Finished Building The Log Arch

[damartin]

I just finished building my new log arch. I have a John Deere 790 that can drag bigger logs but with the logging winch on the back the 3 point hitch has about all the weight it can handle. If I try to lift the winch with a good size log attached it is too much weight for the 3 pt hitch. I don't think it will be a problem if the log arch handles the weight of the log. The winch has a hitch for an arch and I will use the arch to drag the log to the mill after winching it out of the woods. I can use a hitch pin to attach the arch to the draw bar of the tractor or add a ball coupler mounted on a 2" receiver to use the arch with the ATV. The 2" coupler will also be used to transport the arch to my cabin on the back of the truck. I built the arch out of 4" x 1/4" tubing with 3/8" plate gussets, the boom is 3" x 1/4" tubing and the hitch is 2" x 1/4" tubing. The wheels are off of a Dodge minivan rear end with 14" tires. I hope to try it out this weekend.

 

[Wesdor]

Very nice looking arch. I purchased one from LogRite a couple of years ago and it looks similar to yours. I really like your winch - getting logs up is sometimes a challenge.

Do you plan to put a set of log tongs or just wrap the cable and hook around the log?

As you bring logs to the sawmill site, you will find the lack of dirt on the logs will make you a very happy sawyer.

Congrats!

 

[dave1949]

Looks nice and sounds like it should be sturdy enough. I like the way you have it figured out; winch the logs out of the trees and then haul them with the arch. Hope the test run goes well.
Dave.

 

[spruce Deere]

Very nice Been doing some wood gett'n with my 790. I been chain'n the small end of the log to the rear blade to get some lift. But that arch of yours looks to be the ticket. What brand of log winch do you have? Brother-in-law has a JL 290 farmi log winch that I have played with, Seems to be good pull'n little winch.

 

[glh]

very nice
that looks like the one a friend of mine got about a year ago
but i would say he payed a alot more then you did lol
great job
gary...

 

[damartin]

Thanks for the replies, I plan to wrap the cable around the log to lift it. I have never used a log arch before and I'll learn as I use it. I may use a choker on the log and lift it with the cable, whatever is easier. The logging winch is a Tajfun and it works well, I am amazed at how much weight it can pull. I built the arch in order to skid the logs easier but not having mud all over the log will be a big bonus, I guess the bandsaw blades will last alot longer.

 

[Chilly807]

You're going to be a lot happier using a chain choker on the log, and a grab hook on the winch cable. No kinks in the cable that way. I built mine for ATV use, I'm considering a bigger one for the tractor now.

Chilly

 

[valley]

Looks real nice, I like what you're pulling it with too. The area you are in looks a lot like our back yard.

 

[Dave5264]

I just finished building my new log arch. I have a John Deere 790 that can drag bigger logs but with the logging winch on the back the 3 point hitch has about all the weight it can handle. If I try to lift the winch with a good size log attached it is too much weight for the 3 pt hitch. I don't think it will be a problem if the log arch handles the weight of the log. The winch has a hitch for an arch and I will use the arch to drag the log to the mill after winching it out of the woods. I can use a hitch pin to attach the arch to the draw bar of the tractor or add a ball coupler mounted on a 2" receiver to use the arch with the ATV. The 2" coupler will also be used to transport the arch to my cabin on the back of the truck. I built the arch out of 4" x 1/4" tubing with 3/8" plate gussets, the boom is 3" x 1/4" tubing and the hitch is 2" x 1/4" tubing. The wheels are off of a Dodge minivan rear end with 14" tires. I hope to try it out this weekend.

Very Slick Setup.

You could run a tubular section on the oppsite diagonal from your brace (ie from the Hitch on the low side to the Arch on the top. on this tube put a sliding ring or yoke. Put the Choke chain thru it. when you pull head, it will automatically slide up the Tube, choking and lifting the log. Seen a Neigbour with one like this.

 

[tree grower]

You may discover this as you use your arch, but one modification to consider is to relocate your skidding hooks forward of the axle to provide tongue weight. Size of logs and size of tractor may combine to make this a non-issue, but if you look at an old commercially-manufactured arch from the
1940s -50s you will see the cable roll which supports the weight of the logs is slightly forward of the axle

 

[JB4310]

Wow nice, that's a super advantage over skidding/dragging. Turns that little towwer into a work horse.

 

[Chilly807]

You may discover this as you use your arch, but one modification to consider is to relocate your skidding hooks forward of the axle to provide tongue weight. Size of logs and size of tractor may combine to make this a non-issue, but if you look at an old commercially-manufactured arch from the
1940s -50s you will see the cable roll which supports the weight of the logs is slightly forward of the axle

He's right, mine are about 6 inches ahead of the axle and I have lots of tongue weight, almost too much if you want to unhook the coupler without dropping the wood first. 4 inches might be better.

One other thing, if you have the welder out anyway... I added the tree deflectors in front of the wheels a few months ago after three years without them (see pics in previous post). It makes a huge difference in tight going. No more having the wheels hook behind a tree as you make a corner, the deflectors just shunt the whole arch to one side with no stopping or backing required. If you added a couple stiffeners between the rear legs and the tongue it would give you something to weld the deflectors onto. My 2 cents for what it's worth..

Chilly

 

[rdbrumfield]

I built one for my tractor in the early 80' that doubled as a flatbed dump trailer. I figured it would work well for an atv. It works well and is very easy to dump and convert. the bed just sits on dowels on the backside of the arch frame. You can use chains, the tongs, or cable. I figured if I were to do much I would preferr the chains and have a few hooks so sthe winch wouldn't take a beating when pulling.

 

[rdbrumfield]

one more

 

[Chilly807]

That's a NICE design.. I wish I'd seen that before I built mine. I may have to do some head scratching and redesign work this winter.

Chilly

 

[captjack]

Mine looks similar but without the green paint. In fact I still have not painted it. The week spot on mine has been the tires . I have new wheels and tires rated for much more weight. The maiden voyage popped the tires that I had on it with a 22 ft section of red oak

 

[GE222]

Nice designs everyone!

Not that I really need another project; however, I think it is time to start designing one.

One thought I had was to first use a chain to choke the log with a couple feet extra. The cable winch would have a grab hook. On the to of the arch would be another grab hook welded on. This way, the winch would only be used for raising and lowering. Once the log is raised the chain would be hung on the top hook as it is being pulled through the woods. Both tractors that I would be using are over 8000lbs.

I would like a Farmi winch, both I don't do enough skidding to justify the purchase. Too many other toys are ahead of it.

 

[Chilly807]

Nice designs everyone!

Not that I really need another project; however, I think it is time to start designing one.

One thought I had was to first use a chain to choke the log with a couple feet extra. The cable winch would have a grab hook. On the to of the arch would be another grab hook welded on. This way, the winch would only be used for raising and lowering. Once the log is raised the chain would be hung on the top hook as it is being pulled through the woods. Both tractors that I would be using are over 8000lbs.

I would like a Farmi winch, both I don't do enough skidding to justify the purchase. Too many other toys are ahead of it.

You may want to weld a piece of angle iron with hanging slots in it as well as the single grab hook. If you have several smaller logs you can haul a full load every time instead of making several trips.

I've had mixed results choking more than one log, sometimes they'll all stay inside the choker, sometimes they don't. Lifting the individuals is easier than a bunch, too.

I'm in the same boat, hard to part with the cash for the winch for maybe 6 cords a year. I made up a skidding frame for 3ph that works pretty good for hauling out smaller wood.

Chilly

 

[POC]

You drop that frame all the way to the ground and then cinch the logs up to it, so they lift off the ground when you lift the 3pt?

 

[beenthere]

Nice rig on the 3ph Chilly.

Another twist, and cheap for me, is to use the quick hitch (iMatch for me) and have a couple grab hooks welded for snubbing up choker chains. Easy to toss the log tongs on the top hook, just keeping due caution to the need for counter weight on the front end.