Can one person lift a log using the Hobbs or do you need one person to crank and one person to tend to the rope? Also can some one compare the Hobbs vs the GRCS..... besides price and lifting abilities? Thanks.
question on Hobbs
- Thread starter emr
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Ghillie
Addicted to ArboristSite
Can you better describe what you mean by "lift a log".
I first used a Hobbs a month ago and was VERY impressed but the one I used did not have any mechanical advantage or gear reduction.
One competant person can manage the winch/capstan but two people make it safer/easier.
What are you planning on doing, how much weight are you working with. What other gear are you planning on using for your rigging?
Give us more info and someone will be able to better answer your questions.
Fred
Ghillie
Addicted to ArboristSite
Also try a search on "hobbs".
I found a great video on this thread.
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=70322&highlight=hobbs
I found a great video on this thread.
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=70322&highlight=hobbs
Reg
ArboristSite Operative
I bought a Hobbs this past winter, soon realized I shoulda had one years ago. A simplistic yet really logical, conscientious and hard wearing design, as it should be in this job
With plenty of wraps, you can easily use it single handedly for raising etc but is obviously faster and safer with 2 people. We’ve also learned to mount it just about high enough so the bar can rotate all the way around without obstruction from the ground, makes the pre-tensioning/raising more efficient.
Truthfully, I chose the Hobbs over the GRCS because of certain design features which made more sense to me and my personal circumstances, price never came into it....but taking nothing away from the GRCS, a fantastic tool in its own right with superior winching capabilies. But you cant go far wrong with either device imo.
With plenty of wraps, you can easily use it single handedly for raising etc but is obviously faster and safer with 2 people. We’ve also learned to mount it just about high enough so the bar can rotate all the way around without obstruction from the ground, makes the pre-tensioning/raising more efficient.
Truthfully, I chose the Hobbs over the GRCS because of certain design features which made more sense to me and my personal circumstances, price never came into it....but taking nothing away from the GRCS, a fantastic tool in its own right with superior winching capabilies. But you cant go far wrong with either device imo.
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Fred, I ment just using the winch in general. We dont usually deal with huge wood so weight rating is not much on an issue. We would mostly us it for lifting limbs, or pully trees over. We pretty much have everything you could want for rigging except for a Hobbs or GRCS. We have multiple portys and a couple of 5:1, but I think we should expand our gear a bit........ so here we are. Thanks for all the info so far.
John Paul Sanborn
Above average climber
I've used both, and am a great fan of the GRCS.
IMO the only thing the Hobbs has is the ability to get more big (3/4) rope onto the drum... I can get 5-6 wraps of 9/16 onto the GRCS.
As toy your question; the Hobbs does not self tail, so the man on the winch needs to turn the bar and keep it in the holes, while tending the rope as it tails off the capstan drum. I've seen competent people drop the bar, and you need to have the presence of mind to not drop the rope too.
Also, you need two people to set it up. An average man can set up the GRCS on most trees solo, after very little practice. One of the reasons Greg Good made it in two parts.
IMO the only thing the Hobbs has is the ability to get more big (3/4) rope onto the drum... I can get 5-6 wraps of 9/16 onto the GRCS.
As toy your question; the Hobbs does not self tail, so the man on the winch needs to turn the bar and keep it in the holes, while tending the rope as it tails off the capstan drum. I've seen competent people drop the bar, and you need to have the presence of mind to not drop the rope too.
Also, you need two people to set it up. An average man can set up the GRCS on most trees solo, after very little practice. One of the reasons Greg Good made it in two parts.
Ghillie
Addicted to ArboristSite
I did a little more research. In the ad on Baileys, they say the Hobbs has a 16:1 mech. advantage. The GCRS up to 44:1.
I couldn't find a weight rating on the GRCS but the Hbbs has a WLL of 3000 (H2 model).
Other than self-tailing and ease of installing on tree that is the differences I noticed. I haven't used the GRCS so I can't cite more on the use of it.
As everyone else has said, they are both great devices, but you know your rigging styles and preferences better than anyone.
Fred
