3-Point Hitch 3-point hitch log skidder

[Chilly807]

I'm going to chime in briefly. Pulling from the 3 point is manageable under the right conditions, or no one would offer logging winches for sale. While no activity is entirely safe or foolproof, the risks can be managed if you understand them.
The single biggest danger to hauling logs from the 3 point is having them hook on an immovable object, which tends to make the front of the tractor rise. If it rises far enough, it can flip over backwards. Don't haul entire trees, limb the trunks cleanly to reduce the snag risk. You want the tips of the trunks you're hauling to slide smoothly over the ground, they stay cleaner and use less power to move too.
The advantage of the winch is that the butt of the log is protected by the body of the winch, making it hard to hook on a stump or high spot. I'd suggest biting the bullet and buying a purpose made winch from a recognized, respected manufacturer if you're uncomfortable with assuming the risk.
In the years since this thread started I've bought a used logging winch. It wasn't the safety aspect that bothered me, it was trying to drag a thousand pound chunk of maple over a hundred feet through brush and snow several times a day that convinced me to get the right gear for the job.
I'm all for saving some money where I can and I like building my own gear to do it, but there are times when it's just not worth doing. For me, this was one of them.
If you do go this route, remember to pull as low as possible, and keep the log butt tucked safely up away from snags, behind something solid like a winch blade. Drive slowly with the load attached, keeping in mind you may have to stop suddenly. My foot is never far from the clutch while hauling. And, use the ROPS and seat belt like your life depended on it. It does.
Sean

 

[David Devuono]

Don't tractors have L+R brakes so you can steer when your front tires are off the ground? Seriously though, With a sawmill and many log structures built, I have done a lot of skidding. Now a days, bringing logs to my saw mill means minimal dirt so I skid with my loader bucket so I can lift as necessary to minimize the dirt. When I get to a main trail I carry the log if its 10' or less in length. There is a 1,000 ways to die, logging and working with tractors. Build your logging device with its wheelie bar function in mind. Have the lower link points high enough to reduce the height that the front tires will lift or add extra hitch points so when skidding heavier trees the skidding device is not more then a foot off the ground as max lift. This will prevent a back roll.

 

[Chilly807]

Try to keep the length of the skidding plate/whatever short. The closer the log butt is to the ball ends, the less leverage it has to flip the tractor if the worst happens. My winch has the plate/blade within 6 inches of the ends of the lift arms

 

[s219]

I have a simple skid plate for my 3-pt hitch. Lifting the butt of the log off the ground will avoid 95% of the safety problems. But for large logs, I still run a second short chain from the log to the actual drawbar down low. That way, if the log hangs up for some reason, it cannot cause the tractor to pop a wheelie and flip. So the 3-pt skid plate is primarily doing the lifting, and the drawbar is primarily doing the pulling.