Rope for pulling trees over

[94BULLITT]

I have a few trees that I want to take down. They need a little help to fall in the right direction. What kind of rope would be good to use to pull them in the right direction while they are being cut?

 

[TomSeller]

I have a few trees that I want to take down. They need a little help to fall in the right direction. What kind of rope would be good to use to pull them in the right direction while they are being cut?

A very long one.

I use tow straps and chains for this type of thing.

 

[whistlepig]

If you are wanting some good rope you might want to look at this. Stronger than steel, wears better than steel, and has less stretch than steel. It isn't cheap but I have been using it for several years now. It's going to last many years.

AmsteelBlue.com - Best price on genuine Amsteel

 

[dragoneggs]

I have a few trees that I want to take down. They need a little help to fall in the right direction. What kind of rope would be good to use to pull them in the right direction while they are being cut?

You can get by with rope on small trees but I find the stretch is too much for my liking on anything with significant diameter (weight). I like to use cable and/or chain and a 'come along' to put some tension in the direction I need it. How are you planning to drop the trees? How big are they? What kind? Around here they are mostly evergreens and grow pretty straight. The maples are the scary ones as they grow in clumps, lean, and hang up in each other. They can also kick back sometimes.

 

[dragoneggs]

If you are wanting some good rope you might want to look at this. Stronger than steel, wears better than steel, and has less stretch than steel. It isn't cheap but I have been using it for several years now. It's going to last many years.

AmsteelBlue.com - Best price on genuine Amsteel

Hmmm... yes expensive, but looks very interesting! Thanks for sharing. The material is UHMWPE (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene). This plastic is very tough and strong and used by the Navy for well decks and ballistic armor to name a few applications. I might have to invest in some of this rope. But it is not cheap! What also is exciting is the light weight aspect. No more having to lug heavy chains and trying to throw them around things.

 

[whistlepig]

I use the winch on my ATV to raise and lower a snow blade. The original steel aircraft cable that came with my Warn winch self destructed in the spool. It frayed and broke after one year of use. I replaced it with Amsteel Blue winch rope. I have been using this Amsteel Blue for 6 years in my winch now with no noticeable signs of wear. Not so expensive now compared to replacing the steel aircraft cable every year for the past six years.

 

[PhysAssist]

If you are wanting some good rope you might want to look at this. Stronger than steel, wears better than steel, and has less stretch than steel. It isn't cheap but I have been using it for several years now. It's going to last many years.

AmsteelBlue.com - Best price on genuine Amsteel

Hey whistlepig,

Thanks for the link, did you check out their garage sale?

I ended up buying one of their odd pieces for about half the regular price.

Thanks,
Thomas

 

[dragoneggs]

I use the winch on my ATV to raise and lower a snow blade. The original steel aircraft cable that came with my Warn winch self destructed in the spool. It frayed and broke after one year of use. I replaced it with Amsteel Blue winch rope. I have been using this Amsteel Blue for 6 years in my winch now with no noticeable signs of wear. Not so expensive now compared to replacing the steel aircraft cable every year for the past six years.

Good point!

 

[newbury]

Another vote for Amsteel Blue.

 

[JerryK]

If you work in a factory that has overhead cranes, or know of someone. Put a word in to the maint crew that you need a cable to pull trees down. They have to change them every so often, and the old used ones are real good for yanking down trees. That's what I use, along with an assortment of grade 70 chains/come alongs/nylon straps...

 

[Notforhire]

I have been using 5/8in dacron for about 30yrs or so with no problems. It does stretch some, but less than nylon.

 

[hslogger]

There is a difference in PULLING a tree OVER, and putting TENSION on a line to guide. If you are going to pull it, the strongest and newest of anything is best. The easiest way and safest is to use blocks and tackle if you don't have a winch and a deadman. Blocks increase your pulling power dramatically with a limited power source. Blocks can also use to change the direction of your line, so that you don't have to have a straight shot at it, thus reducing your risk. Aborist sites and others have great block and tackle statistics. Putting tension on a tree you want to fall is by far the easiest way unless you have an enormous heavy leaner in the opposite direction

 

[cqaigy2]

And if you can't rig, i've seen people be very successful using hydraulic jack w/steal plates, used to push the tree in the right direction. I personally mainly use wire rope, chain and strap along with snatch blocks and come along and or tractor to apply pressure.

 

[LD1]

Give us a little more info please.
1. How big are the trees??
2. How much is "a little" help
3. What happens if things go wrong?? Structures in the way?? or just dont want to hit another tree??

IF the help they need isnt too much, some felling wedges and good technique is the easiest. But dont trust that if there is a building within reach.

Another way I have done it with trees up to ~12" or so is use the FEL elevated high and pushing. PArk the tractor at the tree with a little tension pushing. Cut the wedge and back cut but leave a good bit of hinge, then start pushing on tractor. How I'm not recommending this, especially if trees are larger, cause unless you know what you are doing, you can drop the tree on the tractor. If you cut too much of the hinge, or if the tree is dead and snaps, it can flip over the loader and land on the tractor/operator.

 

[s219]

Amsteel blue is great stuff, but you can get by with standard logging rope in 5/8" or 3/4" and it will still last a lifetime for most of us. Sampson makes good logging rope, but expect to spend about $1.20-2.00 per foot. Also get a pulley block so that you can pull in a direction away from the fall or use it to increase mechanical advantage (or get two pulleys if you want to do both). And then some shackles, and a tree strap or towing strap for anchoring. I spent about $300 on all this stuff a few years ago, and it was money well spent. I use an old duffel bag to stuff my rope into to keep it clean and tangle free.

 

[DKCDKC]

The key is really how much force you want to put on the tree, and what are the consequences of an unexpected fall direction. I use old half-inch line off a wrecked sailboat. The stuff is strong and I have a lot of it. Out in the woods just cutting for firewood, I just cut and usually get it to fall just where I want it. Where there is a farm or cabin nearby, I use the sailing line. I use a latter to get it is far up the tree as possible, then put tension on it with a come-along. Usually I just put enough tension to have the tree bend a little. Then I cut it. I have cut down trees for 10 years like this and never come close to an accident. Trees next to a home or valuable building - or hanging over it... I just call a pro who can take it down in sections.

 

[the old grind]

There is a difference in PULLING a tree OVER, and putting TENSION on a line to guide.

You can do a little of both. +1 on the hi-tech poly ropes vs cables/chains for handling weight and what 'flies' if something snaps. Worth the $$ if you want them to last a few years, too.

30 yrs as of this summer using a lo-cost 1/2"x100' 3-ply anchor rope(s). (Replaced the 1st one 3 yrs ago) Anchor high in the tree for leverage on it. Cut wedge out to aim the fall. Tie to truck's front tow hook or tractor, refine the aim, and take out the slack. Backing up 10-15' (or so with practice) puts tension on the rope for the back cut. Rope length protects the truck by distance if you have the length & room. Most land within 5-10 deg of a well planned aim.

Limb removal on the 'down side' reduces bounce with conifers, but you can't trim 'em all and it sacrifices balance. Rope helps make up for that as well as guides felling aim. Worst thing I've seen happen to a pull rope is to have a prior-removed limb stub land smack-on and cut it. Tie a 'sheet bend' to repair on the job if that happens. This works for cheapskates but if you're not one you really could spend more $$.

btw: One 60' spruce cut this summer and 3 more to 'guide' away from the house we don't want them to land on during a storm. Lots of s__-elms to cut on my 10. (Much better firewood than spruce, but a bear to split) One lucky member here has acres of oak to clear. Another has a lifetime of ash coming down after the borers got to 95% of his. I'm just keeping up with 'weeds'.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Ill vote for the amsteel blue. WE used it underground on our scoops for winch ropes to move everything from power centers and belt drives to long wall shields. Guess what we did when one went over a sharp edge and snapped though? Yup I have a couple 1 1/8" ropes. IIRC over 100k lbs tensile strength. I also have a 12k winch on my trailer with amsteel blue and man is that stuff slick. The lightness and toughness of it is fantastic plus no little burrs sticking out to snag your fingers on.

 

[Deere Dude]

I bought a 50' cable for cheap 25 years ago and pulled down a lot of trees using a come-a-long. It works quite well. I had a leaner over a pole shed hung up in another tree so I had to get a 100' piece of cable and then start winching and pulling in a safe direction. I jerked with the tractor and pulled with the truck and come-a-longed a lot and the only thing necessary was to have three cable clamps on each end for the loop to make sure it didn't come loose. I think you can get those cables for 60-65 cents a foot.

If you are older and are only going to use it once or twice I would go that way. If you were younger and have a lot of trees to work on, maybe the better more expensive stuff is the way to go.

A BIL was cutting down a big 3' diameter oak and had a 3/4" regular rope hooked to. They cut almost through the thing and gave it a pull and the rope snapped. Then they were screwed because it was a tall straight tree and they didn't have a clue which way it was going to fall. It all worked out but I like steel.

 

[94BULLITT]

I am thinking about going with a 30' tow strap. I can throw the strap around the tree and tie a rope on pull some by hand or hook a chain to it and pull with a tractor or truck to guide it down. The trees I want to take down are mostly oak but one or two are a hickory. The first two I want to take down or close the the house so I want to be sure they fall were I want them. I am guessing they are 16'' in diameter. They are not leaning real bad but I want to be safe. I have borrowed a rope from my neighbor in the past to take trees down. I don't have any way to use a come along or a block and tackle on some of these trees.