Drawbar Question

[raasd]

The problem comes from lifting the log too high and getting the attachment point above the axle. The problem is amplified when going uphill. Happened here this fall. An old farmer was dragging trees up a hill chained to the three point hitch. hitch got too high/stump stuck on something and the tractor wheelied over on him. He was 81 and probably couldn't react quick enough to clutch the tractor to bring the front end down.

I'm not the safety police and I have done this exact same thing chaining the tree to the center hook on my 3pt quick hitch. I always go very slow and keep an eye on the stump end. It is nice to drag trees with the stump a little off the ground. You just have to be very careful.

 

[CurlyDave]

It is very common to believe that the hitch point must be above the axle for an overturn. The logic is that since the wheel rotates about the axle, the tractor will rotate about the axle also.

This is not really true. The tractor can overturn even if the hitch point is below the axle. There are a lot of threads about this on TBN. It is complicated to explain.

The lower the hitch point the better, but only a rigid drawbar is factory engineered to be safe.

Slower reactions are not going to be good, but even teenagers get killed in this kind of rollover. When it happens it is incredibly quick -- fraction of a second quick.

 

[jshwhite]

Completely agree on the safety issue. It does help to have a FEL - puts a lot more weight on the front to counterbalance.

With that in mind, check out this homemade hitch/drawbar. I built it completely out of scrap stuff laying around here. I love using it. Great for chaining stuff to and dragging. Really nice for hooking up trailers. No need to use the trailer jack - just lower the 3pt, back under the trailer hitch, lift the 3pt, lock the hitch, and away I go. It's one of the best things I ever spent my time to build - well worth it.

 

[Gordon Gould]

You might find it easier to hook up your logging chokers or chains if you turn your hooks around the other way so when they are hanging down they point backwards rather than forwards.

Looks like your good to go. Be careful.

 

[RoyJackson]

Slower reactions are not going to be good, but even teenagers get killed in this kind of rollover. When it happens it is incredibly quick -- fraction of a second quick.

Everything I've read about rear roll overs states about 3/4's of a second to react...and if the tractor reaches a 75 degree angle, there's no stopping it.

However, a ROPS may prevent a complete roll and possibly injury (or death)...as long as it's extended and the operator is using the seat belt.

 

[racekid]

Completely agree on the safety issue. It does help to have a FEL - puts a lot more weight on the front to counterbalance.

With that in mind, check out this homemade hitch/drawbar. I built it completely out of scrap stuff laying around here. I love using it. Great for chaining stuff to and dragging. Really nice for hooking up trailers. No need to use the trailer jack - just lower the 3pt, back under the trailer hitch, lift the 3pt, lock the hitch, and away I go. It's one of the best things I ever spent my time to build - well worth it.

I bought one like this. $125 at the tractor dealer. I think everything attachments also have them.

 

[oldballs]

I guess there are a lot of variables here. Some pictures seen on TBN show huge trees being drug thru dense woods.etc. But I guess a guy could be fooled even on fairly level clear ground. I have drug out a number of 30-40ft pines with my little Case 448 and chains, but it is usually on frozen ground in the snow and on fairly clear and level ground. There is no 3 pt on my Case. At the time I had no knowledge of the danger (before my TBN days)....kinda like using a chain saw for years before I knew about chaps.