A cable handling system has a cable traction unit having a sequence of cable-driving pulleys, a cable path coiling partially around each one of the cable-driving pulleys in the sequence, the cable traction unit being mounted on a rear portion of the vehicle; a cable accumulator unit mounted on the vehicle, having an cable chamber fixed relative to the vehicle and having an annular cable receiving area between a cylindrical outer wall and a cylindrical inner wall, and a cable channel having a first end communicating with the cable traction unit, and a second end communicating with the annular cable receiving area.