Amateur log skidding with B2620

[bstrom]

Here's my homemade setup for getting some firewood off my lot. Length of chain bolted to the rear ballast carrier with skidding tongs that have a grab hook for the chain. Pick up the carrier and the log comes up. Hey, it's not professional but it works. The log on there is probably only a few hundred pounds but I think it could do 12 to 16 foot lengths without a problem (except turning corners). Good for my little operation.

 

[BrierPatch]

Looks good. I like the capacity of the larger front loader. You can probably pick up bigger logs if your ballast box is empty. That might help with turning as well.

 

[bstrom]

Thanks. You could be right. I've got cement blocks and sand in there so it's kind of a pain to unload then reload if I'm just using the front loader. For now I think it will pick up medium sized logs ok.

That's the larger bucket and QA from the B3200. I put the smaller 50 inch bucket on for dirt/gravel/rock work. Next big purchase is the forks. Then maybe the hoe if the economy improves.

 

[Youare]

That is a great idea.

Back 20+ years ago I made a tow behind device that can suspend the log off the ground for transport. Today they are called logging arches. With mine I can lift and carry a 24" diameter 16' log which can be pulled by an ATV or better a compact tractor, my 30 hp. Kubota works well.

Turning is a little easier as the pivot point for the log is about 9 feet behind the tractor, the rear end of the log however does swing a little wider arc.

Randy

 

[beenthere]

Youare
Nice arch you built there. Had one similar that started out as a deer cart to "walk" deer out of the woods. Turned it into a logging arch very similar to yours.

I see you have a LogRite cant hook there. They are such an improvement over the wood handled ones of the past. (Northern Tool has a Chinese knockout copy of the tool, but the handles bend easily). I see LogRite also has several different size arches too.

 

[ChuckinNH]

bstrom, your woods look a lot like mine. Soft maple, hemlock, spruce, birch, etc. The ground there looks a bit tender like mine too. It's good to see our small tractors working the woods though, and I have appreciated the nimbleness of mine many times in my woods. I have wondered if the smallest logging winch from Farmi, etc. would work on tractors like ours? Getting the front of the log up off the ground, and keeping the force of the pull low are good ideas, and I like your inexpensive solution.

 

[beenthere]

bstrom
That is the good way to get started. Usually I drop the ballast box and use the hook on the quick hitch (IMatch) to lift and tow logs out of the woods. Something in the bucket helps contain the front end to the ground.

 

[bstrom]

bstrom, your woods look a lot like mine. Soft maple, hemlock, spruce, birch, etc. The ground there looks a bit tender like mine too. It's good to see our small tractors working the woods though, and I have appreciated the nimbleness of mine many times in my woods. I have wondered if the smallest logging winch from Farmi, etc. would work on tractors like ours? Getting the front of the log up off the ground, and keeping the force of the pull low are good ideas, and I like your inexpensive solution.

ChuckinNH - Yes, that's pretty much what my woods are, a fair amount of oak too. That is an old skidder path that I am on, they took out some large white pine before I bought the property. I put down some course gravel in places because it does get soft. I'm a little early to be working in there with all the rain we had this summer, should wait until the ground freezes more but I have to do it when I can. I was dreaming about a winch the other day too, when I could not get to a log. Sometimes you can tow them out a little further with a chain on the drawbar if you have room to maneuver. A mechanic from my dealer did tell me that the winches on smaller tractors don't work that well, but he seemed like a big tractor guy and had a pro- firewood operation at one time. Not sure if it is a weight issue but it seems like it.

It would be nice to have an arch but I went with the economy solution for now since I just take out 4 foot or 16 inch sections with the loader sometimes. Without a winch like Chuck is talking about you just cannot get to a log sometimes without tearing things up and I am trying to be a good woodlot manager. Ah, so much equipment, so little time.

 

[beenthere]

bstrom
You might give some consideration to a capstan winch. Not a high investment, and very portable and flexible for snaking logs out around other trees. Also good for working over hang-ups that need some extra help to safely drop them to the ground. They use rope that will not break up to 10,000 pounds that is lightweight to pack around. Sometimes put a cone on the end of the log to keep them from digging into the ground, or hook the winch high in a tree to lift the log.

 

[ChuckinNH]

bstrom
You might give some consideration to a capstan winch. Not a high investment, and very portable and flexible for snaking logs out around other trees. Also good for working over hang-ups that need some extra help to safely drop them to the ground. They use rope that will not break up to 10,000 pounds that is lightweight to pack around. Sometimes put a cone on the end of the log to keep them from digging into the ground, or hook the winch high in a tree to lift the log.

This company has some nice stuff, including the capstan winch. It is also a good place to browse for ideas.....

I have an Engineer friend that can't do anything without his full sized backhoe. Some folks just work that way, and some of us don't. In the woods you either go over things, or around them, and I chose the latter for many reasons. The logging winches direct the pulling forces into the ground, but I expect that you would have to use your head, and not try to pull much weight at a big angle to the tractor.

NovaJack