John_Mc
Elite Member
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2001
- Messages
- 4,045
- Location
- Monkton, Vermont
- Tractor
- NH TC33D Modified with belly pan, limb risers & FOPS. Honda Pioneer 520 & antique Coot UTV
In another thread in the NH Owning/Operating section, wolfie1959 asked about the forestry mods I've done to my tractor. Rather than drift way off that topic, I've started a new thread here. Most of this is already up here on TBN somewhere.
I'd love to hear from others what they've done to their tractor for working in the woods.
Here's my set-up. My tractor, A NH TC33D is on the small side for this type of work, but I'm not trying to make a living at this. It fits my needs and gets the job done. I can also get in to tighter spaces and work on smaller trails than I could with a larger tractor. If I were starting over, I'd probably go one frame size up (I was debating about a TC40 when I ended up buying this TC33D back in 2001.)
This photo was taken during a neighborhood effort to clean up storm damage after a big wind storm in late October 2017:
Sundown GR40 Forestry Grapple on the front (looks identical to the Frostbite Grapple, but as I learned later, the Frostbite is a bit better built. However, I've had no problems with the GR40 - it can handle far more than my tractor can anyway.) The narrow profile makes maneuvering in tight spaces in the woods a lot easier than with my bucket or a wider grapple on. Grapple function is operated by some hoses run up from one of my rear remotes. I probably should have gone with adding a 3rd function to the joystick, but I already had the remotes, so this was an inexpensive way to go.
Uniforest 35E logging winch on the back 230' of cable, 7700 lbs pull. The size is a good match for my TC33D tractor. (Uniforest has since updated the 35E to the Model 35M: similar specs, with a few improvements.) The model 35E did not come with their removable trailer hitch, so I bought one from a larger Uniforest winch (the 35M comes with the hitch). It turned out the 35E was already drilled to accept it. I substituted pins for the mounting bolts that came with it, so I can get it on and off without tools. That hitch was designed for a pin hitch. I had a local fab shop make me up a 2" receiver hitch, which I now use instead of the factory-made hitch. Original and new receiver hitch:
The limb risers and FOPS (falling object protection) were done by a local fab shop a few miles down the road from me. You can see the limb risers angling up from the front of the tractor. The part over my head has expanded metal to protect from falling objects. I used expanded metal so I could still get a good view of what is above me. If I were doing it over, I'd probably use solid metal - or maybe mostly solid with a short section of expanded metal along the front edge for upward visibility. I added this a few years ago when driving along one of my woods trails and a branch fell, bouncing off my roll bar and grazing my shoulder on the way to the ground. It was not a windy day, and I had not been out doing any logging activities. I did not bump the tree - it was just a random dead branch falling. If the timing had been a split second different, it would have landed square on my head, and I wouldn't be writing this today. I decided the woods had given me a "friendly warning".
There is a belly pan underneath made of 1/2" steel plate. (I'd have been inclined to go thinner, but the guy at the local fab shop has done a number forestry mods on various tractors, and he strongly recommended it.) Most of it is mounted on the subframe for my Woods Backhoe, which simplified the design & mounting a good bit. Ahead of the main pan is a smaller piece that attached to the front of the main pan with a tongue & groove. The font edge of that connects with two bolts to the tractor. It's light enough to remove easily when I need to change the filter it protects. All of this was done by the same fabrication guy who did the FOPS/Limb Risers. He is a really thoughtful fabricator for things like this.
The chains on the rear tires are studded OFA EKO 8 (a.k.a. "Euro-style" chains). I've tried V-bar studded Ladder Style, and V-bar Duo-grip chains. The OFA EKO chains are more expensive, but are a far better chain for my needs.
Added tire valve stem protectors on the front wheels, so I don't rip them out when driving through brush. They are made from a piece of metal pipe welded on to the rim. I'll try to get a picture of these at some point. My rear tires are Calcium Chloride filled (no one around here had Rim Guard back when I bought the tractor). If I ever have to replace the tires, I'll have the valve stem protectors added to the rears as well.
I'd love to hear from others what they've done to their tractor for working in the woods.
Here's my set-up. My tractor, A NH TC33D is on the small side for this type of work, but I'm not trying to make a living at this. It fits my needs and gets the job done. I can also get in to tighter spaces and work on smaller trails than I could with a larger tractor. If I were starting over, I'd probably go one frame size up (I was debating about a TC40 when I ended up buying this TC33D back in 2001.)
This photo was taken during a neighborhood effort to clean up storm damage after a big wind storm in late October 2017:
Sundown GR40 Forestry Grapple on the front (looks identical to the Frostbite Grapple, but as I learned later, the Frostbite is a bit better built. However, I've had no problems with the GR40 - it can handle far more than my tractor can anyway.) The narrow profile makes maneuvering in tight spaces in the woods a lot easier than with my bucket or a wider grapple on. Grapple function is operated by some hoses run up from one of my rear remotes. I probably should have gone with adding a 3rd function to the joystick, but I already had the remotes, so this was an inexpensive way to go.
Uniforest 35E logging winch on the back 230' of cable, 7700 lbs pull. The size is a good match for my TC33D tractor. (Uniforest has since updated the 35E to the Model 35M: similar specs, with a few improvements.) The model 35E did not come with their removable trailer hitch, so I bought one from a larger Uniforest winch (the 35M comes with the hitch). It turned out the 35E was already drilled to accept it. I substituted pins for the mounting bolts that came with it, so I can get it on and off without tools. That hitch was designed for a pin hitch. I had a local fab shop make me up a 2" receiver hitch, which I now use instead of the factory-made hitch. Original and new receiver hitch:
The limb risers and FOPS (falling object protection) were done by a local fab shop a few miles down the road from me. You can see the limb risers angling up from the front of the tractor. The part over my head has expanded metal to protect from falling objects. I used expanded metal so I could still get a good view of what is above me. If I were doing it over, I'd probably use solid metal - or maybe mostly solid with a short section of expanded metal along the front edge for upward visibility. I added this a few years ago when driving along one of my woods trails and a branch fell, bouncing off my roll bar and grazing my shoulder on the way to the ground. It was not a windy day, and I had not been out doing any logging activities. I did not bump the tree - it was just a random dead branch falling. If the timing had been a split second different, it would have landed square on my head, and I wouldn't be writing this today. I decided the woods had given me a "friendly warning".
There is a belly pan underneath made of 1/2" steel plate. (I'd have been inclined to go thinner, but the guy at the local fab shop has done a number forestry mods on various tractors, and he strongly recommended it.) Most of it is mounted on the subframe for my Woods Backhoe, which simplified the design & mounting a good bit. Ahead of the main pan is a smaller piece that attached to the front of the main pan with a tongue & groove. The font edge of that connects with two bolts to the tractor. It's light enough to remove easily when I need to change the filter it protects. All of this was done by the same fabrication guy who did the FOPS/Limb Risers. He is a really thoughtful fabricator for things like this.
The chains on the rear tires are studded OFA EKO 8 (a.k.a. "Euro-style" chains). I've tried V-bar studded Ladder Style, and V-bar Duo-grip chains. The OFA EKO chains are more expensive, but are a far better chain for my needs.
Added tire valve stem protectors on the front wheels, so I don't rip them out when driving through brush. They are made from a piece of metal pipe welded on to the rim. I'll try to get a picture of these at some point. My rear tires are Calcium Chloride filled (no one around here had Rim Guard back when I bought the tractor). If I ever have to replace the tires, I'll have the valve stem protectors added to the rears as well.