Cheap way to haul logs

[johnk]

I picked up a drawbar and a Clevis hook @ TSC today. My skidding tongs should be here tomorrow. I'm going to hook the tongs to the hook and away I go. Don't need a drawbar lock or Top link. Just pick it up and go. I hope. What do you think??

 

[Deerlope]

You just be sure that you got that seat belt on.

 

[MossRoad]

I picked up a drawbar and a Clevis hook @ TSC today. My skidding tongs should be here tomorrow. I'm going to hook the tongs to the hook and away I go. Don't need a drawbar lock or Top link. Just pick it up and go. I hope. What do you think??

Sounds dangerous. A drawbar like that isn't meant for that task. If you are going to skid logs cheaply, you should attach a chain to the tongs and the other end to the swinging drawbar. The swinging drawbar is attached to your tractor frame BELOW the centerline of the rear axle and is meant for pulling.

Not convinced??? Check out this website that has LOTS of pictures and videos of tractor roll over tests. Of particular interest and most relevant to this topic, are these videos...

Correct hitching practice
and
Incorrect hitching practice (with no seatbelt goodness).

 

[mjarrels]

1. Rule number one... always pull from the drawbar.

2. Rule number two... see rule number one.

3. Those are ok to move a trailer around but not for heavy pulling.

mark

 

[gordon21]

The last link in Mossroads post couldn't have shown it any better. That is exactly what will happen if your log hits something or digs into the ground. 3 seconds is all that it takes to go from Ok to dead. A big log caught on something solid will have the same effect as the chain holding the tractor.

Thank goodness they used a manican for that demo. The poor dummy even broke his right leg falling back.

 

[JC-jetro]

Keep the log as low as possible to the ground and drive SLOW.

If you lift the log and carry it high, you make the potential flip happen even faster. As you flip, the log is not securely attached to the tractor and will not prevent the tractor from flipping. Think of a rotary mower that is attached to the back. If you could somehow start to flip, the solidly attached mower would quickly prevent any further rotation around the rear axle.

Going uphill dragging a log will be more dangerous that going downhill. Going uphill means that your front wheels are already higher than the back to begin with.

Great points. Unfortunately I do not have ROPS on my tractor so I tried to improvise.For starter I always pull from draw bar hitch point which is lowest point and the most stout to pull with.I also carry my carry all and keep it 10 inches or so above the floorn and keep the spped nice and slow ready to clutch and let go of gas. I reckon that may stop should tractor decides to do a back flip. I hope I'm okay with my thinking being first tractor owner and pretty green.

 

[gordon21]

JohnK: Keep the loader on and have it full of dirt or bags of concrete for front ballast. That 1500# way out in front of the rear axle will help.

 

[johnk]

I pull 1000 pound trunks with my quad and skidder... This is a much smaller one but you get the idea. I want to use my tractor to get it off the ground and keep the mud off the trunks as much as I can. Common sense plays a big part here. I'm not going 10MPH through the woods......

 

[kwolfe]

I would say as long as you take it slow and have your foot ready to take off the gas, you should be OK. Paying attention plays a lot here. I watched the videos. Good information, however I cannot see myself keeping my foot on the gas if the frnot of the tractor is off the ground.

 

[schmism]

rig up 2 set of chain.

one to lift it in the air from the 3pt.

and a second to pull from the draw bar. That should allow you to pick the log up easly but still pull from the low point on the tractor.

 

[BTDT]

One thing I might mention here is pulling a log that size with a 4wheeler, if the log starts going to the downhill side (a log will roll down the slope), it might be enought to pull the 4wheeler over the edge also (especially if it is muddy). Does this make me a member of the "safety police"?

 

[MossRoad]

Does this make me a member of the "safety police"?

Eggzactly!

 

[johnk]

BTDT,
When I haul these logs down, I have a treeline on both sides so if the log starts sliding sideways it just glances off the trees and keeps it going straight. You're not acting like the safety police, you have common sense. Low and slow is the way to go when hauling logs. Anything can happen at anytime so complacency isn't an option. Now I sound like the safety police..

The attached pic looks very scary when you look at whats pulling the skidder. Especially if he has 1 brake....Don't know where I got the pic from...

 

[Slacker]

This worked really well for me. Cheapo 3pt 2" rcvr hitch and tongs.
The picture is misleading...the JD750 is huge, it just makes the log look small.[]

 

[johnk]

That tractor look like a mega machine. If those are the tongs I just got today they are too long for my 3 PT and your tractor is big. The ones I got from Northern open up to 33" and are 36" from the top of the 1 3/8 ring to the bottom of the tongs. That log looks like it weighs 20 pounds... Nice setup you have there. Do you do a lot of skidding??

 

[burnetma]

John,

You should hook that dog up to the logs. Looks like a pulling machine!

Mark

 

[johnk]

When he was younger I had a harness for him and I used to hook him to small tree trunks. The first time I hooked up the trunk he gave a little pull hesitated and looked back to see what was giving him the resistance.The little tail stub gave a wag and away he went... Thats what those dogs were bred for. They used to pull meat wagons and guard the butchers money. He's 10 yrs old now and slowed down. He is a great companion. Last time at the Vet he weighed 182 and is 31" to the shoulder. A little big for the breed but who cares. Sorry I got off track here...The one picture in the snow is when I took him rabbit hunting. Fantastic nose believe it or not...

 

[pat32rf]

Slacker- I have a sorta similar setup for my JD4300, except I can slide a 8000lb winch into the receiver as well. I haul the logs to the trail with the winch, then switch to a short chain with choker hook to lift and drag them out. Never thought of hydrostat as a safety feature but it sure gives precise control over speed when hauling. I leave the bucket(or forks) on the fel to pile the logs at the log dump. Always seem to loose traction before the front end starts to lift while skidding but our property has no flat areas so traction is always a factor, even with chains. As a result I seldom haul a log that my FEL won't lift. I have an old set of tongs that we found in the bush hanging on the porch wall but purely for decoration, I've never used them.

 

[elalexander]

Johnk. There is some really good "safety" information as well as safety points in this link. Keep the load low, go slow use the 3PH to lift just enough so you can pull from the bar under your machine. Skidding a log is much like pulling a trailer in so much as you can get it to go but!!!!! can you get it to whoa???? The weight of the vehicle to the size of the brakes on a 4 wheeler will most likly fail that test. Downhill, that log will most likly get you crushed. Your skid plate is a great idea to reduce "drag" on your machine but as someone mentioned what if!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The log starts to roll. You and the 4 wheeler will be flipped before you can yell help. Believe me, I am not being critical; you are on the right track and asking for ideas on this site is wonderful. Everyone is positive and willing to help people they have never met as well as share knowledge and information. It would make a great link if someone started a "near miss' discussion link. One in which we trade/share our bad experiences for the sole purpose of helping others learn from our mistakes and/or poor judgements. case in point: how many PTO powered "toys" have we seen with no gaurding on the jackshaft????????