winches for moving logs

SawInIt CA · November 27, 2002, 06:00:55 AM

Now that I got a mill and wont always be in the yard with support equipment.....How many of you use your truck winch here and there to move logs. I dont have a winch on my truck right noe and am thinking of getting a Warn 12,000. Thanks in advance.

DanG · November 27, 2002, 06:26:05 AM

Hey, Saw. I just installed a MileMarker 10,500 lb hydraulic winch in the back of my truck. Haven't had a chance to try it out, yet. I got if for $799 through Harbor Freight, and had to add another $60 for the kit to hook it up. It works off the power steering pump, so you don't have overheating problems, or batteries running down, etc.
I ordered it via phone on a Saturday, and it arrived, drop shipped from the factory, the following Thursday. HF paid the shipping.
I plan to give it the test, this weekend, so I'll let you know how it turns out.

OneWithWood · November 27, 2002, 08:13:12 AM

I have had a MilMarker 10,500 lb winch installed on my F250
for two years now. I occasionally will move logs with it and it does fine for a short pull. I think my power steering pump is not fully up to the task of powering this winch. The pump whines all the time and the one time I really need the winch it was not up to the task. I got stuck with a full load of firewood on a steep slope. The winch made the cable taught put could not pull the truck up the incline. Then I ran out of gas. Pump will not work when the engine won't turn :( I ended up hiring a crawler to pull the truck out. Now I have a crawler with a timber winch that I use to get logs, trucks, tractors, what-have-you out of the ravines

Don't know what I will do when I hang the crawler up ;D

ohsoloco · November 27, 2002, 08:57:09 AM

I use a 9000lb. Superwinch to load logs onto my trailer, and have managed to pull two ton logs (I think these winches are rated for rolling weight. As far as moving the big ones around the yard, I usually just hook a chain to the truck and the log and drop into low range. Thought about getting some skidding tongs to make this easier, but when I need my truck to move them they're usually too big for any tongs I can buy ???

Fla._Deadheader · November 27, 2002, 01:41:39 PM

I have a 15000# Warn Winch on the boat. It will pull the guts out of a 4D battery when I get a good log hooked and it is buried. I have a 4HP Honda hooked to a 40 Amp Delco Alternator for support. Sometimes all you get is ERP, ERP, and the winch drum moves less than an inch.
I have pulled both transoms about 4 inches under water trying to loosen logs. Had one last week that the tongs just ripped grooves on both sides and NEVER bubbled the sucker. Going back with BIGGER tongs that I made. Will straddle a 38" log !!! There is a 12000 # Commercial winch, by Warn, but, the 15000 just came out and I got a great deal from 4X4country.com, I think, in Texas. Check Ebay.

Kevin_H. · November 27, 2002, 03:19:05 PM

I have a 4500 lb super winch mounted on my trailer, I always use a block to double line pull, and so far I have not found a log I could not load. I run off a one battery mounted on the trailer and charged from the truck. My advise would be to buy the largest winch the billfold can buy.

I like Fla._Deadheader's idea of backing up the battery with a motor and alternater

Fla._Deadheader · November 27, 2002, 05:24:43 PM

Here's a not too close pic of the work boat and traveling winch carriage and Honda Charger

Larry · November 27, 2002, 05:25:07 PM

Think heat and occasional use. These winches are really made to get you unstuck and not for logging. I have a friend who has one of the winches that run off the power steering pump. He cuts firewood to sell and pulls the trees out of the hollars with the winch. He had a bunch of trees down and started to pull them out, after a couple of hours the power steering fluid got so hot it melted the plastic power steering reservoir, dipstick, and rotor on the power steering pump. I had a Warn 6,000 LB DC winch about 20 years ago that I used continuously and the heat got to it. That power cable will be hot after pulling for about 30 seconds. They draw a tremendous amount of amps and are hard on the battery and alternator. Gave out after about 3 months but Warn has a good warranty so got my money back. Either type works well so long as you don't use them continuously.

If you are going to do a lot of winching get a hydraulic winch that runs off a separate pump or a screw winch. Sometimes you can find a good one off an old wrecker.

Larry

DonT · November 27, 2002, 05:50:59 PM

I saw an add for a portable winch for moose hunting in my local newspaper.I called the guy and went to see it.What I found was a a platform on small wheels with a 3hp motor connected to a torque converter that then turned a winch drum from some sort of industrial equipment.It was so unique I bought it for two hundred bucks.The owner threw in an axe and a 5 ton block and tackle.The unit has no practical use when I go moose hunting but it works great in the bush hauling logs around. I don't have to worry about battery power and it is very portable and versatile. DonT

SawInIt CA · November 27, 2002, 06:06:25 PM

Thanks for the input! I think I will get the Warn 12,000 or 15,000 just need to move a log here and there but I might as well get one that will pull the truck out too.

ADfields · November 27, 2002, 10:03:56 PM

If your talking a constant pull at 1/2 or beter of it's rating you want a hydraulic winch (or geer to shaft PTO)! On tow trucks thay math out how much fulid is in the systom and add a tank that holds 4 times that to give it time to cool down befor it is put back past the pump and moter. So if your power steering pump winch and hoses (parts that are runing) held 1 galon you would want the tank and rest of the systom to hold 4 galons for a total of 5 galons. Even with all that fulid (and it's more like 150 galons on one of my towtrucks) I have melted the O-rings out of the winch moters pulling about 3/4 of it's rateing for about 20 minuts. For pulls under a minut or so and long cool off/recharging time the Warn 12,000 or 15,000 will do you proud. My Dad has a Warn 12,000 on his F250 with 2 big bat's. We were out hunting and I got stuck so we hooked his winch to my truck and he winched me about 3 feet to get me un hi centered, he did this with his motor off. We hand puled the line out so no power used there and we puled HARD for 3 feet and with no load for about 20 feet to put the lind up. Dad got back in his truck and hit the key, clickclickclickbbbBBBBBBZZZZZZ!!!! ??? That bit of hard pulling melted the plats in BOTH bats and thay had to be replaced. So take it to hart when I tell you NEVRE winch a load without your motor charging back to the bat! Dad also had a 100 amp altanator from Auto-Zone with the lifetime warranty on it and after 15 replacements or so thay gave him ihs money back and sead "dont come round no more for that" :D It's a very good winch just not ment for "working" hard all the time.
Andy

Fla._Deadheader · November 28, 2002, 04:35:16 AM

That's exactly why we use a 4D battery. That size is for starting tractors and such with around 40--70 Hp diesels. 8D's would be better, but for us, the weight would take away from our floatability. BTW, NEVER use deep cycle batteries with a decent size winch. Talk about a meltdown!!??

I do know of a crew doing the same thing we are, and they use "Die-hards". Standard size 27 series. Won't last all day and they change out from one outboard motor when needed. They carry them home at night and charge with an electric charger. Seems like a lot of fussing around, if ya ask me????

bull · November 29, 2002, 03:11:46 PM

Stop the insanity!!!!!!! >:( Dont drag logs) pick them up!
Get them off the ground and out of the dirt!!! Dirt and grit
stones etc. are no good for your blades. We dont skid logs nowadays- we forward them as soon as they get to the logging roads and keep them off the ground from then on.
stack logs on bunks in the mill yard or on site and keep them off the ground and out of the grit. if you need to spend money by a tractor w/ a loader and a set of forks.

woodman · November 29, 2002, 07:28:05 PM

Bull you have to understand thay like mudd on logs thats why thay skid them.

Corley5 · November 29, 2002, 08:08:10 PM

I couldn't agree more with keeping logs out of the dirt. When ever possible I pick logs up in the woods with the front end loader on the tractor. If it I can't get to it this way I get as close as I can and suck the log up to our Fransgard skidding winch and pick up the 3pt. That way there's just a little dirt on one end. I hate dirty logs too.

Paul_H · November 29, 2002, 10:03:24 PM

Bull,is right about the mud of course,but forwarders are expensive,and you gotta do what you gotta do to get logs.

Get enough logs,you can buy more machinery.Just more labour intensive in the meantime.

Besides,a forwarder might not be the best thing for Harold ;)

ADfields · November 29, 2002, 11:24:28 PM

When I do most of my loging hear all that will get in the bark is snow ;) If ther is mud around hear you aint geting a forwarder noplace neer the logs without a lot of riped up ground!
Andy

wiam · November 30, 2002, 06:52:28 AM

Andy

me too, and most of my land is too steep for a forwarder.

Will

woodman · November 30, 2002, 09:04:35 PM

How about a crane thats long to pick them up frome the road.

Bro. Noble · December 01, 2002, 03:36:32 AM

We have a 20,000 pound winch on a 3pt. with 100 yards of cable. We have used most of the cable and 2 snatchblocks to get logs up bluffs and over outcroppings. Some of those places are real hard to get to by foot. A forwarder would be helpless in most of our timber.

Noble

Gordon · December 01, 2002, 04:53:18 PM

Why is it bad to use deep cycle batteries with a winch?

A'm I missing something?

I would think that a deep cycle would be better.

Gordon

ADfields · December 02, 2002, 01:51:17 AM

Deep cycle batteries have thick plates in them for a lot of run way down and charge back up for use without an onbord charging systom and a small but constant draw. If you use a deep cycle on a winch the big draw all at once will damage it thats the same when used in a car the starters big sudden draw will damage it. The "deep cycle" is to run the thing dry "deep" and then put a charger on it to fill it up befor you run it dry agan "cycle." This works the other way as well if you run starting batteries dry or deep there thin plates cant take it and thay will be damaged in no time. Deep cycle batteries have less cold cranking amps due to there thick plates, the plates relece less amps at a time to the acid becous thay have less serfice in contact with the acid.

Thay do make a "starting deep cycle" now, kinda the best of both and that is what I use in my car and trucks now becous I think thay last beter hear with the long cranking times in the cold. I do use 2 starting deep cycles to replace 1 standerd starting batt, I want around 1000 CCA total so I use 2 for 1.

I hope I made sence in how I put it. :P ???
Andy

Kevin_H. · December 02, 2002, 11:05:03 AM

I have been using a deep cycle battery on my winch, It just gave up the gost. I didnt have the winch on the trailer set up to charge off the truck, so I didnt want to use a reg.starting battery.

I also just replaced the battery in the bobcat, I bought a WalMart battery with 1000 CCA and a 3 yr replacement warranty, Might put the same on the winch.

ADfields · December 02, 2002, 03:31:36 PM

I get my starting deep cycles from Walmart and have had very good luck with them for going on 3 years now. I did melt a post on one of them last winter due to arcing in the cheep cable end conector but I packed it back to Walmart and thay gave me a new one with no trouble, thay have a 1 year free replacement warranty then thay start the prorating thing. I have been very happy with Walmart and the Champion batteries thay sell! 8)
Andy

bull · December 02, 2002, 05:34:26 PM

If you can't get to a tree without making a mess or wrecking the log then maybe the tree should be left in the woods... Did I say that ?????? I do all my logging and forwarding with a Kubota 4610 W/ loader and forks and a 14' Tandem axle trailer.. I have a 3pt skid plate no winch
also I only log with snow on the ground. I have to do some skidding around the wet areas but only short distances
to a safe area where I can buck the logs and the move it with the forks to the trailer. Usually located on a maintained trail
No loggings roads in my lot. 100 + acres Mixed hard and softwood uneven aged on a 10 year cut plan w/ numbered plots.... something gets cut every year......