trail clearing technique and tools

[ArlyA]

In another thread, we are contemplating purchasing some property to build trails on. Here we walked where some trails would go.

 

[Rockbadchild]

I did a small loop last week, the tractor and grappler works well for making trails, but its not a opportunity I often have, but this location was on solid ground plus everything is dry and somewhat frozen and without leaves so lots of ground visibility minimizing the risk of damage or breaks-in. I just cut the stuff I can't rip with the grappler and leave everything that I have cut there and use the grappler to move it out of the way. There's one thing I learn on this thread is to make S or curves so the trails feels further and more entertaining then it is, I did this here at a few places and it dose make it so, Thanks for the tip ArlyA.

here is the result

 

[ArlyA]

Using the magnum Stihl today blowing off trails. Most photos are of my 13yo assistant. Should have bought one years ago, but the wear while starting option wasn't out yet.

 

[ning]

Most photos are of my 13yo assistant. Should have bought one years ago

Mine took off back east.
Where did you buy yours? I could use another assistant!

j/k

 

[ArlyA]

This log loader trailer came up in FB marketplace locally so I had to go see it. He's its 2nd owner and asking 14K for it. I thought it was to much. Its undercarriage slides back and fourth via cylinder to help balance the load. It has a winch on the log lifting arm to tow logs in. He thought the log grapple had a 900lbs lifting capacity.

 

[ning]

This place: 9' Log Forwarding Trailer - Fully Equipped
says it's a 600 max lift at max reach, though it may lift more if you're not fully extended.

 

[John_Mc]

This place: 9' Log Forwarding Trailer - Fully Equipped
says it's a 600 max lift at max reach, though it may lift more if you're not fully extended.

All of these types of trailers lift more close in than at full reach. I did submit a couple of questions to the link that @ning posted. I asked for specs on max lift close in, and max payload on the trailer. I'll update when they respond

I own a Metavic forwarding trailer with their M95 loader on their 13RF trailer. The loader has 9.5' reach. I bought it lightly used about 5 years ago. To give you an idea of how lift at full reach vs close in to the trailer varies, this is info Metavic sent when I inquired about a couple of their models:

Model M95

Reach	Lift
4 feet	1500 lbs
7 feet	900 lbs
9.5 feet	600 lbs

Model 1150

Reach	Lift
5 feet	2500 lbs
7 feet	1850 lbs
11.5 feet	1000 lbs

If I can't lift a log at full reach, I can usually shuffle it close by lifting one end and bringing the boom in. I have managed to load heavier logs than 1500 lbs with my M95, it just takes a bit of doing: I remove all of the bolsters on the side facing the log side except for the one in the front. I pick up one end of the log and tuck it in behind that remaining front bolster, then pick up the other end and put it on the rear of the bed. The front bolster keeps front end the log from sliding off as I am loading the rear end. Once the log is in place, I replace the bolsters. If I'm lucky, I can get two large, heavy logs in place using that method. (I need to keep the bolsters in place after that to avoid having the end of the logs slide out.) If I'm not overloaded at that point, I can fill with smaller logs that are easier to lift in one go.

There are trailers that are designed to run off tractor hydraulics. I prefer the on-board hydraulic power pack, since it allows me to use the trailer behind a pickup truck as well as my tractor. (I also don't have to worry about mixing different hydraulic fluids between my tractor and forwarding trailer.)

I've also found the hydraulic winch to be a valuable addition. (It's optional from many manufacturers, but seems to be standard on the one Ning linked.) It's a lot slower and less powerful than my 3 point hitch logging winch, but it comes in really handy, since I don't have to back my trailer right up to each log: I can pull in logs that are a bit off the trail or otherwise out of reach, rather than having to climb on the tractor and reposition frequently.

 

[ruffdog]

The one tool I wish I had was a tree pusher jack. I have a Hi-lift jack so all I would need would be the attachment to slide over the top of it. It would sure help with those smaller trees that you need to fell in a certain direction.

Tree Pusher, Log Lifter And Stump Remover | FM3-LP | Forest Master

 

[John_Mc]

More on lift with a boom:

As a very ROUGH estimate, the reach times the lift capacity is more or less a constant on any one loader model (not always, since other factors can come in to play, but it gets you in the ballpark). So for my loader, the lift at 9.5 feet is rated at 600 lbs. 9.5 X 600 = 5700. If I want to calculate the reach at 4 feet, I get 5700/4 = 1425 lbs, which is pretty close to their spec of 1500.

Most of the specs I've seen for this type of loader tend to fall off from that constant at the fullest extension. So using the full extension as a starting point to calculate lift closer-in usually gives you a conservative rating.

To apply this to the loader Ning linked, I'd guess that for a loader rated to lift 600# at 9' reach would mean a rating of 1350# at 4 feet. No guarantees, but that's probably in the ballpark.

 

[2manyrocks]

The cost of the loader trailer would be more bearable if you were burning a lot of firewood or somehow were making money with it. From the picture, that one doesn't look like it was used very much. Perhaps the owner may be trying to recoup his investment if he decided he wasn't using it enough to justify the cost.

I start to wonder if it's that much better than having a stout trailer and buying one of the AGT tracked mini skid steers with a grapple?