3 point log skidder/multi purpose

[Grand_Pooba]

Roll over accidents (like most accidents) happen by surprise, quickly and because it's a surprise your first instinct might not be the best. I had time to think about this while I had my old wheel horse lawn tractor laying on top of me..
While driving up a set of ramps into the bed of my truck the tires lost traction and I started sliding back down (not what I expected). I should have stepped in the clutch (but it happened quickly). When tires hit the pavement I got traction but since I was already heading backwards and the front end was up in the air....well you can picture the rest. tractor only weighs a couple hundred pounds so I was able to tip it off me but lets say it was 3 or 4K

 

[RAF]

I remember a buddy of mine doing that. I say this looks like a bad idea lets get the trailer. He says I done this before. I say your dumber than I thought to do it this way again. He grumbles and starts up the ramps and he is on his back and mower is caught by me before it falls on him. Anyway dragging a log with a 3pt is not even the same as this stunt. Thats just asking for trouble.

 

[bassgrinder]

I spent several years logging professionally I drove a 640D for a jobber and then I
had a John Deere 440C log skidder of my own. Later after selling the skidder I built a frame very similar to this only it was a triangle with cross bracing instead of inverted T. I used this on my Dad’s Belarus 820 4wd for about ten years and hauled many logs.
Yes when the logs hang up the tractor would rear up I never feared going over, maybe because I always had one hand on the 3pt hitch lever and an eye each on the log behind and the trail in front. The 3pt hitch lever would be the same as the winch lever on the skidder. I was shown while learning how to skid that you must be in control of the machine at all times and be ready to react to prevent rollovers and such.
This is no different with a machine that has been designed to skid logs they will go over in a heartbeat. I have also had a few friends who used the Farmi Winch which was made to use on a tractor to skid logs
My experience has shown me that if you are dicey about rolling or flipping while skidding logs you should not skid logs with anything using any method. It has also shown that if you think you can hitch a log to any machine in ANY fashion and then turn around and safely pull that log out of the woods, with little or no regard to the log behind you because you have it hitched up safely, then you need to stay away from logs with your tractor.
If you understand that with skidding logs (just like flying a helicopter), only the constant attention and adjustments of the operator (you) prevents disasters, crashes, etc. then you are maybe ready to log.
That said I based my log hitch on the Farmi I was going to add a winch to it but it worked well enough I never bothered, bottom line being that most of the time with the Belarus I could work my way back to most any where, and the winch is mostly handy when you are not able to do this. The Farmi Winch can be viewed here
Farmi Winches - Northeast Implement - Forest Equipment

Wayne

 

[johnk]

I just finished skidding out some Cherry logs on a pretty steep hill. Like the last post don't have your head up your rear when doing this.

 

[johnk]

Here is what I ened up doing with them.. It was a 24" dbh Cherry that was a blown over on stump widow amker.