So, ive been tinkering and thinking. I have always used J hooks crimped closed at the set location so not welded, on my disposable 1/8" cable. Im debating going to quick links but wondering which you think would fail first. Im talking a coyote spinning enough to someone open a quick link or a wolf or big coyote opening up a heavy duty J hook.

Put the quick link on the j-hook and weld the j-hook shut.
And a 3/16" quick link tightened will not come loose

Like the end of this chain.

If you use 3/16" links and properly tighten them with a wrench then you shouldn't have any issues. Your other option would be to weld your J-hooks and carry a cable cutters if you can't pull up your ground anchors. Your chain is only as good as it's weakest link or in this case your J-hooks. The only time I have ever had any open up on me was using a puller in frozen ground so no weld all of mine shut. Also have been seeing more wolf sign and don't need to be losing any traps to them guys. My set up is just like Wetdog's.

I have NEVER had a 3/16” quick link open. My traps are like the above except my quick link attaches to the swivel.

Planning to weld all the jhooks on my coyote traps this spring. Was thinking of setting them up like this. What's everyone think good or bad.

What do the welded washers do?

3/16 quick links don't fit chained super stacks and easy hook up in the cold. If I use that set up plan to build a pull to hook to the 5/8 welded lock washer

I'm moving from quick links to J hooks. I've used quick links for a long time, but they end up rusting shut, which is aggravating.

For wolves definitely weld the J-Hooks shut. They can open those which I've seen on shock springs I've added to the chain in a loop and not welded shut. I've used 3/16 quick links for years and never had one fail. Went to 2 links on the terminal connection after having one stretched and come close to failing. It was on the end of 10 feet of chain connected to a 1/8" cable extension around a tree.

I squash my chain links open enough to slip in a 3/16" quick link. Doesn't take much to do. Put them in a vice or heat them up a bit and use a channel locks. I'm sure the lock washers work fine but just seems like a lot more work to accomplish the same thing.

X2

Was once told by someone with way more knowledge than myself that a vice is a trappers best friend.

I can't speak to the J-hooks, but even the 1/8" quick links have a safe working load rating of 200 lbs. That's with safety factor, so the actual tensile strength is likely much higher. I'd like to see a 40 or 50 lb coyote be able to exert several hundred pounds of force enough to fail a quick link that is properly secured. Maybe I'm wrong and someone out there has seen it, but any failures I would guess are more than likely the result of not being fully threaded or tightened.

To answer the original question, I would expect an unwelded J-hook to straightened out long before a properly secured quick link would fail. If the J-hook is welded, then it depends on the size of the J-hook compared to the size of the quick link. But in that case I would trust either one. Your earth anchor would probably pull out long before either of those would fail.

The only decent benefit in using quick links is if your regularly swapping chains or you don't weld, you can't beat welded J hooks for performance.

Quick links are one of my favorites in my trapping hardware department. They have many uses. I use different methods of anchoring depending on conditions. Quick links make changing very easy.
The last link on my traps is a quick link.
Remember to tighten them with a wrench and they will not open.
No finger tight laziness!

Make sure to use the heavier J hooks. They are are great in their purpose.
Do not reuse them! One closure - when opened throw away. the steel is weakened.
I do not weld J hooks because my welding skills are not good enough. I would make a mess or burn thru.
I would really like to improve my welding skills.

I should clarify my concern with the quick links. Im not worried about stripping, more worried about a coyote burning circles could loosen it up.

I lost 1 due to quick link not being tight about 3 years ago. BUT I catch 300 plus coyotes a year And over 400 coyotes This year. So 1 in 1000 chance IF you forget to get it tight enough OR it loosens up with a coyote on it. I use 1/4 and 5/16 th quick lengths for about 25 years now

100% quick links here. Easy to change out traps if needed and If you can't pull the stakes or cables It's easy to remove that trap.

I use both but slowly going to all J hooks easier for me to change out traps especially when it stupid cold .
J

It's easier to remove a J hook and then replace It with a new J hook then using a quick link?