Box Scraper hauling logs

[tbutman]

I too use a JD1050 for my home operation. I have had this tractor since new and it has proven very durable and reliable.<http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2251938425249&set=a.1136684464597.21184.1451910671&type=3>

 

[SuperCobra]

I'm really kind of confused on this issue. We have cut wood for about 40 years now and at one time 500 - 1000 cord a year. We always skid our logs and never gave it a thought about getting dirt and mud on the logs. Our woods is muddy, hilly and rocky, we have almost all conditions, and even flat ground we chose to skid. We had two saws running and touched the saws up every night with the chain grinder. It actually took longer to get the chain off and blow off the saw than to grind it. Some people say grinding eats a chain up fast, IMO i'de grind instead of filing a chain, get a better job. Could it be the issue of sharpening a chain? No big issue. My dad taught me to file a chain when i was about 5 or 6 years old so ive done my share of chains. Also i must add we did not hade a skidder we used 2 Belarus 400 tractors with farmi winches. I now use Mahindra and Kioti and the same Farmi winch. . .John

No reason to be confused. The more dirt you cut the more you have to sharpen the chain. The more you sharpen the chain the quicker it wears out. Not much more to it than that.

 

[Cantoo]

LD1, now you know why none of the rest of us are chiming in on the pulling backwards idea. Kind of like splitting wood with the opposite side of the maul. Main reason I would pull backwards is short distances to reposition to put forwards, you know, the way the tractor was designed to be driven. I guess I could sit on my backhoe seat and then I would be facing the correct way, might be kind of hard to run controls though. I have under $100 in my 3 pth skidder so money ain't the reason to pull with the loader.

 

[Baby Grand]

LD1, now you know why none of the rest of us are chiming in on the pulling backwards idea. Kind of like splitting wood with the opposite side of the maul. Main reason I would pull backwards is short distances to reposition to put forwards, you know, the way the tractor was designed to be driven. I guess I could sit on my backhoe seat and then I would be facing the correct way, might be kind of hard to run controls though. I have under $100 in my 3 pth skidder so money ain't the reason to pull with the loader.

I really like that skidder design of yours. If I can find a scrappy pond bucket that would be a better starting point than the QH I was planning on using.

 

[Verticaltrx]

This is a little rig I built to skid logs behind my B3200 kubota. Works pretty well, only downside is that it doesn't provide any counterweight when using the loader.

I'd feel comfortable pulling a 24" pine log 8-10' long with it, 16' might be a little iffy.

 

[Rail Dawg]

Can I pull smaller logs by attaching a chain to my box blade on a Kubota L3800?

What about attaching to the drawbar? I can get the drawbar that goes between the lift arms but wasn't sure if I needed to buy that setup. Can my drawbar that comes with the tractor take that kind of stress?

Oak and pine logs maybe 15 ft. long and 12" across.

Thanks.

 

[LD1]

Can I pull smaller logs by attaching a chain to my box blade on a Kubota L3800?

Yes, but if you snag something, it can do damage.

What about attaching to the drawbar? I can get the drawbar that goes between the lift arms but wasn't sure if I needed to buy that setup. Can my drawbar that comes with the tractor take that kind of stress?

The drawbar that goes between the lift arms will work, and can increase your pulling ability because it is a higher hitch, but just be aware that the chances of flipping the tractor backwards increases a bunch. If you have a FEL, that will counter it alot.

And the drawbar that is already on the tractor is capable of taking anything you can throw at it.

 

[Rail Dawg]

Yes, but if you snag something, it can do damage.





The drawbar that goes between the lift arms will work, and can increase your pulling ability because it is a higher hitch, but just be aware that the chances of flipping the tractor backwards increases a bunch. If you have a FEL, that will counter it alot.

And the drawbar that is already on the tractor is capable of taking anything you can throw at it.

Thanks for the good info!

 

[Slickheadhunter]

Here's what I use, granted its only one log at a time but I don't even have to get off my seat!

 

[milkman]

Here's what I use, granted its only one log at a time but I don't even have to get off my seat!

Pure genius, I like it. Did you build it or buy it like that?

 

[SPYDERLK]

Here's what I use, granted its only one log at a time but I don't even have to get off my seat!

Great! Im going to keep that in mind. I like to carry mine with the Loader Buddy Grapple Bucket but sometimes they have to be wiggled or staged due to constraining situations. I have a counterweight in mind that I might be able to work log tongs into. Thanks for the innovative cue.
larry

 

[Slickheadhunter]

Pure genius, I like it. Did you build it or buy it like that?

I bought it from smallwoodlottools.com
I'm sure some of you out there that are handy with fabrication could make one a lot less expensive, but I am not

I fell my own firewood, about 6 cord a year so for me it's perfect. Not very well suited for any type of production.

 

[Slickheadhunter]

This picture is from his website, I have a mahindra 2516 but no pics as of yet.

 

[jeff9366]

Here is a $299 3-Point log skidding attachment from Northern Tool.

Not too much money and @ 28 pounds relatively easy on/off. Northern Tool rates this puppy at 4,700 pounds capacity
/// with their chain.

I wish I had known of the Log Hog before assembling my setup, pictured below, which works on the same principle but weighs near 90 pounds.

Norwood Log Hog Log Skidder Tractor Attachment, Model# 41255 Log Hog | Log Skidding| Northern Tool + Equipment


Note operator in Northern Tool video drags a length of snag-prone chain over the ground, negating safety of elevated logs!

Tut, tut.

 

[Green Acres Homestead]

I do a lot of hauling logs. Been doing it since I was 14. I own an l4740 kubota now. A lot heavier then the 27 horse power Montana and other tractors I own but evan still moving logs on uneven ground is not to be taken lightly. I own a wallenstine logging winch and a walking beam suspension trailer. Pros of using a winch....can reach logs with the 200 feet of cable and winch them into the tractor so you do not have to back right to the log if it is in a bad spot. When dragging the log the log gets dirty so the mill guy will not like you much. In the case of firewood dirt is hard on the chain of the saw. Will hardly get 1 hour on a chain before having to resharpen. If the ground is high and dry so the logs do not get dirty and the distance to haul is less than 1700 feet i found the winch to be the best option. . http://youtu.be/NXAxkAEGeH8.

With my 47 hp tractor I put about 1/3 cord in good going in a twitch. I pull them out tree length most times.

If the ground is muddy and or the yarding is father than 1700 feet then I hook my walking beam trailer to my logging winch. I winch 8 to 12 foot logs up on the trailer and head to the landing. I can haul 1/2 to 3/4 cord using the trailer. Logs arrive clean.

I may reposition logs with the fel but I do not drag them to far. It is hard on the loader and can tip you very quickly. One wheel down in a hole and dragging a 1500 pound log and your gone. When a tractor tips dragging backwards it gives little or no warning.

If you are dragging logs behind the tractor the tractor takes longer to rear up. Most times if you are going slow you have time to lower logs or stop before a tip

Lots of fun but take your time. You cannot possibly document all the things that can go wrong in the woods so learn from your mistakes, gain experience and knowledge of the does and don't

Watch for sticks and stumps that can go through your rad, tires and hydraulic hoses etc...

Cut stumps flush with the ground and flat across not on a sharp angle. Hard on tires.

Good luck and play safe.


. .

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One other hint when using a tractor in the woods is watch the branches you run over. They can go through you rad or take hydraulic hoses.

 

[yankeerider]

Here is a $299 3-Point log skidding attachment from Northern Tool.

Not too much money and @ 28 pounds relatively easy on/off. Northern Tool rates this puppy at 4,700 pounds capacity
/// with their chain....tut.

In the first picture, the 3 pt hitch drawbar looks bent from being asked to carry too much "tongue" weight. I'd prefer to see a thicker section for that component on a design like this.

 

[jeff9366]

I agree, it does look bent. I went out to the tractor to review; the cross drawbar is not bent.

I guess I did not have the cross drawbar adjusted flat with the right, turnbuckle lifting rod or it may be the camera angle when the picture was taken.

The Category-1 Cross Drawbar is from Tractor Supply. I doubt my Kubota B3300SU (33-hp/1,800 pounds/industrial tires) has enough power nor enough tire traction to bend the cross drawbar.

However, a larger tractor can bend a cross drawbar. There are numerous photos of well-used (bent) cross drawbars on larger tractors with ag tires in Logging posts.

My local TSC sells cross drawbars for both Cat 1 and Cat 2 applications. Heavy steel in both cases. Cross-drawbars may be engineered to deform before tractor three-point hitch is ripped out, making the cross drawbar a kind of shear pin. Any TBN members have information on this theory?

 

[davcog]

Make yourself a log arch! You'll want it a little bigger than mine, but they work great. ~~ grnspot

Do you have more detailed pics or build details. Have a BX 23 and using backhoe drag method is not very efficient.:laughing:

 

[grnspot110]

Do you have more detailed pics or build details. Have a BX 23 and using backhoe drag method is not very efficient.:laughing:

I made it from parts & scrap I had on hand, including rear wheels from a parted out lawn mower. Cart behind holds up back of the log, just make sure you can stop it! ~~ grnspot

 

[Gordon Gould]

If the ground is muddy and or the yarding is father than 1700 feet then I hook my walking beam trailer to my logging winch. I winch 8 to 12 foot logs up on the trailer and head to the landing. I can haul 1/2 to 3/4 cord using the trailer. Logs arrive clean.

I have been thinking about a trailer. Sounds like a good way to go. What kind of set-up do you have that allows you to winch the logs onto the trailer. A picture maybe. Do you stage up the logs in the woods first then go get the trailer. Seems like the trailer would be in the way while you were cutting and repositioning for the initial winch out of the woods and onto the trail unless you can fill the trailer from one spot.