OP
muddstopper
Veteran Member
As I read along with this, something just isn't sitting right to me...that something is missing in the calculations. I figured out what it is this morning.
You say you are looking to pick up 3000 lbs at the end of the 16' boom. My math tells me that will equate to 48,000 lbs of leverage at the pivot. Never mind the specific design of the pivot, I don't think you'll have enough counter weight in your 7000 lbs trailer to do it. Yes, outriggers will shorten the lever length but have you checked on this part of the math?
You are almost correct. The 3000lb number was with boom retracted, not at full extention. With dipper boom at a 90# angle to the root boom, loads would be aboth half of what they would be with both boom fully extended. I dont antisipate ever haveing a 3000lb log hanging from the end of a fully extened boom. I can see a possibility of reaching and dragging a 3000lb log close to the trailer before picking it up I also intend to use outriggers at all four corners to support the trailer. The 7000lb weight number is the estimated weight of the loader and the firewood processor and doesnot include the eintire weight of the trailer. Trailer is 8ft wide and close to the ground, I havent figured out a lenght for the outriggers, but if measured from the center of the loader to the outermost point of each outrigger, i would have to guess the outriggers would be 16ft wide tip to tip. I havent actually drew anything up to take measurements from. I do see your point of overbalanceing the center mast and think this is certainly something that needs to be considered. I do think the math would be the same as figureing leveage force of a lever, with the outrigger being the balanceing point and the boom being the lever. With a fulcrum of 8f from the center of the mast, with a levr of 16ft, it should be a 2:1 weight ratio. If extended lenght of boom is 16ft, and oputriggers are at 8ft from mast, the opposite 4ft of the trailer width would be my counter weight. If trailer weight is 7000lb, than counterweight potential would be 3500lbs. Since the boom would be mounted on the end of the trailer, I would probably have to reduce the counter balnce by anothe 50%. Of course these numbers are just off the top of my head and probably wont reflect the actual trailer weight or counter balance effect. This is something i have thought about, but just havent figured out if my method of calculations are correct. Any ideals as to whether I am on the right track will be appreciated.