Skidding large log with B7800

[jejeosborne]

I was able to get this log out of the woods. This is 1/3 of the tree. It is hard maple and very heavy. The front tires were off the ground several times coming up the steep hills. This piece is 10' long. I would have rather had two 15 footer for the saw mill but need a helicopter to get it out of the woods without destroying them with a larger tractor.

 

[schmism]

NICE

next time load the bucket up for some addtional front weight

 

[EddieWalker]

Yup, a full loader bucket would help, but you got it done, so that's all that matters.

How about some pics of the log in your saw mill? I'd love to see what you get out of the log as well as the mill in operation.

Thanks,
Eddie

 

[rico304]

Nice! I have been considering a 3ph boom. I'm not sure the ones I've looked at would support such a heavy tree though.

 

[Tim_in_IA]

Be careful skidding logs using a 3 point attachment unless that is what it is designed to do. Since this is a bit of a heavy load for you tractor size you might look into the log skidders they sell at northern tool I believe. They are basically a trailer with a hoop in the middle that hooks to the drawbar. Then you can hoist the front of the log up slightly but still pull safely.

You're probably pretty safe with the box blade as it would anchor if the tractor started going backwards but I would definitely not use a boom.

Edit: Found it, more expensive than I remembered but it gives you an idea.

Item# 190608 | Norwood SkidMate ATV Log-Skidding Arch | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[randy41]

a boom pole would just cause the front end to come off the ground. i've pulled many logs with my Ford 1710 using a drawbar (the 3 pt hitch type) and some chain. i reckon your b7800 is a little more powerful.

 

[jejeosborne]

Here are some pics sawing from last year. Most of what I have is Hard Maple which we made all our doors, floors, and molding out of when we built our house last year. This new stuff I will be selling.

I too feel safer with the box blade but don't think I will hurt the tractor. If it won't lift it then I drag it with as much weight as it will lift. It would be nice to have a lift point closer to the back wheels for better leverage but I am not willing to fork over the money for a skidding tool for the 20 logs I skid per year.

Picture 1028 is the mill that kiln dried and shaped all my molding.
Picture 1207 is about 1500 board feet and has the 7000 pound combined trailer springs completely compressed to the frame. It is amazing how heavy wet wood is.

 

[art]

Try a cross drawbar the next time without the box scraper. The further you put the load back the harder it is to pull!

 

[Tim_in_IA]

jejeosborne,

do you need to lift them in order to be able to pull them? I have pulled much larger trees just with a chain on the drawbar. That is the safest way. Use the drawbar that is fixed and not the 3 point if you can, and have one. I have heard that some tractors don't have a drawbar but I don't know why that would be. This will keep you from flipping or the front coming up. If your tractor can't pull em this way then you need to improvise. I'd take the box blade over a 3 point bar or boom since it will keep you from backflipping (I hope, not a legal opinion). Keep it as low as possible without dragging it.

I'd love to have a farmi skidding winch someday but $$$ not right now .

 

[Rudy3]

Hi Guys, My first post here, I've been skidding logs for 20 yrs with my little JD750 4wd and have found a cross draw bar mounted to your lift arms and a grab hook attached to that is ideal, just back up with cross arm over log and hook chain up close to your grab hook and lift it off ground and away you go.Lifting it greatly reduces the friction and makes for easy draging. draging a log that lays flat on the ground is like draging an anchor. This also puts more weight on the rear wheels greatly increasing your traction.