tractor for small time logging

[Max sawdust]

wesdor
I wouldn't turn away from the HST transmission, as I get along great with my Deere4300 in the woods pulling out logs, (and bigger than 12 dbh).  I used to have a gear transmission and could get around just fine with that too. But the HST is much handier to manuever, IMO.  The 4310 has the HST with the ehydro which will not let one kill the engine with overload.

Ya I am with the HST guys  with a small tractor you make a lot of trips and and HST is the way to go, at least for me.
4x4 is very good too.  If I was more handy I would find an older tractor they have a wider footprint and more steel ;D 
Max

[thecfarm]

I would hate to go into the woods with anything smaller than my 40 hp Ford 4 wheel drive tractor with a winch with a loader.I've done it with a NAA Ford,little bigger than an 8-9n,was a pain most of the time.Yes,it's costly new,but used can be found,just takes time.I prefer the gear tranny too.I have a small  kubata with a HST that I would love to unload on someone.Works good for what I use it for,but not in the woods.If going looking at new,beware,most sales people will give you a big speak on how a 20-30 hp tractor can haul big logs.Not all the time they can't.Takes weight to haul log out.

[Corley5]

I'd love to have something like Mr Grapple the Beast.  That'd suit my needs to perfection 8) 8)

[Ironwood]

DANGEROUS DAN has someones tractor!!!! Beefy MASSEY priced right! I wish I didn't already have one or I would be all over that puppy. Reid

[slowzuki]

Weight is important of course, but the 3 point winch does a good job of reeling stuff in.  It can pull stuff in that would surprise you when working the small end.  I find it hard to drag stuff from the big end, a simple root can jump my 6000 lb or so tractor up into the air.  The small end rarely gets caught.

I've never skidded stuff without a front end loader on but I suspect it would be sketchy.  When skidding in really slippery stuff I pick up a couple of thousand pounds of stuff with the forks to give the front end some traction and steering.

[Ohio_Bill]

Hear is another Big old Massey Ferguson .  Was cheap and a lot safer than my farm tractor .

[slowzuki]

Skidders are pretty pricy around here.  A local fellow is selling an old gas one on here but I hate working on gas engines.  One reliable engine is plenty for me.  If I could I'd bushhog my lawn a few times a summer to avoid owning a lawnmower.  String trimmer is next worse on my hit list ;D

My sister bought some sheep this fall, maybe I can borrow some to fight the grass!

But for sure an old skidder is way better than a tractor for logging.

[woodmills1]

I just did a search for used metavic log trailers and found a kioti dk50 with a big metavic log trailer from 2003, but it is 67,000 canadian.

[Grappletractor]

Hear is another Big old Massey Ferguson .  Was cheap and a lot safer than my farm tractor .

Bill, What did you have to pay for that fine looking peice of equipment. I'll trade ys Masseys  ;D

[Ohio_Bill]

I bought it about  3 years ago for  6000  and it sure has made getting logs out of the wood a lot more safe .I t weighs  about  18000 .  so it only cost about  33 cents a pound .   :D

[Ironwood]

WOW nice buy Ohio-bill. I like when you equate purchases to a pound rate (usually means a great bargin was had).Reid

[ironmule2004]

I use a New Holland 5610-S 4x4 which is around a 78hp.  I have a hydraulic grapple on the back that opens up to 44 inches.    I probably don't need this much H.P. but a heavier machine would be a much rougher ride.  Sometimes my grapple  looses larger logs when I pull them tree length.  I am currently making a larger grapple that will open up to around 60 inches.   I also pull my Barko 160-A trailer mounted loader with a delimber around in the woods.  I use a trailer dolly to do this. 
     I would be fine with a 50-60 hp 4x4 tractor.  You can do a lot with these, especially if you put water in the tires.  I just usually like to have more than I need- just in case!   You may find that the better deals are on the larger machines in your area, depending on what everybody else is looking for.   If I had to drop down in horsepower to be able to get a 4x4 tractor I would definately do so.   

IronMule       

[ksu_chainsaw]

You might look for an older Farmall tractor.  Dad has a 706 diesel that I have used to drag logs out with the 3-pt, and it works fairly good.  Around here, a gas 706 runs around 5000, but it just depends on the season.  A favorite of all the farmers around here are the Farmall 560's- they run a loader good and are fairly heavy.  Dad rebuilt that 706 so its about a 100 hp tractor now, with 2 sets of hydraulics and has weighted rear tires and about 10 suitcase weights on the front.  I drug a few 36" dia cottonwoods out of a waterway that were around 30-40 feet long, and had no problems.

The neighbor also have several old 4wd masseys that work very good for farm tractors- just a little big for what you are looking at.

Charles

[Qweaver]

To me, there are four important requirements. 1. that the tractor can be put on a trailer that I can pull behind my 3/4 ton GMC van.  2. That the tractor will lift and carry the largest log that I want to saw on my LT15.  3. That it is a TLB  4. That its a 4WD Diesel 

Once the tractor and everything else you want to haul gets above 7000 lbs  you end up with over 10000lbs of towed weight and you start needing a very large towing vehicle.   My nephew has a huge JD TLB with no way to move it around.  He bought a dump truck and is looking for a suitable trailer just so he can get it aroung to places he wants to work.  My kubota 3130 will lift a 24" x 16' log and carry it out of the woods OK but that is about the limit.  I wouldn't want to do that on a very steep slope.  I don't have a debarker so I'm just not going to skid. 

It seems to me that the tractor needs to be sized for the saw.   If you're only going to saw 20 to 22" dia. logs then a 30 HP tractor will do fine.  Of course not all 30 HP tractors are created equal.  The 34HP Kubota 3400 would not pick up my test logs while the 31HP 3130 did.  I do wish now that I had opted for the 3830 38HP model tho'   As I've said here before my old Ford 30 HP 1910 would out lift this new Kubota.
Quinton
Quinton

[Wallys World]

Hello, I'm new to the forum. I run a small operation on about 100 acres with a Wodmizer LT 15 as my mill. I use (believe it or not) a JD 445 sub-compact tractor (22hp) with a home made log arch behind it. You can see the arch in Independent Sawmill & Woodlot Management magazine June/July 2001. I also pull it with my JD 4 X 2 Gator, and my Kubota BX22 TLB with the hoe off and 3 pt hitch on. The arch is pulled by ball hitch. It can handle 28 inches in diameter. I usally don't pull over 16 feet long. With the weight on the arch the front stays planted pretty well. I'm working in the backwoods of Virginia and it's hilly. I run skidder type stud chains on the rears for xtra traction and front weghts. I've never got stuck yet, take my time and I can get them out. It is very low impact way of moving logs to the mill site. It all depends what you want to do and spend. 
Wally

[slowzuki]

Just a Q, is your loader the LA513 (513 kg lift) or the LA723 (723 kg lift)?  Many dealers put the lighter loader on to save $ when pricing out a machine.  The old Ford was likely 30 pto hp and the 3130 is 31 engine hp, only like 25 pto or so.  The older compact fords were a respected tractor for sure, the 2120 was a beast and loved by all who owned it.

The other note is if you have a quick attach on your loader it cuts lift capacity about 20% or more depending on what part of the arc you're in by both sticking your bucket/forks out further and just by weighing 120 lbs or so.  I notice this a lot with my pallet forks as they have chunky angle q/a plate that pushes them out even further.

  Of course not all 30 HP tractors are created equal.  The 34HP Kubota 3400 would not pick up my test logs while the 31HP 3130 did.  I do wish now that I had opted for the 3830 38HP model tho'   As I've said here before my old Ford 30 HP 1910 would out lift this new Kubota.
Quinton
Quinton

[beenthere]

Wallys World
Can you post some pics of that Deere 445 haulin out logs?  I have that size, but never thought of it as a log hauler. Would like to see it.     I use the Deere 4300 and expect to get some white oak out tomorrow.

[Greg_B.]

i have a branson 4020 . 40 hp 20 series =heavy duty frame, frt. end ldr.,and backhoe. i have had mine in some pretty steep hills,so i decided to have the industrial tires loaded. lost some flotation but a lot more stable. i try to carry my logs out with the loader,built a set of small forks from square tube steel about 24 inches long. they are mounted to the front bucket by two pieces of of square tube slightly larger so they can ba easily removed held in place with set screws. be sure to carry the load as low as possible or have a set of chains to secure log to bucket
. better safe then sorry!!!!!

[Ed_K]

I have a model 30 w/loader, pics in my gallery.



This is my current operation for low impact logging.
If you can afford it, get 60 to 80 hp. They have the weight to be stable. My landini has problems if I move the tires  closer in to the center. Its 58 hp. w/loader 3pt fransguard winch and forestry trailer to haul 1/2 cord or 250 bf.

[snowman]

 Im looking at a century 38 hp ive been told its a branson under another name, anyone know about this?

[beenthere]

That should work as long as it is mechanically good. But as far as size and power, you should be in good shape.
As far as brand .......  can't answer that.

[Max sawdust]

I have a model 30 w/loader, pics in my gallery.



This is my current operation for low impact logging.
If you can afford it, get 60 to 80 hp. They have the weight to be stable. My landini has problems if I move the tires  closer in to the center. Its 58 hp. w/loader 3pt fransguard winch and forestry trailer to haul 1/2 cord or 250 bf.

Looks good to me.  Do ya use the bucket to load  the trailer or do you have a grapple?
Max

[Greg_B.]

snowman

century tractors are now sold under the zetor brand name. both branson and zetor formerly century are made in korea by kukje. for more info go to www.tractorbynet.com select forums then select  zetor century branson for more info then you can imagine. if i am not mistaken branson has 0% financing now. check www.bransontractor.com they come with different size frames go with the 20 series if you get a branson.

greg b

ps my 4020 branson has taken everything i throw at it  and keeps going 8) 8) 8)

[ironmule2004]

If you buy a new one, one  thing to consider no matter what H.P. you decide on, is the weight of one machine compared to another.  When I bought my New Holland I looked at another machine also.  It weighed around 2000 lbs less than the one I bought.   You might say no big deal because you don't need a machine that weighs more.  Think about this though- the other machine I looked at was missing 2,000lbs of something.  To me 2,000 lbs is a a lot of Iron to not be somewhere in something.  I always consider this aspect with pickups or whatever I am buying, unless I have a specfic reason for something  to be lighter.

IronMule 

[Wallys World]

I finally got my pictures posted of our JD 445 & arch. Also we pull it with the Gator and the Kubota BX22 (no pics yet of BX). Works great and will do 28 inches easily. I have pulled 16 foot long 12 inch with no problem.
Wally