Removing downed Trees

6or7dazeaweek · Feb 27, 2006

DJ:

Please do not use a rope for pulling anything. I recently attempted to pull my neighbors dump truck out of a ditch witha US Coast Guard tow rope....and it broke. Yes it did come back and caused considerable damage to the tailgate of my truck. I assumed that since the rope could tow a 42' vessel under rough seas that it would pull out the truck...man was I ever surprised when it broke....and lucky too. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Jon

Slacker · Feb 27, 2006

I use Northern Tools tongs and a 2" receiver 3pt hitch.
Works very well so far. The 3pt picks the log up off the ground easily, and I use s scoop of rock in the FEL for counterweight.
Here is a pic of the tongs on my 750:

SnoFalls · Feb 27, 2006

The new winch ropes are quite safe (some say safer than wire rope). It will just drop slack at breaking force.

Rope that has a stretch tho can be deadly ...

I also typically use chain (slip knotting when appropriate), but the winch going on my 4x4 will have amsteel rope ...

djwill · Feb 27, 2006

Guys,
Thanks for all the response on this. The trees I am talking about are not very big and the ground is level. I just wanted to drag them out before I cut and burned them. Maybe I'll cut them where they lay, then bring them out /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

dj

miltrade · Feb 27, 2006

There are many instances of the Navy using tow ropes that snapped and amputating legs, heads, and in some cases cutting sailors clean in half. I would personally never use rope for anything of that nature.

beenthere · Feb 27, 2006

I've always supported chain for moving trees, and towing. I've witnessed the 'nylon' rope disasters and read of more gruesome ones too.
However, all rope isn't the same, and shouldn't be classed as 'dangerous' and not to be used.
As pointed out already, there are ropes on the market now that do not stretch and are apparently as safe as chain.

I do believe that most 'breaking' problems involve pulling objects that don't want to move with a steady pull, and someone makes the mistake of getting a run at it. Then a lot of damage can happen.

So, I am now looking for the rope that I can use in my 'soon-to-be' capstan winch that I will power with my chainsaw head. The Samson rope cited shows 3/8" rope as having min. strength of 14,000 lbs, and a 100' coil weighs 3.6 lbs. That is impressive, to me.
A 1/2" rope min. strength is 24,800 lbs and 100' weighs just 6.4 lbs.
This is 12 strand braided rope and is low-stretch. Lookin good to me.

1bush2hog · Feb 28, 2006

The specs on the rope sure are impressive - wonder if the price and durability are equally impressive?

Beenthere,

Do you know anyone in the forestry industry, or similar, currently using this rope?

It sure would be nice to tote a winch rope around the woods rather than heavy chains and cable /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

SnoFalls · Feb 28, 2006

The amsteel rope is *not* very well suited for foresty work because it is not as abrasion resitant as wire cable. It is strong/safe enuf, but the repeated abuse of skidding/choking is not it's forte.

It *is* very useful in the marine industries tho (I believe it was primarily developed for crabbers and such). Floats, light, strong ... all good.

The low weight makes it very nice for a 4x4 winch, just need to be a bit more careful. (use an aluminum fairlead, wide radius snatch blocks, keep it from abrading rocks, etc).

MMM · Mar 1, 2006

i've been using the same 16mm Spectron12 rope forabout 8 years with no problems. Ive reterminated it a few times where choker is attached. It's fuzzy in a few spots, but I doubt I could break iit if there was only a couple strands left. It has less stretch than chain or cable, has no memory like cable and you can drag 100' around all day not feeling it. Many loggers are using it on skid winches. I like it because I can loop what I don't need on ROPS and tie bowline to drawbar.