Adding a "bumper" winch

[i7win7]

Electric winches are pretty much designed for the occasional "recover" and not really for extended usage.

3 good uses are:
1. tractor won't run, it can winch itself onto a trailer
2. tight spaces, tractor can winch something on trailer, deliver trailer to tow vehicle
3. tractor recovery when a wrecker can't access the area (ex. dumping fill into ravine, front wheels sink into soft surface and bucket is hanging over ravine) 2,000lbs

bigger winch, bigger tractor 8,000lbs

 

[LittleBill21]

Better check your manual again, the duty cycle on the HF 12k winch is something like 45 SECONDS pulling and 15 minutes resting...

Pretty poor for trying to log with...

SR

yea that sounds better.

 

[sea2summit]

If I only had an end piece of an alluminum guard rail...
That would be a great sled imho

Car hood from a junkyard is easier to source.

 

[sea2summit]

3 good uses are:
1. tractor won't run, it can winch itself onto a trailer
2. tight spaces, tractor can winch something on trailer, deliver trailer to tow vehicle
3. tractor recovery when a wrecker can't access the area (ex. dumping fill into ravine, front wheels sink into soft surface and bucket is hanging over ravine) 2,000lbs
View attachment 736036

bigger winch, bigger tractor 8,000lbs
View attachment 736037

I don’t understand what you’ve got going with the second winch, maybe some more pictures and explication? Bonus points for using a real plug though.

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

I have skidded a considerable amount of timber using the 3pt arch from my post hole digger to lift the log end off the ground.. And the fixed draw bar to pull the log..

Important to use the drawbar to pull and NOT pull with the raised up 3pt as tipping is too easy to do... You DO NOT want that...

I'm sure that at times a skidding sled would be easier and helpful.. I will have to ponder that with sketches in my "good idea" note book..

Keep safe..

 

[WranglerX]

My brother and I actually log for money. We use a skidder and a tractor. On the tractor we had a hydraulic grapple. Then I added a hydraulic tow truck winch. Then we bought a Farmi.

But in your case, just use chains. Cut a 3 link piece and put a hook on each end. That's the fastest way to take up your slack and get another bite. I pick up chain at pawn shops. Can't have too much chain.

A couple of things I find useful...

 

[WranglerX]

NO wonder the is no drawbars and nus and bolts at local farm supply....

3 good uses are:
1. tractor won't run, it can winch itself onto a trailer
2. tight spaces, tractor can winch something on trailer, deliver trailer to tow vehicle
3. tractor recovery when a wrecker can't access the area (ex. dumping fill into ravine, front wheels sink into soft surface and bucket is hanging over ravine) 2,000lbs
View attachment 736036

bigger winch, bigger tractor 8,000lbs
View attachment 736037

NO wonder the is no drawbars and nut and bolts and washers at local farm supply....

 

[3Ts]

I have an HF 2500# ATV winch mounted to the bar that holds the suitcase weights. For me it works fine, but I only pull 1 or 2 logs about 50' infrequently. The primary purpose is to pull a log to where I can get to it with equipment and to unstick the tractor. (I've gotten a 4 wheel drive tractor stuck before).

And, yes, it is slow. And you get seconds of pulling with minutes of cooling, very low duty cycle.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

Car hood from a junkyard is easier to source.

yeah, i saw that online. I do have an old hood on property, left behind from the classic car graveyard that was removed before I bought property. Still finding interesting stuff...

 

[i7win7]

I don’t understand what you’ve got going with the second winch, maybe some more pictures and explication? Bonus points for using a real plug though.

tractor recovery when a wrecker can't access the area (ex. dumping fill into ravine, front wheels sink into soft surface and bucket is hanging over ravine) Tractors can go places where recovery vehicle can't. Once drove over hill to deliver stuff in bucket. 2wd ford using diff lock & bucket curl - tractor couldn't back uphill. Adding 8k winch, was able to back up with each bucket curl.

It's heavy enough, you want to attach it before trying to do something where tractor recovery may be needed.