Tractors and wood! Show your pics

DarkBlack · Oct 27, 2024

I’ve got a pair of those too. I call them them log tongs

kozal01 · Oct 27, 2024

DarkBlack said:
I’ve got a pair of those too. I call them them log tongs

That’s makes sense, that’s what I will call them now too

BackRoad · Oct 27, 2024

Recall seeing somebody had rigged a mount with a hookup similar to the log tongs on the rear 3PH to allow skidding logs. Looked simple to drop over a log, lift and go.

If I recall, it was chained to the drawbar also, so the actual horizontal pull for the tow was anchored low, not from the top link.

chris the wrench · Oct 27, 2024

BackRoad said:
Recall seeing somebody had rigged a mount with a hookup similar to the log tongs on the rear 3PH to allow skidding logs

If someone has a photo Id be interested in seeing. Thanks!

WinterDeere · Oct 27, 2024

BackRoad said:
Recall seeing somebody had rigged a mount with a hookup similar to the log tongs on the rear 3PH to allow skidding logs. Looked simple to drop over a log, lift and go.

If I recall, it was chained to the drawbar also, so the actual horizontal pull for the tow was anchored low, not from the top link.

I've done this, but it really doesn't work very well, unless you have a very smooth terrain and a very narrow range of log diameters close to ideal for a given tong size. More often than not, every damn log hops off the tongs six times on your way to your destination.

A 10 ft. chain with a choker hook or slip hook on one end, and a grab hook on the other, paired with a grab hook on a drawbar between your lower 3-point links, makes a far more reliable and overall-faster rig. I've skidded many hundreds of thousands of pounds of logs out of the woods, this way.

Where the tongs excel is when you're lifting logs completely off the ground. In that case, there's no bouncing over terrain, so no chance for the log to hop off the tongs.

Tongs can also be nice when skidding logs onto your trailer with a winch, but even then, a choker is usually more reliable:

Gordon Gould · Oct 28, 2024

chris the wrench said:
If someone has a photo Id be interested in seeing. Thanks!

Years ago I made one with the idea of being able to sort logs and move them around the landing w/o getting off the tractor to set chokers. I used a cross drawbar and some angle. The top link is a chain that passes thru the slotted block at the top and allows adjustment.

I made this short video the first time I tried it. It worked well for my purpose.

I haven't used it for ages. The advent of grapples caused it retirement. A lot of guys just use tongs or a choker hung of the back of a quick hitch.

gg