I am going to be clearing about 1/4 acre of trees to enlarge food plots for deer. I have a set of logging tongs I was planning to use, attached by chain to hooks on hitch bar to allow 3-pt to lift near end of log off the ground to avoid it digging in when pulled. The logging tongs are about 16" long. Is there any way to do that and still keep the point of 3-pt attachment at or below tractor axle centerline??
LOGGING TONGS
- Thread starter flINTLOCK
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I used to hang the tongs on the outermost hook of a 3pt lifting boom using my Ford 2000. This is a handy setup as you can back up to a log, lower the boom over one end and the tongs will grab the log as you lift. No need to leave the tractor seat. When you drag the log, keep one end lifted slightly to prevent snagging obstructions as you travel. I cut the logs short enough so my 2000 (with a little weight added to the front) would lift the entire log. I rehook the tongs at the log's center to load onto a trailer for transport. I have hauled many hundreds of logs this way without any problems. That old 2000 would max out at about a 30" diameter 12 ft long red oak log. The hydraulics would lift more but the tractor was to light on the front to lift anything heavier. I imagine my new tractor (JD 4120 with loader) will lift a much larger log. Your worrys about pulling from above the wheel centerline are only valid if you are dragging the log flat which is not a good idea anyway because that will coat the bark with dirt and mud which quickly dulls a saw chain.
mjfox6
Silver Member
I also use a boom pole to skid logs. However, I use a choker chain to grab the logs instead of tongs and hook it to the inner hook instead of the outer hook.
That looks like the same boom I use. Boom is not made specifically for logs but works very well for that purpose. I got it at TSC many years ago for under $100. Using log tongs with the boom saves a lot of time as you do not need to fish the chain under the log, or get off the tractor to do so. Northern Co. sells a good set of tongs for around $100. Hooking to the inner hook will allow a heavier lift, but limits the height compared to the outer. The welds on the outer hook are several times stronger than those on the inner hook due to a much greater weld area (I broke my inner hook off years ago and would not reccomend using it for heavy lifts). When I need to make heavier lifts, I wrap a chain directly around the boom pole closer to the tractor.