DIY logging winch build

davedj1 · Nov 7, 2017

Small update, my steel got delayed but should be here tomorrow. I ordered the last of the pieces (I think) I ordered a clutch disc from RokAuto for a 94 Dodge truck, 1500, 318 v8, it's 26 bucks and then I ordered an idler sprocket for the back side of the chain (I was debating using one or not) it was $8.08 from The Big Bearing Store

Once I get my 2x6x3/16 tube I will go to town on it. I was in town today and saw a buddies winch, I took some closeups of the brake, the mount and took some overall measurements. His drum is only about 5.5" wide but I think I am going to be OK with 8" drum. I was surprised to see how sharp of an angle the PTO shaft was with the winch in the air, I assume you aren't running it when the winch is lifted? I will have to remember not to. Oh that reminds me, I will have to buy a PTO shaft as I don't have one...lol

Citydude · Nov 7, 2017

davedj1 said:
Small update, my steel got delayed but should be here tomorrow. I ordered the last of the pieces (I think) I ordered a clutch disc from RokAuto for a 94 Dodge truck, 1500, 318 v8, it's 26 bucks and then I ordered an idler sprocket for the back side of the chain (I was debating using one or not) it was $8.08 from The Big Bearing Store
Once I get my 2x6x3/16 tube I will go to town on it. I was in town today and saw a buddies winch, I took some closeups of the brake, the mount and took some overall measurements. His drum is only about 5.5" wide but I think I am going to be OK with 8" drum. I was surprised to see how sharp of an angle the PTO shaft was with the winch in the air, I assume you aren't running it when the winch is lifted? I will have to remember not to. Oh that reminds me, I will have to buy a PTO shaft as I don't have one...lol

Yes, the winch needs to be on the ground when winching. Looking forward to your end product!

Oldpath05 · Nov 7, 2017

davedj1 said:
Small update, my steel got delayed but should be here tomorrow. I ordered the last of the pieces (I think) I ordered a clutch disc from RokAuto for a 94 Dodge truck, 1500, 318 v8, it's 26 bucks and then I ordered an idler sprocket for the back side of the chain (I was debating using one or not) it was $8.08 from The Big Bearing Store
Once I get my 2x6x3/16 tube I will go to town on it. I was in town today and saw a buddies winch, I took some closeups of the brake, the mount and took some overall measurements. His drum is only about 5.5" wide but I think I am going to be OK with 8" drum. I was surprised to see how sharp of an angle the PTO shaft was with the winch in the air, I assume you aren't running it when the winch is lifted? I will have to remember not to. Oh that reminds me, I will have to buy a PTO shaft as I don't have one...lol

Surprise yup there is quite an angle on the dangle. I'm always pulling forward to get the next tree with pto engaged, the toplink can be adjusted to alleviate some of the pto shaft sharp angle, then once the last tree is hooked, usually 5-7 trees, I have the pto disengaged and off I go till I get stuck, then that's where a winch shines.
Now to be a better fabricator than me, try to make sure when things are tacked together it's right before welding, I always find out something wrong after it's welded. Since steel likes to move when welding on it and to keep something square-ish, a temp tacked steel brace will help immensely, or alot.

Sawyer Rob · Nov 7, 2017

I don't always have my winch on the ground when winching, it all depends on the load.

SR

Oldpath05 · Nov 8, 2017

Sawyer Rob said:
I don't always have my winch on the ground when winching, it all depends on the load.

SR

I can roger dodger that..................

John_Mc · Nov 9, 2017

mark in portugal said:
I have to ask what could be a dumb question; is a logging winch really worthwhile for a non-professional who has a tractor?

I only manage a little patch of forest, and when I need to pull out a tree [several each year] I just chain it to the drawbar and drive. It seems to work just fine.
Ok, my trees aren't huge, my ground is flat, and I have 4wd.

What does the winch do for you actually?

Not meaning to take anything away from your build, just asking.

For 3 trees a year, it's not worth the investment. I heat with wood, and burn about 3 cords/year, plus pull out the occasional saw log. (I do not have a sawmill, but barter with a friend for his services.) Even at that rate, I could never convince myself it was worth the investment. When I went in on a neighborhood partnership on some forestland in my area, I finally made the leap to buy a logging winch. Having worked with it now for 7 or 8 years, I would definitely not be without it. Mine has 230 feet of cable (many winches have about 160', which is plenty for 99% of what I have done).

If you are clear-cutting (and on easy terrain), maybe you don't have much need for one, since you can drive right up to just about any tree you need. With the winch, I can drop trees in the forest and winch them trailside, rather than having to clear a path to each tree. I can pull trees out of places I could never go with my tractor. With a self-releasing snatch block, I can pull the trees around a corner. It's made a huge difference in my productivity in the woods.

davedj1 · Nov 9, 2017

John_Mc said:
For 3 trees a year, it's not worth the investment. I heat with wood, and burn about 3 cords/year, plus pull out the occasional saw log (I do not have a sawmill, but barter with a friend for his services. Even at that rate, I could never convince myself it was worth the investment. When I went in on a neighborhood partnership on some forestland in my area, I finally made the leap to buy a logging winch. Having worked with it now for 7 or 8 years, I would definitely not be without it. Mine has 230 feet of cable (many winches have about 160', which is plenty for 99% of what I have done).

If you are clear-cutting (and on easy terrain), maybe you don't have much need for one, since you can drive right up to just about any tree you need. With the winch, I can drop trees in the forest and winch them trailside, rather than having to clear a path to each tree. I can pull trees out of places I could never go with my tractor. With a self-releasing snatch block, I can pull the trees around a corner. It's made a huge difference in my productivity in the woods.

Well said John. I see in your profile you have limb risers, I think that is a heck of an idea and once I get the front part of the cab back on I will probably add them. I have to build some ROPS and a top from the windshield frame to the ROPS.

mark in portugal · Nov 10, 2017

John_Mc said:
For 3 trees a year, it's not worth the investment. I heat with wood, and burn about 3 cords/year, plus pull out the occasional saw log. (I do not have a sawmill, but barter with a friend for his services.) Even at that rate, I could never convince myself it was worth the investment. When I went in on a neighborhood partnership on some forestland in my area, I finally made the leap to buy a logging winch. Having worked with it now for 7 or 8 years, I would definitely not be without it. Mine has 230 feet of cable (many winches have about 160', which is plenty for 99% of what I have done).

If you are clear-cutting (and on easy terrain), maybe you don't have much need for one, since you can drive right up to just about any tree you need. With the winch, I can drop trees in the forest and winch them trailside, rather than having to clear a path to each tree. I can pull trees out of places I could never go with my tractor. With a self-releasing snatch block, I can pull the trees around a corner. It's made a huge difference in my productivity in the woods.

I use a long chain; only a third of your cable length though.
I have a chain hook on the drawbar, that hooks between links, so it's quick attaching at any length.
But yes, access is very easy, I rarely need the whole chain. I've cut down many trees in my little forest now not so much to make logging easier, but so I can get in there with my brush hog to cut the brush for fire safety.

Anyway, once it's on the chain, I pull the whole tree out into the open to cut it up, where I can then quickly push the cutoff limbs into a pile for safe burning during the wet season.

It's been 35 years since the last time I was in an American forest, but reading about how you all work, I remember how tangled it all is.

We're having an intense drought here in Portugal, a thrown butt could light my forest on fire.