Logging on a budget?

[SpringHollow]

I have used chain and electric winches. A logging winch is the nicest especially with a larger tractor. The solution I use is a portable gas capstan winch and rope. I liked it so much that we started selling them at my business. The 1/2" low stretch double braided polyester rope is less than $0.75 per foot and is rated for over 8000 lbs of force. I find I use the winch for many more situations than just pulling logs so now I would not even buy a logging winch unless I started doing more than 30 face cord per year that I need right now.

Ken

 

[Baby Grand]

I have used chain and electric winches. A logging winch is the nicest especially with a larger tractor. The solution I use is a portable gas capstan winch and rope. I liked it so much that we started selling them at my business. The 1/2" low stretch double braided polyester rope is less than $0.75 per foot and is rated for over 8000 lbs of force. I find I use the winch for many more situations than just pulling logs so now I would not even buy a logging winch unless I started doing more than 30 face cord per year that I need right now.

Ken

Thanks, Ken - that gives me some confidence to go ahead with gathering materials to build a PTO capstan winch/skid plate. I already have 300' of 5/8" double braided polyester and assorted block & tackle and snatch blocks.
Jim

 

[SpringHollow]

With the setup you already have, if your trails are halfway straight for a 150', you could just use your tractor to pull out the logs using the blocks etc to change the direction of the pull to where the log is. I have done this with my utility ATV and my tractor. Not nearly as nice as using the gas winch but it works.

Ken

 

[piller]

I have used chain and electric winches. A logging winch is the nicest especially with a larger tractor. The solution I use is a portable gas capstan winch and rope. I liked it so much that we started selling them at my business. The 1/2" low stretch double braided polyester rope is less than $0.75 per foot and is rated for over 8000 lbs of force. I find I use the winch for many more situations than just pulling logs so now I would not even buy a logging winch unless I started doing more than 30 face cord per year that I need right now.

Ken

I was looking on the Bailey's web site, and saw this:
Bailey's - Portable Winch Co. PCW-5000 Portable Capstan Winch

Is this like what you have? The reviews are pretty good.

 

[crazyal]

I would love a pto winch but it would never get used enough to justify. I only burn 3 cords a year of mostly blow downs. At least 1/2 of which are close enough I can reach them with 40' of chain. It's just not worth it to me for a couple of logs a year.

I now have about 80' of 5/16" and another 60' of 3/8" chain. It might be more work but because they are each 20' it's not all that bad. It would be nice to be able to put a snatch block on a tree to pull at different angles but I make do.

Last year I saw a local rental company selling a Farmi 501. I never got around to asking but they may rent them out. If so it would make more sense to get all the logs ready to be pulled and then rent one for a weekend. You could pull the logs next to your skid road and come back later to skid them.

 

[SpringHollow]

I was looking on the Bailey's web site, and saw this:
Bailey's - Portable Winch Co. PCW-5000 Portable Capstan Winch

Is this like what you have? The reviews are pretty good.

Yes, those are what we carry. I highly recommend them. We only carry products that we are extremely happy with.

Ken

 

[Baby Grand]

With the setup you already have, if your trails are halfway straight for a 150', you could just use your tractor to pull out the logs using the blocks etc to change the direction of the pull to where the log is. I have done this with my utility ATV and my tractor. Not nearly as nice as using the gas winch but it works.

Ken

Thanks, Ken - I can and have done this in a few places. The problem that I encountered is that I lose sight of the log and can't see if it's getting hung up on something, threatening the gear, or just needs a little harder tug to get it up a rise. We have a lot that is mostly flat with 3 deep (20'), steep sided stream ravines. I can't get down into two of the 3 ravines. Of course, that's where most of the wood is. Plus, I can think of a lot of other uses for a good rope winch besides hauling firewood.

Jim

 

[pat32rf]

Thanks, Ken - I can and have done this in a few places. The problem that I encountered is that I lose sight of the log and can't see if it's getting hung up on something, threatening the gear, or just needs a little harder tug to get it up a rise. We have a lot that is mostly flat with 3 deep (20'), steep sided stream ravines. I can't get down into two of the 3 ravines. Of course, that's where most of the wood is. Plus, I can think of a lot of other uses for a good rope winch besides hauling firewood.

Jim

My lot is ALL up & down. Few years back I bought and installed a really cheap "remote starter" on my tractor but I have it wired so it plugs into the winch control (instead of the tractor starter). This way I hook up the cable, return to the tractor to engage the winch clutch and start back to the log while running the winch.
Hauled out two 45' trees today, one red oak, the other birch. Both pulls started out about 75' from the tractor, then got hooked to my "pulling plate" for the 300yd trip back to the woodshed...

 

[Chilly807]

Thanks, Ken - I can and have done this in a few places. The problem that I encountered is that I lose sight of the log and can't see if it's getting hung up on something, threatening the gear, or just needs a little harder tug to get it up a rise. We have a lot that is mostly flat with 3 deep (20'), steep sided stream ravines. I can't get down into two of the 3 ravines. Of course, that's where most of the wood is. Plus, I can think of a lot of other uses for a good rope winch besides hauling firewood.

Jim

No matter what you use for hauling, the skidding cone will help eliminate snags. I deliberately tried to hang up a few logs I pulled out using the cone last year, but both snaked out smoothly.

Sean

 

[SpringHollow]

I was surprised at how well the skidding cone works. I even pulled a >20" x 24' log up hill through a small berm and brush. Cone let it ride over the berm instead of digging in.

Ken