New to me firewood tractor need some advice, thanks.

RyeThomas · Jul 21, 2017

Ok so I have moved up from my JD2305 to a 3032e. I know it's still a little tractor and some aren't fans of the e series but for me it's a big upgrade and fit my budget.
Anyway I can do a lot more with this machine, problem is I have always done all my trailer loading and log work by hand. So now my machine can do the work but I'm wondering if I can make it better by adding a few things. I drop my logs in my yard bucked at 18-24", some can still be rather large. I also have a few people drop 10-12' bucked trees, then all of it needs to be moved to my spot to be processed out of sight out of mind on my side yard.
So using just the bucket with me operating tends to move more grass and dirt than I would like, lol. So would a tooth bar help? I figure I could at least see between the teeth and roll the big ones or pick them with far less earth moving. I can't use pallet forks with the teeth on (or maybe I can?) so I was wondering if the clamp on are decent or if you buy bolt on then remove them every time?
Next pallet forks for the longer logs, would sure be nice to lift them up and buck them while standing rather than bending over. I'm getting old. I was looking at clamp on.?
Also for pulling the wood from my pile I was thinking the tooth bar may pierce into the pile easier rather than the flat edge can kind of push the pile a little more. Again IDK.

Thanks for the advice, and any thing else to help please feel free. Rye.

Bravo Xray · Jul 21, 2017

Something I use for the longer stuff is this: clamp on pallet forks

Handy for other tasks, too!

jimmysisson · Jul 21, 2017

You sound like you need a small grapple. You'll wonder how you got along without it!
Jim

Deere Dude · Jul 21, 2017

I use 48" pallet forks for bucking every tree from short to long while standing up. On longer trees like 20' long I cut a couple chunks from one end then a couple on the other to keep everything balanced. Depending on the tractor, but I can get a half dozen tree branches or trunks on one lift with the forks and start whittling down from each end until I come close to the forks.

When I get to a shorter length that will fall between the forks I drive over to a 6-8' saw buck and dump them in that. Then I get another load and cut the longer ones then move to the buck and get those and repeat until the pile is done. It just seems to work very well for me. Generally I get 6" to 16" trees but 24" isn't uncommon and do them all the same way.

Stick895 · Jul 21, 2017

Grapple. Hands down.

RyeThomas · Jul 21, 2017

Thanks guys but I should have posted no way a grapple is in my budget any time soon if ever. I have to make due with the last couple hundred $$ I can spend.
This month I purchased a Zero turn and my 3032e
Last year I got a SuperSplit
Wife said no more large purchases, she's been very good in letting me get all this so I'm not going to push it.

RyeThomas · Jul 21, 2017

Buddy who knows far better than me said get the quick attach forks, he said the ones that clamp on the bucket are way to far out and really kill your lifting capacity and with a smaller machine and Loader I need all the capacity I can get. So those are expensive, lol.
Then I could go with a bolt on tooth bar, but I still need to decide if a tooth bar is going to help a lot or if I just need more operating time and practice.

Catmando · Jul 21, 2017

I moved some logs with my tc24 New Holland. I bolted a pair of log tongs on each side of the bucket. Worked well for me.

Drunkwater · Jul 21, 2017

Unless the teeth on the tooth bar are 12" or longer, I don't see how they would be much help lifting logs or rounds out of a pile. weld-on teeth won't be a problem, but some of the continuous 'sawtooth' style edges may interfere with clamp-on pallet forks.

I've got a pair of clamp-on pallet forks which are going to be very useful for lifting and loading logs. Make sure you use a big ratchet strap or chain/loadbinder leading from the top of the pallet fork over the top of the loader bucket - otherwise you risk bending the edge of the bucket down with heavy loads.

RyeThomas · Jul 21, 2017

Yeah I think I've decided to go QA pallet forks, tractors got a QA bucket so changing would be quick.

When it comes to a tooth bar my though was I can see between the teeth and get a better idea of where the bucket is in reference to the log. With the solid bucket edge it obviously blocks my view a bit, but of course I could just need more seat time. I think the few inches of tooth extensions may help me roll some of them in the bucket and may help me pierce my pile when loading splits vs the straight edge at times can just push the pile a bit. I don't know though. Maybe I need to phone a friend and try one, lol.