logging

[johndeerezach]

could anybody tell me what is the best way to haul, carry, or drag logs that were cut down about a year ago to a place to cut in to smaller chunks?

 

[Mousefield]

I have cut some into 8-10 ft long pieces and used the backhoe to take them out. Some logs I dragged out with a chain wrapped around my front end loader. Depends how big they are. Lots I have cut into rounds and sometimes split them at the same time and then bring out the split wood. Decision varies on where the tree came down.

 

[smstonypoint]

Decision varies on where the tree came down.

And the equipment you have. A FEL with pallet forks could work.

Steve

 

[Deadman]

Do whatever is easiest, but DO NOT drag logs thru the dirt, your saws will dull out in 1 cut.

 

[BrierPatch]

I use my quick hitch. One thing to remember is that it puts all of the pull on the top center link. I have pulled pretty hard on mine, but my tractor is not that big and heavy. It does give you the benifit of being able to raise the front of the log up with the 3pt. I think I have heard of people just raising it with the 3pt, block it up and then cradle it with the lower hook points to drag it.

Here is a link to a couple of my pictures using it.

Message - TractorByNet.com Photo Gallery

 

[johndeerezach]

thank you but i have to drag them either up a steep hill or about a 30 degree hill due to loggers cutting and falling the trees down into the valley of both hills. so i was thinking one of those skidding tongs that close when you pull the log?

 

[BrierPatch]

I know 30 degrees doesn't sound like much, but that is one steep hill. If it is actualy 30 degrees I would not try to drive my tractor on a hill that steep, much less pull a log up it. I would be looking into some type of winch.

 

[yomax4]

The tongs that I have are designed for skidding but mine always let me down. Hit a bump and they want to let go too often. I wish they worked better. I live in Bluff Country and am blessed with a large 4X4 ATV to help with the task. The ATV can pull some nice sized logs..Sometimes you just have to cut them up where they lay and haul them out with a cart or trailer. On a more dangerous note. I have backed up some steeper hills pulling logs that are hooked to the back of my little 4X4 30hp tractor. I just run the chain under the tractor instead of hooking to the loader. If you have corners, You have to use the loader but there is no safe good way. Wish I had a Skidder!!:licking:

 

[tungularafishcamp]

I see some really skookum skidding winches, in fact tbn has the wallensten ones on it's homepage. We have a bunch of logging that needs to get done the next 2 years on the family farm in Oregon and I am trying to talk the uncles into letting us get a real tractor and one of the larger winches and doing it ourselves so the 50% cutting fee goes to buying us equipment instead of someone else's pocket. I think with one of those winches you could do some pretty serious logging safely.

 

[johndeerezach]

yea the loggers were suppose to haul them up when they cut them well they did not so i am stuck trying to get them and to top it off the ravine is a small back water/mud hole from the pond that is 15 feet away so i have them cut up in 8 foot lengths but how to get them without getting the tractor stuck. i tried to pull them out with my atv 400cc and i got one but then it just wouldnt pull it through the mud then transfer the pulling power up that hill.

 

[beenthere]

On that steep hill, a winch as mentioned is a safe way to go.

Or, a long cable that you can pull through a snatch block anchored at the top and pull the cable with your tractor.
That will just be the cost of cable and block.

Much depends on how important the trees are to you when you get them up the hill.

 

[Baby Grand]

On that steep hill, a winch as mentioned is a safe way to go.

Or, a long cable that you can pull through a snatch block anchored at the top and pull the cable with your tractor.
That will just be the cost of cable and block.

Much depends on how important the trees are to you when you get them up the hill.

Definitely bring the logs to the tractor using either of the methods beenthere describes. Trying to bring the tractor to the logs & then drive out of a soggy ravine pulling a heavy load is a good recipe for frustration and unnecesary tow truck fees.

A snatch block and cable or low stretch (braided polyester or dynema type material) rope is a moderate cost investment that you can use for lots of other tasks.
-Jim

 

[20 20]

winch or snatch block and cable, will be your best bet.

 

[smstonypoint]

Trying to bring the tractor to the logs & then drive out of a soggy ravine pulling a heavy load is a good recipe for frustration and unnecesary tow truck fees.

And a threat to your safety.

Steve

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Listen to what they are saying about not getting the tractor down to them. The higher up a tree you can set a block to raise them the better. If you need to increase your pulling power go back to another pulley. But that would take a lot more line. On the logs themselves use a good chain or a nylon tow strap cinched up to hold the logs..
It wouldn't take much of a hill for you to be pulling a log and have it skid sideways possibly. I use a log arch for pulling logs around my place.

 

[Gordon Gould]

I would go with the cable/rope and snatch block method. I would also prefer a choker chain over a set of tongs especially for short logs. Tongs maintain there grip better on heavy logs.
By using the cable/rope and snatch blocks you can keep the tractor safely on the road. At 30 degrees ( which is very steep to me and about the limit ) you need to keep the tractor straight up and down the slope and be very careful hauling or skidding uphill.
Here is a picture of one of my cable set ups. It is on a winch but you can just as easily just pull with your tractor. There is a snatch block directly behind the tractor on a tree at the side of my road. Then another ( a slider actually ) on the closer tree so I can pick the butt of this log up and away from being behind the stump. Snatch blocks are wonderful things.
Work safe !

gg

 

[Dead Horse]

I bet, if you do some checking around you will find that someone near you owns a logging winch.

For the number of logs you are talking about it is less than a few hours work to skid them to a safe point for sawyering.

I have a Farmi 601 and am willing to help my neighbors out with these tasks as long as I don't have to drive the tractor more than a few miles.

For a hundred bucks, you can get your logs to your splitting yard safely.

Gordon, nice rigging job......... hope you are not leaving all that good firewood on the ground though!

I winched and skidded all of this out of my forest and...... spent WAY more time felling, limbing and chipping than I did, winching and skidding.

 

[Gordon Gould]

hope you are not leaving all that good firewood on the ground though!


Alot of that does stay. I view it as fertilizer for whatever grows next. Hardwood I hope. I'm taking out balsam fir with stump rot as an improvement cut and have to keep cutting the butt off to get to solid wood before I can make a sawlog. I have tons of the stuff. I burn it spring and fall.

Good sugestion on borrowing a neighbor and their tractor/winch. I gladly help my neighbors with it.

 

[johndeerezach]

thank you a winch would work very well but probably not justified spending that much for one but i could use it for other things. i will probably just use a long chain or cable to pull them so they are able to get to with smaller chain.

 

[jpm]

it mite be better/safer/easier/cheeper to contract it out to someone with a dozer/excavtor