ATV Log Arch/Skidder

[Sodo]

The log lift at center is interesting, but you can't go downhill. In my case I use a dolly for the back end of the log too, it reduces the load on the ATV. If you just drag the log it tears up the ground and the ATV wheels pull hard too and tear it up too. This may be completely unimportant to a lot of folks but I like it to look like nobody's been there.

You guys have built exactly what I've had in mind (or so I say, having seen yours :thumbsup: ) I've been doing a lot of this with an ATV for a few years now with a northern tool hand-style log arch (but pulled with an ATV).

Mine has tongs and am planning to remove them. They cost $100 and have NOT been worth it. I bought a boat winch for the drawbar and will use a 3/16" or 1/4" cable choker. The problem with the tongs is they can let loose when you're going downhill and the then you have to put a bunch of work hooking the thing up on a hill. That chain sliding up the ramp looks interesting but I'd want to pin it at the top because I need to go downhill with my logs. Also if you hit the brakes on the ATV it could slide off. Which could be a benefit the log is then an anchor. But not on a steep downhill.

If you go with a cable choker, set an EASILY adjustable stop against the TOP of the arch. Then lift the log with the winch as high as you want then drop the stop onto the log, then cinch it up against the stop. So any size log can be lifted the desired height off the dirt. Might consider that the "stop" will pivot to let the log turn corners while pulling. When it pivots remember that cable stresses can go to the moon. The lift cable going thru a hollow pivot is ideal but might be overkill and difficult to construct.

Your 'fenders' will be fine. A similar fender at rear will help a little to keep the tire from scrubbing the log, or climbing up the log and tipping over if you have to turn tighter than you'd like. Don't add a lot of weight sometimes you have to pull this up a hill by hand. I'd make the fenders 1.25 or 1.5" thin wall (.065).

Thanks for posting this! I like your WHEELS where did you get them?

 

[Artisan]

I like it Bam...

I would want a proper sized ring on the center bar AND a way to quickly fasten the ring
so it STAYS at the top once you pull it up there. I saw a post where the gent says
you can not go downhill w/ that system, well, problem solved w/ a way to quickly
fasten the sliding ring so it STAYS at the top once you pull it up there. Maybe
a short chain w/ a thumb latch, something simple and tough, it will take
a beating.

Sub'd


What city state you in Bam?

 

[CNC Dan]

A catch can be added to the top of the lifting member to hold the sliding ring at the top.

 

[rmorey]

I like it Bam...

I would want a proper sized ring on the center bar AND a way to quickly fasten the ring
so it STAYS at the top once you pull it up there. I saw a post where the gent says
you can not go downhill w/ that system, well, problem solved w/ a way to quickly
fasten the sliding ring so it STAYS at the top once you pull it up there. Maybe
a short chain w/ a thumb latch, something simple and tough, it will take
a beating.

Sub'd


What city state you in Bam?

Mine had a 5/16" chain hook on the ring. I just used a 6' piece of chain with a chain hook on one end. Wrap the chain around the log and hook the chain hook. Connect the loose end of the chain to the hook on the ring and drive away, the motion drives the ring to the top of the arch and the drag of the log keeps it there. Going downhill, the log acts as a brake and slows you down.

 

[kg7il]

These log arches epitomize the design.

Great Job!

I still use a chain and log tong's to get the logs out of the thick brush and uneven ground of the woods. Backing can also be problematic. I would love to have an arch, but probably wouldn't get enough use out of it to make it worth-while to buy. I got the lawn tractor wheels and some scrap steel. . . hmmmmm

 

[Sodo]

Here's my setup. Notice I use a dolly for the rear, this is to not skid up my needles on the road and on the ground. Also dirt jammed in the bark dulls the saw chain which is sure a pain, I like a sharp chain. I'll build an arch like yours and return my "hand arch" to "hand" use.



Notice the chain attachment to the trailer ball. I started with a clevis style drawhitch but it was way too slow so this is what we did out in the woods, and it turned out to be the fastest way to hook up and keep people moving. Had a crew of 6 at one time, all feeding one ATV. The chain allows a lot of leeway, you can hook up easily if you stop within +/- 6 inches of the drawbar end. Eventually we started to put a half-twist in the chain before dropping it over the ball. It was a little worrisome at first but over the next few days we decided that the chain attachment ruled.

Your traditional trailer ball will work fine too though, but I couldn't use it, I have a hilly property and quite often, going around a turn thats too tight for this long rig, my narrow log arch would tip over. That would make a mess with a standard trailer hitch, would be all bound up, twisted. The chain is kinda crude but I don't know what else would be better all around, but a swivel joint in the drawbar would be required to protect the eqpt when it tips over.

 

[bamboozled]

Thanks for posting this! I like your WHEELS where did you get them?

There is a local place that sells stuff like this. Used to be a mil-surp place but now they have more lawn and garden than anything.

What city state you in Bam?

Mansfield, OH

 

[bamboozled]

Yeah those were the exact pictures he showed me.

This is what rmorey is talking about. The point of the angled center member is to lift the front of the log as you take off.

 

[bamboozled]

I haven't heard back from him if he had a chance to try it out yet or not, his 4-wheeler is a pretty light one so he won't be able to pull a very big log anyhow, but the arch should help to take some of the load off of the machine. It seemed like the way it was designed going downhill or if the log tries to outrun you it will slide back down the raising bar and thus increase the drag/stop. At least getting the one end off the ground decreases the pulling effort and keeps the majority of the log out of the dirt as it's being dragged.

When I dropped it off I noticed his neighbor/father-in-law had an old 8N sitting there that my brother said he rarely uses, I told him to go over and get that and put it to work instead of using the 4-wheeler.

It seems like there are all sorts of these contraptions out there to assist in log retrieval for the guys without the big time skidders.

 

[jwmorris]

You are correct about the design being such that it prevents being over run by the log.

Even fairly small 4 wheelers can pull more weight than they can stop on flat ground. Get a 1000 pounds of wood hooked to the back of one, that won't act as a brake, and start down a hill...you better keep the steering tires straight!