Thinking about logging

[RosseauK]

Hey guys I've been thinking about doing some logging on my property this winter and was wondering how good my kioti 40hp will be. Ill be skidding 16ft logs of pine and maple around 2ft in diameter. Does anyone have a estimate what the logs would weigh. I'm going to try and lift them with my Fel into my f550. I also don't have any logging winches and was wondering if there were any ideas as to how to attach them to the 3pt. Thanks for the help

 

[Gordon Gould]

16' logs, diameter measured in middle ( ie at 8' )

Hard Maple 24" 2800 lb
18" 1600 lb
12" 700 lb

Soft Maple 24" 2500 lb
18" 1400 lb
12 ' 625 lb

White Pine 24" 1800 lb
18" 1000 lb
12" 450 lb

I dont know what your site is like but I suspect you will have your hands full with a small tractor, no winch, and logs around 24" diameter.

 

[Deerlope]

Put your cross drawbar in and there is a garb hook,clevis mount that you can attach to the cross drawbar. Put your choker chain around the log and as short as you can hook it into the grab hook. Then raise the 3pth, as you start to pull there will be enogh lift to get the log slightly off the ground. Go slow and be careful. Good luck.

 

[jake98]

I bought a set of tree tongs, those things are time savers.

 

[IndyIan]

I've moved 1000-1500lb logs with an arch and my ATV so I'd expect my DK40 to do better than that!.
If you have a specific use for the lumber, then cut your logs for the lengths you need, which means you can move 8, 10, 12 footers instead of cutting everything long and dealing with huge logs.
In terms of loading, you should be able to squeek a 2700lb'er on to a trailer lifting from the "pins" or maybe bigger than that if you can lift an end at a time safely.

 

[CJBOTA]

I moved Walnut logs that were 30" diameter x 20 ' lg with my Kubota
L3700 so I would think your tractor is plenty big enough. I did a total of 5 semi loads and I used a set of logging tongs on the 3 pt hitch. A couple of safety fanatics warned me about how dangerous this is but quite frankly I never had any problems. Get the leading edge off the ground and go slow until you get out of the woods, once out in the open field I took off for the pile. Maybe once or twice I got the front wheels off the ground by an inch or two but never felt the tractor was out of control. My tractor is HST so it is easy to go easy.
Now felling those trees was a totally different matter. I had two or three bad experiences. And I mean I scared the crap out of me. Those big ones go where they want to and you never know what is going to fall out of them. And they are hardwood heavy. I had one 44" diameter at the base, and no matter what I did, it couldn't decide where to fall. When I finally got it on the ground, I quit for the day, I drank a 12 pack, smoked 4 packs of cigars, and had a serious discussion with Jesus. Just be careful, go slow, and don't think for one minute that you know what you are doing. Good luck!
CJ

 

[JD 4520]

CJ - man you are crazy...glad you survived to tell the story.

 

[Jerry/MT]

Hey guys I've been thinking about doing some logging on my property this winter and was wondering how good my kioti 40hp will be. Ill be skidding 16ft logs of pine and maple around 2ft in diameter. Does anyone have a estimate what the logs would weigh. I'm going to try and lift them with my Fel into my f550. I also don't have any logging winches and was wondering if there were any ideas as to how to attach them to the 3pt. Thanks for the help

If you're going to SAFELY drag big logs out of the woods, do it with a small cat not a rubber tired farm tractor or a CUT

 

[crazyal]

This fall I was pulling large Beech, about 30" in diameter well over 20' with my 42hp Kubota. I didn't even need to keep the butt of the log off the ground to keep it from digging in.

As far as loading goes (you'll need loaded tires or ballast) you can do one end at a time. You could place one end in the back of the truck and then move to the other end and lift it and slide it into the truck.

 

[Mike476]

With my MF 135 I use my 7' back blade, two 10K chains/clevices. Have lifted white pine 12' length 28' butt, no loader so it does get light on the front end. I use it for skidding the logs as well, keeps the front end on the ground when the terrain gets a little uneven. I do have the tires loaded and the 135 is a very stable platform to use for this kind of work.