Ghetto grapple skidder idea

[psuiewalsh]

Can't help you with axle question. No really experience but I have been told that the Chrysler industrial engines have a good reputation. Some Clark forklifts had the slant 6 which I know is a good engine. When your $ allows buy one of these and you'll have a backhoe and skidder potential. Last I checked they were going for around $15,000 straight off the base. Some are pristine and some are dogs. Many even include a hydraulic chainsaw thrown in the tool box. This one looks pretty good and is up for sale now. Ron

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Is that a UNIMOG with mercedes diesel?

 

[rwoods]

Yes. Ron

 

[rwoods]

Jim Timber, if you would supply some more information about the tug such as make and model, I would be happy to see what specs I can find. Ron

 

[redprospector]

The guy came back with $500 on the tug. I'm curious about what rear end is in it, and how hard it would be to lock. The size is right, the price is close to right, and I'd just need to find a divorced transfer case to stuff in it to enable 4wd and slap a new live axle under the front, then lift it some.

I'm not crazy about the chrysler engine, but I can't buy a decent garden tractor for the same money.

Ok, I have been pretty quiet lately, but I've got to throw my 2 cents in on this one.
In my opinion.....The only way you can break even on this is if scrap iron goes to $250 a ton, and that's before you spend the money & time to find a divorced transfer case, a front end, and a ring gear & pinon to make it match the rear end. After you get that several thousand dollar investment installed you will need to get more aggressive tires. Couple more grand? Then you'll need a winch, an electric one won't do, you really need a pto winch. Well crap, now you need a pto to fit the tranny, or transfer case. Good luck finding a good used one. I won't go into the 1000 little unforseen things that will need to be done to get this project right.
I figure that when you finally get that tug transformed into a halfased skidder you'll probably have about $8000 tied up in that $500 tug, and that's all anyone will ever view it as is a $500 tug. You'll never get your investment back when you're done with it.
I personally believe that you'll be far better off buying a tractor of some sort to fit the budget. At least you'd be able to sell it when you're done if you want to.
If you're planning on moving logs, nothing works better than something that was designed to do the job.

Andy

 

[OlympicYJ]

Andy is right on that stuff addingbup. Maybe a nice little skidder like the mountain logger....

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[KYLogger]

ok, i have been pretty quiet lately, but i've got to throw my 2 cents in on this one.
In my opinion.....the only way you can break even on this is if scrap iron goes to $250 a ton, and that's before you spend the money & time to find a divorced transfer case, a front end, and a ring gear & pinon to make it match the rear end. After you get that several thousand dollar investment installed you will need to get more aggressive tires. Couple more grand? Then you'll need a winch, an electric one won't do, you really need a pto winch. Well crap, now you need a pto to fit the tranny, or transfer case. Good luck finding a good used one. I won't go into the 1000 little unforseen things that will need to be done to get this project right.
I figure that when you finally get that tug transformed into a halfased skidder you'll probably have about $8000 tied up in that $500 tug, and that's all anyone will ever view it as is a $500 tug. You'll never get your investment back when you're done with it.
I personally believe that you'll be far better off buying a tractor of some sort to fit the budget. At least you'd be able to sell it when you're done if you want to.
If you're planning on moving logs, nothing works better than something that was designed to do the job.

Andy

amen!

 

[Jim Timber]

It's a United Tractor GC-340-4

The rear end is dually 16.5's, so I'd be looking at $600 to put skidsteer tires on it (I already know where I can get them for 150 each new). Front axle would be $250 or so, and the transfercase might run me another 300. Hydraulics were what makes me so interested in this little thing - that engine has plenty of power to run a belt driven pump: no need to run it off the t-case. Maybe you're forgetting I am a machinist, and I own a full shop of gear? I don't pay other people to make this stuff. I have a 410A mig welder too...

The size package of the tug is the attractive aspect - it's smaller than a compact car, and is rated to pull 46,000lbs up a 13% slope. Now that's a rolling load probably on pavement, and who knows what it will do with a skid load on dirt, but my land is pretty flat on half of it, and that half is where most of my clear cutting will happen.

I don't see this as an investment in anything but my productivity and the FUN of modifying something "different." I'm not making it to resell, I'm making it to be useful for me. I also haven't committed to buying it yet (I have similar issues with the end result as some of the dissenting views here - this ain't my first franken-machine). At the end of the day, I don't give a crap what anyone else thinks of it, as long as it works for the job I intended it to do.

I'd LOVE to have a unimog! I'd even make wider trails to fit one on my land. Those things rock. I'll take a look at those demilled loaders too. I'd get a lot of use out of one, even if I'd have to winch up to it for some of the cuttings. I don't have 15K, and I can't get 15K... so if that's really what they cost, I'm out.

 

[northmanlogging]

The little tug with the 4 wheel steering would be an ok way to go, but only if you can get the ground clearance! The skid steer tires are just too bloody short to do any good. Ya need as much clearance between the axles and dirt or Stumps as you can safely get, which means BIG tires, something in the range of 4' and taller, which means modifying the wheels to fit the axles ya got with the wheels that fit em and a set of 44" super swampers will probably only last about 2 hours in the woods, Yer gonna knead A.G. tires at least, All very doable if ya gots yer own Machine shop like yas said... Wheel adapters are a sinch. While your at it just lose the fenders in the scrap heap ya knead the clearance anyway and they wont last much longer than the head lights or windsheil should be fun...:msp_scared:

 

[Jim Timber]

I'm getting around ok with 13" of ground clearance on my atv, but I do agree more would be better for the little tug.

I haven't committed to buying it. For 300 I'd get it for chits and giggles, but 500 is over my threshold for toys which require work, and closer to the "get an old tractor for $2K" instead side.

I need to sell some wood to pay for better gear, and once I do that, I don't need a huge 26,000lb loader just to clear some patches of trees. I'm not working other properties. I'm NOT a logger. Some of you guys don't seem to get that - I have 20-30 acres I want cleared, after that's done - I'm gonna be mowing my shooting range and yard for 20 years waiting for some pines to get big enough to cut.

 

[floyd]

OK, here's what YOU don't get. We ARE loggers. Some do this, & just this for a living. MOST of us have a clue.


Do you?

 

[slowp]

I'm getting around ok with 13" of ground clearance on my atv, but I do agree more would be better for the little tug.

I haven't committed to buying it. For 300 I'd get it for chits and giggles, but 500 is over my threshold for toys which require work, and closer to the "get an old tractor for $2K" instead side.

I need to sell some wood to pay for better gear, and once I do that, I don't need a huge 26,000lb loader just to clear some patches of trees. I'm not working other properties. I'm NOT a logger. Some of you guys don't seem to get that - I have 20-30 acres I want cleared, after that's done - I'm gonna be mowing my shooting range and yard for 20 years waiting for some pines to get big enough to cut.

Well, you keep asking questions of loggers and foresters. If you don't like what they are telling you, perhaps you should ask all this in the homeowner helper forum. Then you might be able to get somebody to agree and bless whatever you are doing. I hope your neighbors don't mind having a shooting range nearby.


Sent without coffee kicked in.

 

[northmanlogging]

Just trying to help there boss... Don't mean to ruffle any feathers. Logging is not easy or safe no matter how many precautions ya take, moving logs is difficult under the best of circumstances. Cobbled together gear is just adding another headache. Hel even the big machines break down all the bloody time our advice is just that advice to try and make you're home improvement project go a little smoother.
As far as ground clearance is concerned a four wheeler a guy can pick up and throw off of an obstacle, a skidder even a home made one is going to take a Hel of allot more then a push and a pull to get unstuck when (not if) it gets hung up on any thing.

 

[rwoods]

Jim Timber, you left out a lot of details so it is no surprise that everyone who is trying to help you, including me, may go in a direction you didn't intend. From your posts so far, I assume you have no money to throw away, you enjoy making things, and you have some semi-rough ground with lots of projects - land clearing, pond building, etc. That said, only you can prioritize your use of time, money and skills. The tug you are looking at weighs only 5000# and has a drawbar pull of only 4000# with a maximum safe slope of 15 degrees. You have been given a lot of good advice here. Personally, I think it is a waste of your time, talent and money - and is potentially an accident waiting to happen - could be as simple as getting that little beast stuck (which you will) and hurting yourself trying to free it. If your wood is small enough and your ground is suitable for ATV skidding then work that line. Save your resources for your other projects. But don't deceive yourself - if you can't afford a day's rental to try out the right equipment, you can't afford to experiment trying to build it.

Anyway here is a link to more than you will ever want to know about the tug: http://www.liberatedmanuals.com/TM-10-3930-626-12.pdf

By the way the rear axle is:
(9) Rear (drive) axle.
Manufacturer Rockwell Standard
Part number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TA267FSH
Drop case reduction ratio . . . 3.0 to 1
Differential reduction ratio . . .5 4/6 to 1
Brake type Drum hydraulic
Brake shoe size . . . . . . . . . .12½ in. x 2½ in.

Ron

 

[Jim Timber]

Our ziegler won't rent anything of substance to someone without a business insurance policy - doesn't matter that I have a 1 Mill personal liability umbrella. I wanted to rent a D8 @2K a week and they refused to deliver it the 8 miles to my land, and then found out I don't own a lowboy or a semi to pull one with. Right now, I don't have a suitable access road to get a truck in, let alone something that's 10' wide.

My neighbors can't do a damn thing about my shooting - it's rural, and the county has imposed lot restrictions with the intentions of keeping it rural. We have neighbors who shoot high power rifles on 200' deep lots (yes, scary!).

I'm not buying the tug.

 

[rwoods]

Our ziegler won't rent anything of substance to someone without a business insurance policy - doesn't matter that I have a 1 Mill personal liability umbrella. I wanted to rent a D8 @2K a week and they refused to deliver it the 8 miles to my land, and then found out I don't own a lowboy or a semi to pull one with. Right now, I don't have a suitable access road to get a truck in, let alone something that's 10' wide.

My neighbors can't do a damn thing about my shooting - it's rural, and the county has imposed lot restrictions with the intentions of keeping it rural. We have neighbors who shoot high power rifles on 200' deep lots (yes, scary!).

I'm not buying the tug.

Once again you and I are talking two different things. I am talking about the type of equipment our local rental stores carry and deliver - mid-size 4wd JCB backhoes on down. Maybe where you live this type equipment isn't available. Give it some time and you'll figure out what is best for your situation. Ron

 

[redprospector]

Jim, I understand that you're a machinist. The question remains; Are you a magician too?
Since you're not buying the tug it doesn't matter right now.
Good luck with your property. I hope everything turns out exactly the way you envision it.

Andy

 

[terryknight]

it's your life and your money do what you wnat and what makes you happy.

it's sounds like a backhoe is what would make the most sense. and they are very versatile machines.

 

[loggert]

my younger brother just made a nice firewood skidder out of a ditch witch machine hes got a blade on it and a small bachhoe on it took the bucket off and made a small log bucket to load his 1 ton he put two tear drops on it and uses twich chains works good for what he does .

 

[madhatte]

View attachment 251901

I know those 'Mogs. They're the coolest thing on 4 wheels. 20-speed cascading transmission (16 speeds forward, 4 reverse), portal axles, 6-cyl Mercedes diesel, GNARLY PTO, will do freeway speeds (if barely)... at $15K surplus, they're a steal. I hope to get one someday. I want one with a body I can build a camper into. Won't be anywhere I can't go.

 

[Jim Timber]

Eventually I'll need to be able to clear a lot of dirt for the geothermal grid. Right now I'm only concerned with getting some money out of the trees I need removed without spending every penny I can hope to recover from it in the process.


I've often looked at ditch-witches in a similar light. Very capable little units with a small footprint. I'm going to need to rent one of those when it's time to put the power and phone lines in. I don't want lines going 1/4 mile through the trees. The cost of the poles and the time to install them will more than cover the additional expense of trenching and burial rated cable. I think I'm going with 400A service at the new place.