I used to build skinning machines and gambrels. I built a lot of them like this. They swivel in the middle in case you wanna double the line on your hoist so it doesn't twist the cables together.....



They worked pretty well since I rarely ever cut or damage the tendons they hang by...



In my quest for always trying to make things better, I tried the RTS Speed Gambrels like these...



I do alright with them as well....



Just curious if any of you use these styles or if you have some that work as well or better?

I use two cable slip nooses. No chance of a tendon breaking In the skinning process. Cheap to make and you can make 4 or 5 sets and have several coon all hooked up ready to be hung.

I do keep a couple of those just for those rare occasions where the tendon gets damaged, either by me, the trap, or prior injury. They do come in handy. I use one around the middle of the biggest coyotes to finish the pull if the hoist runs out of height as well. I've hung beavers by the tail with one too on the skinner, since I cut off the feet before skinning them, so I can finish the cuts on the head up at eye level, and to gut them to save for predator bait or pet food.

I use the one shown in the OP that came with my ADC base for most of my skinning on my skinning machine. I do use the following on occasion for small stuff mostly.


And for manual skinning, I use the Winkler chain ring outfit.

I've seen those QBD, looks like the ticket for skinning rabbits since my boy is a rabbit slayer. lol

They work pretty good. I use them on my winch even if I am pulling by hand because I can keep everything at a comfortable height. Shucked several skunks today that had been in a freezer. Worked like a charm.

i just use a choke chain but its a pain in the rear especially when its at a fixed height trying to one hand a 25# coon while your other hand slips the chain around the leg you aint holding. ill be trying the cable like what beav uses this year. i also bought a winch to build a skinning machine that needs to get built.

I use a piece of OB chain on a larger deer sized gambrel with my skinning machine. The elongated link makes for easy hookup and I've never had one slip or break.

I use a gambrel with two choke chains brought up and down with a boat winch.

I was always afraid them choke chains would break there's A LOT of pull in my hoist. Glad to hear they work for some of you.

I think the fastest way is the RTS gambrel, though its not a lot faster than hooking through the tendons. The cable loops and choke chains would be quite a bit slower but they have their advantages as well.

What do all think would be best for a beginner, just starting out?

Use OB chains from a farm supply spread with a bar and with a single large ring in the top center. They can hook the chains up, then lower their hoist down to it to pick up the critter only having to hook up a single ring. I regularly pull 10-12hr and even day old coyotes that have been hanging in freezing temperatures with my winch and the OB chains. You will pull one in half before you break on of those chains.

it depends on if your opening your coon before you hang them. If your opening your coon first then hooking through the tendons might be faster. But if your hanging first then the cable loops would be faster.
I make up 10 or so sets then I put them on after I open my coon. I will normally open 10 coon or so before I start hanging them.

ADC,
Can't imagine it gets much simpler, for anyone really, than the RTS gambrel. Only downside to it is it doesn't hold a small coon quite as well as the bigger ones and a real small one tends to slip out. Other options mentioned would work well for those. I open a pile of them and then just hang them up. Biggest thing to remember to make it easy is to have the gambrel at about chest high so you don't have to lift above your head as it's harder to get both feet in.
Just curious, why did you stop selling your skinning machines and such? I bought one from you years ago and LOVE IT! You can PM if you wish. Always appreciated the purchase and your wisdom on various things trapping!

I just got tired of it I guess. I thought I had built enough of them after 12 years or so. lol

I've tried several over the years, homemade and bought from dealers.






Still like choker chain the best. I have several and pre-attach before hanging...


*ADC, never had a problem with choker chain & skun'n machine.

I like the RTS gambrel the best. Seems like I've tried just about everything. The RTS will gain you quite a bit of reach, so if your out of pull with your skinning machine this is perfect.

Good point, choke chains and cable loops would require a little more height from your skinner for those that are limited on height, something to think about.

My cable loops are about 3" long when tightened up on the coons paws. You can't get much shorter the that.

I use the choke chains also but I don't use a skinning machine either.

You'll wonder why you didn't have a machine long ago once you get one. lol The chains would be good for hand skinning too, and would be cable loops so long as they are stout so they didn't break on ya. I see guys putting their knees on the pelt and pushing/bouncing with all their weight, that wouldn't be a good time for your hanging system to fail.