Using Tractors for Cutting/Handling Firewood

[RJFEJF]

Seesaw your log on a log on the ground. Pin one end down with your bucket & cut your way down to the low end. Cheap and easy.

 

[s219]

I skid logs out of the woods with an attachment on the three-point hitch that lifts the front end of the log up off the ground so it doesn't make a mess. I will also put 4-5' lengths in the front bucket at the same time, to carry more on each trip out of the woods.

I later use front forks to load logs into a sawbuck, and throw cut rounds into a 4x8 trailer for splitting and stacking.

 

[Lloyd_E]

I use forks and used pallets that I have attached sides to. I winch stuff out to the cutting area. Before my winch purchase I would rope and chain stuff to draw bar. If you are dragging stuff, cut a point - roundish or 4 sided - on the butt end of the log. This will help prevent it from snagging. I use the forks to hold the big logs so I can chunk them... I also use a saw-buck for the smaller stuff. All other info provided is valid.. just be smart and safe about it. The first two pics show the carry-all I made - used it before I got the winch.

Attached are a bunch of pics... I actually find this work very satisfying...

 

[PatMcD]

I made a rig for the back of my tractor. Add some tongs and couple of grab hooks and you can skid out just about anything.


Before I made this, I borrowed a neighbors yellow boom-type deal and bent it. Too much length out there.

This year, I found an old Fransgard winch locally for cheap money. Shoulda had one years ago.

 

[Elbill]

I bought a set of clamp on forks last year to help move and set stones for a wall I was laying. This winter I found them to be very useful , actually almost indispensable , for working with logs. I would have preferred a quick attach arrangement because the forks will move if you put any side force on the tips. I have steep land and it is difficult to manuever the tractor with the forks on so I still have to skid the logs out, use a rope with snatch block, or just drag it. I don't care that it takes a while because like someone else said, I enjoy it. You need to be very careful dragging on a slope .

 

[JGL]

Good job, and it looks like you've got all kind of new growth, I'm from New Brunswick Canada,what kind of wood are you cutting? Up here , the best time to cut is in late fall..no snow, but winter gives you clean wood, no dirt. We''ve got about 3.5 ft. of snow in the woods right now, and its been cold -12 to -15 for the past 3 to 4 weeks. My wood is cut, but waiting to split it and cord it for next year.

 

[arrow]

LoydE and myself run along the same parameters. Skidding is an essential part of wood gathering for me. It is a continuation of how we used to do it professionally only we had skidders to use. So in keeping with that finding it the most efficient method, I deal with "log lifting" in a few ways. First, the simplest, cheapest method are these front forks you can barely make out in the 4th picture. There are two. They are bolted to either side of the bucket. They are 3/4" thick and 32" long bolted with two half inch (thread thickness) fasteners. What is nice about these is that I can leave them on and still move snow. Secondly is to use one of those 1000lbs 3 pt carriers from Tractor Supply. I just sidle under the stem (which is supported by railroad ties) lift the 3 pt and bring it to the splitter and cut up the rounds. Thirdly is this tine fork I had welded up. This comes in handy in several ways such as scooping up splits, moving crown trash and lifting logs. Like you, I have a tough time meeting up with the over two grand expense for a grapple with remotes and all. I have found these methods perfectly satisfactory for the production of 5-6 cords per year.

 

[arrow]

I use forks and used pallets that I have attached sides to. I winch stuff out to the cutting area. Before my winch purchase I would rope and chain stuff to draw bar. If you are dragging stuff, cut a point - roundish or 4 sided - on the butt end of the log. This will help prevent it from snagging. I use the forks to hold the big logs so I can chunk them... I also use a saw-buck for the smaller stuff. All other info provided is valid.. just be smart and safe about it. The first two pics show the carry-all I made - used it before I got the winch.

Attached are a bunch of pics... I actually find this work very satisfying...

Lloyd, did you make up those pallets entirely or did you use existing pallets for the bottoms. They bottoms look beefed up to me.

 

[Lloyd_E]

Arrow, I just used found ones but I search long and hard for good quality. If I want them to last, like I do for my pallet/man-lift cage project, I beef them up. I wish I had a set of brush tines...maybe next year's build.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/285130-man-lift.html

Good looking wood ya got there...

 

[MIkeWard]

I've posted this before using pallets is the way to go. The first ones I made are 6 years old now and in good shape. Just put a sacrificial pallet on the ground and the one with wood on top.

Mike