Need input on off-road log trailer

[jpbear]

I am making a trailer for hauling firewood logs from a forwarding area to our barn. It will be an off-road trailer. I plan to use axle stubs and hubs welded to a rect tube. The rect tubes will be welded to the frame. The tongue of the trailer will swivel and pivot but the axle will not. My question is will this trailer design, see PDF attachment, track good enough to get my logs out of the woods and to the barn? In other words, will it want to follow the tractor or go "off course" when I turn? The area is flat so there will be no uphill or downhill. Any question please ask.

Joe

 

[7864]

No steering on the axle? Hmm. Maybe a used wagon running gear would be something to think about. Lots of force required to drag that thing sideways to steer it when it is loaded with no steering axle.

 

[MrJimi]

Joe, If your axles were closer together like about 6 inches between tires, you would do much better in turns, your tires will drag and slide
Jim

 

[MikeD74T]

Here's a link to a quick & dirty wagon that will carry your logs. Make Hay :With A $75.00 Build-It-Yourself Wagon Unfortunately some of the photos described in the text are missing but looking at another 4 wheeled wagon should make the text understandable. Like this:http://www.antiquefarming.com/PDF/fordhaywagon.pdf MikeD74T

 

[tommu56]

jpbear
You might want to model it after something like this link.
NovaJack


tommu56

 

[woodlandfarms]

These trailers always look and act very tippy if you are out in the rough. I think just dragging it out is your best solution. There are some very simple yet highly inovative designs out there.

Carl

 

[rdln]

Firewood logs....do you mean like as long as your fel will lift or 18" long pieces that just need to be split?

If the logs are like 8 foot or longer and you just dont want to drag them through the mud, put an axle on a short frame like 4 feet long 7 feet wide with places to connect chain to on the four corners. Now you bind the end of the logs together and connect to 3ph use the actual logs as a frame. This is one way utilities deliver telephone poles.

 

[jpbear]

Thanks for all the info.

I will be hauling out log length wood. 6' to 12' lengths. I use a grapple on the rear to drag them to the log deck. Then I will use the front grapple I am currently building to load them on a trailer(to be made). My objective is to get them 1/2 mile to where we will cut, split and stack. I am thinking I will do the (2) sets of wheels closer together.

Joe

 

[ourplace_Tn]

Check this out at Northern
Norwood SkidMate ATV Log-Skidding Arch |Logging Accessories | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[montejw]

Thanks for all the info.

I will be hauling out log length wood. 6' to 12' lengths. I use a grapple on the rear to drag them to the log deck. Then I will use the front grapple I am currently building to load them on a trailer(to be made). My objective is to get them 1/2 mile to where we will cut, split and stack. I am thinking I will do the (2) sets of wheels closer together.

Joe

You'd be best off either building it as a tandem axle trailer (axles closer together and slightly behind the center of the trailer, distance depending on the weight of the loads), or add steering like the ford hay wagon above. You could do a single steering axle in the front, but those are tippy in sharp turns.

Monte