Moving logs

[redbeard]

Yes they had a nice spiral to them. Actually I blew a nice photo shoot due to rain. A forester and 3 other wood workers found a 20" plus pacific yew around the 1500' ft level of the cascade mt. range by concrete Wa. 40 miles away. Any way they packed 4 ea. 8' logs in the pickup. Still cant figure out how they loaded them by hand. 300 yr old yew and we spent 2-1/2 hours cutting bow staves, turnning blanks and 2" slabs. I learned alot and mill performed great.. Fun morning milling.

[PA_Walnut]

Reviving this thread, since I recently scored a Brindle tank hauler for moving big logs.

@Ironwood and others using these for beast-logs, how do you move or pick-up the log enough to get a chain under it? I don't think a cant hook will get it.  :D

I have spent some time, working on overhauling mine with new electrics/wiring, replacing winch cables, and making it road-worthy. Will upload some pix to detail.

Thx for tips from those who have gone before me!

[mredden]

Trailer and winch.

Look up "PARBUCKLE". In the Deep South it's sometimes called "cross hauling.

Wanna do it on the cheap? Find a boat graveyard and buy a trailer for very little. Cheap alterations with 4x4s and bolts can make you a decent hauling trailer for one log at a time.

[kelLOGg]

I have 3 ways: tractor arch, fetching arch and parbuckling. The arches have mobile home tires and axle parts which can be had for close to nothing. Some welding required. ;)



 

 

[Ironwood]

You can use log tongs and the hydraulic portion of the lift from above to hoist. If the log has "gaps" under it, use a chain instead of monster tongs (hard to find) and less likely to have an "event" when the tongs could slip. I have moved logs so big i had to make a chain cradle, almost like an antique rope bed. I moved a monster elm crotch 8000#. Additionally, i modified my tongue to accommodate a large winch facing backward, and welded numerous 5/8" D rings along the pipe from front to back to create the points to run my chains through to make the chain "bed" or pull from any point of angle. YMMV, 

Ironwood

[thecfarm]

When I am cutting,I try to lay something down for the tree to land on and keep it up in he air. But if it's a yard tree,than not many small trees around. ;D
@Ironwood,2 posts in the last 2½ years.   

[pineywoods]

Hey Ironwood, good to see you back on here. Don't stay away so
long..

[PC-Urban-Sawyer]

Yeah Ironwood, what they said!

Good to see you commenting, don't be a stranger...

Herb

[PA_Walnut]

You can use log tongs and the hydraulic portion of the lift from above to hoist. If the log has "gaps" under it, use a chain instead of monster tongs (hard to find) and less likely to have an "event" when the tongs could slip. I have moved logs so big i had to make a chain cradle, almost like an antique rope bed. I moved a monster elm crotch 8000#. Additionally, i modified my tongue to accommodate a large winch facing backward, and welded numerous 5/8" D rings along the pipe from front to back to create the points to run my chains through to make the chain "bed" or pull from any point of angle. YMMV, 

@Ironwood thanks for those tidbits. That's helpful info! Mine uses electric winches (Strong-Arm) that are rated for 4500# so I'm guessing #8000 would doable. I had not thought about D-rings or the winch, but both are fabulous ideas. 

Spent time yesterday, putting a new tongue jack (had one in the center of the tongue which was busted out...1/2 steel BROKEN...apparently was left down and hit hard--REALLY hard. Put a $$$ deep cycle battery and box on tongue also. May have to move for a winch now. :-\ I just started learning to MIG weld, so might be good practice for me. 

Mine has cross-members with a small V in them that ride on the side and then are placed across the bar for hauling, but I supposed that the D-ring, chain method would be better for beasts, since it would not require lifting it so high. Any pix you could share?

I'll grab a pic of mine today so I can add some interest here. 

Next chores: new pain job, hook up the electric brakes which someone cut, and new wire-ropes on the winches. (which requires complete removal). Nothing is ever quite as easy as it seems. :

Thanks for taking time-out. Someone said it's been 2 years, so good to have you back!

[Ironwood]

Thanks for the the welcome back...just been busy with "life" , kids, small farm, cabin, and i don't do as much "forestry" urban or otherwise. 

 I don't have any pictures. If yours has all winches and cables it's an older unit. The newer ones have an electric over hydraulic system and two hydraulic cylinders from above that angle outward to a spreader bar (heavy box tube) and suck the load upward. I think i have an old spreader bar here somewhere (saved it for the steel, they are about 6' long. 

 Where in Pa are you?  

[PA_Walnut]

Roger that. Mine has two winches and cables and a snatch-block arrangement. I will take some pix, to illustrate.
I am in central PA, about 45 south of Harrisburg. 

[Mossy Chariot]

Great thread, lots of good solutions!

I am considering purchasing a power tilt car hauler type trailer with a winch.  I need to be able to pickup logs from various locations that do not have means to load for me.  I also need to be able to haul my tractor and side by side UTV at times.

Has anyone utilized this approach to haul logs?  Any pros or cons anyone sees?

Thanks guys!!!

[tule peak timber]

My pickup truck.

 

 

 

[mtoo747]

tule peak timber, that is a sweet set-up  8)
Did you build it yourself?

[tule peak timber]

It is second generation design. My first design worked for years but wiped out the frame and bed of the truck. On this design I hired two welders to strip the truck, fortify the frame , add a second frame with improved winch mount and a few other things.This set up works in conjunction with a trailer to develop a decent load. Rob

 

[Ironwood]

I had a log bed I built on an F550, I put a large roller on the back, 4"  schedule 80 pipe with some large bearings from a jointer, worked well for the monster logs that my 5500lb Hiab crane could only lift one end of...i just tack welded the bearing races in place. .

[Simple Jack]

I use a Mustang Skid Loader. Was going to use it today to move some logs, but too wet.

[PA_Walnut]

It is second generation design. My first design worked for years but wiped out the frame and bed of the truck. On this design I hired two welders to strip the truck, fortify the frame , add a second frame with improved winch mount and a few other things.This set up works in conjunction with a trailer to develop a decent load. Rob

That's a brilliant invention. Did you ever get pulled over by DOT for hauling a beast log? I would guess some would near double the weight rating for the truck. Maybe they just shake their heads and figure, "Not worth the pain..." ;D:D:D

Since my tank trailer has not stated weight limits, I assume they'd just rate the total of truck and trailer to see if it's within the limits. Guess I better up the tax (weight class) on my truck. 

[tule peak timber]

Pa, I've had no problems with DOT as far as hauling logs but I seldom use the truck. I find it far more efficient to pay for semi loads of logs while I do something else.
  When it comes to weight this same truck would haul fresh fish for me every week when I commercially fished in the 90's. 5-6 thousand pounds in the bed and another 6 thousand pounds in my towed trailer. These are measured weights at the market on delivery. Not bad for an F-250, and that was every week, always in the middle of the night....

[Jeff]

always in the middle of the night....

:D   We used to haul lumber that way.