Handling railroad ties

[MossRoad]

Those lifting tongs have no problems with standard telephone poles, so RR ties should be no problem. The only problem will be balancing the load so it hangs evenly. When moving, it'll tip back and forth. So just be careful when you lift and move near your truck or it could swing up or down and hit things. That's why a two-point lift with straps would be better. Or forks from the side. Or forks from the side at the back of the truck and slid the ties onto the forks.

 

[MossRoad]

^^^^^
I've been reading about the Suburban and the ToolCat for years, yet I believe this is the first picture I've actually seen of them. :thumbsup:

Not a tool cat, a PowerTrac. I'd like a tool cat, though! :thumbsup:

 

[MossRoad]

One more plug for the tongs...

Please excuse the shakey iPhone video and one-handed tractor operating.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Railroad ties here, are 7" x 9" x 101" long,

In some area's of the track they need longer ones, but when I was going to saw out ties, the above spec is what they wanted.

SR

 

[Diggin It]

Is it my eye, the picture angle or is that right front a little misshapen on the bottom side?

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Those ties weigh 200+ pounds each, so it's a fairly heavy load...

SR

 

[MossRoad]

Those ties weigh 200+ pounds each, so it's a fairly heavy load...

SR

My little machine could carry, oh, about 3. :laughing:

 

[turnkey4099]

Those ties weigh 200+ pounds each, so it's a fairly heavy load...

SR

RR ties weigh rather different depending on the species of wood. An oak tie is much heavier than fir, tamarack, etc. Not sure just which species are used here but I hauled and placed around 60 Pick one end of one up and slide into truck with only a little gurnnting and the next one wouldn't even move wiht the same effort.

 

[LouNY]

Instead of a grapple and boom pole the simple way is to use your loader bucket,
Use a heavy ratchet strap, pull up with your loader with the tie making a tee shape lower the bucket
down on top of the tie, say 3 feet from the end, loop your strap under the tie and back to your bucket,
with the strap to the front side of the bucket tighten the strap, lift with your loader,
the heel of your bucket will hold the end of the tie down and you can drive right up with the tie extended
set it down and be done with it.
I hope my description is clear, it will be similar to a clamp on fork lift arm, only the strap replaces the clamp bolt.
your bucket .

 

[bunyip]

I plan on making tongs out of flat steel welded into shape just to pick up logs onto the splitter and dragging some branches out.
Youtube has a channel for Unemp.loyed Redneck Hillbillly Creations and he has innovaative log movers which would probably work too.
He has some nice gear too.