Tractors and wood! Show your pics

[Gordon Gould]

Just thinking. the last 20 years or more I haven't seen anyone use their tractors for logging. We used the tractor to pick up bucked up wood into a wagon and pull on good ground, to where we store it. Normally for most years we hauled our wood with snowmachine, and maybe half the way, to retrieve it in the spring with the tractor. I often think of logging with the old tractors. I can't remember the model of the tractors, I think one was a 6 cylinder, international maybe. It wasnt physically as big as the Farmall M we have, but I'm thinking it may have had more power, or so I think only. But we were early teenagers and I remember pulling wagons loaded with 8 foot logs (for pulp) over the choppin/cutover , over tree tops, stumps, holes etc. The front wheels rarely touched the ground. I often think while looking at these new tractors, from...i don't know, 1975 and up and think they do not look half as robust as they use to. It looks like you'd break one in half if you even attempted that stuff. Whats peoples thoughts on that?

I think that there may be more people logging with a tractor than you think now a days. But I agree with you that the typical small to medium sized modern tractor would not survive long driving thru the chopins with out some serious armor being added. It is commom to see woods tractors with added belly pans, grill guards, tire protection, operator station protection, limb risers, and more. Also, the use of the winch has become wide spread and with a winch there is less need to drive in the rough. In my woods work I use a winch and always keep my tractor on a decent trail to protect it. If there is no trail I make one. But I guess that is what you mean, in days of yore you would not bother making a trail you would just drive thru and over all the slash and stumps. Since this is a picture thread here are a couple sites I have logged with a winch. I believe in leaving the slash in the woods where it will do some good for the next generation of trees and wildlife. Some stumps are a little high because I try to cut above the worst of the rot to get a little better hinge wood.

 

[Dascro]

I enjoy seeing the Vermont woods. Thanks for sharing Gordon.

 

[jodebg]

Nice job in the design and construction of the front wood carrier and the rear ballast/carry-all? Is the rear box a ballast box, and if so, what are using for weight inside?
Really would like to see some photos of it.Thanks

View attachment 401133

Truckin wood last fall.

 

[xring100]

Cut up some wood last weekend at my buddies broke the beam on his home made splitter. I will have to take my splitfire over to help him out. This oak was cut down by the power company. They cut it into 3- 3.5 ' lengths although they didn't finish cutting through the big pieces. So i was able to move 6 - 7 ft pieces. They must have had a 32" bar or less about. They cut it down 3 - 4 years ago.
These will be real fun to split but atleast each round has a bunch of wood in it.

 

[PapaPerk]

Cut up some wood last weekend at my buddies broke the beam on his home made splitter. I will have to take my splitfire over to help him out. This oak was cut down by the power company. They cut it into 3- 3.5 ' lengths although they didn't finish cutting through the big pieces. So i was able to move 6 - 7 ft pieces. They must have had a 32" bar or less about. They cut it down 3 - 4 years ago.
These will be real fun to split but atleast each round has a bunch of wood in it.
<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/owning-operating/403707-tractors-wood-show-your-pics-forumrunner_20141222_213418-png"/>

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/owning-operating/403708-tractors-wood-show-your-pics-forumrunner_20141222_213428-png"/>

What Sthil is that? Looks good! That's some big timber.

 

[Underdog57]

Nice job in the design and construction of the front wood carrier and the rear ballast/carry-all? Is the rear box a ballast box, and if so, what are using for weight inside?
Really would like to see some photos of it.Thanks

There is 1600# of concrete in the box, here is the thread;

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/307935-my-ballast-box-build.html

 

[DieselnHooters]

XRING you really do look like a genuine lumberjack on those pics in spite of the pink shirt lol

I sure would like to share some pics also but I dont have a camera nor cellphone

I just use my FEL as a winch sorta, hook up the logs with 80' long chains and raise it, logs slides up a few feet, step down from the tractor and shorten the chain , rinse and repeat until the log is close enough so I can skid it easily.

Best thread ever BTW

 

[dragoneggs]

What Sthil is that? Looks good! That's some big timber.

And a big 'ole bar on that saw!!!

 

[jodebg]

Underdog...nice design and build on both the front and back assemblies.

Is the 3 point hitch assembly designed to be ballast or a carry all?

Can you post some photos it?

Thanks.

 

[oldpilgrim]

Xring,

I've cut up some that large..up to about 40 inches....with my 20 inch saw.

I got a good deal on about 5-7 cord, all 30 inches and up and tree length. The truck that brought it was a commercial log hauler with a grapple and even it had some trouble lifting some of it. The huge pile I had was daunting, considering what I had to do with it. It wasn't easy and I hope never to have to do it again. .. nope, make that WON'T do it again.

This was a few years ago just before I turned 65 and it was all lot more than I wanted to do.

Now that I'm even older, I won't even consider it.