Log arch length question

[Kwill]

In the process of building a log arch. I was wondering what length those of you who have built one made the main beam front to back? Mostly i will be using the arch for cedar logs.

[WV Sawmiller]

Kwill,

   How long a log do you want to haul? I'd think you'd need it nearly as long as half the maximum log length or at least enough to pivot and lock into place if you plan to lift and haul the entire log off the ground. Many people make their arch beams extendable for different log lengths.

   My log arch is used with my ATV and only picks up one end of the log. I use it on steep terrain and sometimes want one end to drag for better control when coming down a steep slope. When I need both ends up I attach a small dolly on the rear end of the log cinched tight with a ratchet strap sort of like a rear pulp wood truck axle. Smaller 8-10 foot long logs I can pick up in the middle perpendicular to the arch and haul them.

[Magicman]

I made mine 8' so that I could theoretically haul a 16' log without dragging the end.   

[Kwill]

Kwill,

   How long a log do you want to haul? I'd think you'd need it nearly as long as half the maximum log length or at least enough to pivot and lock into place if you plan to lift and haul the entire log off the ground. Many people make their arch beams extendable for different log lengths.

   My log arch is used with my ATV and only picks up one end of the log. I use it on steep terrain and sometimes want one end to drag for better control when coming down a steep slope. When I need both ends up I attach a small dolly on the rear end of the log cinched tight with a ratchet strap sort of like a rear pulp wood truck axle. Smaller 8-10 foot long logs I can pick up in the middle perpendicular to the arch and haul them.

12-15 ft would be max prolly mostly 8-12ft

[WV Sawmiller]

Kwill,

   If 15' is your longest log looks to me like you should be able to get by with about a 7' beam then if you load the butt end first you should still have the center of balance close to the end of your arch or at least close enough you can pivot the end next to the arch by hand. Especially with cedar which would not weigh nearly as much as heavy hardwoods or even fresh cut pine.

[Kwill]

Ok thanks guys.

[Kbeitz]

You can never make them long enough. The longest log I hauled
so far was 56 feet long. The log was dragging on the road.
I don't have a picture of that one but this picture is long enough.
The one that was 56 feet long lifted the back wheels of my jeep
off the road when I hit a bump on the road.



 

[TKehl]

Aww...  One of those experimental front wheel drive Jeeps.   :D

I run into the same picking up a pallet of feed in a truck bed trailer behind a minivan.  The minivan gets a kind of hot rod type rake until I throw a few sacks of feed to the front.  Still pretty light in the back end because I'm lazy like to work smart.   

[Sixacresand]

Since a FEL tractor is not in the budget, My next arch will be higher, longer and wider than what I have now which has a 3.5 x 4 ft throat and 8 ft long. I want to be able to straddle trailers, pickup trucks and mill to handle logs and  lumber.  More like a rolling gantry for yard use only.  I have the design, material, tools and parts.  All I lack is the motivation to start another project.  ;D

[Kwill]

You can never make them long enough. The longest log I hauled
so far was 56 feet long. The log was dragging on the road.
I don't have a picture of that one but this picture is long enough.
The one that was 56 feet long lifted the back wheels of my jeep
off the road when I hit a bump on the road.



 

did you pull that down the highway?

[Kbeitz]

You can never make them long enough. The longest log I hauled
so far was 56 feet long. The log was dragging on the road.
I don't have a picture of that one but this picture is long enough.
The one that was 56 feet long lifted the back wheels of my jeep
off the road when I hit a bump on the road.



 

did you pull that down the highway?

Yes I did.  Don't tell anyone.

[21incher]

Depends on how tight a area you will maneuver it in.  I made mine as short as possible to allow it to maneuver in a tight area. I think the adjustable idea mentioned is a good way to go.   

[WranglerSS]

I made mine 10' long so I can carry 20 footers.

[WV Sawmiller]

You can never make them long enough.


 

   I disagree. You can easily make them too long and too heavy for some applications. I use mine with an ATV on steep terrain. Sometimes when negotiating a steep downhill slope I will get hung up on a tree, rock or stump and have to lower the log, disconnect the arch and move it by hand around the obstacle, reconnect to the ATV then the log downhill of the obstacle and lift again and resume my journey. I could not do this with a heavy rig.

   If you are towing on flat land with a heavy prime mover a long arch is desirable. If on steep slopes and undersized towing equipment you will want to keep the weight down as much as possible for your application.

[square1]

I'm getting ready to put my contraption, er log arch to use. It's a high wheeler with the log being the beam like the olden days. Curious what drawbacks there will be over the more modern design.

[Kbeitz]

You can never make them long enough.


 

   I disagree. You can easily make them too long and too heavy for some applications. I use mine with an ATV on steep terrain. Sometimes when negotiating a steep downhill slope I will get hung up on a tree, rock or stump and have to lower the log, disconnect the arch and move it by hand around the obstacle, reconnect to the ATV then the log downhill of the obstacle and lift again and resume my journey. I could not do this with a heavy rig.

   If you are towing on flat land with a heavy prime mover a long arch is desirable. If on steep slopes and undersized towing equipment you will want to keep the weight down as much as possible for your application.

The area I get most of my log from is very steep.
This is why i put brakes on my log arch...



 

[WV Sawmiller]

Kbeitz,

   I have seen your rig and you constantly amaze and impress me with your ability to create the equipment you do out of the scrap heaps others have abandoned. We just have different equipment and procedures to accomplish our goals.

   I just pulled down a 22' Ash upper that ranged from about 12" on the big end to about 8" SED. We have had a lot of rain lately and we are eaten up with slick mud down a 10+ degree slope between a patch of overaged Christmas trees (Norway spruces). I had my dolly on the small end and the log pushed me down the hill and jack-knifed until I slid up against a tree. I had to lower the log, unhook the arch and move it by hand as described above till it was below the tree. Just moved the ATV, hooked up and picked up the log again. Continued and towed the log to the bottom of the hill and bucked it into shorter lengths.

   Under these condition brakes on the arch would not have helped as the trail was too steep and too slick and would have held. The extra weight would have made it worse. At least I was able to disconnect and maneuver everything by hand. Also I am using a light weight ATV not a heavier tractor or UTV. The best idea would just have been to wait till better conditions.

[KirkD]

Kbeitz,

   I have seen your rig and you constantly amaze and impress me with your ability to create the equipment you do out of the scrap heaps others have abandoned. We just have different equipment and procedures to accomplish our goals.

   I just pulled down a 22' Ash upper that ranged from about 12" on the big end to about 8" SED. We have had a lot of rain lately and we are eaten up with slick mud down a 10+ degree slope between a patch of overaged Christmas trees (Norway spruces). I had my dolly on the small end and the log pushed me down the hill and jack-knifed until I slid up against a tree. I had to lower the log, unhook the arch and move it by hand as described above till it was below the tree. Just moved the ATV, hooked up and picked up the log again. Continued and towed the log to the bottom of the hill and bucked it into shorter lengths.

   Under these condition brakes on the arch would not have helped as the trail was too steep and too slick and would have held. The extra weight would have made it worse. At least I was able to disconnect and maneuver everything by hand. Also I am using a light weight ATV not a heavier tractor or UTV. The best idea would just have been to wait till better conditions.

Maybe an oversized boat anchor rather than brakes? :D

[WV Sawmiller]

Maybe an oversized boat anchor rather than brakes? :D

  Maybe what i need is a chute like they use on formula 1 race cars or such?

[Kbeitz]

Maybe a non skid tractor...



 

[ScottCC]

Two things, mine has a spreader bar that I hook to the log.  The log probably can be longer because my pick point may effectively be off center but still between the ends of the spreader.  Along this line it probably travels loaded in a more stable fashion.  Second, how about a skid plate with "spikes" so that log end may be dragged down a steep hill to slow dangerous travel without mudding up a log.

[Leggman]

Mine is about 9 feet long

[Gundog]

I worked as an electrical lineman for years we hauled poles with a dolly near the balance point of the pole with just a little tongue weight, we clamped a pintal hitch to the end of the pole. I am thinking of building something similar for hauling logs on my property.

Mike

[gasman1075]

I worked at Fitchburg Gas and Electric many years ago and if you can find a "pole dinkie" ( thats what we called them ) it would work very well. I was told by the current head lineman that OSHA had a problem with them and they are no longer in use. LP companies that used tank movers ( brindels ) are still around and I see far more of them available. Some are manual crank some are electric / hydraulic. Very heavy but work well

[square1]

I worked as an electrical lineman for years we hauled poles with a dolly near the balance point of the pole with just a little tongue weight, we clamped a pintal hitch to the end of the pole.

That's the theory behind my contraption. I have to work on the log lifting mechanism a bit, there isn't sufficient clearance to use a come-a-long as planned.  Working out how to configure a 2 speed 4 ton hand winch to lift the log, and chain with binder to hold it tight to the underside of the cross peice. Logging tongs on tbe 3 point hitch will serve as the connection to the tractor.  There is 36" of ground clearance and room to hang up to a 28" log between the tires.