Tractor Logging arch I built

[Mattjohndeere2]

I don't do a whole lot of logging but like anything, when I do, not having the right equipment makes things sort of a hassle. A friend of mine gave me an old back blade a while back, and not needing it for back blading, I decided to turn it into a logging arch for my tractor, along with using some other materials I had laying around the house. I built this about two months ago, and have been using it lately to get trees out of the woods for the house.

A few pictures if it pretty much finished up below.






And finished up with a nice coat of paint. Has a hobo box for gas & oil, spot for my ammo box with wedges and files, an out of harms way place for the chainsaw, and plenty of chain hanging space.




It has worked out pretty well. I was able to bring out about 20 or so trees, what amounted to about 50 or so logs, in 2 and a half days by myself. Id skid to the nearest landing, load on the running gear with my excavator, and haul them out for the sawmill.

[Old Greenhorn]

Slick setup! Nice whack of logs too!
 Just how far 'Upstate NY' are you? I am in Ulster County. By your trees I am guessing you are closer to the 'Daks?

[Mattjohndeere2]

Hey thanks. Yea I'm up near Rome, mixture of maple and beech, some ash, a stand of white pine, and plenty of hemlock in my woods. 

[thecfarm]

Looks kinda wide, but it works!!!!
I see you have something to load logs with.

[Nebraska]

Nice!

[Mattjohndeere2]

Looks kinda wide, but it works!!!!
I see you have something to load logs with.

It's just a touch narrower than the tractor width, but it's really nice for backing in to get the second log up the tree, just drop the blade and push the brush, then I can throw a choker on and go. And the excavator is the most versatile tool in the toolbox haha, I'm very happy to have it!

[maple flats]

Hey thanks. Yea I'm up near Rome, mixture of maple and beech, some ash, a stand of white pine, and plenty of hemlock in my woods.

Looks like we're sort of neighbors, I'm in Oneida. My only comment on your repurposed rear blade is to be very careful pulling heavy logs. The pull point is quite high. Yes it helps lift the logs for easy pulling, but it also takes a lot of weight off the front end of the tractor. I strongly suggest you load enough weight nin the loader bucket to keep from becoming a roll over statistic. I've also read stories about people breaking their tractor in half by putting too much strain on the top link. Just be aware.
However it does look like your tractor is heavier than most who run into such problems but at least keep a loader bucket full  for ballast.
The logging arch however does look well made, it should help you get logs out much easier. 

[maple flats]

I use 2 different tools to pull logs sometimes even a 3rd. I have a Fransgard 8800# logging winch mounted on my 36HP 4x4 tractor. If a log is heavy I don't pull by lifting the end of the log plus the winch, but I pull using the winch. My olngest pull is only about 700ft. If the logs are lighter I do hook chokers on and pull behind the winch. 
I also, if I have several heavier logs use a 3 pt logging arch, but it will only fit over a 23" diameter log, larger ones I need to leave the choker longer and pull it behind the arch rather than under the arch but that still works quite well. I bought it back when I was cutting a lot of hemlock to build my sugarhouse. The third tool I use is my 8000# excavator. Times when the tree was felled where it was too wet for my tractor to get to it, I have hooked a chain onto the bucket and pulled the log behind. It was then fairly easy albeit slow to steer a whole tree minus limbs out a winding trail. My mini Ex only has 1 speed, super slow. At the moment I can't get it started, but I'm working on that. Hopefully next week it will again be operational.

[Mattjohndeere2]

Hey thanks. Yea I'm up near Rome, mixture of maple and beech, some ash, a stand of white pine, and plenty of hemlock in my woods.

Looks like we're sort of neighbors, I'm in Oneida. My only comment on your repurposed rear blade is to be very careful pulling heavy logs. The pull point is quite high. Yes it helps lift the logs for easy pulling, but it also takes a lot of weight off the front end of the tractor. I strongly suggest you load enough weight nin the loader bucket to keep from becoming a roll over statistic. I've also read stories about people breaking their tractor in half by putting too much strain on the top link. Just be aware.
However it does look like your tractor is heavier than most who run into such problems but at least keep a loader bucket full  for ballast.
The logging arch however does look well made, it should help you get logs out much easier.

Hey, nice to e-meet you neighbor! And thanks for the reply, I am definitely wary of the high pull point, and this tractor is heavy so I'm not so much worried about instability, as I am about breaking something with much of the pulling force on the top link. For anything stubborn I added the little drawbar point towards the bottom of the arch where a clevis can be added to pull from, which also works great for towing the running gear. My land is quite flat so no hills, for any big logs my to friend has a 450 dozer with a winch that can be borrowed. This Mahindra is a 50hp, weighs almost 8000 lbs. It's extremely stable, very well balanced machine. Doing loader work, about the time the loader hydraulics are maxed out is about when the rear tires want to leave the ground. I've been super happy with it.

[maple flats]

As is my land. Back when a state forester was helping me by writing up a forest stewardship plan based on what I wanted, he introduced the writeup saying my land is undulating old lake bottom. I guess at some point after the last ice age oneida Lake was far larger and my land was under water. back then apparently the shoreline was south of the main part of the city of Oneida, more along where Rt 5 is, or likely maybe 1/2 mile or so north of there.