What is and why use...chain hooks?

[raykos]

Hi all,

While reading a thread about towing trees, one member responded about having a chain with a "grab hook" and a "slip hook". Never having had much experience with chains and such, what is the difference between these hooks, what is the proper way to use each, and is there a specific use for each one?


Thanks,
Ray

 

[johnk]

A slip hook slips down the chain and a grab hook is narrower and grabs onto the chain link and doesn't slip. Hope this helps.

 

[Mike058]

Some like to weld a grab hook on each end of the FEL and then put a slip hook in the middle. Do a search on "bucket hook".

 

[bota7800]

AW Direct Towing Recovery Service Vehicle and Wrecker Accessories - 1-800-243-3194 has weld on versions of both and and anchor hooks. It has been a very useful bucket modification.

 

[MikeD74T]

raykos, To answer part 2 of your question. One can tie a knot in a chain but it's not very effective or efficient. Hooks on the chain ends allow the forming of a loop which will tighten under strain if a slip hook is used, will not tighten if a grab hook is used. The chain will slide thru the rounded opening of the slip hook. The links will fit in the slot of a grab hook but will not slide. Most commonly a chain will have a slip on one end & a grab on the other. Using grab hooks to connect two chains allows one to vary the total length of the connected chains to any fixed length. Chain binders have grab hooks on each end and are usually placed in the middle of a span of chain to pull all slack to the center.
Grab hooks welded to a FEL bucket allow items to be secured to the bucket with chains for lifting, pulling, etc. Hope this helps. MikeD74T

 

[pat32rf]

And those hooks in the picture with the built-in clevis are by far handier than the hooks with a ring that you must then use a separate clevis to attach to the chain. You can also get slip hooks with a "finger" to stop the chain from slidding out. Some call them safety hooks but the latching finger soon gets bent if you are using the chain as a choker to haul logs. The best hooks will have a SWL stamped on them.....
I normally find that two 5/16 or 3/8 chains of 10 or 15' each are a lot handier than one 30'. With the hooks you can join them at any length for hauling or lifting. Even a couple of 4-5' chains can be real handy, if they have hooks..

 

[Toolguy]

I agree that 2 short chains are better than 1 long one. My favorite is a 14' x 5/16" with a grab hook on one end and a slip hook on the other. If I am pulling brush or logs I will back up to the load as close as possible. Then use the slip hook end to go around the log or brush. The grab hook end is fed through a clevis or around a ball hitch and then hooked back into the chain to make the chain as short as possible. As I pull away the slip hook tightens around the log and away we go. It also works great to pull several large limbs or small trees that are piled with the butt ends close together. The slip hook slides on the chain and pulls the whole pile together.

 

[canoetrpr]

Boy was I ever chain illiterate before I read this thread. Thanks!

 

[raykos]

Thanks guys!! Now I know a little more of what I'm looking at, and looking for when I prowl around Tractor Supply.

Ray

 

[Casco1]

AW Direct Towing Recovery Service Vehicle and Wrecker Accessories - 1-800-243-3194 has weld on versions of both and and anchor hooks. It has been a very useful bucket modification.

This is what I have on my bucket and it has worked out very well for me.

I have three slip hooks, 2 on the ends and one in the center.

Two grab hooks between them.

It may be overkill but I've found that there isn't much I cannot do with this setup. I also have two grab hooks on the back of my BH bucket for craning.