out pretty good

 

i used to of them hooked together attached to a 40 foot nylon rope to pull my blazer steep hill covered in mudd took awhile but i got there