Log lifter,drager skiderwhat ever you call it

[skeets]

Ok the season is upon us to start cutting for next years fire wood pile,, Some place I had seen heard dreamed someone had built a lifter drager skider what ever for a compact tractor. Yeah I know I could just knock trees down and the cutem up and bring in the little trailer and so on and so on. But in this case I dont have that kind of time if I cut them I have to get the wood out cause they are going to build a home. some fairly large stuff maybe 24 to 28 inches in Dia, but mostly in the 10 to 16 inch range. And I though if I can long cut 12,14 feet long, I can knock a bunch down limb them and drag them home where I can work onthe wood as i can. I would like to keep the tractor end of the log off the ground I thinnk it would make draging it easyer,,

 

[Bulldog]

Look at this. I think it would be very handy for what you a talking about.

Wallenstein FX 65 skidding winch.

They have videos on there site and even use a Kubota tractor in them.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

There's a couple of different ways you can skid logs out of the woods and some of those are fairly cheap too. A fella on here posted some kind of handy dandy looking skidder he bought for the back oh his tractor and posted a picture in the "Album" section.

A cheaper idea is buy a boom pole and a pair of skidding tongs and drag logs out of the woods that way.

http//www.orangetractortalks.com/kubotagallery/?image=232

http://mower-blades.agrisupply.com/search#w=skidding tongs&asug=skidding

 

[Eric McCarthy]

YEAH at 3 to 4 thousand dollars for the skidder that Bulldog and I posted. I dont see that being justifiable to purchase uless your in the logging/forrestry business.

 

[Bulldog]

The cost would be hard to swallow but it sure would be handy to pull logs out of ruff places with.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

http://www.wallensteinofcalifornia.com/product_p/fx65.htm

Here's the full spec's

 

[gktilton]

A Logging Arch is what you need. A lot cheaper than a winch a lot safer than a boom pole.

http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/188220_med.gif

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200422217_200422217

There are some example on here, obviously get one made for a tractor.

 

[skeets]

This is so simple,,looks like it would work well too
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200335943_200335943

 

[gktilton]

My 2 concerns with this and a small tractor are:
* the lifting/pulling from the 3pt hitch/Top Link (lot of weight and it changes the pivot point leverage)
*You can't get the front of the log real high and if it binds on a rock you could be in trouble fast.

Another hundred and you could have this http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200356854_200356854 much safer and you could haul a lot larger logs.

 

[SockPuppet]

I've been looking at logging arches too and I've come across a few decent looking versions.

http://www.mistersawmill.com/toppage1.htm

http://www.logrite.com/mainarch.html

But what I really want is one of these:

http://www.wallensteinofcalifornia.com/product_p/lt40-fslash-lx100-fslash-l101.htm

 

[Marty394]

Last spring
i helped a friend drag some logs out to a clearing so he could get to the pile with his truck. What I did was to buy a clevis grab hook that would hook on the top hook of my harbor freight quick hitch. Then we used a short length of 3/8" chain around the log, hooked it to the top hook raised the three point, and drove away. I will say that there times that I wish I would've had a draw bar across the lower part of the quick hitch to keep the logs from coming forward. But there were also times that it was better without.

Bob

 

[bowtech40]

Check out www.quickattach.com, they have 3 different versions of skid attachments.

 

[CBMAMF5]

Hi

This setup is made by OMNI Manufacturing in MN. Good Luck!

 

[DJG]

This is so simple,,looks like it would work well too
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200335943_200335943

Hello Skeets:

Just like what you're looking at from Northern Tool, I've been using a simple hitch and chain setup but much less expensive. I think this one cost about $50. Works fine.

Check it out at:
www.redlandhill.com/index.html

I've got the handihitch and since I had the ball and hooks, just the steel frame was fairly cheap. Attached to the 3-pt hitch at the rear of my B7800, I've been able to lift and drag some really big logs. I also have a FEL and the weight of that helps keep the front wheels on the ground. Hope you have a ROPs too - more than handy, it's a lifesaver.

Good luck!


David

 

[Orange Turbo]

One thing to keep in mind when skidding the logs to be cut-up with a chain saw. The bark gets full of dirt and its rough on chains. I'll limb the log ware i drop the tree than pull/skid it up on a few short pieces (cross ways) to be cut. If i can get the tractor to it i can get trailer there.

 

[Piker]

Built one for my 1980 b7100 4wd (replaced last winter with a 2012 b2320) & it worked great, sold it with the tractor but built another for new Kubota. Used it to clear a building lot for a guy, cut & skidded out 10 cord of maple for firewood. Never once did it attempt to lift the front of the tractor. Ground was frozen with 6 or 8 inches of snow & that little tractor could go anywhere & hardly had to cut paths to skid on. Posted it here before but here are a couple of pics. Safety police need not respond.

 

[ShaunBlake]

...
I can knock a bunch down limb them and drag them home where I can work onthe wood as i can. I would like to keep the tractor end of the log off the ground I thinnk it would make draging it easyer,,

One thing to keep in mind when skidding the logs to be cut-up with a chain saw. The bark gets full of dirt and its rough on chains...

skeets, don't you have a 3PH? I've just slid a chain under one end of a log (usually the fat end, but doesn't really matter), lift the end up as high as the 3PH will go, and haul 'em out. Sometimes it takes several tries to get it choked up enough to lift clear of the ground, but I've pulled some 30' logs, about 18-20" or so, no issues at all!

Orange Turbo makes a good point about grabbing dirt: you will scrape up a bit. However, the distance I've hauled them hasn't added much dirt, and it was one narrow strip on the bottom. I was cutting firewood, so was making many more cuts than you would be doing cutting for lumber and timber.

But if you're worried about your chain getting a little wear, you might try the technique I accidentally discovered (which requires a quick hitch like the Titan QuickHitch I've added)

 

[jrichtha]

Ok the season is upon us to start cutting for next years fire wood pile,, Some place I had seen heard dreamed someone had built a lifter drager skider what ever for a compact tractor. Yeah I know I could just knock trees down and the cutem up and bring in the little trailer and so on and so on. But in this case I dont have that kind of time if I cut them I have to get the wood out cause they are going to build a home. some fairly large stuff maybe 24 to 28 inches in Dia, but mostly in the 10 to 16 inch range. And I though if I can long cut 12,14 feet long, I can knock a bunch down limb them and drag them home where I can work onthe wood as i can. I would like to keep the tractor end of the log off the ground I thinnk it would make draging it easyer,,

I make one for the compact tractor, trying to attach a picture but no luck.

 

[jrichtha]

[/attach]

i make one for the compact tractor, trying to attach a picture but no luck.

 

[coachgeo]

On the Unimogs set up for logging they have a blade that when you lower the rear 3pt it jams into the ground. When you winch it does not drag the vehicle. As it gets closer the log is pulled up onto the thing. Lift three point with the blade attached and it also lifts end of the tree's pulled up onto it. Drive away.

Granted a Unimog weighs a lot more. so this would take wise setup so Tractor won't flip backward rotating around this blade. Will aim to get pics vids later.