Pickup truck skidder?

[azmtnman]

For lack of anything else, I skid with my '97 GMC. We harvested 1000 cu/ft last year with the largest being 36" dia x 16' long. Only casualty was one tire.

is the bark black from a fire

The one on the right is a Douglas fir. They have black bark without being burnt. But yes, these are fire-killed trees.

[jwilly3879]

This used to be a pickup.



 

[Puffergas]

It still is. Pickup a log and go.

[azmtnman]

This used to be a pickup.



 

That is awesome!
Looks like something I'd be proud to own!

[jwilly3879]

The guy that built it said the only problem was turning it around in the woods. It used to be a 1964 International 1 ton that had a headon with a snow plow, it slid off the blade and was squished against the concrete wall on the side of a bridge.

[Straightgrain]

Getting the leading ends of the legs off the ground and leaving enough slack in the rigging (for 90 degree turns) will help a lot.

How far do you have to skid?

[Hiway40frank]

First skid starts at a 1/2 mile and might go up to a mile. I got backed up and am heading out to start working on the truck. Anyone no how to post pics using my mobile?

[Hiway40frank]

Alright here we go, put a chain on a tree hooked it to the bed and hit the gas. The thing was only sitting on some 2x4s and was mostly composted leaves and god knows what else. Should get the winch on tommarow and start on other things for her.

[Hiway40frank]

Ok so I need help, I got the doors off and my plan is to remove the cab and just re-weld a cage around the front bench seet. Im doing this because what I noticed while driving in in the woods without the doors is you can really feel where the truck is and I want to be able to see the front end. Also no glass and a solid roll cage with sheet metal is a lot safer. So I need help removing the cab, how do I do so and sell have steering, ignition and gas/brake? My idea was if I can not remove the cab I will just chop off as much as I can and weld a cage around whats left.

[red]

I would make sure all computer wires stay in tact. Also ground wires to cab. One bad connection could cause problems .   

[North River Energy]

Leave the cab, pull the rear glass and doors, and add bracing inside for FOPS. If you cut the top off, you're probably going to create more problems for yourself, and it's not like this is a long term tractor.
Definitely find a way to keep the water away from any computer stuff, and also the dash harness. (Maybe leave the windshield, and build a guard out of tube stock and expanded metal.)

[Hiway40frank]

I guess il see how it goes tommarow, I will mount the winch start moving trees and see if it would really be better without the cab. Also can I remove the front fenders? Seeing the wheels helps a lot and that was why I thought about removing the cab.

[Bridgeboy]

I too am thinking of a 3/4 or 1 ton Ford pick up for my woods. I will be looking this fall for a 4 wheel drive that still has life even though it will most likely come from the northern part of N Y and will have had its life run in the wintertime salt.  Anyone out there priced or purchased anything like this lately?  I would assume that a standard drive transmission would be best.  Trying to get an idea on price on a unit that will not pass state inspection, since it will be used for off road.

Thanks,

BridgeBoy

[Hiway40frank]

I too am thinking of a 3/4 or 1 ton Ford pick up for my woods. I will be looking this fall for a 4 wheel drive that still has life even though it will most likely come from the northern part of N Y and will have had its life run in the wintertime salt.  Anyone out there priced or purchased anything like this lately?  I would assume that a standard drive transmission would be best.  Trying to get an idea on price on a unit that will not pass state inspection, since it will be used for off road.

Thanks,

BridgeBoy

I live in the adk and could find a dozen 4x4 trucks for under 500$ within a day. Like I said i got mine for 200$ and it was in a trade, no problems and have drove it a lot on my land the last year just getting up my driveway in the winter (im on a mountain top) and I drive a rear wheel sedan so it does not make it past the garage witch is 3/4 a mile from the house... At the end of the day tho if I were to spend money I could find an old ford 9n for 1-2k and that would be a lot better than a truck, not as powerfull but a smaller footprint. My goal is to harvest and by end of june I should have enough $$ to get a case trencher and make a mini skidder.

[lopet]

Sounds like a plan, but yes   leave the cab. With the cab go all the controls and gauges.  Seems too much work to me to convert that all. With taking all the glass out you have  most of the hazards eliminated and taking the doors and fenders off gives you better visibility.  And then just weld a red neck style cage over top of the cab.  ;D   
Are you talking about a electric ATV style winch ?

[Hiway40frank]

Sounds like a plan, but yes   leave the cab. With the cab go all the controls and gauges.  Seems too much work to me to convert that all. With taking all the glass out you have  most of the hazards eliminated and taking the doors and fenders off gives you better visibility.  And then just weld a red neck style cage over top of the cab.  ;D   
Are you talking about a electric ATV style winch ?

Yes its a 4,500 lb that came with the truck. Do you thinks thats enough? If not An upgrade would not be too much, but I have used the winnch to pull a 5k lb bobcat out of mud that was up above the rear tire and front axle.

[Puffergas]

Use what ya have.

[Hiway40frank]

Finally got her in the woods, starting a small clear cut for an orchard about 3-4 acres when done. My guess is I pulled about 2.5 cords of firewood a 12 nice pine and hemlock mill logs. So far ive been at it for 1.5 days most of the work is clearing the brush and moving it to the burn pile.

[Straightgrain]

This might be obvious but here it is; & I don't see them in the pics...

weld a couple chain keepers (keys or hooks?) onto the back of the skidder; use the hooks for your point of attachment once the logs are at the truck.

This will keep the weight off the winch, and help prevent the cable from slipping under the lengths of cable already on the spool.

[Hiway40frank]

This might be obvious but here it is; & I don't see them in the pics...

weld a couple chain keepers (keys or hooks?) onto the back of the skidder; use the hooks for your point of attachment once the logs are at the truck.

This will keep the weight off the winch, and help prevent the cable from slipping under the lengths of cable already on the spool.

Broke the cable 3 times so winch is a no go, but the chain works fine.

[Straightgrain]

This might be obvious but here it is; & I don't see them in the pics...

weld a couple chain keepers (keys or hooks?) onto the back of the skidder; use the hooks for your point of attachment once the logs are at the truck.

This will keep the weight off the winch, and help prevent the cable from slipping under the lengths of cable already on the spool.

Broke the cable 3 times so winch is a no go, but the chain works fine.

Score,

Much-better than working in all those downed logs.

If you replace the cable, add a swivel on the working end.

Maybe add a 3/4" plywood box onto the frame to haul your equipment and snow chains on the back tires....

[Hiway40frank]

Yea I gotta find a new cable, but im only cutting 1 tree at a time then pulling it out. So if I had the winch I could cut 3-4 at a time. Also the skid is only 100ft right now