Adding a "bumper" winch

[Mtsoxfan]

Does it make sense to attach a winch to a tractor to help act as a logger? I see HF has a 12k winch on sale and was thinking...
I don't have many logs to move, dozen or so, but they are on a slope I don't care to drive my tractor down. It is steep.

 

[old and tired]

Super slow, too short of a duty cycle and you need way more battery than your alternator can charge - over the years, this has been asked dozen times...

 

[seville009]

With your tractor at the top of the slope, maybe use long straps/chains to tie onto the log. Then back up as far as you can, stabilize the log, re-set the strap/chain and back up again. Just keep doing that until the log is at the top.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

Thank you both. I have the chains and straps to do so. I've only got 50 to 100 feet to drag. Would backing up hill be better to help prevent backflip? I'd still be fastening to drawbar.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

My though is to lift the larger logs, 15"+, onto smaller logs to act as rollers to assist.

 

[seville009]

Thank you both. I have the chains and straps to do so. I've only got 50 to 100 feet to drag. Would backing up hill be better to help prevent backflip? I'd still be fastening to drawbar.

yes - backing up is safer/more stable. Put an attachment on your 3 pt to add rear weight. If you hook the strap to the loader (that's what I would do), keep the loader as low as possible when actually dragging.

just go slow and low.....may take longer, but in the end it is safer.

 

[kenmbz]

I just use the winch to pull rounds to my splitter.
They are sooo slow, but a nice backsaver for me.

For moving trunks, drawbar and strap work fine, I need a better skid to put the butt on though....
Using the FEL I would be afraid of twisting it with a large tree, but as long as you can keep the butt from digging in or hitting an obstacle shouldn't be too bad.

 

[jaxs]

Hydraulic powered and pto driven winches are more suitable than 12 v on tractors. In addition to 12 v winch demanding more than most systems can furnish,hydraulic and pto are more powerful and offer multiple speeds. Skid plate or skid arch might be practical for occasional use and alow moving logs with atv and truck.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

If I only had an end piece of an alluminum guard rail...
That would be a great sled imho

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

My brother and I actually log for money. We use a skidder and a tractor. On the tractor we had a hydraulic grapple. Then I added a hydraulic tow truck winch. Then we bought a Farmi.

But in your case, just use chains. Cut a 3 link piece and put a hook on each end. That's the fastest way to take up your slack and get another bite. I pick up chain at pawn shops. Can't have too much chain.

 

[jaxs]

If I only had an end piece of an alluminum guard rail...
That would be a great sled imho

Check out the local recycle yard for something suitable.

 

[WranglerX]

As said before electric winches are not really compatible with tractor electrical system....

Have 10,000 lb winch on Jeep and have very large amp hour AGM battery and 100 amp alternator and winch can suck so much power from system in a few minutes of pulling, even with engine running it will suck battery down so low (around 8 volts) the Computer will fail and engine dies.... Electric winches are pretty much designed for the occasional "recover" and not really for extended usage.

IF you don't want commercial grade logging winch (hydraulic or PTO), think chains, and possibly log arch, skidding sled, if pulling from rear draw bar be sure it is below rear axle height, if you do not have any pulling rings/hooks on front for backup pulling add one to chassis... Not really keen on pulling with FEL....

 

[WranglerX]

If I only had an end piece of an alluminum guard rail...
That would be a great sled imho

Use Google Images and look up "log skidding sled" ... Many options...

log skidding sled - Google Search

 

[Mtsoxfan]

My brother and I actually log for money. We use a skidder and a tractor. On the tractor we had a hydraulic grapple. Then I added a hydraulic tow truck winch. Then we bought a Farmi.

But in your case, just use chains. Cut a 3 link piece and put a hook on each end. That's the fastest way to take up your slack and get another bite. I pick up chain at pawn shops. Can't have too much chain.

Thanks for the tip. I appreciate it.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

As said before electric winches are not really compatible with tractor electrical system....

Have 10,000 lb winch on Jeep and have very large amp hour AGM battery and 100 amp alternator and winch can suck so much power from system in a few minutes of pulling, even with engine running it will suck battery down so low (around 8 volts) the Computer will fail and engine dies.... Electric winches are pretty much designed for the occasional "recover" and not really for extended usage.

IF you don't want commercial grade logging winch (hydraulic or PTO), think chains, and possibly log arch, skidding sled, if pulling from rear draw bar be sure it is below rear axle height, if you do not have any pulling rings/hooks on front for backup pulling add one to chassis... Not really keen on pulling with FEL....

One thing I learned here is to not pull substantial weight with FEL. Thank you. My plan is to go low and on drawbar...

 

[LittleBill21]

I have the HF 12k winch, it pulls about 40 amps no load, a bit over 75 amps. half loaded. I believe run time is like 15 minutes on, 45 minutes off.

that said for light loads it doesn't get very hot, but it is slow for this type of work.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

The bottom of a plastic drum makes a good skidding cone. Cut it with a skill saw and cut a hole in the bottom for chain to pass through.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

The bottom of a plastic drum makes a good skidding cone. Cut it with a skill saw and cut a hole in the bottom for chain to pass through.

Thanks, I just saw that online. I do have a couple od drums, I could sacrifice one...
Most likely I will do that unless I run into a better option. Still early, as the snow is too deep to run tractor now. after this weekend of 50* temps and rain, may be a different story. Realistically, I will wait until snow is all gone, and pray for frezzing temps to harden ground again.

 

[ericm979]

You can extend your chains with one or more cables so you can pull from farther away where hopefully it's less steep. HF winch cables are about as cheap as you can get. You'll need a ferrule and cable clamps to make a loop on the end without the hook. This is what I did before I got a forestry winch.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I have the HF 12k winch, it pulls about 40 amps no load, a bit over 75 amps. half loaded. I believe run time is like 15 minutes on, 45 minutes off.

that said for light loads it doesn't get very hot, but it is slow for this type of work.

Better check your manual again, the duty cycle on the HF 12k winch is something like 45 SECONDS pulling and 15 minutes resting...

Pretty poor for trying to log with...

SR