Best method for a tractor to move/haul/process downed logs?

[plowhog]

I snapped a couple of pics of the area I need to clean up. Hopefully my first picture attachments will come through OK.

 

[plowhog]

More pix.

 

[plowhog]

More pix.

 

[roadhunter]

LOL. Just as I pictured it.

I'd recommend renting something to clean that up with instead of taking a brand new tractor into that mess. A tracked skid steer with a grapple would do wonders with all the small debris as opposed to tearing up tractor tires. An excavator with a thumb might also be worth considering.

 

[John_Mc]

I agree. Nice job. Did you do the fab work yourself?

No. I can weld, but it's not always pretty, and I won't do it where safety is a major consideration. I hope to get good enough to do that stuff one of these days, but I'm not there yet.

A fab shop just a couple miles down the road from me did this and the belly pan. The guy is a real artist at this stuff. Not only is he a VERY good welder, he's great at thinking through design features: including porthole where needed to access grease zerks, making the belly pan in two pieces (the smaller front section is held on by two bolts in the front, and via tongue & groove with the main section in the rear. Remove 2 bolts, drop the small front section, and I have easy access to the oil filter, and the piece removed is light enough to handle without a jack - despite being made from 1/2" plate). On all the fab work he's done for me, the guy includes features I hadn't even thought to ask for.

 

[Snobdds]

LOL. Just as I pictured it.

I'd recommend renting something to clean that up with instead of taking a brand new tractor into that mess. A tracked skid steer with a grapple would do wonders with all the small debris as opposed to tearing up tractor tires. An excavator with a thumb might also be worth considering.

You would argue with a 50 year old stump for days to try and make your point. **** man. What's the saying...when your favorite tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. Well a skid steer is your hammer.

I have a GC1710, same as the OP. I also have a Cat Excavator and i choose the Massey in the woods. I just back up to the mess of logs, chain a log to the backhoe bucket with a clevis on bucket fully extended. I then pull the arm in and the log comes out of the mess of logs. I do this until I can cut the log into manageable lengths with out the mess around me and then pick up the log with the bucket and forks and move it to where I need it.

It can be done and has been done with a tractor.

 

[John_Mc]

What's the saying...when your favorite tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. Well a skid steer is your hammer.

Hmmm... I think I've heard that one somewhere before...

 

[roadhunter]

You would argue with a 50 year old stump for days to try and make your point. **** man. What's the saying...when your favorite tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. Well a skid steer is your hammer.

I have a GC1710, same as the OP. I also have a Cat Excavator and i choose the Massey in the woods. I just back up to the mess of logs, chain a log to the backhoe bucket with a clevis on bucket fully extended. I then pull the arm in and the log comes out of the mess of logs. I do this until I can cut the log into manageable lengths with out the mess around me and then pick up the log with the bucket and forks and move it to where I need it.

It can be done and has been done with a tractor.

LOL. I don't own a skid steer. Nice try though, but epic fail. Is a tractor your hammer? LAffin

You seem to have an issue with my suggested method for working on those conditions. I have no idea why my opinion bothers you so much but it shouldn't. If you feel a different approach will work feel free to give it but stop with all the trashing my opinion and derailing the thread with insults. I have no problem with you sharing your opinion. I just see a lot of limbs that are not tire friendly and would suggest something different with track to avoid flats. I have seen many skid steers working in similar conditions and believe it has some advantages in that situation.

 

[roadhunter]

No. I can weld, but it's not always pretty, and I won't do it where safety is a major consideration. I hope to get good enough to do that stuff one of these days, but I'm not there yet.

A fab shop just a couple miles down the road from me did this and the belly pan. The guy is a real artist at this stuff. Not only is he a VERY good welder, he's great at thinking through design features: including porthole where needed to access grease zerks, making the belly pan in two pieces (the smaller front section is held on by two bolts in the front, and via tongue & groove with the main section in the rear. Remove 2 bolts, drop the small front section, and I have easy access to the oil filter, and the piece removed is light enough to handle without a jack - despite being made from 1/2" plate). On all the fab work he's done for me, the guy includes features I hadn't even thought to ask for.

I like the modifications to the tractor. I bet that makes it work a whole lot better and safer for you. The skid plate would be really nice as well. I bet the guys who had recent threads about puncturing a oil filter and trashing an engine while doing grapple work in the woods wish they had a 1/2 plate for protection as I'm sure it is cheaper than doing major engine work. Sounds like you have a great fab shop to work with as well.

 

[roadhunter]

More pix.

View attachment 485274

Those are going to be some nice meadows once you get it cleaned up. Looks like you have plenty of young trees as well.