Moving Cordwood

[Henniker]

I have a Kubota B2710 which I love, but here's my problem. My logger dropped a grapple load of wood in front of my garage (the only place he could) so it's difficult to get the cars in/out, and it will be impossible to plow next year. It's at least 3 years worth of wood, so I need to move at least 2/3 of the pile before Fall. So far, I've been doing this by cutting each log in half and I chain each "half-log" to the bucket, and move it to the back yard where it's out of the way. This often involves climbing onto the wood pile to unhook the chains. As you can imagine, this is only marginally safer than Alaskan crab fishing.
My dealer quoted me on a L2501HST tractor with an LA525 loader with "quick release" attachment function, and a Land Pride grapple. With the grapple, I can keep the tractor between me and the wood. Much safer.
It's more than I want to spend, but I also don't want to be maimed or killed because I was too cheap to buy the right equipment.
Does anyone have any experience with this kind of work, or the L2501 (or Lx2501) tractor? I like the "quick-release" attachment idea, but I'm afraid of trading "down" from my B2710. Not sure if the engineering is better, or whether they just made it lighter-duty to cut costs.
Any thoughts/ideas/suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Dave.

 

[old and tired]

Have you thought about just adding hydraulics and a grapple to your bucket... Can you weld?

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

This sounds like a one time job. Can't you just rent, or ask a neighbor with a bigger tractor to come over the one time and move it out of the way?

 

[Bavarian]

Quick attach systems can be added to any loader. Get a pallet fork and you're set.
Or go the fancy way with extra hydraulics and grapple.
If it was me, I wouldn't trade down for that.

 

[Smokeydog]

Don’t want to talk you out of a new tractor but consider:
Converting your current tractor to ssqa?
Drill a hole in bucket side or weld/bolt a shackle mount and use log tongs. You can get pretty good at grabbing, carrying and dropping from the tractor seat.

Grapples are useful and now be hard live without them. hst makes it easier.

 

[Captain Dirty]

If Slowpoke Slim's suggestions are impractical, I suggest bucking the logs into lengths short enough to fit into your bucket. You will have to process the logs for firewood anyway. Moving the shorter logs may require more trips, but the shorter logs will not be as unwieldy and will be safer.

A relatively inexpensive and very useful attachnment would be a standard toothbar. Having an edge that extends beyond the sides of the bucket would be handy for working the logs in the pile and would provide a wider (deeper) base for stacking logs in the bucket. I buck logs to firebox length (2' in my case) in the woods for ease of handling (I can roll a 16" diameter x 2' log without a peavey) and can carry 9 such pieces with the toothbar installed as opposed to 3 without the toothbar (6' wide bucket).

 

[Deere Dude]

Easy job with pallet forks and can use them for many other jobs to,

 

[Jstpssng]

Quick attach systems can be added to any loader. Get a pallet fork and you're set.
Or go the fancy way with extra hydraulics and grapple.
If it was me, I wouldn't trade down for that.

This seems a lot more practical and less expensive than trading a tractor which you like for a one time job. It would cost about the same as renting, and you will find a decent set of pallet forks are an invaluable asset to your tractor. Note that I said decent... two years ago I bought a cheap Chinese set which is now out back in the scrap metal pile.

 

[MF RED in MT]

This is how I manage my firewood (18') logs, and if I were going to just move the pile of logs I'd use the brush forks because they will handle 2 to 3 logs at a time.

KC

 

[Thomas]

I've had good luck using tong moving wood.

 

[MF RED in MT]

I have a set of those tongs but haven't used them since I purchased my "poor man's grapple", JAWS...

KC

 

[dodge man]

Pallet forks for a good cheap way, grapple for the more expensive.

 

[dstig1]

Rent a large bobcat with a grapple on it for an afternoon. Cut logs as needed to fit your space, and haul them over. You will be done in no time. If you are worried about tearing up grass, get a tracked one.

 

[WranglerX]

Set of forks does wonders..... Less the $100 in materials and about 4 hours fabrication time... Also use chain hooks from each side of bucket and sling chain under center tines instead of a grapple....

 

[TheMan419]

Sounds like a time to rent a skid

 

[rickdavis81]

Do they make an adapter for your Kubota to switch to quick attach? I have one for our John Deere. I ran hoses from my rear auxiliaries so I can use the grapple from my skid steer when it’s too muddy out for the skid steer.

 

[Henniker]

I've had good luck using tong moving wood.

How did you get the "back fence" on the bucket? I like the idea of logs not ending up in my lap. But with those tongs, the log would want to go parallel with the tractor.(?)

 

[Henniker]

Have you thought about just adding hydraulics and a grapple to your bucket... Can you weld?

I don't have a welder, but I'm surprised my dealer didn't mention something like this. Where did you get the grapple? I'm sure I can find someone locally who can attach something like that for MUCH less than a new tractor.

 

[Henniker]

I've had good luck using tong moving wood.

This might work for me. I'd use a shorter chain, so the tongs (& log) were in the middle of the bucket. Hence, it couldn't swing, and would remain perpendicular to the tractor.
Thanks!

 

[Henniker]

Do they make an adapter for your Kubota to switch to quick attach? I have one for our John Deere. I ran hoses from my rear auxiliaries so I can use the grapple from my skid steer when it’s too muddy out for the skid steer.

They'd have to replace my entire FEL, and probably modify the tractor mounts. Not cost-effective for a tractor this old. I'd love it if it could be done though. Quick release attachments are the way to go.