Engineering question

[TopJimmy]

I know that there are too many variables to give an accurate answer, but I am curious how big of a winch would be needed to drag a 10,000# log. Assuming the log is straight and free of branches, on dry grass and dirt, and the ground is level. I am just hoping to get a rough estimate. At first I assumed 10K to pull it, but as I thought about it, I could lift it with 10k, and I can drag a lot more than I can lift so it has to be less.

Jim

 

[Four Paws]

Getting the log moving will be the hardest, keeping it moving will be easy!

Review your engineering here: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/frict2.html

Lets assume you have a coefficient of static friction of .6 - kind of high, but reasonable for rough bark dragging over rough surfaces (dirt/rocks/brush) when in the woods.

10,000lb log *.6 = 6000 lb. winch to get it moving, and like 4500 lbs (give or take) to keep it moving.

Get a Warn 8274, and you will be a HAPPY camper. Fastest line speed out there!

 

[Canyon Angler]

Review your engineering here: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/frict2.html

Cool site Four Paws!

 

[sawinredneck]

I may be way off base here FP, but aren't the winches rating at max "rolling resistence"? As such a dead weight will need more power than rated to pull without overheating? Just what I remeber from my 4x4 days.
Andy

 

[Four Paws]

As far as the ratings on modern winches (rolling/draggin/etc.)...I don't know how they are rated. BUT, I have seen a warn 8274 pull out a 6500 lb. rig, in mud up to its fram rails - double line pull of course. If it says it will pull 8000 lbs. resistance I would interpret that as meaning 'lift' 8000 lbs. Hell, I could pull/push an 8000 lb. truck on a level concrete driveway. So, if that log is resisting movement and the winch sees 6000 lbs. of resistance, it you would need at least 6K pull from the winch to get it moving. Then, the force of resistance would decrease....bottom line is - the 8274 Warn is about the best winch out there, and would work sweet for skidding logs!

 

[RaisedByWolves]

I just got a warn 1700 and will be using it on my tractor for various chores.


I see it this way, how much you can drag will depend on the type of soil your working with. Im lucky (untill it rains) as most of my property is loam. If I can get one end off of the ground (a huge factor in skidding) I can drag quite a bit with the small tractor Im working with. With additional weight on the rear I can drag substantally more.


Im going to set up my winch on the back of the tractor with a removable mount and have it set up fairly high and fabricate a wedge like socket for the front of the log to rest in when Im dragging it.

If I can rest the wedge on the ground and use the winch to hoist the logs onto it, I can then use the 3pt to lift the log and skid it where it needs to go.



I think with this setup, using the winch in conjunction with the 3pt I should be able to skid a 6k-8k log as long as I can get traction, again the soil and the weight of the log plays into it.


This will work for me, if your simply going to drag the logs around (sans tractor) with the winch then you will need much more grunt than I need.

 

[woodfarmer]

raised

that whole idea sounds dangerous, read the "tractor in the woodlot" thread were theres lots of good winch info and pictures

 

[RaisedByWolves]

If your unfarmilar with tractors allmost anything you do with them is dangerous.

 

[oneadam12]

I don't know how much you are wanting to spend, but me and a buddy of mine are in the process of retrofitting a loader grapple to use on a JD 4020 as a skidding grapple. Should work great on terrain that a tractor can manuver on. Not much of a problem down here.

 

[Ombesb]

Warn winches , as are most , I believe, rated in 'line pull' . They care not how you happen to accumulate the load, be it rolling or dragging along. They also are careful not to use the word ' lift' , as someone will without a doubt figure out a way to make it into an overhead hoist. Whole can of legal worms there.