Forwarding trailer for cable skidder do they work good?

[logman81]

Think about building a forwarding trailer to tow behind my c5. Is it a good idea, does it work good? This would have a loader on it as well.

[2308500]

some operators tried it here in  southwest nova scotia
they used commercially available (nokka   patu and krono)  trailers
due to the greater pulling ability of the skidder, most of them tore the wheels right off or broke the frames on the trailer
in the end they went back to just skidding and piling with the blade (less equipment= less repair costs)

[logman81]

Wow sounds like they were bad operators. Not working within the design limits.

[thecfarm]

There is a member that is doing just that.

[logman81]

And who might that be?

[thecfarm]

logman,just came back in after supper. I have no idea now. But I do remember saying it looked like a good set up.

[thecfarm]

This is not the one that i was thinking of. He has a skidder.but using a tractor with a forwarder trailer.
https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,64114.msg961940.html#msg961940

[logman81]

Thanks for the info. I would think it would work out well but not sure.

[David-L]

logman81, I have a skidder and a fwd trailer and have yet to set it up for my skidder as I have a 4wd tractor to pull it. These are handy for all kinds of applications. I can sort out timber and maximize what I can get for the product, also the truckers love coming to the job site and not have to ramble through the pile to load up. I have researched these trailers and have lots of info if you want to contact me by pm. I travel to Matunuck,RI occasionally and isn't Charlestown close by.

                                                       David-l



 

[logman81]

Thanks David-l sounds like you are the guy to talk to.

[saltydog]

Hello i had a jd 440b cable skidder with a barko loader attatched to the back of it.It was on a backhoe type mount two pins and kind of notched at the top. came off fairly easy.It pulled a wheel dray .It was ok at best on muddy ground or deep snow you could get stuck awful easy almost had to pre pack your trails in snow.I guess you just had to learn how to run it.

[logman81]

I'm going build a trailer and the loader and mount it on the trailer and run it off a power pack. This way it can be used with either tractor or skidder.

[logman81]

I do have a question though? How do transport such a trailer from job to job if they are not dot legal to tow over the road? I have a trailer that I haul my tractor with but can't figure out how to use that if their is no tractor on site to load or unload the log trailer. What do you do?

[bill m]

I move my tractor to the job site first then go back and get the trailer.

  

  
I have a 50 ft. remote for the winch so I can be at the rear to steer it onto the trailer. If the job has a slight downhill I can also use the winch to unload it.

[logman81]

That sound like the way to do it. I don't have a winch on my trailer but I could always put one on. How do steer it onto the trailer? By hand using that trailer dolly?

[bill m]

Yes, I steer by hand. Turns real easy. The trick is to have a long handle on the dolly for leverage.

[jd540b]

I used to tow mine right behind my 1-ton.  I cut off the draw bar hitch and turned it into a pintle hitch, made a light bar for it, safety chains, and registered it as "special equipment".  Was perfectly legal in the eyes of Maine DOT.  Power it with a self contained motor-that way you can operate it separately from the tractor or skidder.  Also, I made a bar and attached it to my log bumper on skidder-set it back farter so WHEN you jacknife it, it doesn't break.  Also, chains on back of skidder are a necessity or else it will spin you right around trying to go downhills in winter. These pics are from before I changed the hitch-this was the first "homemade attempt!)

  

    

[thecfarm]

Looks like a good set up jd540.

David L and jd540. Could you guys add your photos here.
https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,13313.0.html
Would be a nice addition.

[logman81]

Wow thanks guys for the info! Bill m that is probably what I will do. Get a HF winch with the wireless remote and winch onto my trailer. I don't think I could tow FWD trailer on the road do to strict dot laws and with the low speed bearing that I will most likely use. I learning lots from you grate stuff. Now to figure out what types of material to use and what type of frame, mono beam or later type frame.

[logman81]

So I'm thinking I will build the trailer using the mono beam design for a couple of reasons. One being it should be more maneuverable and second cost a little less for the steel and be lighter. I will incorporate the walking beam suspension into it as well. Planning to use 14 ply implement tires. I'm going to use square tubing to construct the Maine frame, not sure on size or wall thickness yet, lots to figure out and try to plan ahead for.

[jd540b]

Logman, I used old wide steering tires from the dump/log trucks.  Ones that aren't street legal but perfect for woods and ........FREE.  Anyone would be more than happy to give them away to avoid disposal fees.  Worked great for me and held up really well.  Woods proved to be rough on the implement tires I had-kept ripping sidewalls.  Just my experience. 
Also, the hitch I had on the skidders cam on and off with 2 pins.  I found it the most productive by taking the trailer into the woods, unhooking it, skidding to it, loading it and once full-hook it back up and goto the yard.  As I said before too.  Build the hitch as a pintle ring-WAY stronger because you WILL jackknife it in the woods and get in bad spots.  The pintle ring has way more give.  Again, just my experience.

[bill m]

Logman81, I spent a couple of years looking at trailers before deciding what I wanted. I almost bought a mono beam trailer but settled on one with a full frame instead. I have been using it now for over 5 years and don't think I would ever buy a mono beam trailer. I don't think a mono beam would hold up to the size of wood I cut on a daily basis. As for maneuverability there is no difference with either frame design.

[logman81]

Jd540b I'm really thinking that the implement tires will work fine that is what all the manufacturers are using on there trailers. Yes I will have to make some type of pintle hitch to tow it with that can easily come off when not needed.

[MEloggah]

I cant see how it would be faster then cutting and yarding w/ just the skidder. an average hitch for me is 5-8 trees from 20-40" dia. tree length. there is no way you could get the same volume of wood on a trailer that you can have on the landing each hitch. the saw work will always take the same amount of time. the idea is to get the wood to the landing. it would take two trips to get it all out on a forwarder which means more fuel. I don't buy the cleaner piles deal either cuz it just aint so. if more guys piled their wood before bucking it their piles would be much neater then pushing up pre bucked misc. length logs/pulp. ide skip the trailer. my 2 cents

[Ed_K]

 Down here the forester's and landowner are pushing forwarder's.When I get bid prospects they often say forwarder skidding only.