3 point hitch lifting/pulling concerns

[yanmars]

I have a Cat I MFWD 45 horsepower tractor. I was asked to help skid heavy logs up muddy, fairly steep hills. A real struggle as the tires mud up quickly and it is a slippery mess and traction is lost often.
Anyways I put a steel cross bar that fits in the two lower units of the 3 point hitch. The arms on those are about 5/8 thick steel. Logs are chained to the cross bar to lift and then I pull the logs. Concerned that may cause too much strain on the 3 point hitch system as it was designed more for bush hog mowers etc, not heavy lifting and pulling.
I do have a bar I slide into
a low receiver type opening that appears would be more substantial to pull on and with except that has no lifting capability so the entire log for the most part would have to dragged in the mud as opposed to just the end if it could be lifted in part above the mud.
I thought I read recently somewhere on this TractorbyNet site about not using the 3 point for such work. If one remembers they could direct me to is by name and date. Otherwise ideas would be welcome. May have to wait until it freezes or is drier next year. Also my brother has offered his skid steer but unsure that will work with skid steer tires under the conditions above. Thoughts and ideas are welcome. May have to rent a bigger or different type of equipment?

 

[i7win7]

skid heavy logs up muddy, fairly steep hills.

$$$ a skidding winch
$$ a log arch - has wheels & lifts front of log
$ ladder, chain and snatch block. Use ladder & chain to mount snatch block high in tree at crest of hill, pulls log above the ground, reattach rope or chain to log & 3pt to pull log out of woods

 

[CalG]

Run a chain to the draw bar to do the pulling. "Lift with the tool bar, pull with the draw bar."

Gan'pa taught me right!

 

[Roadworthy]

I don't know about pulling with the three point but however you pull be sure the connection to the tractor is below the centerline of the rear axle. You do NOT want to be doing a wheelie going up a hill. That's a recipe for disaster.

 

[CalG]

Take a look here

Pincher Turns Tractor Into Log Skidder

Tom Repko has the ideal attachment to turn your tractor into a log skidder. The mechanical engineer and woodlot owner developed the 3-pt. hitch skidder to harvest firewood and thin Douglas fir trees o...

www.farmshow.com

The lifting and the pulling are two different systems.

 

[jeff9366]

I put a steel cross bar that fits in the two lower units of the 3 point hitch. The arms on those are about 5/8 thick steel. Logs are chained to the cross bar to lift and then I pull the logs. Concerned that may cause too much strain on the 3 point hitch system as TPH was designed more for bush hog mowers etc, not heavy lifting and pulling.

The steel cross bar is known as a CROSS DRAWBAR. They are made of mild steel, so they will bend, rather than snap, if overstressed. In timber work, you rarely encounter a straight CROSS DRAWBAR.

The CROSS DRAWBAR has two advantages: 1) It lifts one end of a timber, reducing friction over most of its length when pulled. 2) It lifts one end of a timber so that the timber is LESS likely hang up on a rock, root or a burrow, instantly pulling tractor up onto its rear wheels, especially pulling tractor loads uphill. (I have personally experienced this, skidding logs over flat ground with a REAR/CENTER DRAWBAR attached to a Deere 750.)

MORE: 3-Point Hitch - Tractor Three Point Hitch CROSS-DRAWBARS


TPH was designed more for bush hog mowers etc, not heavy lifting and pulling.

Tractors are designed to PULL over level ground.



a low receiver type opening that appears would be more substantial to pull on and with except that has no lifting capability so the entire log for the most part would have to dragged in the mud as opposed to just the end if it could be lifted in part above the mud.

The rectangular attachment which fits into this receiver hitch is known as a REAR/CENTER DRAWBAR. Receiver is attached directly to the tractor frame. Attached load is pulled at or below level of the rear axle. This is the correct point at which to attach heavy towed loads.
Tow slow so that the timber will not hang up on a rock, root or a burrow, instantly pulling tractor up onto its rear wheels, especially pulling tractor loads uphill.

MORE: Rear/Center Tractor Drawbar // USE TODAY


One reasonably SAFE way to skid logs up a slope is using a Three Point Hitch, PTO-powered log-skidding-winch. The tractor remains on flat, unchurned ground at the top of the slope.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=COMPACT+TRACTOR+LOG+SKIDDING+WINCH




I was asked to help skid heavy logs up muddy, fairly steep hills.

You cannot enjoy a tractor if you are dead.

 

[timbatrader]

pulling uphill is hard I use a long steel cable and a snatch block at the top of the hill so the tractor is pulling downhill while the log is going up the hill. Some times I pull all the logs to staging point half way and then move the snatch block to a higher location doing it this way I get logs up hills that the tractor can only just make it up unloaded without pulling anything it sounds like a lot of work stropping unstropping etc but it works effortlessly and in the long run is much easier for me

 

[Cycledude]

I have skidded lots of wood using the 3 point in the raised position and it works great ! But yes you do need to be careful about lifting the front end sometimes, it has never caused me any significant problems. A little common sense is probably the most important part.

 

[LD1]

Lifting AND pulling with the 3ph really don't pose a danger to the 3ph. The 3ph is made to handle whatever the tractor can pull. Think of plows in the ground, or rippers, or a rear blade

However the concern is a backflip. Mad worse by pulling up a hill. You need a significant amount of front weight. Like a loader. But still risky going up a steep hill

 

[Egon]

I have skidded lots of wood using the 3 point in the raised position and it works great ! But yes you do need to be careful about lifting the front end sometimes, it has never caused me any significant problems. A little common sense is probably the most important part.

Add a load into the bucket and it helps keep the front end down.

 

[Egon]

Lifting AND pulling with the 3ph really don't pose a danger to the 3ph. The 3ph is made to handle whatever the tractor can pull. Think of plows in the ground, or rippers, or a rear blade

However the concern is a backflip. Mad worse by pulling up a hill. You need a significant amount of front weight. Like a loader. But still risky going up a steep hill

Yes, the three point will be designed to handle the tractors pulling power.

Using the three point to lift and pull will give a lot more traction. Adding weight to the bucket will help keep it down and helps the front wheel traction and steering ability. As stated it could result in a backflip if the operator isn’t aware of what could happen and keep the situation from happening.

 

[yanmars]

Just ordered the "pincher" system. No price increase since 2015 but it is coming. Should help out but still the muddy, slick issues. Thanks for the comments.

 

[PILOON]

I DIY'd a device that works quite well.

I obtained a highway guard rail curved end piece and welded a low attachment point for pulling and made provisions to firmly hold the end of my log onto it.

It is like having an oversized ski tip under that log end.

Face it, most logging snags are caused by the pulled end digging in or snagging onto something like a rock or root.

I also only pull with the tow point meant to do this (not my 3 point)

 

[IH2424]

I have a Cat I MFWD 45 horsepower tractor. I was asked to help skid heavy logs up muddy, fairly steep hills. A real struggle as the tires mud up quickly and it is a slippery mess and traction is lost often.
Anyways I put a steel cross bar that fits in the two lower units of the 3 point hitch. The arms on those are about 5/8 thick steel. Logs are chained to the cross bar to lift and then I pull the logs. Concerned that may cause too much strain on the 3 point hitch system as it was designed more for bush hog mowers etc, not heavy lifting and pulling.
I do have a bar I slide into
a low receiver type opening that appears would be more substantial to pull on and with except that has no lifting capability so the entire log for the most part would have to dragged in the mud as opposed to just the end if it could be lifted in part above the mud.
I thought I read recently somewhere on this TractorbyNet site about not using the 3 point for such work. If one remembers they could direct me to is by name and date. Otherwise ideas would be welcome. May have to wait until it freezes or is drier next year. Also my brother has offered his skid steer but unsure that will work with skid steer tires under the conditions above. Thoughts and ideas are welcome. May have to rent a bigger or different type of equipment?

I have a Cat I MFWD 45 horsepower tractor. I was asked to help skid heavy logs up muddy, fairly steep hills. A real struggle as the tires mud up quickly and it is a slippery mess and traction is lost often.
Anyways I put a steel cross bar that fits in the two lower units of the 3 point hitch. The arms on those are about 5/8 thick steel. Logs are chained to the cross bar to lift and then I pull the logs. Concerned that may cause too much strain on the 3 point hitch system as it was designed more for bush hog mowers etc, not heavy lifting and pulling.
I do have a bar I slide into
a low receiver type opening that appears would be more substantial to pull on and with except that has no lifting capability so the entire log for the most part would have to dragged in the mud as opposed to just the end if it could be lifted in part above the mud.
I thought I read recently somewhere on this TractorbyNet site about not using the 3 point for such work. If one remembers they could direct me to is by name and date. Otherwise ideas would be welcome. May have to wait until it freezes or is drier next year. Also my brother has offered his skid steer but unsure that will work with skid steer tires under the conditions above. Thoughts and ideas are welcome. May have to rent a bigger or different type of equipment?

I have skidded logs for many years with the 3 pt, but I am using a 35 HP 5,500 lb 1960's farm tractor. As all noted, you need weight on the front to keep it down. You had better get a good set of rear tire chains to deal with the mud. I use double rings on my tractor - they seem to be best in the snow and seem to self clean somewhat in the mud. In your case tractor weight is probably more important than HP. Regardless, skidding logs up any kind of incline is difficult and can be dangerous. Be careful and good luck

 

[FERLING]

I have a Cat I MFWD 45 horsepower tractor. I was asked to help skid heavy logs up muddy, fairly steep hills. A real struggle as the tires mud up quickly and it is a slippery mess and traction is lost often.
Anyways I put a steel cross bar that fits in the two lower units of the 3 point hitch. The arms on those are about 5/8 thick steel. Logs are chained to the cross bar to lift and then I pull the logs. Concerned that may cause too much strain on the 3 point hitch system as it was designed more for bush hog mowers etc, not heavy lifting and pulling.
I do have a bar I slide into
a low receiver type opening that appears would be more substantial to pull on and with except that has no lifting capability so the entire log for the most part would have to dragged in the mud as opposed to just the end if it could be lifted in part above the mud.
I thought I read recently somewhere on this TractorbyNet site about not using the 3 point for such work. If one remembers they could direct me to is by name and date. Otherwise ideas would be welcome. May have to wait until it freezes or is drier next year. Also my brother has offered his skid steer but unsure that will work with skid steer tires under the conditions above. Thoughts and ideas are welcome. May have to rent a bigger or different type of equipment?

Red is cable and blue is snatch block. Put your tractor on solid ground and run cable allowing snatch blocks to guide the direction you want the log to travel.

 

[marhar]

Take a look here

Pincher Turns Tractor Into Log Skidder

Tom Repko has the ideal attachment to turn your tractor into a log skidder. The mechanical engineer and woodlot owner developed the 3-pt. hitch skidder to harvest firewood and thin Douglas fir trees o...

www.farmshow.com

The lifting and the pulling are two different systems.

That is a nice attachment. First time I have seen one.

 

[oosik]

Maybe it's because my ancient Ponderosa pines are so large. I've used a log arch attached to the draw bar. No mud nor steep slopes here. Worked well.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

A 3pt will drag a plow through the earth until the tractor stalls or loses traction. I don’t think skidding logs will surpass that, will it? Based on the conditions you describe... loss of traction will happen well before damage.

 

[LD1]

A 3pt will drag a plow through the earth until the tractor stalls or loses traction. I don’t think skidding logs will surpass that, will it? Based on the conditions you describe... loss of traction will happen well before damage.

Agree. 3PH is made for pulling. Just have to be mindful of the real possibility of a backflip

 

[CobyRupert]

Use a cross drawbar. Put a clevis on it so that you’re always pulling on the drawbar with its holes facing up, and not trying to bend it along its thin dimension.

Lifting end of log keeps log cleaner, drags easier, prevents log hanging up on something, and gives tractor more traction (weight).

Be very very careful if 3pth is raised above rear axle. This will enable front end to pop up dangerously way more than you want if logs stop sliding and you still have traction.
By pulling from a point that’s below rear axle, front end is more likely to be limited in how high it will go.
Weight is your friend.