Front	Rear

Left Side	Right Side

Front: Open for Rigging	Rear: Open for Rigging	Front: Half Open

Technical Details

I acquired two Rock Exotica TactiGrab RG20s from RubiconGear in 2018.

Each Rock Exotica TactiGrab RG20 is 98 mm. long, 59 mm. wide, 29 mm. high, and weighs 101 g.

The RG20 consists of a milled pivoting front plate, a milled fixed rear plate with an integral anvil, a rocker-arm style cam, a pulley sheave, and a spring-loaded push-button style cover catch. The plates, lever, and catch are milled from aluminum alloy and then anodized. The eye is 16 mm. in diameter. There are two other holes in the front plate: a 12.8 mm. hole for the catch to hold the plate closed, and a teardrop hole that allows the catch to hold the plate partially open.

The front plate is printed with "Button must be fully extended and side plate locked.," "Expert use only!," and "rock exotica usa." the rear has "⇑" with "UP/LOAD" beside it, a book-with-an-"i" icon, and "14066M0032."

Comments

Although sold and described as a "rope grab," this is using the term differently than the more common use for that term that I follow on my Rope Grabs and other pages. In many ways, the RG20 resembles the Rocker-Arm Ascenders, but it also functions as a Hauling Pulley. Since it did not fit cleanly into one of these categories, I decided to place it with my other Most Miscellaneous devices.

I believe that Rock Exotica discontinued this product, as I cannot find it or any instructions online. The eBay listing included the following information:

The unique design of this rope grab allows it to be used as either a ’conventional’ rope grab - whereby the rope grab is attached to the rope and tension is applied to a carabiner clipped into the rope grab - or it can be integrally rigged as a combination rope grab and traveling pulley within a 3:1 mechanical advantage pulley system.

The Mini Ascender with Sheave is a specialized device for emergency use in situations where full-size rope and equipment is not available. It requires careful and expert use and must not be used unless the user has practiced with their system in a controlled situation.

Rope Size Caution: This device was designed for 6.5mm rope. This size is smaller than normally used and it is easier to cut or break than normal rope. Special caution and experience is required. Use only for light loads. Maintain tension, NEVER shock load! Make sure it works properly with the rope you are using.

Ascender Caution: This ascender has a spring providing tension for the cam to help it lock on the rope. But dirt, ice, damage a failed spring, etc. may prevent it from locking on the rope and instead it may freefall down the rope, dropping you or your load. You must guard against this. Grabbing the device or the rope above the device will pull it down, dropping you or your load.

NEVER allow this to happen! It Must ALWAYS Be Closed:The sideplate has a button that must be pushed twice to fully open it. The sideplate MUST be fully closed and the button MUST be fully extended or it will not be strong and it may break and/or the rope may come out. NEVER use it if the sideplate is open. NEVER use it if the sideplate is only closed to the first button hole. It must only be used when it is FULLY closed. Mandatory Sideplate Closing Procedure: Every time you use it, close the sideplate confirming it is fully closed and that the button is fully extended.

Rope Size: 6.5 mm. (i.e. dyneema, kevlar ropes from Bluewater, Sterling ropes or other trusted manufacturers).

There are quite a few warnings here and the user would be well-advised to heed them.

I wonder, though, why the design includes two button holes if we are warned "NEVER use it if the sideplate is only closed to the first button hole." This appears to be a design flaw.

This is a highly specialized device and given the rope sizes it is designed for, does not have a place in routine caving or climbing.