KUBOTA L3800 log trailer sizing

[eyi]

Hi all

Any thoughts on which log grapple trailer would perfectly fit my small 38 hp tractor size ? What are the metrics I have to look at, size, independant hydraulic, lifting capacity, weigth ?

I am at the beginning of the process, tough to see what I need.

Thanks

 

[nybirdman]

My concern would be the total weight pushing the tractor on a down hill.Logs get heavy real fast ,plus the weight of the trailer itself.

 

[eyi]

Very good point. I have some good slopes but I think I'm able to avoid them with this setup!

Thanks Nybirdman

 

[Oldoak]

My concern would be the total weight pushing the tractor on a down hill.Logs get heavy real fast ,plus the weight of the trailer itself.

Yep, I learned that lesson the hard way years ago. Thankfully it didn't end in a disaster.

I converted an old hay wagon to haul Red Oak tops cut for firewood. Coming down a rather steep grade on a logging road covered with leaves, the tractor couldn't hold back the weight and lost tractions. Long story short, as I was picking up speed and about to jump from the tractor, the tractor and wagon jackknifed and end up wedged against a couple of trees. And I got banged up a little.

Thankfully nothing was damaged accept the wagon tongue and my black and blue leg. We had to cut one of the trees down to free the tractor and used the neighbors J.D. 4020 to finish bringing the wagon load of wood down off the hill. Lesson learned and never forgotten.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Those Log Loader trailers look like the cats meow but every time I look at them I come to the same conclusion - a small tractor can only handle a small trailer. If I look at the loader and trailer specs on the smaller loader/trailers they are very disappointing - to me at least. Very short reach, very limited lift capability, and short trailer beds. I cut a lot of fir which is small wood. Mostly 10 and 12 foot logs with top end diameters from 6 to 14 inches on average and those smaller trailers don't seem like they could do the job. Maybe I am wrong !! Let me know. For the money I would want more capability than I need not less.

gg

 

[eyi]

Gordon,

I've read many of your posts, those are always very interesting. I always come back to this grapple log trailer but never pulled the trigger finally. And now...you're raising doubts once again !!

Problem is I don't have any valuable trailer for now. Yes i have pallet forks. Even if I had a trailer how could I load it with the forks while it is pined behind the tractor ? Or how could i pin it on the tractor while it is loaded with wood. It' s like if i needed 2 tractors and a trailer or....a grapple trailer ?

My feeling is the best kit would be a logging whinch to bring the logs in loading areas and a grapple trailer to bring them in a truck loading area ??

Am I wrong ? Is my tractor too small for it ?

Thanks for your time

 

[Gordon Gould]

Am I wrong ? Is my tractor too small for it ?

No you are not wrong !! I did not mean to discourage you. If I did I apologize. I was just voicing my opinion on my particular situation with the wood I cut, the terrain I work on, and the small tractor I have. I was just hoping that you would read my comments and that would cause you to double check that the trailer/loader you are interested in is big enough to handle your wood the way you want it to but it is not to big for your tractor operating on the terrain you have. They are a lot of money and to be dissatisfied would be a real bummer.

It really comes down to your set of expectations and the conditions you operate in, which I know nothing about. I do understand your predicament with loading a trailer with one tractor. It makes it difficult when you can't skid all the way out to a truck road.

gg

 

[nybirdman]

How about a "Farmi" type log winch and a grapple for the tractor to load trucks?

 

[eyi]

No worry about discouraging me, I'm here because I want others opinion and I respect them. In addition I appreciate people taking time to help others.

...that Farmi type whinch... this reminds me that's probably the first thing I should buy and see what I can accomplish with it. That's true I could skid logs and then load it with my forks. I probably should try it and see if I can work it out without the grapple log trailer.

 

[Gordon Gould]

That sounds like a good idea. Especially since you listed a winch as part of your tool kit.

gg

 

[motownbrowne]

You could buy a winch for your current tractor, then fab up a log trailer on a hay wagon running gear or a flatbed trailer. You could then purchase a piece of old iron like a big old JD or international tractor to pull the wagon. You'd still come in well under the price of a winch and log trailer I'd think. And when you get your Kubota stuck you'll have something to pull it out with.

 

[namesray]

I used a wallenstein log grapple trailer behind a kubota b7800 and b3200. It was the smaller of the wallenstein models. 9.5 foot reach and 800lbs lift. It had surge brakes and hydraulic slidding tandem axel. It would pick up 6ft to 10ft logs (up to 12ft if diameter was smaller). The trailer itself was build well. Both 3500lb tractors did "ok" with it loaded on steep Pennsylvania logging roads hauling about a "face cord". The brakes on trailer were what held it back from pushing the tractors out of control, so some sort of trailer brakes are a must if you on any steep roads.

here is my opinion on any smaller log grapple trailer. The wallenstein (canadian) was built real well. But. It was way too slow, too small, and a lot of extra work well beyond what it is worth to me. If you have time to mess around, then they will work. More like for someone who has all day to do something. Mine was way too small to be efficient in my fire wood business. I spent more time positioning the trailer to reach the logs, then due to short reach had to keep repositioning to get full load. All the time I spent monkeying around with that trailer, I could have just skidded twice as much to the landing. Now a large grapple trailer with long reach I could see being effective, but you ain't hauling that size behind a 38hp tractor. Maybe a 80hp tractor.

I understand you want one to load logs, and it will do that if you can afford one ( around $18000 usd at the cheap end) and provided you have the time to spend "monkeying" around with its time consuming loading and unloading tendancies.

I sold mine and glad I did. I just skid out with my 3ph winch now with my 50hp tractor. As a note, I do fight mud on my logs, but I perfer dealing with a little mud then going back to that grapple trailer. But that is me and my situation. Like I said, they will do what you want if you got the time and cash. Wallenstein makes a good one and I think there is a medivic brand as well both canadian. The wallenstein is built well and I think your 38hp tractor could handle the smaller one. Make sure it has brakes! Good luck with your decision and stay safe.

 

[eyi]

Well, there is something bringing me back to those trailers constantly but I never pulled the trigger on it yet. Each time I think about it and ask advices, I receive mixed feeling about it. It becomes obvious that:

- I need a winch to bring what it is I want out of the wood, and,

- something to bring this from the wood to wherever it needs to be. And this could be log trailer or something else ( maybe that same whinch ).

Assuming I am convinced, which I almost am, would my tractor be a good fit to skid logs with a whinch or its on the too small side again ?

Is skidding logs with a good winch with this tractor a safer project than using a log trailer that's probably to heavy ?

Thanks again

 

[Gordon Gould]

Assuming I am convinced, which I almost am, would my tractor be a good fit to skid logs with a whinch or its on the too small side again ?

Is skidding logs with a good winch with this tractor a safer project than using a log trailer that's probably to heavy ?

Thanks again

You have not told us how big your wood is. Is it 30" diameter hard maple or oak for saw logs or much smaller/lighter wood. It makes all the difference in weather your tractor is to small. To give you an example my tractor is about the same size as yours. Slightly less hp but heavy for it's size at 5000 lbs. Weight is your friend in the woods. I handle wood like this day in and day out.











Now here is some wood that I can or did handle but it is really to big for my tractor. If I was going to work this size wood all the time I would need a bigger tractor.










A to heavy trailer is definitely more dangerous in my opinion.

gg

 

[Rustyiron]

You could buy a winch for your current tractor, then fab up a log trailer on a hay wagon running gear or a flatbed trailer. You could then purchase a piece of old iron like a big old JD or international tractor to pull the wagon. You'd still come in well under the price of a winch and log trailer I'd think. And when you get your Kubota stuck you'll have something to pull it out with.

+1 ^^^

 

[eyi]

Thanks gentlemen,

Good material to chew and inspiring pictures !!

Regards,

 

[motownbrowne]

I agree with Gorgon about having too big of a log behind the winch being far preferable to having too large of a trailer. The log you can lower to the ground and it will slow down most of the time.

On the topic of using one tractor to load and then pull a trailer, I moved about 9 cords this winter that way. I have a 22' deckover trailer that i pulled down the road with my Kubota. I mounted a receiver hitch to my farmi 351. When I got to my destination, I chocked the wheels, then lowered the winch so the jack hit the ground. Then I loaded the trailer, and backed the ball under the hitch. Lift the winch, pull the chocks, and you're ready to go. Never had to mess with the jack. Did have to load the trailer carefully, though.

 

[eyi]

Impessive Motownbrowne.

Gordon, my logs are in the same size than your regular ones. I too have a few larger and many smaller but most are between 10 and 20 and inches soft wood.

 

[eyi]

And if I go with a winch, which of the Farmi 290 and 351 fits the best my L3800 ?

I had an opportunity for a used 351 but the guy decided to keep it, so I would go for a new one, so better buy the best fit. Any accessories to buy at the same time ?

Thanks again !!

 

[pekan]

Hi neighbour i have a Kioti CK35 and 3001 Igland winch and work pretty good. I have about the same size of tree on my wood lot . Igland winch is very simple to work with and easy to replace cable and pulling pads if needed. Do some little modification on it like a chain saw holder , trailer hitch, top pulley and if you buy a winch make sure you made you a self release pulley or buy one work very well and save you some precious time and step.... Now for your log loader and trailer am looking for one right now have a lot of guys around here who have that kind of set up for there sugar house and they love it..... do you check metavic and woody company in Quebec very nice log loader and trailer...:thumbsup::thumbsup: