Winches and getting through to the other side.

[FlynG]

I am going to be cleaning up in some timber that floods during the winter. Even in the dryest of summer months there are still mud holes to get through. I think getting stuck certain places is a given. The work involved is going to be mostly trail maintenance. I know there are logging winches for the rear of the tractor using the PTO but then I can't use the disc or bush hog. Are there winches made for the front...or can a person adapt one of the hydrolic winches for 4x4's or wreckers?

 

[Von]

If you are not planning on using it all the time how about a 12V portable winch that you could hook up to both the front or the back. Harber Freight has one on sale for $90.00 that has a 6000lb. pull for rolling stock, 2000lb. for strait pulling.

Von

 

[FlynG]

Good idea Von, but I don't think there is enough pulling power there. We are looking at 40hp 4x4 tractors that are going to weigh in at 3-4000 lbs. With a loader on the front and any kind of tool on the back, 5000 lbs will be the minimum load. I'm anticipating sitting on the axles in mud so an 8000 lb rating will be the lowest that I would think might work. I'm preparing for the worst and hoping for the best here/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif.

I have used a winch on vehicles a few times but the hyd. winches are new to me. I am hoping that someone out there will know if I can tie into the tractor hyd. system.

 

[gordon]

First why not winch the timber out instead of putting the tractor in a already known stuck situation and a stuck tractor is of no use anyway sure can't skid any timber out if your tractor can't run through it empty.

Von had the right way to go a portable winch that way you could use it either on the front or the back depending on the situation and they make may different sizes of winches that could easily pull out the tractor just cost alittle more thats all.

Yes you could tie in a hydraulic winch on your tractors power beyond circiut on your loader. Now all you have to do is figure out how to mount it so it doesnt interfere with the loader subframe on the front and also get ripped off the first time you go to use it. You would have to check on the winch for the gpm needed to run the winch and you may not have enough without mounting an external pump or a pto pump. Hummm this is starting to get pretty expensive.

Just some ideas---I skid alot of timber and instead of putting the tractor in that situation I either build a skid trail or winch the timber up to a safer position. There are times that I've hired a skidder after I've cut the timber becuse building up a trail would have taken too much time and that way if he got stuck so be it!!! Also saved alot of unneeded wear and tear on my tractor.

Cool plane--they really let you fly that and get paid too?
The buses in the background caught my eye some nice pocket jingle there to say the least.

Gordon

 

[Hawgee]

http://www.aone.com/~robert/homepage.html

Fellow Razorback, check out the page above and look for heavy metal or rigging. You will see the many ways we have moved "anything" in these parts for years. An excellent site to research in the fall and winter months when weather is bad.
The way you choose will depend on money and how free you want the tractor to be. We have an old winch that was hand cranked but could be powered by pto,hydraulics,electric. More than the 6000 to 8000 you may figure now. A little larger than a wheelbarrow. Cabled to stump or anything, you could skid, drag, lift the unforseen. Leaving that tractor to be an extension to your arms.

"What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered."
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

 

[Von]

I think Harbor freight has a 10 ton portable winch that is 12V. for under $200 that might work. It only has 50 ft. of 1/4" cable, but you might be able to add more.

Von

 

[FlynG]

Hey Gordon,

I really like the idea of a portable. Just not real happy lugging one around in the mud to use. We aren't skidding timber for harvest. Just trying to keep fourwheeler/boat trails open enough to use. This is just summer maintenance for a duck club. We may end up with a little dozer or just hire it out anyway. But I kind of like the challenge of it.

I think most of the hydrolic winches for 4x4 are using the power steering pump for power. If that is so a tractor system should be about double the gpm and pressure. Space up front maybe be a problem. There are usually lots of holes up there to mount to though. Getting a mount made hasn't really worried me. I'm just not sure if the winch will adapt to the trator's hydrolic pressure.

We were riding the fourwheelers out there a couple of weeks ago measuring out a duck blind site. A person who scared of snakes sure doesn't want to be out there! I saw six different water moccasins! /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

 

[richardh]

Here's another idea. Have you considered using a Lewis Portable Winch? These attach to the power head of a chain saw and can be used for pulling without 12V or hydraulic power. I think Ben Meadows or Forestry Suppliers sells these units.

 

[gordon]

Sorry I thought you were logging a plot of land not clearing trails.

As far as gpm goes you can always put an inline flow limiter if the winch spins too fast. Your better off to have too many gpm and have to restrict it rather than not enough for the winch to run properly. As far as pressure goes there should be a rating on the winch if it will take the pressure--it should but I'm guessing on this or should I say assuming and you know what can happen when you assume.

I can relate to it being more fun or should I say more appealing to say I did that when your done with all that mud slinging!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Gordon