Unpopular opinion: rigging a load with two chokers beats a basket hitch on pipe, and a 62 year old hand in Beaumont chewed me out over it | Crane Operators - Chatter Central
Two chokers let you keep the pipe from rolling since each leg pulls from a different angle, and you can tune the tension on each side to match the load. Basket hitch on pipe is a trap because the sling wants to slide toward the middle and pinch, and once that pipe starts walking you're done. The old hands in Beaumont learned this the hard way before nylon straps were even a thing, so when a 62 year old tells you something about pipe you listen. The angle matters too, keep it under 60 from the hook or the legs load up fast. Anyone who's ever watched a joint roll out of a basket knows that sick feeling in your gut. Rig it how the old guys tell you and you'll go home with all your fingers.