Skidding firewood logs?

[penokee]

What methods are used to skid your logs out of the woods? Is there some type setup other then chaining to the lower arms of the 3 point then raising and driving off?
The earlier thread on moving cut firewood on pallets, by Greg and others, was informative. Curious on the best way to skid the logs to the landing, so they don't drag full length in the dirt.
penokee /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[dixiedrifter]

The best way (or at least the way i do it) would be to get a set of special logging tongs to hook onto the log.

Then get yourself a 3ph drawbar and mount the tongs onto your lift.

Back up to the log, pound in the spikes on the end of the tong, pick it up and your ready to rock'n roll.

 

[GregJ]

Penokee,
This really doesn't qualify as dragging, but I had to move several logs a fairly short distance (up to 100 feet) and didn't want to tear up my lawn or drag the logs in the dirt. (see attached) I started by trying to use my FEL and it just didn't have the control or lift. Then I tried my BH and it worked great. It was fairly easy to find a balance point, the bucket was easy to get under the log and it has more lift than my FEL. I left the stabilzers down about 6 inches off the ground and SLOWLY moved all my logs over to my cutting area. Plus, I could lift the logs to a comfortable cutting height. This of course requires an open field, but I thought I'd share this, in case anybody needed one more reason to cost justify a BH... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Greg

 

[JimR]

Two years ago I used my ex-neighbors Bota and 3pth to pull 33 trees out of the woods using a very short chain. The only part that got dirty was the very end of the butt. I now use a drawbar on my 3pth with my Cub to do the same with logs as needed. I found this to be the easiest way to get them out of the woods in one piece so I could cut and plane them down into floor joists for my barn project.

 

[beenthere]

I hook the logging tongs to the top hook on my iMatch and pull big logs out of the woods with that setup. Care needs to be taken to keep the front end down, but the FEL with forks or bucket seem to do that very well on my Deere 4300.
A search on logging tongs here should get you additional information. I find this method the cheap way to do it easily.

 

[beenthere]

Another shot of the tongs close-up with the end of the log carried high.

 

[beenthere]

Used to have an 8N Ford with a 3pt 'arch' with chain slots that worked almost as good as the iMatch quick hitch. Here is a shot of that arrangement.

 

[eee]

I bought the I match not knowing it would not fit most of my JD implements and that is the only thing I used the I match for before I bought my skidder winch. It worked well with the tongs.

 

[Hysyde]

Onee thing that should be noted...

If you are just going to "drag" them be very, vey careful. I know of one local guys years ago (and I've heard of more) that died dragging logs. If you are going at a decent speed and the log catches on a stump or something, it's possible the tractor will stop and then pivot on the rear axel and flip over backwards.

We've been skid logs out of the bush for yeras, either just draggin them or trying to lift them off with the 3 pt. hitch.

I dragged afew cedars out of the bush this summer, but nothing major or for a very long distance.

 

[MMM]

I weded 2ea 40" X 27/8" heavy drill stem to each side of bucket with doubling plates. They are positioned where logs will roll off at full dump, but are out of the way for dirt work. Handy for moving and piling tops also.