Combo Trailer/Light Duty Log Arch

[svk]

I want to put a log arch onto my lawn tractor wagon. I know it's not going to be for large logs but will help get a lot of mid/smaller size oak and maple out of the woods that I've located.

I have a wagon similar to this but has a tilt bed.



I'm thinking I can have my buddy weld an arch with center of gravity slightly ahead of wheels. Tip the bed, drag the log(s) in and chain them up to the arch, tilt the bed back up. Seems pretty simple but am I missing anything?

 

[Philbert]

(You will hate me for showing you these, if you are not familiar with them)

Check out the Iron Horse videos on YouTube, such as:


to get some ideas about loading and dragging with a small trailer and winch.

Philbert

 

[Philbert]

Also try "ATV Log Skidder':




Philbert

 

[svk]

Also try "ATV Log Skidder':




Philbert

Basically what I'm thinking is build a hoop on the trailer that looks like the one in the first video.

 

[Jere39]

It will be interesting to follow your quest. I didn't set out to combine the cart and arch, and I believe you've already seen the arch I built (Just in case you haven't here is my build thread). It looks very much like the front half of the "ATV Log Hauler" above, and functions fine in my conditions without the trailing axle set. Maybe the trailing one is better for wood destined for a mill, but I'm sawing for firewood, and get very little dirt and debris along the log, just the very back end.





FWIW, I find I use the cart more often than the arch, because I mostly buck and split in place unless I've dropped a tree on a rock pile or in very heavy brush/briars.



Do you suspect you will have to cut the axle on your cart? I think the arch concept pretty much requires an openning between the wheels to function easily. Maybe with a taller arch you can lift over the center of the axle and the tilted bed. Good luck, share your progress.

 

[svk]

My thoughts are to have it high enough that the log can hang freely within the trailer (with the tailgate removed). I'm only going to be hauling 12" or smaller trees with it.

 

[esshup]

What are you guys using for wheel bearings??

 

[TRL WGN 1]

no log arch expert here however I would be concerned that in order to get the log high enough to clear the bed in transport, your arch will be very high and your log angle will be such that your cart may become unstable on anything but flat ground.
just an observation

 

[Colt]

Here is mine that I built, kinda the opposite of what you're trying to do as I have since added a flat bed to it for bucked wood. If there's a next time around I will set it up for ATV tires and use some smaller square tubing. I know that where I pull from is pretty miserable terrain and the trailers we used to use would tip over without the wide stance.

 

[Philbert]

Philbert

 

[Philbert]

Philbert

 

[Stihlofadeal64]

View attachment 446966

Philbert

HERE HERE! That's vintage!
I especially like the one with the nice rack! OORAH! That's old time improvisation!

 

[Philbert]

I especially like the one with the nice rack!

Holds the kindling . . .

Philbert

 

[Jere39]

Here is mine that I built, kinda the opposite of what you're trying to do as I have since added a flat bed to it for bucked wood. If there's a next time around I will set it up for ATV tires and use some smaller square tubing. I know that where I pull from is pretty miserable terrain and the trailers we used to use would tip over without the wide stance.

View attachment 446954

Nice job, looks plenty sturdy.

 

[Trx250r180]

I always pictured you just throwing the logs over your shoulder and walking them out

 

[rarefish383]

I follow what you want to do. i built what I called a "gantry" on the back of my dump trailer to load logs. originally I used a 3 ton winch to pull the logs up, but darn was it slow. Now I just unhook the trailer and pull the logs up with the truck. I tried pulling a 40" Oak log up on the trailer at an angle and snapped off one of the 4X4 uprights. Now I just pull the log up the ramp, although the gantry worked much better, and I was able to stack the logs. Maybe something much lighter would work on your trailer, Joe.

 

[Philbert]

This one is a classic too:



Philbert