Winch on a tractor?

JDGREEN4ME · Dec 9, 2004

This past weekend I was working in the woods with my tractor doing some "lumber work". Due to the recent rain I was running in mud. One of the areas was a pretty good grade and in hindsight a winch may have made my life easier. Anyone else use one? mounting locations?

AndyMA · Dec 9, 2004

I'm running a Farmi 501 skidding winch on either my Ford 2120 (43hp) or NH TN75. Love it. It has 165 feet of cable and pulls 11,000 pounds. Have yet to run into a log I can't pull out. I also use a self releasing snatch block to pull around corners, very useful. Farmi Winch

Andy

bczoom · Dec 9, 2004

Bill,

Are you thinking of using to drag logs, get tractor "un-stuck" or both?
I bought a cheapo winch a few years back that had a mount that slid over the ball on the rear. Didn't like the winch so it's sitting on a shelf...

Over in the ATV forum, FL_Cracker is making a multi-mount setup for his RTV. Not sure if his pics could help you on a design, but they might. Look at the past few days of postings in New RTV For Turkey Day Weekend

A good quality winch will also make a huge difference. Warn & Ramsey seem to be the best nowadays. Many of us went with the Ramsey due to the lower amp draw and wireless controls. The latter option is very handy when dragging logs.

Brian

EDIT - Andy and I were posting at the same time. I too have and really like the Farmi winch but didn't post anything about it until I knew whether the winch was for logging or getting the tractor out of trouble.

JDGREEN4ME · Dec 9, 2004

I guess I was thinking about using it to help the tractor through some rough spots but I could have also used it to pull the logs to me.

JDGREEN4ME · Dec 9, 2004

That Farmi is a nice set up, they actually make a model (290)that would work on my 4115. Just need to see how much one of these go for!

bczoom · Dec 9, 2004

OK.

Front mount only or do you want/need to be able to switch to the rear?

I'm not super familiar with the 4115, but in pictures, it appears that there is a plate (for hanging weights?) across the front that looks pretty beefy.
I'm thinking of a steel plate that bolts to that plate that has a 2" receiver sticking straight out. If wanted/needed, fabricate yourself a 2" receiver setup off the rear drawbar.

From there, a setup like FL_Cracker is using (4000# Warn winch with the manufacturers multi-mount setup) should take care of your needs. Winch is mounted to the drawbar that goes into either receiver so the winch can be removed all together when not needed or quickly switched from front to back as need dictates.

Not sure if Ramsey has the multi-mount setup but if you prefer the Ramsey, I'm sure one can be made (actually, I know a couple places that are making them for UTV's). Hmmm. Now that I think about it more, the Ramsey and Warn have the same bolt pattern (3.00" X 4.88") so the Warn setup should work with a Ramsey winch.

I have a 3000# Ramsey but only have limited use dragging logs. So far, I'm impressed but it would depend on your logging needs. (I switch to the Farmi if I'm doing really big logs).

bczoom · Dec 9, 2004

( That Farmi is a nice set up, they actually make a model (290)that would work on my 4115. Just need to see how much one of these go for! )

They're not cheap... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Going back to your previous post ( I guess I was thinking about using it to help the tractor through some rough spots but I could have also used it to pull the logs to me. ) Although the Farmi winch is absolutely fantastic for logging, this type of winch isn't very friendly for day-to-day use in the event you might get stuck. To save you in "rough spots", it will need to be mounted to the tractor before you leave. They're very heavy and are not commensurate to a change of a 3PH attachment (or install) in the field. If you need to use the winch to tow yourself out forward, you're going to have to get very creative on the directional pulls of the cable as it's made to pull things from behind.

AndyMA · Dec 9, 2004

( I guess I was thinking about using it to help the tractor through some rough spots but I could have also used it to pull the logs to me. )

Having been on tractors for over 40 years, I have never used a winch to pull a machine out. (I've pulled out other machines with my winch) It would have to be a very rough spot before the winch would be of much help. Personally I think if you get a four wheel drive tractor stuck and can't get it out with the loader by curling the bucket, I think you're likely to get killed when the winch cable snaps. It is so easy to pull logs through the rouch spots with the Farmi. The last time I checked, the 351 was about $2,800 and the 501 was around $3,200.

Andy

Rip · Dec 9, 2004

I have a Warn 6000 lb hydraulic winch on a 2" square stub mount that I use mainly to retrieve logs. I would probably go up a size or two if it were also to pull tractor out of trouble.

I would go hydraulic rather than electric on any tractor application if possible. The Farmi and other rear logging winches are PTO driven and work well for their particular purpose, but are heavy and expensive for occasional use.

slowzuki · Dec 9, 2004

A fellow on here has a hydraulic winch mounted on the cross beam of his front loader and uses it for all kinds of stuff.

A farmi type winch can be used to pull the tractor out if it is the type with the low pulley.

Farmi also make a hydraulic winch meant to mount to the the front bumper of a tractor with no loader for logging and self-recovery.

To the fellow that said he hasn't gotten stuck, he just hasn't tried hard enough yet! Just joking but you can certainly get a 4wd tractor stuck and usually it is in stuff too soft to help with the bucket. If you work the woods in the winter it is easy to get stuck when breaking through soft spots.

The best tool is a spare tractor, winch is a distant second place. I would love to have a winch for logging though!