Log arch, need some suggestions

[rbstern]

Going to be buying a portable sawmill in the coming months. Decided I would prep by improving my capability to get logs out of the woods. Had this rear scoop, bought used a number of years ago; did some good work for me when I didn't have a tractor with FEL. Never use it anymore. Was thinking about selling it, but occured to me the upper structure was nearly perfect for a log arch:



Took the bucket and 3 pt pins off, and cut away the front flange:



Next up, I'll add an 8' long piece of 2" square tube steel to the top, as a tow bar, along with a 2" hitch coupler and a winch. Plan to be able to raise/lever/suspend logs up to 16' long.

I'll need a couple of spindle axels, hubs and tires. The angle irons are pretty rugged: 1/4" steel. They should be plenty sturdy for adding an axle-less hub setup, but I'm not quite sure what I'm going to get/use for that. My 120v welding setup doesn't give me the confidence to weld heavy, load bearing stuff out of 1/4" and larger steel, so I'm going to step up to a 240v welder.



Any thoughts on a spindle/hub setup, based on what you see here? Want to raise the arch up a good bit (thinking 12" diam wheels, min), to get anough clearance to be able to back the log right over the end of the sawmill bed.

 

[BrokenTrack]

Jeesh, sorry I missed this...as I love this sort of thing.

I think you are off to a good start.

I think if it was me, I might put a walking beam suspension under it. It would add the cost of another set of tires and rims, but I think it would pull better over rough terrain. I have a log trailer that is walking-beam suspension, and it drags through the woods pretty easy because of that feature.

Some box beam, pins and some flat bar would get you there easy enough. It would also give you the height you would want, just by its very design.

They also tend to back up better, because unlike a (2) wheeled unit, it takes more of an effort to get them to turn. That sounds counterintuitive, but they work well because unless you really move your tractor to get them to turn when backing up, they do not just turn this way and that while backing...so it is very predictable. With my walking-beam trailer, I can typically stuff it into the hole I want to, most of the time, on the first try. That is nice when working in the woods.

 

[Jstpssng]

The rear hubs and wheels from a junked out front wheel drive car can work nicely for that.

 

[MossRoad]

The rear hubs and wheels from a junked out front wheel drive car can work nicely for that.

Or mini-van. My brother-in-law had one go out and we changed it in our driveway in about 20 minutes. I think there was only 3 bolts holding the hub to the axle.

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

Good idea.....

Another thought.... Cut the arched frame in half. Use one half on the 3 pt to lift one end of a log. Make the other half into a wheeled log arch to keep the rear end of the log out of the dirt....

 

[rbstern]

I think if it was me, I might put a walking beam suspension under it. It would add the cost of another set of tires and rims, but I think it would pull better over rough terrain. I have a log trailer that is walking-beam suspension, and it drags through the woods pretty easy because of that feature.

Some box beam, pins and some flat bar would get you there easy enough. It would also give you the height you would want, just by its very design.

They also tend to back up better, because unlike a (2) wheeled unit, it takes more of an effort to get them to turn. That sounds counterintuitive, but they work well because unless you really move your tractor to get them to turn when backing up, they do not just turn this way and that while backing...so it is very predictable. With my walking-beam trailer, I can typically stuff it into the hole I want to, most of the time, on the first try. That is nice when working in the woods.

Interesting. Don't know if I want to double the investment in axle and wheel hardware, but the idea has some appeal. I have both tandem and single axle trailers. Give me a tandem for eliminating squirrely maneuvers, all day, every day.

 

[rbstern]

Good idea.....

Another thought.... Cut the arched frame in half. Use one half on the 3 pt to lift one end of a log. Make the other half into a wheeled log arch to keep the rear end of the log out of the dirt....

The plan is for the log to be out of the dirt by levering it up with the winch. The front of the log, ahead of the arch, close to the trailer hitch, will hit a fixture on the tow bar, limiting it's upward travel. Continued winching will pick up the back end of the log.

 

[rbstern]

Think I know what I'm going to do for wheels. Thanks to those of you who suggested scrap yard car parts, because that's effectively what's gonna happen.

When I bought the property, there was an abandoned, homemade trailer, parked with a tree growing through the opening of the a-frame. About seven years ago, I got around to cutting down the tree and making the trailer useful again. It's got an axle and wheels (from a yesteryear Dodge of some sort) welded directly to the frame, no springs, which makes it less-than-useful for over the road towing. Okay for transporting an ATV or anything with it's own suspension, and we've occassionally used it to get mulch from the county dump. Mostly, it's used as an oversize yard trailer.



I'm now thinking I will cut the wheels/axle off this trailer, use the wheels for the log arch, and replace the trailer suspension and wheels with a sprung suspension setup, so it's more useful.

Two birds, one stone.

BrokenTrack, I really like the walking suspension idea, but it takes me to $ commitments beyond what I planned for.

 

[BlueKnife]

It's got an axle and wheels (from a yesteryear Dodge of some sort)

I'm now thinking I will cut the wheels/axle off this trailer, use the wheels for the log arch,

Is that a front or rear axle on that trailer? Lot of front 2wd axles are cast, which would make cutting it and turning it into an axle-less, independent hub setup quite difficult. If it's a rear axle, it appears to be semi float, which means it won't work to cut the middle out.... Just some observations. I may be misinterpreting what I'm seeing. Ideal would be an old full float rear axle or find an old trailer axle on facebook or craigslist.

 

[rbstern]

Is that a front or rear axle on that trailer? Lot of front 2wd axles are cast, which would make cutting it and turning it into an axle-less, independent hub setup quite difficult. If it's a rear axle, it appears to be semi float, which means it won't work to cut the middle out.... Just some observations. I may be misinterpreting what I'm seeing. Ideal would be an old full float rear axle or find an old trailer axle on facebook or craigslist.

Might be a front, cause I see a steering knuckle. And the axle looks cast. It's too wet outside to go crawling around it for more details, but thanks for pointing this out.