Crosby Chain Choker Hook

A Crosby chain choker hook slides along a logging chain so you can wrap a log, pull the chain tight and drag it. It is a basic piece of wood-handling hardware for skidding logs to the loader or out of the backyard.

How choker hooks work

Wrap the chain around the log, pass the end back through the choker hook, and hook on to the machine or winch. When you pull, the chain cinches around the log. Release tension and the hook slides loose so you can unwrap.

Set the choker near the end of the log so it lifts slightly and slides instead of plowing into the ground.

A sliding choker is quicker than tying a log hitch every time and holds tighter on round wood. Keep a couple of chokers rigged on chain in the truck for pulling logs out of tight backyards to the loader or onto a trailer.

On a winch line, a short chain with a choker hook saves wear on the winch rope by keeping it off the bark and dirt.

Hooks also save the chain itself from the kinks a knotted chain picks up.

Sizing and safety

Use a hook matched to your chain size and grade, and keep the working load within the lowest-rated component. Inspect for spread throats, cracks and worn chain contact points. Stand clear of the chain and log when pulling; a chain that slips or breaks can whip. Do not use skidding hardware for overhead lifting unless it is rated for that.

Grease and rust-proof the hardware between jobs.