Log hauling

[flatsawyer]

How are the urban sawyers moving the logs to the mill.
 I set the mill up on a concrete pad so I transport the logs
 to the mill. I am using old trailer with just a winch to pull
the logs on to the trailer it is a pain in the hiny.
Looking for a better way.

[dutchman]

I'm just one step ahead of you.
I use small JD tractor to load flatbed trailer, and use old backhoe to unload at the mill.I get alot of urban trees so smalller equipment is best for me.
I've been looking at a logging arch for good single logs.

[DanG]

There are any number of methods of retrieving the logs you've aquired, but ALL of them have their drawbacks. :-/   Some are too expensive, some too much work, and some are downright dangerous.  Dutchman's tractor idea is great, but what do you do with the tractor when the trailer is full of logs?  Ya gotta go back and get it?  That's ok if it's only a  couple of miles, but what if the logs are 40 miles away, like most of mine?

Metavic makes a super-great self-loading trailer with a knuckle-boom grapple on it, but it cost's $25,000!

Several of us have built an arch onto the back of our trailers, to lift one end of the log, then drag it on with a winch. This seem's to be about as cost-effective, easy, and safe, as anything else I can think of.

[Furby]

Would love one of those trailers with a grapple, but can't cover the $$$.

Been thinking about making one of those arches on the trailer like you guys have, just don't have all the stuff I need yet. As long as I have some way to lift the logs off, that would work for me, as I can't just pull them off with this trailer.

What I really want to do is get a 14' dump trailer and put an arch on that. I can see that as being a pretty fast and easy setup.

Right now if I'm going to winch or pull it on the trailer, I go sideways. It's fast and easy. If I have the room, I chock the trailer and bring the truck around to the side and pull with that. Otherwise I use the winch strapped to the side of the trailer. I have a couple of telephone poles I lay across the trailer to get the logs over the fenders and give myself someplace to lay the ramps against.
There is a pic around here someplace, I can find it if ya are interested.

[Hokiemill]

Flatsawyer, I haven't actually hauled any logs yet, but my plan is to winch them directly onto my drop-bed trailer.  7,000 lb capacity, 10 foot length (long enough for me), hydraulic lift.  The winch just came in the mail a couple weeks ago - 10,500 lb hydraulic MileMarker winch.  I finished half of the installation today and hope to have it up and running tomorrow.  Using the UrbanLogger method of using a hitch mount winch cradle attached to the front of my truck.  Right now my plan is to winch the logs to the trailer using snatch block as needed.  I'm working on a plan for some sort of basic log skid to keep from tearing up yards, etc.

[DanG]

Hokie, that trailer is neat! 8) 8)  I'd like to have one like that about 25' long.  You can winch logs onto that without any sort of lifting device.  I don't know why you want the winch on the front of the truck. ???  If it's on the back, all you gotta do is back the trailer up to the log and reel it in.

To keep from tearing up the turf, get a couple of small round logs, and cut them on a real long angle, so that the cut ends are like wedges. Just lay them perpendicular to the log, cant hook it onto them, and roll them right on to the trailer.  You'll leave barely a scar on the grass, and may find that you don't even need the DanG winch!  Not to worry, though, you'll find lots of other uses for it. ;D

[EZ]

I roll the logs up the side of trailer. The ramps and winch will go on either side. Pretty simple but works great, does'nt tare up the yards this way.
EZ

[sawguy21]

Go to www.hankstruckpictures.com to see some serious log hauling

[WV_hillbilly]

    When I drag a log out of a yard  I have 4 pieces of   8 " x 3' long schedule 80 pvc pipe . I use a 48"farmjack or some call it a hi lift jack from 4x4's. I slip a chain under one end of the log  , put the jack in front of the log attach chain, jack up front of log and put one roller under it . Then start winching it and add rollers as necessary . the log just rolls along on the pipes with minimal lawn damage. I get it to the street and line it up with the back of the trailer . Now I use the farmjack again but   this time i put a 16" x 3' poplar log about 3 ' from the end of the log. Back the trailer up till it is against the poplar log .  Start winching the log on the trailer , as log is starting to touch the trailer bed I put 2" x3' pipe rollers down .this way the log is on rollers most of the time . the poplar log keeps the log I'm  winching off the sharp edge of the trailer cause the back of my trailer is only 14" high . If the log isn't huge, after it is off the poplar log and on to the pipe rollers we just push it the rest of the way on the trailer . I have loaded 28" x 10' hardmaple logs this way with out too much trouble .  I then take out the 2" rollers and chain the logs down .

[MemphisLogger]

Dang,

The reasons I use a front mounted hitch (on the winch carrier) is that

(A) the winch is already mounted there for self-recovery when playing in Mississippi Mud

(B) having the trailer on the nose of the truck makes it a whole lot easier to snake your way into a backyard through the typical 8' access gate

and (C) due to the quicker turn-ability you can more easily adjust the angle of the winch line for whichever side your snatch block is set on.

Also, on my truck, the framing of the front end is a lot more wrack resistant than the back--I don't want to twist my frame tuggin' on 5000 lbs logs.

Here's how my setup works . . .



Using the chain under the logs allows me to load multiple logs by not trpping the cable under each one in the process.
    

[Frank_Pender]

Hokiemill, you might consider a logging arch like Mark makes as www.futureforestry.com to help releave damages to a yard.  I made a sling out of some two inch wide steel strap half inch thick, attatched to two Calif. trailer spindles.  I used a high lift jack to block one end of the log and slipped the cradle under the log to the balance point and attatched a cable to one and and pulled with my truck and had someone balance the log and we moved along.

[Ironwood]

Hokemill, I have used the hood of a 1978 Ford truck with much success. I rolled the log into the hood and then the log won't dig in. Additionally if you can get a higher point of pull it will slightly unweight the front of the log. that can be accomplished several ways including a removable arch at the back or middle of the trailer (also enabling multiple layers of logs), or by winching from inside the truck bed at the bulk head. I used to do that before I went to cranes. Use the bed mount bolt just before the bulk head as the primary mount surface by welding a short lenth of chain to the bolt head, I then beefed up the top of the bulk head with heavy angle, next i mounted my 8000# warn gear driven winch onto a reese style mount that could be used in any reciever, then fabricated a three point mount with an old reciever off a truck frame. This then was chained to the bed bolts and the bulkhead. It sounds complicated, but once completed I could use the set up on my tractor, trailer tongue, front or back of the truck. It is very useful an versatile.I have since gone to a one ton flat bed with a reciever welded to the bulkhead.
      Reid

[Larry]

Got a friend that came up with an idea to haul logs.  He built two knock down tripod stands sorta like jack stands only about 4' tall.  Puts one stand on each side of the log.  Cranks up the end of the log with a hand powered boat winch.  Backs his pickup under the log (tailgate off) and lowers the log.  Sitting on the bumper is a 2X6 with two pillow blocks and piece of 2" cold roll in the blocks.  Sets up the tripod at the end of the log on the ground and jacks it up.  Backs up truck and log loaded...sometimes has to use the boat winch to pull the log little further into the truck.

Best thing about his system is that it is always in the truck so he is prepared to pick up a log about anytime.

[bull]

I hire a log truck.... Have to keep the blade in the log to make lumber.  :D

[leweee]

 Remember now
 :D

[flatsawyer]

Thanks for all the ideas. This is the best forum on the net, with so much good info & personable. Does anyone have pictures of a log arch that would be easy to build? :P

[leweee]

Hows this http://www.futureforestry.com/

 ;D
ps Pick one you like :D

[Frank_Pender]

You got it Leweee.  I have seen him pulling 3' logs 12-14 long with the large unit and hooked to his Volvo. 8)  One was a Spruce you see most often in the adds and the other has been a Maple.  I believe Loren did the sawing of both logs at one time or another.

[AtLast]

I use a 14" Hud-Son log trailer with a Nokkia grapple loader on it....great unit and does the job very well...

[rbarshaw]

Made from angle iron and mobile home tires and axles, with a hand winch front and back to lift the log, i've lifted 28" by 18' with it, should be able to get to 28' log on it but my mill only goes to17', it has a ball hitch so I can drive off with the log, also a T handle on the front to move by hand.

[Plowboy]

It took me a while to find this pic.  This is the arch that we built.  We have modified it some since this photo.  Most of the time we haul logs  with both ends up off the ground.  Lately I have been hauling long logs up 16' but I have to drag one end.

  https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/index.php?image=logarchpics2004.jpg&d=d.html

https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/index.php?image=logarchpics2011.jpg


If you need more info let me know.  Sorry I can't seem to get the image in the post.

[Captain]

I had been waiting to announce that I had taken steps to fix my log hauling problems...but I just have to get old DanG going.  It was too good of a price to pass up, even though I did not have the budget.   :




Do you think this will work, DanG?

Captain

[DanG]

Like, WOW, even! 8) 8)  At a "giveaway" price, that hadda still set ya back some bucks.  Tell us more!

BTW, whatca gonna pull it with?  See the "New Truck" thread for some ideas. ;D

[Frank_Pender]

Good for you Captain.  Ihave come close a couple times and have yet to separate myself from what little I got to get one of them.  I have been dreaming about just the loader and build my own trailer.  Congratulations. 8)

[Captain]

Well, it is a 2003 model, purchased by the previous owner in November of 2003.  He thinks it has about 50 hours on the loader and 500 miles on the trailer.  There is a couple of items to fix, the rear bumper is bent and the toolbox door has sustained a hit, but otherwise it looks pretty new, no scrapes on the log deck!!

I saw the invoice from 2003, I paid approx 40% of that figure.

I'll get some action photos this weekend.  I've been waiting for a big freeze to get into some firewood to haul home...the area is low and muddy.  A few days in the single digits here should fix that ;D  We've got to retrieve about 30 cords total.  Should be good practice.

You're right about the truck, DanG.  If I prove that I can keep this trailer busy, maybe I can get a truck that will allow me to load it to capacity (20,000lbs!!)

Captain