The capacity value of 34,200 lbs for a 7/8 inch Grade 80 alloy chain sling applies to which hitch type?

• A. Vertical hitch
• B. Basket hitch
• C. Choker hitch
• D. Parallel hitch

Answer: (A)

The capacity of a chain sling isn’t a single number for a given size and grade; it changes with how the sling is arranged, i.e., the hitch type. The ratings are published for each hitch configuration because the way the chain is engaged with the load and hooks alters how the load is carried and how the chain and fittings experience stress.

For a 7/8 inch Grade 80 chain, the listed capacity of 34,200 pounds is the rating for a vertical hitch, where a single leg of chain lifts the load in a straight, vertical line. This arrangement uses the chain’s strength directly with no additional angles, bends, or load sharing, so the table’s vertical-hitch value applies.

Other hitch types—like basket, choker, or parallel—change the load path: they involve multiple legs or different angles and contact points, which changes the effective force in the chain and yields different WLL values that are not the same as the vertical rating. So the 34,200-lb figure corresponds specifically to the vertical hitch.