Advice for skidding logs.

[dangerdoc]

I have a number of large oaks that have died. Unfortunately, it is on a rugged part of the property and all of the dead trees are leaning over gulleys that are 10-15 feet deep. They are all more than 2 ft in diameter

Last year, I dropped one and then sectioned it up into 6 foot lengths and pulled them out with the tractor.

It was a hard dirty job and unsafe on multiple levels. When sectioning it up, I had multi ton pieces of timber moving in unpredictable directions and it was all the tractor could do to pull them up and out. It involved getting the tractor near the edge, pulling to the point of getting tippy and trusting the chain and dirt not to give way.

I don't own a logging wench, all I have is the tractor, loader with grapple and three chains totalling about 50 ft.

I just priced logging winches and can't justify the price.

When I was younger, I would just cut them into 18 inch lengths and carry them out of the ravine, I just don't have the stamina or knees to carry 150 pounds out of a gulley any more.

What I did with the tractor felt unsafe and I am looking for a smarter way to get the job done.

 

[beenthere]

There are capstan winches that will take many feet of strong rope, and move quite a good size log slowly, but surely. Some fit onto a chainsaw motor in place of the bar and chain. Others just have a small dedicated gas engine. If that is of interest.

I'd at least get some cable to stretch out to get the tractor on safe ground, that will run through a snatch block to help with direction, and use that rigging to attach to your tractor (what tractor we talking about ? ).

Or one trick, is to cut the wood into firewood lengths, rig a handle (like an old push mower handle) with lag screws in the ends of the log, and "wheel" it out - rolling the log along the ground. A lot of walking out of the gulley, but whatever works.

A PTO winch from Surplus Center might be reasonable way to go.

 

[First one]

www.forestryforum.com
This is a site that a friend told me about . Don't know if you have checked it out before ,but you may get some good info. Scott

 

[dave1949]

You might be able to get them to fall parallel to the gulley. Even a tree with a good lean might fall 'sideways' on its heavy side if you make your cuts there. For every one that fell to the side instead of over the gulley, it would be easier at least.

I hear ya on carrying that wood up hill.
Dave.

 

[trek5900]

Sometimes it is wise to move on to safer to gather wood. There is no good reason to risk your life and limb or risk damage to your equipment. From the looks of your signature picture there is plenty of other wood to harvest. I have 38 acres of woods with a deep ravine going thru it. I have no problem leaving dead trees for the insects and birds.
Be safe.

 

[MarkV]

I would get some wire rope, like winch cable, and use a pulley,snatch block, so you can pull out of the ravin at an angle. Much safer to me than the risk of ending up in the ravin we the tractor.

MarkV

 

[MMagis]

At the very least, get more chain (or cable). I'm guessing things will go much smoother (and much safer) if you can get away from the steep edge.

 

[studor]

+1 on more chain,wire rope etc and a snatch block with a couple of tree straps. I too have ravines on my property and the ridge above them is not at all smooth either . I have to use enough rigging to keep the tractor somewhere on reasonably level ground and maintain traction. I often block from another tree to pull logs to where I can then pull them out of the ravine. If it looks too dangerous or like too much work, I have a new cavity tree for wildlife

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Having plenty of cable and chains could help. If you have any standing tree's that you can run a snatch block pulley as high as possible. Strong climbers rope could work if you don't stress it too much. Then come back down to another ground level anchored snatch block. Then off to your tractor or vehicle. Always always be careful of breaking ropes, chains or cables. I wouldn't try dragging uphill too large of pieces. If you can get an observer to guide and watch from a safe distance as you are pulling incase the log or rounds get hung up. I tried to use Word to draw up a really really basic outline. So don't laugh too much. Ok well after doing a hand drawing and then putting it on my scanner the picture keeps showing up as the tractor going straight up. For some reason it won't rotate to horizontal. Let's pretend the tractor is on flat ground

 

[beenthere]

No need to laugh. It was a good drawing.

 

[Danno1]

.

Why can't the trees be rigged up to fall against the lean onto the flat land above the gully?

I did this w some large pines overhanging my brother's barn some years ago w just muscle power, snatch blocks, and rope.


.

 

[CharlieR]

I'd go with Beenthere's suggestion of a capstabn winch.
Bought mine from Simpson "http://www.capstanropewinch.com/" and added an engine from an old saw that had a messed up bar and chain (didn't need those).
Bought a skidding cone from NovaJack "http://www.novajack.com/en/0600.htm" which makes the logs slide around stuff in the woods, a corner block and an automatic release.
This whole rig straps to a tree or stump and can really pull quite a load - but - slowly and safely.
Because it uses rope you can have quite a bit of line out, couple hundred feet if needed.

 

[dangerdoc]

Has anybody used a truck winch connected to the front of a tractor? The price is much better. It would be slow going but there are units rated similar to the PTO winch for maximum poundage at the price of much slower speed.

If it would work, I would be happy to trade time for safety.

I have a lot of trees, unfortunately, a previous owner cleared the property with a dozer about 40 years ago. I have a section of old oaks, the rest is fairly small hedge, thorn locust and walnut. I don't really want to burn walnut for firewood. The hedge burns hot but would require cutting a lot of small trees for wood, and the thorn locust fights back. Some sort of blight has killed almost all of the big old oaks. I have been heating my house with dead trees for the last 5 years but I've already used all of the dead trees that were easy to get to.

I have always been able to heat my house with dead or damaged trees. If I can't get these oaks out safely, I'm going to have to start taking live trees that don't need to be cut for any other reason. It may sound silly but I like trees and don't like cutting down healthy ones unless I am opening up a trail.

I may need to talk to my neighbor, there are two very large trees down on the other side of the property line. Easy to get to from my side but on the other side of a ravine for him. I would let him on my property to cut them but it would be a 5 mile drive to get from his property to mine on the county roads. I have not met him yet, but I may have to introduce myself and see what he would want for the wood. There is probably 3, maybe 4 cords of good oak lying there.

Below is a picture of last years wood pile all split with the maul leaning against the stack.

 

[dangerdoc]

.

Why can't the trees be rigged up to fall against the lean onto the flat land above the gully?

I did this w some large pines overhanging my brother's barn some years ago w just muscle power, snatch blocks, and rope.


.

I'll see if I can post some pictures but the area is rugged, there are limited approaches and the trees are heavy enough to flip a tractor on the way down.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

I'll see if I can post some pictures but the area is rugged, there are limited approaches and the trees are heavy enough to flip a tractor on the way down.

Gravity usually wins. Better to be safe than sorry. Depending on weighting of the branches you can fall up hill if you know how to cut them. Then of course there is the chance of them sliding down hill and taking you out..

 

[MarkV]

Has anybody used a truck winch connected to the front of a tractor? The price is much better. It would be slow going but there are units rated similar to the PTO winch for maximum poundage at the price of much slower speed.

If it would work, I would be happy to trade time for safety.

I think what you will find, if thinking electric winch, is that compact tractors do not have the alternator output to support an electric winch for even limited logging situations. Even with the higher output alternators offered as options on some models an electric winch really eats up the juice. If you are thinking hydraulic winch there are possibilities with the proper plumbing.

MarkV

 

[dangerdoc]

I think what you will find, if thinking electric winch, is that compact tractors do not have the alternator output to support an electric winch for even limited logging situations. Even with the higher output alternators offered as options on some models an electric winch really eats up the juice. If you are thinking hydraulic winch there are possibilities with the proper plumbing.

MarkV

I wasn't thinking hydraulic but I do have a grapple hooked up, not quite the perfect plumbing but probably workable.

I have a Kubota M5400, I don't really know what the alternator output would be but that is a good point.

Honestly I'm hoping for a very strong uphill wind storm.

 

[LogChain]

Dangerdoc,

Although impressive, your panoramic picture of last year's woodpile in post #13 seems to show some signs of digital enhancement--at least two of the stitched pictures appear to be duplicates.

Is this one of those "man things" ?


- LogChain

 

[beenthere]

LogChain
About 2' of the pile is all that I see duped. Still a respectable pile of wood. Guess there is only one house in the background.