Tractor for a specific use. Must handle 3,000 pounds.

[roadhunter]

Ryan,

That is an interesting thought. There are quite a few old tractors around that can be had for next to nothing. Would be really neat to find a propane tractor for that application. Thanks for the idea.

TSO and Granddad4,
That M59 is a really nice tractor. If I could find one without a backhoe that might be an option. I like the size and weight on that unit as well. Certainly looks more suited for what I am doing with lots of lifting. Thanks for the info.,

 

[Sawyer Rob]

You will be WAAAAAY money ahead to buy an off road fork lift and keep the tractor you already have! Very good ones can be bought fairly cheap and they will pick up 4 to 5 K...

SR

 

[MossRoad]

Try looking at this website to get an idea on prices for used rough terrain forklifts...
Rough Terrain Forklift For Sale

 

[GManBart]

You guys have made me take another look at skid steers but I still do not see the advantage. 95% of the skid steers I looked at would not handle a 3,000 + pound load.

What am I missing?

It appears you're missing the difference between the rated operating capacity, and the actual lifting ability of the machine. My neighbor has a nice Bobcat T200, and it's rated at something like 2,100lbs, but it can lift several times that amount...I'm certain of that from having used it. ROC is around 35% of the tipping load as I recall. In short, I don't think you'd have a problem finding a skid steer that can handle lifting 3K.

That doesn't talk to the issue of raised loads, but I think that a solution for that could be found if you wanted to, and it's possible to have slightly raised loads that you can step over, rather than go under.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

You guys have made me take another look at skid steers but I still do not see the advantage. 95% of the skid steers I looked at would not handle a 3,000 + pound load. You can't open the door with a load in the air so that rules out any with a cab.

What am I missing?

You're not looking at JCB or Volvo skid steers, all of which have a left side entry.

 

[roadhunter]

You're not looking at JCB or Volvo skid steers, all of which have a left side entry.

I actually mentioned the side entry JCB skid steer earlier in the thread. It would solve the issue of access. I didn't know about Volvo. Those are nice. Thanks for the info.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Don't forget forks and buckets are not the only QA options. Grapples are very popular and require no straps!

 

[boggen]

Ryan,

That is an interesting thought. There are quite a few old tractors around that can be had for next to nothing. Would be really neat to find a propane tractor for that application. Thanks for the idea.

TSO and Granddad4,
That M59 is a really nice tractor. If I could find one without a backhoe that might be an option. I like the size and weight on that unit as well. Certainly looks more suited for what I am doing with lots of lifting. Thanks for the info.,

i get a little skiddish when propane comes up. "not knowing enough about it mainly". was tempted to convert generator and even a riding lawn mower over to propane. just needed some carb work done if memory serves. then a regulator, and a on/off switch / valve. for the propane. i decided to skip it. just to big of a risk for me, and not knowing any better. and figure best let things go. before i end up killing myself. though there are lots of propane stuff on websites out there for converting generators over. i would imagine you might find some for tractors as well.

============
as much as it is a pain to unload... i might suggest a mini excavator. with a grappel instead of a bucket...

truck comes in...
you pull truck and trailer next to it say 6 to 8 feet apart from one another.
get up and undo straps on truck that came in.
hop into mini ex. and spin back and forth between picking up logs from one truck to your trailer.

you would not need a full 360 degree mini excavator unit. something that went say 350 degrees (i forget the almost full spin range... it has been a while)

once you get the truck that came in unloaded.
pull your truck / trailer to given area.
use mini excavator to pickup individual logs one at a time from your trailer and feed into your peeler.

trying to man handle a larger size post *shakes head no* if you are in great shape ya ok.

===========
so the truck that came in seats there for a few extra minutes to unload. i would imagine there is some time limit before getting charged extra for truck seating there waiting to be unloaded. but if you can get your stuff together and everything lined up.... ready set go! if ya poking around trying to grab and get stuff ready, when truck just came in... truck driver might get rather grumpy and charge you perhaps?

but if you are actively moving stuff faster than man handling things. and have your stuff together... *shrugs* i would go mini excavator.

 

[roadhunter]

Try looking at this website to get an idea on prices for used rough terrain forklifts...
Rough Terrain Forklift For Sale

I have looked at them but the issue is if they will tilt out enough for logs to roll/slide off the forks. or tilt back enough to hold logs while moving. I'm not sure if it would work. I wish that would work as those can be had fairly inexpensively.

 

[roadhunter]

i get a little skiddish when propane comes up. "not knowing enough about it mainly". was tempted to convert generator and even a riding lawn mower over to propane. just needed some carb work done if memory serves. then a regulator, and a on/off switch / valve. for the propane. i decided to skip it. just to big of a risk for me, and not knowing any better. and figure best let things go. before i end up killing myself. though there are lots of propane stuff on websites out there for converting generators over. i would imagine you might find some for tractors as well.

============
as much as it is a pain to unload... i might suggest a mini excavator. with a grappel instead of a bucket...

truck comes in...
you pull truck and trailer next to it say 6 to 8 feet apart from one another.
get up and undo straps on truck that came in.
hop into mini ex. and spin back and forth between picking up logs from one truck to your trailer.

you would not need a full 360 degree mini excavator unit. something that went say 350 degrees (i forget the almost full spin range... it has been a while)

once you get the truck that came in unloaded.
pull your truck / trailer to given area.
use mini excavator to pickup individual logs one at a time from your trailer and feed into your peeler.

trying to man handle a larger size post *shakes head no* if you are in great shape ya ok.

===========
so the truck that came in seats there for a few extra minutes to unload. i would imagine there is some time limit before getting charged extra for truck seating there waiting to be unloaded. but if you can get your stuff together and everything lined up.... ready set go! if ya poking around trying to grab and get stuff ready, when truck just came in... truck driver might get rather grumpy and charge you perhaps?

but if you are actively moving stuff faster than man handling things. and have your stuff together... *shrugs* i would go mini excavator.

Propane would have some advantages in that scenario. Being $1.35 a gallon is a big one. Plus for just sitting there I could tie it into my 1,000 gallon tank or buy another one for it. I've seen some old Minneapolis Moline propane tractors and a few Deeres.

It's probably quite a bit faster to put the forks under the logs to unload them in that scenario. I only use the straps to tighten the bundles when banding them up for shipping. But in the field pulling a pile of timber apart with an excavator would probably work pretty well.

I know the truckers so that won't be an issue. I'm out in the middle of nowhere, we all know each other. I just need something sized for the job that can pick up full fork loads of raw and peeled logs. I realized quickly that my little tractor is a toy.