FLRA_Dave
ArboristSite Operative
I got a wagon that I stripped all the old decking off and just added a bracket in each corner to capture logs to tow behind my tractor. I use it to forward logs about 1/3 mile at the moment (in the woods, down the edge of a field, and down the road a bit). The load in the picture was from the first time I used it just over a week ago.
I was out yesterday with it and ran into a situation that almost tipped me over / pushed me down the hill. There was some slushy snow on the hill and the weight of the loaded trailer started to make the tractor power slide going down the hill. So I dropped the 3 pt to let the winch drag on the ground to act as a brake and so the wagon didn't force the 3 pt up. This caused the rear to become unloaded and the log on the forks (that the loader could barely lift) brought a rear tire off the ground. Luckily it all came to a stop and I was able to lift the 3 pt a bit to bring the rear down and crawl ever so gently to a leveled off area. I eventually made it out of the woods and it was smooth sailing after that.
I have been wanting to get a "legit" forestry trailer (possibly with loader), but after this experience I am not sure what size I would be looking to get or if it would even be worth it. Ideally I could pull at least 1 cord out at a time. I haven't looked yet, but do most of the log loading trailers have brakes? This would seem like a really important feature to have.
I really think this keeps coming back to the same thing... I need a bigger tractor!
This gives you an idea on the terrain.
If it's close to the field, then I just pull logs to the wagon.
It's when I get so many of the smaller logs the I really want to take the wagon in the woods so I don't have to keep driving small loads back and forth... over and over.
I was out yesterday with it and ran into a situation that almost tipped me over / pushed me down the hill. There was some slushy snow on the hill and the weight of the loaded trailer started to make the tractor power slide going down the hill. So I dropped the 3 pt to let the winch drag on the ground to act as a brake and so the wagon didn't force the 3 pt up. This caused the rear to become unloaded and the log on the forks (that the loader could barely lift) brought a rear tire off the ground. Luckily it all came to a stop and I was able to lift the 3 pt a bit to bring the rear down and crawl ever so gently to a leveled off area. I eventually made it out of the woods and it was smooth sailing after that.
I have been wanting to get a "legit" forestry trailer (possibly with loader), but after this experience I am not sure what size I would be looking to get or if it would even be worth it. Ideally I could pull at least 1 cord out at a time. I haven't looked yet, but do most of the log loading trailers have brakes? This would seem like a really important feature to have.
I really think this keeps coming back to the same thing... I need a bigger tractor!
This gives you an idea on the terrain.
If it's close to the field, then I just pull logs to the wagon.
It's when I get so many of the smaller logs the I really want to take the wagon in the woods so I don't have to keep driving small loads back and forth... over and over.
