Log trailer upgrade

[Downstream]

After another sore back a few weeks ago I finally did the upgrade I have been promising myself for over a year now.  I added a simple harbor freight truck crane and a set of Dixie log tongs to my trailer to grab junks that I man-handle today.  I will also use the tongs to pull logs out of piles that I have to leave today.  I may also use it with a snatch block to raise the pull point from my other winch.   I reinforced the sub-frame of the trailer before mounting so should be good for what I need to do.  Can't wait to try it out for real.


 

[Darrel]

That should make life a whole lot easier for you. 

[bobborneman]

That looks great. I saw that crane at harbor frieght and was trying to decide what to mount it on, truck or trailer.  What did you do to reinforce the mount on the trailer?

[mike_belben]

You will be very pleased.  

The next logical step is to put a deep cycle battery on the tongue, charging off your 7pin truck connector.. And a $60 HF remote control atv winch bolted where that hand winch is.   Youll be pulling logs to the trailer from 50feet away with no hands.  Trust me, youll love it. 

[Ljohnsaw]

You'll be pulling logs to the trailer from 50feet away with no hands.

And you'll burn it up in about 20 minutes... :-\ Don't ask me how I know...

[Wayniac]

don't look now but you have a big black snake on your trailer

[mike_belben]

And you'll burn it up in about 20 minutes... :-\ Don't ask me how I know...

I dont know what to tell ya.. Ive been skidding firewood with the same 2 winches for years.  Only broke cables so far.

[Downstream]

I used 2"(1/4 thick) angle iron to frame between the main hitch frame to the outer bed frame and then attached to that.  I will take it easy at first to see how it flexes.  Also thought about attaching into top of railing with a plate along the front/sides to give a little more support about 12" up from base but have not done that one yet.

Black snake comment spooked me because I hate snakes and with recent cold snap thought maybe one got into shop, but then I remembered I had the shop vac hose out cleaning up my mess.

I may look at the electric winch later.  I have a big 9000lb monster one that attached to a hitch receiver plate, but don't use much because it is a pain to grab and go with battery and all so I went back to hand crank one shown in photo.   I will have to take another look at the atv one.  What are you using to recharge battery from 7-pin?

[mike_belben]

The truck's alternator.

[Downstream]

Finally had a chance to try my crane set-up today.  I went ahead an added the HF atv winch to give me a down brake and also wireless control.  Everything worked great.  I was able to get two logs and a stump that I would not have even tried for before this set-up.  The dixie 32" log tongs are also fantastic for grabbing anything I can't roll easily.  The stump was spalted maple about 24 x 36 so I cut 5 nice 3 inch cookies for table tops.  One table will pay for the entire crane upgrade. 



 

 

[mike_belben]

Now were talkin! Nice work.