moving logs

DanG · May 05, 2004, 10:26:21 PM

OK, I rolled a small, 10"x16' cedar log out of my pile to demo the DanG-Deadheader SuperDuper Liteweight LogLoading Deevice. I'll try to get 2 or 3 pics in each post, and take you through the process.

1st pic is with the arch dropped back against the stopper chains. These chains just hold the arch in position while you hook up the log. The lift chain is in the middle, and is connected directly to the winch cable.

2nd pic is of log hooked up and ready for first pull. This pull is just to get the end of the log on the trailer. The lift chain should be hanging straight down for this, so you get enough lift b-4 the log reaches the trailer. Otherwise, the log goes under the trailer, and the MileMarker winch will fold your trailer up. ;D :D :D

In the 3rd pic, the end of the log has cleared the ground on its way up and aboard.

We're gettin' there!

Next, we have reached the top of the arc. Now, we reverse the winch to keep the whole thing from crashing forward.

DanG · May 05, 2004, 10:57:51 PM

OOPS! I fergot to resize that first one! :-[ Pleeeeze Missah Jeff! DonT hit me wit dat wet noodle no mo!

Now, we've got the log as far as its gonna go on the first pull, so we start backing down. The far end of the log digs into the ground(hopefully) and the lifted end settles onto the trailer.

The log is now resting on the trailer, and you can see the lift chain falling away. If you're quick, you can catch the log with the chain, and get a longer pull, the next time.

We're ready for the second pull. The first one took about 15-20 seconds, real time. With this small log, I could run the winch in high gear. In low gear, each pull takes about a minute. I found a little knot on the log to hang the chain on, to get more forward progress on this pull. A helper can just hold the chain till it gets tight, for the same effect.

Now we're ready for the 3rd pull.

One more time!

And again! :

After releasing from this pull, I just hook the winch cable directly to the log, choker-fashion, and pull it the rest of the way.

This whole operation, including positioning the truck, pulling out the cable, setting the arch, loading the log, AND taking the pics, took less than 15 minutes. No perspiration was required, either. ;D Hope y'all enjoyed my little pitcher show.

rvrdivr · May 06, 2004, 02:32:12 AM

That was DanG nice of you to post all those pics. That is a nice set up. I think that would work for me.
Thanks guys

Fla._Deadheader · May 06, 2004, 05:21:07 AM

  Nifty video brother DanG. ;D:D :D

  The only thing we do differently is, we hang a snatch block at the top of the arch and run the winch cable through it, to the log. Once we get the log sitting ON the end of the trailer, we release the cable from the snatch block and drag the log up the trailer. That would save a little more time, but, the way DanG shows it, it helps with snags clearing the trailer.

  We have a 6" pipe welded across the end of the trailer, so logs will slide without hanging up. Our 9000# Warn winch is in the head of the gooseneck on the trailer, so it tries to lift the end of the log as you suck it toward the head of the trailer.

bberry · May 06, 2004, 05:48:07 AM

:)The frame for moving logs up and over the back of a trailer is used on Maine boats for swinging a heavy drag full of shellfish up and over the stern of a boat. They are known as gallus or gallows frames. They would be a good, low tech, cheaply constructed, way to move logs onto a trailer.

Fla._Deadheader · May 06, 2004, 05:55:56 AM

Welcome to the Forum, bberry. Got pics??? We loves them pics. ;) ;)

Ga_Boy · May 06, 2004, 06:16:00 AM

HOO YAH!!! DanG and FDH

Nice job on the design of the loader.

I do like them pictures. I now got me some ideas for my brand new (used) trailer. I saw it sitting in a field a few days ago. Visited a spell with the fellers in the shop and struck a deal.

I'll post some pictures over the weekend. This trailer is a BEAST, rated for 12 tons, two axels with four tires per and its got a 20 foot long flat bed. The best part of all got it for $1000. I priced the new ones that Haytrader put me on too, brand new they cost $4,300

and they was only rated for 5 tons. I'd be eat'n PBJ for a long time if I had to buy a new one.

The best part of all is no more fenders! I have done bent a sctatched up my fenders real bad on my little trailer, but is does a good job for only having one 3500 lb axel.

I found the web site for those Milemarker wenches. I gotta get me one for my trailer.

Gotta questions for ya.

Did you mount the wench on the trailer or did ya install a hitch and the wench on the front of ya truck?

If get the hydrualic model I was thinking it might be easer to install the wench on the front instead of runing hydrualic lines to the back.

Mark

Brian_Bailey · May 06, 2004, 06:46:28 AM

Ga_Boy,

Sounds like thar will be logs a hauling 8).

Just a note of caution, unless you have a CDL for tractor trailer combo don't let your GRVW ( truck / trailer ) exceed 26,000 lbs.

I had to lower the reg. wght. on my trailer to 11,500 to stay legal.

Fla._Deadheader · May 06, 2004, 08:02:58 AM

Good point, Brian.

We chose to mount the electric winch in the top of the head board on the trailer. 99% of the time, we have access to a backhoe for moving heavy stuff. We plug in the light kit to the truck, while we are winching, and the truck alternator keeps the battery up. We hardly ever have to use a 120V charger for the winch battery that is mounted next to the winch.

DanG · May 06, 2004, 08:28:52 AM

My winch is mounted in the back of the truck, just behind the cab. I wouldn't want it on the front because it is too much trouble to reposition the trailer. I frequently have to move the truck for each log.
Here's my setup:

rvrdivr · May 06, 2004, 01:33:19 PM

Well I bought a winch today at Harbor Frieght. It is an 8000lb with 100feet of 3/8 cable. They're on sale for only $300.00.
DanG, are you attatching the hook to the loader or is it running through a pully?

sandmar · May 06, 2004, 02:29:58 PM

Hi rvrdivr
I ordered the same winch 2 days ago to go on my flatbed. You decided how you are gonna mount yours yet? Would like to mount mine on the trailer tongue but wanna get some altitude on it to help keep logs from hanging on the end and get a higher log stack also. All ideas appreciated!!!
Sandmar

Fla._Deadheader · May 06, 2004, 03:08:14 PM

We put a boat winch on our smaller trailer and put a raised leg on the front of the frame, right at the bed. Ran a small chain with turnbuckle from the tongue, right behind the ball, to the plate that the winch is bolted to. That gave us 24" of lift, to go along with the tilting arch. There's pics in the gallery. Let me look.

Here ya go.

sandmar · May 06, 2004, 05:13:14 PM

Thanks FDH
This gives me more food for thought. Think one of those Bolt in back of pickup cranes would work to get the log on the end of the trailer? The kind that they load barrels with,that have a swinging head? Is that plain as mud? :

Harbor freight sells these also,thought about mounting it back by the rear wheel and let the arm extend over the end of trailer.winch log to end of trailer and lift onto end of trailer and never have to reposition cable hopefully.
Keep the ideas coming!!

Sandmar

Fla._Deadheader · May 06, 2004, 05:48:28 PM

Unlike DanG, when we hang the snatch block from the arch loader, it allows the log to be pulled TO the trailer, and then winched onto the trailer. The arch is high enough to get 2 layers of logs onto the trailer. Doesn't take many logs to make a load.

Also, unloading is just as easy by tieing the loader off and winching the logs off.

DanG · May 06, 2004, 06:57:09 PM

I just wrap the lift chain around the arch, and hook it back onto itself. Then I hook the winch cable onto that same loop, drop the other end to the ground, and around the log. The arch is 5' high, so I get a good bit of lift. It is enough to put a good load on my trailer. If I need more lift, I just drop the arch back farther. The angle of the lift chain can be varied to control lift vs pull. If the chain is vertical, it will lift much more. It it is slanted more to the rear, it will pull further.

sandmar · May 06, 2004, 09:25:55 PM

Thanks FDH and DanG
Nice to hear the voice of experience on this issue.....maybe avoid some trial and error :

Winch should be here Monday..I will keep you updated..as in more questions I am sure ;D

Sandmar

dmcc · May 08, 2004, 03:57:57 PM

rvrdivr and sandmar,
I'd like to hear how those winches work out (from Harbor Freight). I've considered them before, but couldn't find any reviews of them. ???
Maybe one of ya'll could start another post on the winches.

Don't you love it when people come up with more stuff for you to do? ;D

Kevin_H. · May 08, 2004, 06:11:45 PM

these are some great pics, How did you guys make the pivot points on the arches?

Man I gotta get a welder. ;D

Fla._Deadheader · May 08, 2004, 07:12:41 PM

Nuttin to it, Kevin. ;D :D

Kevin_H. · May 08, 2004, 07:30:44 PM

Thanks harold, Man o Man...To many ideas not enough time.

I thought about making the entire arch so that it would set in the stake pockets and hinge above that, so that the whole set up is removeable, Hmm.

DanG · May 08, 2004, 08:27:35 PM

Kevin, I got lucky. I had some 3-1/2" channel laying around, that had some 1-1/8 holes already in it. I just cut it so the holes were in the right place. ;D :D I bought a piece of 1" round cold roll, and threaded it through the loops the ramps had been mounted on. It would be better(slightly) to have it mounted above and forward of the rear edge of the trailer, but I want to still be able to use the trailer to haul my tractor, or cars, etc.

Kevin_H. · May 08, 2004, 08:54:09 PM

I think the best thing might be to start a new trailer from scratch, Something dedicated to loading logs

I still like the idea of a WM type hyd loader mounted on the side of a trailer.

Hmm.

Thanks again for the pics guys. 8)

rvrdivr · May 08, 2004, 09:34:53 PM

Wood is where you find it. Ok, I'm leaving the house Thursday mourning heading up to Harbor freight to get a winch. 5 houses down from me I see a pile of logs. I stop and talked to the owner. He's cut down a bunch of pine and thought the pulp wooders would come and get it. He told me I could have it for free. This is where the loader/trailer would come in so handy. I was lucky this time because he had a tractor to help load. I am old school, when you have a chance to get something for free, get as soon as possible. I was lucky this time. The pine isn't huge but it's free!

These are the logs sitting at the my next door nieghbors.

This is a pic of my buddy Joe helping unload the first load of my free pine. My tractor is a 1974 Oliver 1655.

sandmar · May 08, 2004, 10:12:02 PM

rvrdivr
did you get your winch and how do you like it? Hoping mine will be here Monday.Been putting 2X10 white oak sideboards on getting ready to mount winch. Do you think 24" above the bed is high enough for the winch? Thanks for all the good ideas guys........maybe I won't screw it up too bad ;)

Sandmar