skidding firewood logs

[qphrfd01]

Thanks guys for the ideas. Snow is the key I guess, if we just had some. I think I'll go outside tonight in just my boxers,chaps and hard hat and do a snow dance, maybe that might work. No need to worry I don't have neighbors for an 1/8 mile and the dogs don't mind...as long as they get food. Thanks again and Merry Christmas

 

[Cowboy Billy]

I like to keep the dirt out of the bark. A old running gear works nice and takes less power to pull. If you are skidding a long way its nice to take 5-6 logs at a time. As was said a little compact tractor can't lift very far. But with the back hoe to weight the back down it can lift a little log. I really do need a set of forks. Its a pain jumping on and off hooking and unhooking chains.

Loading a spruce that will become a 20 long 8x8

Hauling logs in the mud with a Farmall 130 1pt fast hitch

Billy

 

[IndyIan]

I do the ATV with a trailer method for my firewood. Usually I can get the trailer right to the tree and then buck up the firewood then, sometimes I even split it in the woods, especially if I can't lift the round...
I can haul around 1/5 to 1/4 cord at a time and drive up to my pile and stack it.
I have borrowed my neighbors arch and hauled out 1400lb saw logs with it but for a bunch of 8-10" diameter firewood logs the arch is a pain to use.

I don't know if a small tractor skidding would have more production or not, depends mostly if you have to play around using cables to get the tree to the trail or not and the size of the trees. Also with an ATV I don't worry about getting stuck too much, I can move either end and there's the winch on the front so it not hard to get unstuck. Also sidehills aren't too scary with the ATV.
I use an old 300 kingquad which seems to like heavy work so far, its got more gears (3 ranges, 5 gears + reverse)than many old tractors and a front dif lock which helps when backing the trailer up steep hills. They are going pretty cheap compared to the new stuff and most guys who bought them aren't into abusing stuff.
Ian

 

[merlynr]

Hey Cowboy Billy,
My friend has a IH super A which is sort of like the 100 and he has a 24" buzz saw on the rear that is belt driven. I've helped him saw up to 10" logs with that thing. It has a bucking table that u put log on and proceed to cut off chunks of desired length. I'm not that big a fan of it, but he sez it saves the chainsaw.

 

[logbutcher]

I do the ATV with a trailer method for my firewood. Usually I can get the trailer right to the tree and then buck up the firewood then, sometimes I even split it in the woods, especially if I can't lift the round... I can haul around 1/5 to 1/4 cord at a time and drive up to my pile and stack it. I have borrowed my neighbors arch and hauled out 1400lb saw logs with it but for a bunch of 8-10" diameter firewood logs the arch is a pain to use.I don't know if a small tractor skidding would have more production or not, depends mostly if you have to play around using cables to get the tree to the trail or not and the size of the trees. Also with an ATV I don't worry about getting stuck too much, I can move either end and there's the winch on the front so it not hard to get unstuck. Also sidehills aren't too scary with the ATV.=I use an old 300 kingquad which seems to like heavy work so far, its got more gears (3 ranges, 5 gears + reverse)than many old tractors and a front dif lock which helps when backing the trailer up steep hills. They are going pretty cheap compared to the new stuff and most guys who bought them aren't into abusing stuff.
Ian

+1 Ian. Tried the log arch w the ATV--it's a PITA on rough terrain. The 6-8 cords of firewood plus 10+ cords of pulp is harvested always in winter on hard ground or snow, like you w an ATV and woods trailer. Since we keep the trails narrow, and rough, tractors don't do well. The 3'x4' trailer was welded up of plywood over a Subaru axle. Skidding just didn't work for this small cutting each year. The ATV doesn't have the pull power of even the smallest tractor; besides it's dangerous since any kind of weight can pull the light ATV ass over backwards.
So for the small logging, I buck in place, carry the butts to a splitting pile near the wood shed. More physical humping, but it makes for Msr. Goodbody.
PS The Honda Foreman 400 has run wo breakdown since 2001.

 

[wdchuck]

sound like a real log butcher.....

 

[Cowboy Billy]

Hey Cowboy Billy,
My friend has a IH super A which is sort of like the 100 and he has a 24" buzz saw on the rear that is belt driven. I've helped him saw up to 10" logs with that thing. It has a bucking table that u put log on and proceed to cut off chunks of desired length. I'm not that big a fan of it, but he sez it saves the chainsaw.

Howdy Merlynr

Yep the Super A, 100 and 130 are pretty much the same tractor. Almost all of the parts will interchange.

I have a cub sawer buzz saw for my cub. It is direct drive the main part bolts over the pto shaft with arms going down to the drawbar. It is all on the tractor so I can drive around with it and use it where I am working. I haven't had it on the tractor and I can't wait to try it out. My has a wood mizer that he used a lot and said I can have all the slab wood I want.

Billy

 

[jwfirebird]

one more vote for the atv+ trailer. my 650 kawasaki is almost 45hp with a low range. ive pulled a k-5 blazer with it. i could skid logs im sure but its much less messy to cut them up in the woods and throw them on the trailer. it also doesn't leave the ruts like the tractor. the previous owner of my property had a 8n( or similar not sure) and there are ruts all over the wet areas.

 

[crashagn]

I just use my 1/2 pickup with my hoist i built. Got a 3/4 pickup trailor that i park next to it and i winch all the logs into the bed, then go home and wrap a chain around all the logs and yank em out with the tractor all at 1 time. (remove the tailgate!!). We have a IH656 hydro utility with a freeman loader that has been perfect. When we got it had all new rubber except 1 front tire and fresh rebuild. Had the 2 point quick hitch. Went to a antique tractor place and picked up a set up IH slide in arms with the swivel for $90. No problem hooking up to the 16ft spring tooth harrow or anything else. Had a set of the actual 2 point arms that i torched off a sprayer mount and built a weight basket that has solid sidewalk blocks in it. Nice and convenient just backing right into it and lifting and your done. Weighs about 500lbs, and also fluid in the tires really helps with traction and when using the loader. Usually keep it on the tractor at all times unless something else is on the back. But of course here were i live its mostly flat fields and when there's wood available its gonna be a dozed down acreage and its usually 30miles or so round trip, so the hoist really cut the time and labor and helped me out big time

http://picasaweb.google.com/crashagn/PickupHoist#5222221594818983906

http://picasaweb.google.com/crashagn/PickupHoist#5223002929934335106

 

[wampum]

We want to see pictures of that setup. Visualizing your method isn't too hard, but pictures really help the most folks.

Right now I have a load of round bales on my trailer. I usually leave them on until I feed them. Will post Pic when empty. Its pretty simple though,just looks like a crude wrecker,just pick them up and pull the A frame up and lower the log,then winch the log on.

 

[logbutcher]

sound like a real log butcher.....

:hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:

 

[merlynr]

Howdy Merlynr

Yep the Super A, 100 and 130 are pretty much the same tractor. Almost all of the parts will interchange.

I have a cub sawer buzz saw for my cub. It is direct drive the main part bolts over the pto shaft with arms going down to the drawbar. It is all on the tractor so I can drive around with it and use it where I am working. I haven't had it on the tractor and I can't wait to try it out. My has a wood mizer that he used a lot and said I can have all the slab wood I want.

Billy

His saw is all mounted on tractor also, mostly to drawbar. Gotta be careful going thru the woods as it sticks out past the tire on the right.

 

[Moss Man]

This year we just drove the ATV into our woodlot with a trailer behind it and threw the firewood length(18") into the trailer and hauled to the splitter which is parked right nest to the skids we pie the wood on to dry. Simple and inexpensive. The ATV doesn't make a mess of the woods and it's easy to trim trails wide enough for it to maneuver on. Our tractor is big,old, heavy and not that well suited for trips into the wild.

 

[jwfirebird]

went outback to get some wood today.

 

[maplemeister]

Looking good J.W.

Did you build that trailer? If so, what is the overall size if you don't mind saying. I need to come up with a better one for my Honda Rancher is the reason I am interested. How did that pull with a full load?

Maplemeister:

 

[Zackman1801]

a four wheeler would probably work out. But in my experiences unless you have a clear road with no brush your going to have a hard time actually skidding. Most four wheelers are very low to the ground in comparison to a tractor or skidder and will hang up on small ammounts of brush. A tractor with a skidding winch or a set of tongs will provide a much easier experience. Plus you can also put a bucket or forks, or a grapple on the front to make life even easier. I think that a good sized tractor would be a good idea for you.

 

[jwfirebird]

thanks, maple. the box of the trailer is 30in wide, about 20in tall and 8ft long. i found the trailer frame and wheels in the weeds on my property and built the rest. its a little heavy i wouldnt want to stop it on a hill, fortunately i dont have any big hills so it works out well being able to haul a fair bit at a time.

i can do anything i would want to do with a tractor with my wheeler, i got a mower, i can pull quite a bit with it, and i dont have to make my trails 8ft wide.

 

[ASEMASTER]

64 cub

well I finally found the pictures on this comp. As I get older I don't pick things up quite as easily so I built this for the back of the tractor.0407081447 (Small).jpg (127.6 KB)
0407081447a (Small).jpg (108.5 KB)