Just picked up a Valby 3pt log grapple

[MossflowerWoods]

Pclausen,

When I grow up I want to be JUST LIKE YOU!!!!!

That is an awesome series of ACTION shots! Rocking & rolling!

Be well,
David

 

[Bob77064]

Great pics, that grapple is fine.

 

[Zebrafive]

For as much log hauling as you will be doing, I rig up some metal stakes on the trailer and really load it up.

 

[crazyal]

It's always nice when a purchase exceeds your expectations. Your land looks pretty flat one technique a neighbor uses with a similar setup is to cut the tree and then use the grapple to drag it out of the brush to limb and top them. Around here we have ledge on the side of a hill making it hard to get to the top at times.

 

[EddieWalker]

Thanks for sharing. That looks like a very impressive combination of tools to get logs and debris to where you want them. I'm still using the chaing method for anything too big for my grapple.

Eddie

 

[pclausen]

For as much log hauling as you will be doing, I rig up some metal stakes on the trailer and really load it up.

I thought about that but can't figure out how to make something strong enough to hold the logs. There will be a huge amount of outward pressure. I think I would have to have someone weld together 2 large "U"s for me that had triangular braces welded into the corners to handle the stress. The load I took over this morning was a little over 11,800 lbs, or almost 6 tons.

The trailer is rated at 7 tons, or 14,000 lbs. If you add 25% to be carried over the truck axle, the capacity jumps to 17,500 lbs, but then you have to subtract the weight of the empty trailer, which is 4,800, so you're back to 12,700 again. I'm ok with going over to say carrying a full 7 ton payload, which I think I can do if I load all the big ones at the bottom. Much over 7 ton payload is probably pushing the capacity of both the truck and trailer.

I tipped the scale at an even 24,000 lbs pulling into the yard this morning. A full 7 ton payload would take me to 26,000 lbs, which I believe is the max I would want to be on a public road with, without a CDL. Guy at the yard did say the cops sometime would hang out there and bust trucks that were over, but hopefully they are not looking for guys like me with a regular truck.

 

[Zebrafive]

How full was a 7 ton load? I did not mean to advocate overloading your trailer.

 

[jpm1]

Really a nice looking piece of equipment. My logging career started with an old JD 440 skidder and dragging a cable hauling for two cutters. After a couple of hard months i switched to a Cat skidder with a grapple, man i was i love. It makes live so much easier especially on the body. I'm out of the wood business now only cutting for our two households and have a Farmi winch, but if i were to get into firewood again that would be the piece i would invest in. As far as i'm concerned wise move! . . .John

 

[pclausen]

Wow, now that's a real skidder! Looks like you had plenty of mud to deal with too! That would have sucked if you had to go rehook a log or something. With the grapple, you do it all from the seat.

Zebra, this is my first load which was 9,560 lbs:

And here's the load I dropped off this morning, which was 11,480 lbs:

So just a few more good sized logs would have taken me to 14,000 lbs I would think. I do want to get a pair of longer straps through. I'm currently using 2 6ft straps tied together on each end. They are easy enough to undo, but its a pain to strap down as I have to climb up on the load to connect the to end together and then keep tension on them so they don't come apart until I get the other side tried down to the trailer.

Here's the guy unloading the logs:

And my weigh out ticket:

I'm pretty impressed they pay $38/ton for everything, even the skinny top sections. That's way better than the $2/ton a logger I had clear out some of my land last year paid me for pulp wood. Of course he did all the labor.

 

[Duffster]

I tipped the scale at an even 24,000 lbs pulling into the yard this morning. A full 7 ton payload would take me to 26,000 lbs, which I believe is the max I would want to be on a public road with, without a CDL. Guy at the yard did say the cops sometime would hang out there and bust trucks that were over, but hopefully they are not looking for guys like me with a regular truck.

What is the GVWR of the truck?

You are likely already over CDL even empty.

 

[avc8130]

You did all that work for $218.12?

That is an awful lot of equipment, fuel and time to generate $218.

ac

 

[Zebrafive]

Thanks for the loaded picture. Weight was more than I expected. I was thinking you could haul double the number of logs before you got to 7 tons.
Definately get longer straps. Might want to get 4" wide ones like the trucker use.

 

[pclausen]

You did all that work for $218.12?

That is an awful lot of equipment, fuel and time to generate $218.

Well, I figure I burn 3 gallons of diesel taking a load to the mill (10 miles each way), so that $12. The tractor is operated maybe 30 minutes, so that's another 0.5 gallons, or $2. Chain saw oil and gas is maybe another $2. So fuel cost total is $14 or so to cut and limb 4 trees. I'm guessing it takes me about 2 hours of time, plus 30 minutes to make the round trip to the mill. Assuming I start taking full 7 ton loads, my net pay after fuel is $252, or about $100/hr. If I was was to time myself, it probably takes me more than 2 hours to do 4 trees, but even it it took me 4 hours, that still $50/hr.

 

[murphy1244]

Well, I figure I burn 3 gallons of diesel taking a load to the mill (10 miles each way), so that $12. The tractor is operated maybe 30 minutes, so that's another 0.5 gallons, or $2. Chain saw oil and gas is maybe another $2. So fuel cost total is $14 or so to cut and limb 4 trees. I'm guessing it takes me about 2 hours of time, plus 30 minutes to make the round trip to the mill. Assuming I start taking full 7 ton loads, my net pay after fuel is $252, or about $100/hr. If I was was to time myself, it probably takes me more than 2 hours to do 4 trees, but even it it took me 4 hours, that still $50/hr.

You didn't add your expensive toys....

 

[1GB]

Well, I figure I burn 3 gallons of diesel taking a load to the mill (10 miles each way), so that $12. The tractor is operated maybe 30 minutes, so that's another 0.5 gallons, or $2. Chain saw oil and gas is maybe another $2. So fuel cost total is $14 or so to cut and limb 4 trees. I'm guessing it takes me about 2 hours of time, plus 30 minutes to make the round trip to the mill. Assuming I start taking full 7 ton loads, my net pay after fuel is $252, or about $100/hr. If I was was to time myself, it probably takes me more than 2 hours to do 4 trees, but even it it took me 4 hours, that still $50/hr.

That's a pretty good rate if you've received your truck, trailer, tractor, and attachments for free. You failed to take into consideration any cost/depreciation on your equipment and "wear and tear".

Considering you're also trying to clear land though, I understand why it's worth it to you, even if you're not making $50/hour.

 

[pclausen]

That's true. If I factored in the equipment cost, I would barely break even, but that is a sunk cost at this point. Truck, trailer and attachments are all paid for, but yes, that is a good point. And there is certainly the wear and tear part as well. I'm trying to have the land cleared by early January so that they can begin excavating for the new house. I'll likely need to hire a couple of hands to run chainsaws to meet that date I'm pretty sure.

 

[Zebrafive]

If I were close, I'd help just to get to run that big tractor.

 

[Zebrafive]

As a non farmer, if I had to justify the equipment cost, fuel and my time I would NOT be able to have a tractor, equipment, or the fuel I use.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

pclausen,

Is $38/ton for pulp? Chipping saw? Saw Timber?

You've got some big trees, and you should be getting premium $$ for the big ones...

I use Mid-Atlantic Tree Harvester's for my logging. They are a good bunch, clean and pay well and timely. Ask for Frankie Johnson... He is my guy, PM me and I'll give you his cell number...

Be well,
David

 

[daugen]

If I were close, I'd help just to get to run that big tractor.

Forget it, I already got there first...:dance1:

Foresty equipment is pretty neat.
when you have the right tool for the job, it's usually safer
on the operator. I'm just starting to clear out falldown trees in a fair amount of hilly woods and
have a grapple in the front, which has worked well. But as you well know, you have to cut the log and then get the tractor to the log, and sometimes that's
really hard with dense woods or rocky terrain. Unsafe too. Seems better to use a winch, or an extra long tow rope, and then at least get one end off the ground and drag it to a
truck or processing spot.

Nice setup, looks like a powerful solution.