Which is better for pulling up a small-medium sized tree : a rope or a chain? why?

and I have heard that you don't want to get the nylon straps or ropes with a metal hook at the end when pulling up a tree as it will fly back if the strap or rope breaks and maybe kill someone right? so what if just get a rope or a chain . which is better and how to prevent it from whiplashing to damage anything or anyone?
Answers

lili

A chain. A rope will stretch, and store up enough energy to decapitate a bystander when it breaks. A chain won't do that; if it breaks, it will just fall to the ground.

Edwena

To take out a tree, you have to push it over. That will break most of the roots. Then tie a chain around the trunk an pull it out. You need a fairly large tractor with a front end loader. It can take out a tree about 4-6" in diameter. A bulldozer will take out anything because it can dig out the roots. Don't use a rope. And don't use a truck or a car. You are going to tear something up. The easy way to do this is to call the tree pruners and have them cut the tree up into pieces, haul it off and grind the stump. Takes about an hour and you don't have a dead tree to worry about.

james

Chain ropes break. But use a heavy chain & do not over load it. They can snap & kill you. We use fence jacks. Jack them out of the ground strait up. Then cut roots with a ax. You can jack them up then let set over night. To loosen them. Under pressure.

R K

dig a hole around the tree and cut the roots before you try pulling it out. any rope or chain can break and snap back it they break. you need to make sure the rope or chain is big enough to do the job and keep everyone well away from the tree. make sure the vehicle your using to pull it out is big enough. or just saw the tree off a little below ground level and you don't need to worry about any of this.

redstapler52

Ideally, you hire someone that not only knows what they’re doing but also has all the necessary equipment. Otherwise, a rope or strap choked around whatever you’re pulling up.

Rick

Hire a professional, there are too many ways for this to go wrong and result in much worse then the cost of a pro

STEVEN F

If ANYTHING breaks, you are doing things wrong. If you can't tell you are exceeding the force the rope/chain/strap can handle LONG before it breaks, you have no business using it for ANY purpose. You are actually more likely to kill someone with a chain than with a rope.

Joe

A chain. A rope will stretch, and store up enough energy to decapitate a bystander when it breaks. A chain won't do that; if it breaks, it will just fall to the ground.