How about a piece of thick plastic to put under the pulling end like a sled to keep it out of the dirt and keep it from digging in? Dad used to pull us around in the snow on a truck hood hooked to his 4x4 truck with a chain.....maybe a truck hood would work?? 🤣
Evan, Cut the logs in sections and use the 4 wheeler as a mini skidder. Get yourself a good choker chain. I do this quite frequently with trees that are down in ravines. Works well
I think you have most of what you need. I use my tractor in the woods to pull them out. I usually put all my chains on the three-point arms and rap them around them. The multi hole pin bar between the arms Which really make a nice seat when you rap them like that. Then you can get your chains easily and they come off not knotted. Usually, I have 3/8 with regular hook and one a slide hook on each end. But we do have some half inch chain also. I always carry repair links with me on the tractor. I try and run mostly 20ft chain. I usually will pull several trees at one time. This is probably a good job for the Alice. It is low profile with loader to protect radiator. This is good for hill stability. Good if you just want to put wood in the loader. We usually have the trees dropped ahead of time in a good working direction. We cut the unwanted parts and leave in the woods. Good to have an open station to get in and out. You can see more. I would clear an area to bring the logs too. Usually are most of the whole trees. Once you get things moving you don t stop. Then buck them into shorter logs for the grapple. Once you start dragging out it will help to make natural trails for you. The woods will lead you how to drive in there. I also started to use the TSC trailer hitch to hang chains on and drag with because I could lift the front of the log. Pull from the butt will be much easier. We would do 30 to forty ft trees. We try to use all the chains in a pull. I have a truck winch that will fit in a hitch receiver 12,000 lbs. That was bought for what you are trying to do. but never used yet. I would stick to chain or cable. When dragging it really beats the chains. Watch a few felling vids they really help. Don t run behind the butt. I would have someone watching. Not really a thing to be doing alone. Once on the ground I like them alot better. The other thing you could do is keep all the mess in the wood with splitting and everything once you get going. But now is the best time for skidding logs. Frozen no rain hard ground. Spring rainy weather it stinks. I think you just need more chain. We pieced some together before. The IBC totes would work great to stack the split wood in to move around. I just don t have equipment to move them. But I have tote frames. I like them a lot. Six is a good number. They are easy to load when you cut them. Good luck this has worked well for us in the past well. Something I have not caught on film is the International pulling trees like this. You will come up with your own version of this. Wear your gear it will help keep the limbs out of your eyes. Eye protection always a good idea in the woods. All the years that we skidded wood I never caried a good AXE. I have now found it to be very useful along with a small chain saw. I always wear steal toes. Ran a saw for years and nicked my boot at the toe one year. With the long bar. I was cutting logs into rounds that day or taking limbs off walking a tree. I still have all my toes to thank for it. The things we do for fun..
It's NOT about you NOT having what it takes, it's about you having the proper tools and equipment. Evan I admire your homesteading very much and believe me when I say YOU and your wife HAVE what it takes. Thank you for the great videos keep up the great work.
You hit on the best idea. I pick up a long length of a tree with the grapple and cutoff the firewood rounds right where my splitter is located. Lifting it off the ground with the grapple gets the tree clear of the dirt too.
This is the second channel I've watched in just a few days about getting wood for heat. Reminded me of my father doing the same on his 11 acres with a few differences. He was in his 60's to mid 70's and he didn't have a tractor or wood splitter. His tools were a chainsaw, ax, maul and wheelbarrow. You might think he had to be a big guy but he was about 5'3" or 4" and weighed about 130. But he was tough and determined so he got it done every year. Would he have the equipment most people use now? Nope! Why spend money on expensive equipment when you're healthy and strong would be his opinion! I got a tad too much of that philosophy for my own good as a 69 year old 4'11", 130 pound lady! Except that if I needed firewood I would buy it from someone like you with all the equipment and hard work already done. 😂👍❤️
Seen an old man as a kid use an old farmall tractor with a homemade rim attached to the belt flywheel on the side of the tractor, he had cable used to pull the wood using the flywheel as the winch.
Looked like on-road diesel (green) going in the tractor. In PA, off-road diesel (red) is considerably cheaper. Not sure if your area is the same, but thought I’d mention it. Love your videos Evan!
options, Log arch for the atv. I find easiest to get in an out of the bush with. bigger/cabbed tractor gets little difficult to get into the bush with out a full blown road. or a PTO which for the tractor. other options include skidding cone and chains/cable and winches. you could probably build a log arch in ur metal shop, I bought one from log rite. they make great stuff. Looks like dead standing burr/white oak I burn lots of that in my wood boiler whole:) Cheers from milton On Canada.
Gorgeous video, Evan. Have been looking forward to this one for quite a while ... Beautiful day. Tractor. Chain saw. Cuttin' wood, gorgeous woods around you to work in -- It all makes for a beautiful video. Thanks very much!
Harbor freight 12k winch catch it on sale for 299, lomb logs before snaking, and ag diesel from Co-op is much cheaper, great fun cutting trees and preparing firewood, thanks for sharing, God bless
Some place I seen a video of people doing what you want to do. I believe it was an add for their product. It was a skidder you could pull with your atv. It was two pieces. The back part was a cart you stood it up and chained the cart to the log. Then pulled on a handle which tipped up the cart and raised the rear of the log. The front half was the same way but it had the hitch for your atv. Looked very handy
Evan, I would totally rethink your approach. I bring a chainsaw, a rapid fire electric log splitter and a portable generator into the field. I cut rounds and split in the field, then bring back split wood to its final position before being burned. You will spend a lot less time moving wood around.
I just got us last week a Farmi logs skidder / tractor pto winch, the first company to invent them from Finland, and the best price on the market. I can’t say enough good about the way it helps us on the farm In One week. Do some research about skidders , I’m sure it’ll help you too. Thanks for sharing.
If ya have the money,a capstan winch or Lewis chain saw winch would be great. Honestly though,with you already having a tractor,I'd buy a 100' and 50' lengths of steel cable and maybe 2 snatchblocks to help guide your pull. Put thimbles and hooks on the cables ends. A homemade skidding cone may help prevent the logs digging in and getting hung up.
Lots of options. Only use chains and tow straps to avoid injury. Might first try your 4-wheeler for pulling out short logs with tow end off the ground. Get them out to the edge of the field for later pickup. Maybe pull some type of wheeled log skidder behind the 4-wheeler.
A few suggestions maybe already mentioned, take each chain and on end have a slip hook you called yore "trailer style hooks" and on the other have a grab hook like you again already have. Slip hook end goes around the log, the grab end goes to the tractor then back into the chain. Next is chain size 5/16 "TESTED" or/ hardened chain is all you will need get a few 10' and a few 20' get a good snatch block and learn how to use it with your cable on your new winch ;), it will make a difficult pull very easy. Buy a "Farmi style winch", mine is a "Farmi" brand winch made by "Normet "in Sweeden it is a 1982 and works wonderfully there are many brands all should be fine. Spend time making woods roads on your wood lot and few main roads and then make spur or twitch roads off from them into desired areas. Lastly twitch the tree to an opening then carry the tree with the grapple to the splitter. I have a 1995 Kubota with a homemade grapple, and I then pick up the trees tree length up to about 4' off the ground and saw them into stove length. It makes it much easier on your back no bending over. Good Luck with everything JeffinMaine
Thinking a good tow cable, 50ft long, would be a great addition. They also make poly cones to put on the front of the log, when pulling they deflect from oncoming obsticles.
I have a similar dilemma of getting logs out of the woods to a spot where the tractor can then move the logs to the firewood processing area. I purchased a Portable Winch & a cone. The company is Portable Winch company. Tim in northern TN
To make retrieving logs from way in the woods easier get a few relatively inexpensive tools to add to what you already have. These first options assume that you have the wide pasture to pull trees into. snatch block ($30-$100, depending on size/quality) skidding cone ($130-$140) 3/8 inch diameter steel cable (14.4K# failure) (250' $160) or 5/8" double braided polyester rope (15K# failure) (250' $190) I think I'd get the rope, its more versatile. It can more easily be handled, stored and be used for other purposes. (get the correct snatch block) If you're working in real tight spots or are a long... long way into the woods you might want a portable winch. PCW5000 gas powered portable winch ($1,000-$1,600) In which case the 5/8" double braided polyester rope is the only choice. But if you have LOTS of money there is always a logging winch to attach to your tractors 3-point hitch and is PTO powered. Wallenstein logging winch ($4,000 to $6,000) The skidding cone prevents the end of the log from digging into the dirt and being difficult to pull when the log is being pulled over uneven terrain. Or... if your tractor is over the hill, almost forcing the end of the log into the dirt as you pull it. The snatch block gives you the ability to pull a log at an angle different than the direction of travel of your tractor. Or, the snatch block can be used to double the pulling power of the portable winch. It will be interesting to see what you choose to do. OH, that tree with the top taken out of it... cut it down.
We used cable that we bought from Lift companies as they replaced the cables after a service. It was at scrap value and it worked out very cheap. Regards Billy from South Africa
Can’t beat yourself up Evan. You did a good job! That wood will burn just fine. Love watching you on the farmstead, making it happen! Thanks for sharing. Like what you’re doing in the shop too!
Good video. You have a great tractor&grapple. You need 3/8" wire rope chokers in lengths of 8'-25'- 50', should cover your needs pretty well. If you have a swaging tool , or can borrow one, you can make them your self or have them made. You need a snatch block you can trust. When you drag logs choke the big end , then you wont get hung up in a fork of the tree. And take it easy when pulling, you shouldn,t need more than a 1/4 to 1/3 throttle with your tractor. If tractor stops , go back & check what you are pulling, to see what is hung up. I use a TO-30 Ferguson that has all the power I need. Stay away from nylon rope. Like your videos, Have a Good one from the Emerald Empire.
I enjoy your content. I used to be a partner a towing company in Chicago and we used to tow vehicles from all types of lengths and impossible depths of ravines. Instead buying chains try tow cables , but not on a winch, just wound in a big circle until you use it. Its relatively light but super strong for pulling strength. Some vehicles were wedged inside buildings on top of rail road bridges , drainage holes, we got them all out using tow cables. Just a thought.
Just a thought, if you had cut limbs protruding off the tree first I think the tractor could have pulled it to the field with no problem thus saving you a lot of extra work. I don't mean to be negative at all because I enjoy your channel very much. As my dad use to tell me all the time " Work smarter not harder" and a lot of the time he was correct...
Sure wish I was closer! I have a 20ft. chain and some stripes I would give you! But I'm in Mid Florida! Always love watching and you are living the dream! God bless y'all!
Recomend a winch, makes the work way easier..And you dont need to drive as much in your fields.. its a win win Regarding your labor intensive wood process: recomend to put splitted wood on pallets(wit some faming) for drying and for easy handling with the tractor👍🇳🇴
Try leaving those logs in your bucket and cut your rounds. May save some wear and tear on your back. Nice video today. I like it when people do what they enjoy.
Try using that brush grapple to make trails through the brush. I know you don't want to scratch up your tractor, but you can make some usable trails by using it.
Cutting a trail will be your best bet for the long term. You will not always be able to reach the trees from outside the woods. There are always trees that need to be removed use those to make your trail. The orange is good because you are easily seen by others. It's a good safety color. These are all my opinions so take that as that. Love what you and Rebecca are doing. Some day I would love to be in your position. Only a bit younger than you so I need to get into gear...lol
had a kid skid 50 foot x 10" logs off my farm with a honda 300 2 wheel drive , he cut them into those little bundles ya see at the gas station and made a small fortune , lol
Those 12V harbor freight winches are pretty decent, especially if you can get them on sale. They sell mounting plates for them pretty cheap too, could bridge to the tow bar or 3 point fairly easily I suspect?
In order to prevent double handling of firewood to & from the house porch & inside the new barn you should build 2 storage wood cradles for both locations that can be picked up by the tractor folk lift to wood shed loading & dropped off at both locations preventing double handling - you can design the cradles to look well on the house porch & barn ??????? You all be well.
what about some frames like at the house and when you split the wood stack the splits in the frame then when you need wood at the house just pick up the full frame and take it to the house and bring the empty frame back to the wood shed ready for filling again
That front end grapple is awesome! Definitely something that comes in handy bringing home the wood. We have a cub cadet ranger and when my Tacoma got decommissioned a year ago because of a bad frame, it became a bull in the woods. But that is so much better that grapple😂😂🤣🤣 Awesome video Evan!
In addition to my keeper straps, 20’ tow strap and 15’ of chain, years ago I made up a 50 length of 5/16 braided wire rope with chain hooks on each end, Easy to carry and use, it’ll reach way down in the woods to help pull stuff out. If it’s farther than 75’ in, pick another tree.
Pretty much the same. I made up a 75’ cable, have a heavy 20’ chain and a light 10’ chain. Somewhere in the bottom of a bucket or along a trail there’s a 15’ intermediate weight chain I’d really like to find again. 😏
We take the splitter with, right out to the woods... haul it out with a winch on the truck, cut it, split it, stack it on pallets in the truck. That's the last we touch it because then we can handle it with the forks. That's the least handling we have come to find.
Before buying more chains etc.. what if you simply cut trees into 12 foot sections and drag them out with 4 wheeler, then tractor can pickup all of them and bring back to woodshed.
Back when we lived in Southern Illinois, we heated our house and water systems with dead trees. I never wanted to kill a live tree and was successful for over twenty years of living out in the country.
If you can do any welding make another balast box for your tree cutting stuff. Towards the middle build in a section to mount a warn wench. Anderson power poles going to the battery on the tractor and a 200 ft soft wench cable.
Warm up the old tractor for snaking the trees out of the bush to the field and then just use the new tractor with grapple on to haul them to the wood shed. The new tires will snag or puncture and expensive to replace, and who will notice a few scratches on the old girl.lol Nice job otherwise. Fun day.
you have loader tractor. make use of it, there always going to be wind blown trees farther back,, cut trails in to get it around, and get more good firewood cut the big old ones out an leave the younger to grow,, you start adding chain after chain, strap after strap, you cant see way back what is happening, next thing you know you have a strap or chain hook coming right at you though the back window and you dont have steel screen on the windows to stop them, i have been on so many EMT call with A GUY WITH A HOOK OR CLEVIS TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD DOING WHAT YOUR DOING WITH THAT hp.. it happens so fast, a huge sling shot.. cut trails in,, be smart and thin out the big old trees,, to let sun hit the ground and get more growth,, what your doing you could use an old 4x4 pick up or ATV to skid them out, no tractor needed, so make use of it..
What about a winch for the tractor? I am sure it could be used for many things, in addition to pulling logs out of the woods.
This was the very first thing that comes to mind. A winch attachment for the tractor or the four wheeler
Yes a winch 👍
How about a piece of thick plastic to put under the pulling end like a sled to keep it out of the dirt and keep it from digging in? Dad used to pull us around in the snow on a truck hood hooked to his 4x4 truck with a chain.....maybe a truck hood would work?? 🤣
Good evening Guys, I really enjoy what you are doing, you are a fast learner, you will do great. Thank you for taking the time to video
Evan,
Cut the logs in sections and use the 4 wheeler as a mini skidder. Get yourself a good choker chain. I do this quite frequently with trees that are down in ravines. Works well
Gosh, you've been spoiling us this week with so many videos. Thank you
I think you have most of what you need. I use my tractor in the woods to pull them out. I usually put all my chains on the three-point arms and rap them around them. The multi hole pin bar between the arms Which really make a nice seat when you rap them like that. Then you can get your chains easily and they come off not knotted. Usually, I have 3/8 with regular hook and one a slide hook on each end. But we do have some half inch chain also. I always carry repair links with me on the tractor. I try and run mostly 20ft chain. I usually will pull several trees at one time. This is probably a good job for the Alice. It is low profile with loader to protect radiator. This is good for hill stability. Good if you just want to put wood in the loader. We usually have the trees dropped ahead of time in a good working direction. We cut the unwanted parts and leave in the woods. Good to have an open station to get in and out. You can see more. I would clear an area to bring the logs too. Usually are most of the whole trees. Once you get things moving you don t stop. Then buck them into shorter logs for the grapple. Once you start dragging out it will help to make natural trails for you. The woods will lead you how to drive in there. I also started to use the TSC trailer hitch to hang chains on and drag with because I could lift the front of the log. Pull from the butt will be much easier. We would do 30 to forty ft trees. We try to use all the chains in a pull. I have a truck winch that will fit in a hitch receiver 12,000 lbs. That was bought for what you are trying to do. but never used yet. I would stick to chain or cable. When dragging it really beats the chains. Watch a few felling vids they really help. Don t run behind the butt. I would have someone watching. Not really a thing to be doing alone. Once on the ground I like them alot better. The other thing you could do is keep all the mess in the wood with splitting and everything once you get going. But now is the best time for skidding logs. Frozen no rain hard ground. Spring rainy weather it stinks. I think you just need more chain. We pieced some together before. The IBC totes would work great to stack the split wood in to move around. I just don t have equipment to move them. But I have tote frames. I like them a lot. Six is a good number. They are easy to load when you cut them. Good luck this has worked well for us in the past well. Something I have not caught on film is the International pulling trees like this. You will come up with your own version of this. Wear your gear it will help keep the limbs out of your eyes. Eye protection always a good idea in the woods. All the years that we skidded wood I never caried a good AXE. I have now found it to be very useful along with a small chain saw. I always wear steal toes. Ran a saw for years and nicked my boot at the toe one year. With the long bar. I was cutting logs into rounds that day or taking limbs off walking a tree. I still have all my toes to thank for it. The things we do for fun..
Love your videos... You could use the quad to pull them out of the woods, so the tractor can pick them up....
I have a cable with about 3ft of Chain on each end. Works good for pulling and stores easy. Not as heavy as chain for jobs like that. Good videos.
It's NOT about you NOT having what it takes, it's about you having the proper tools and equipment. Evan I admire your homesteading very much and believe me when I say YOU and your wife HAVE what it takes. Thank you for the great videos keep up the great work.
A winch that you hook into a hitch receiver would be handy for many applications.
You hit on the best idea. I pick up a long length of a tree with the grapple and cutoff the firewood rounds right where my splitter is located. Lifting it off the ground with the grapple gets the tree clear of the dirt too.
Great vid.
Thanks for sharing your journey.
This is the second channel I've watched in just a few days about getting wood for heat. Reminded me of my father doing the same on his 11 acres with a few differences. He was in his 60's to mid 70's and he didn't have a tractor or wood splitter. His tools were a chainsaw, ax, maul and wheelbarrow. You might think he had to be a big guy but he was about 5'3" or 4" and weighed about 130. But he was tough and determined so he got it done every year. Would he have the equipment most people use now? Nope! Why spend money on expensive equipment when you're healthy and strong would be his opinion! I got a tad too much of that philosophy for my own good as a 69 year old 4'11", 130 pound lady! Except that if I needed firewood I would buy it from someone like you with all the equipment and hard work already done. 😂👍❤️
Unfortunately, that hard work eventually catches up to a body ...
Use grapple to hold logs while cutting save your back and keep saw from hitting dirt
Seen an old man as a kid use an old farmall tractor with a homemade rim attached to the belt flywheel on the side of the tractor, he had cable used to pull the wood using the flywheel as the winch.
Thanks for the talk at the wood shed. I guess thats looking north. Loved the back ground. Its nice to see old stuff sometimes.
from the Netherlands thanks for the video CVA
That Stihl chainsaw cuts like butter. Those puppies are so big now.
Yeah. Sunny. Nice weather. Work you like doing. Just you and the dogs. An example of why moving to the country was a good idea.
when i cut wood i make paths to get back to the tree. works good cause the chain isnt as long, pulls better.
try using an old car hood to skid your log. cable works better than chain. i used 3/8 by 75 ft with snatch block.
Looked like on-road diesel (green) going in the tractor. In PA, off-road diesel (red) is considerably cheaper. Not sure if your area is the same, but thought I’d mention it. Love your videos Evan!
I was just about to say the same thing. Off road diesel doesn't have the taxes but don't get caught using it in a regular on road vehicle. Huge fines!
Red is not 100% clean, but not harmful to farm use,, Yellow is very clean and cost more and good for non farm use..
Not sure the clean part is true. Only differences is red dye plus no road tax
I’m with you. Nothing like being in the woods cutting up some wood
I like the measuring rod attached to the bar. Cool idea.
options, Log arch for the atv. I find easiest to get in an out of the bush with. bigger/cabbed tractor gets little difficult to get into the bush with out a full blown road. or a PTO which for the tractor. other options include skidding cone and chains/cable and winches. you could probably build a log arch in ur metal shop, I bought one from log rite. they make great stuff. Looks like dead standing burr/white oak I burn lots of that in my wood boiler whole:) Cheers from milton On Canada.
i thumbs up and comment to support your channel THUMBS UP
Gorgeous video, Evan. Have been looking forward to this one for quite a while ... Beautiful day. Tractor. Chain saw. Cuttin' wood, gorgeous woods around you to work in -- It all makes for a beautiful video. Thanks very much!
Harbor freight 12k winch catch it on sale for 299, lomb logs before snaking, and ag diesel from Co-op is much cheaper, great fun cutting trees and preparing firewood, thanks for sharing, God bless
Some place I seen a video of people doing what you want to do. I believe it was an add for their product. It was a skidder you could pull with your atv. It was two pieces. The back part was a cart you stood it up and chained the cart to the log. Then pulled on a handle which tipped up the cart and raised the rear of the log. The front half was the same way but it had the hitch for your atv. Looked very handy
You did get some great You Tube content and firewood. you made a video to keep that big you tube wheel spinning. Good one
Winch mounted on a draw bar, so that you can use it with your truck or your tractor...
Evan, I would totally rethink your approach. I bring a chainsaw, a rapid fire electric log splitter and a portable generator into the field. I cut rounds and split in the field, then bring back split wood to its final position before being burned. You will spend a lot less time moving wood around.
PTO powered skiding winch with about 200' of cable. Check out "Outdoors with the Morgans". Mike pulls them from deep in the woods.
I was just going to suggest the same thing, skidding winch works very good.
I was thinking of same thing.
A Clydesdale would work ...
Get a winch with synthetic rope ❗️
Great video ❗️
I just got us last week a Farmi logs skidder / tractor pto winch, the first company to invent them from Finland, and the best price on the market.
I can’t say enough good about the way it helps us on the farm In One week.
Do some research about skidders , I’m sure it’ll help you too.
Thanks for sharing.
Hey to you and Rebecca liked 👍the video it was relaxing God Bless your family. 👋😇😇🙂💕
If ya have the money,a capstan winch or Lewis chain saw winch would be great. Honestly though,with you already having a tractor,I'd buy a 100' and 50' lengths of steel cable and maybe 2 snatchblocks to help guide your pull. Put thimbles and hooks on the cables ends. A homemade skidding cone may help prevent the logs digging in and getting hung up.
Hi, Evan! Excellent video! I learned a lot about gathering firewood. Your homestead is so organized and clean. Can’t wait to watch you split the wood.
He has it down to a seance with that wood splitter machine!
Baileys online has great custom choker cables! I just ordered some and they were reasonably priced and fast shipping! 👍🏻👍🏻
Like “it’ll still burn” like the camo coloured chap better than the bright orange. Chers
Suggest a small winch on a hitch mount to go into your ballast box. Easy 80-100’ of cable to pull with.
Another great video!👍🏻
Lots of options. Only use chains and tow straps to avoid injury. Might first try your 4-wheeler for pulling out short logs with tow end off the ground. Get them out to the edge of the field for later pickup. Maybe pull some type of wheeled log skidder behind the 4-wheeler.
A few suggestions maybe already mentioned, take each chain and on end have a slip hook you called yore "trailer style hooks" and on the other have a grab hook like you again already have. Slip hook end goes around the log, the grab end goes to the tractor then back into the chain.
Next is chain size 5/16 "TESTED" or/ hardened chain is all you will need get a few 10' and a few 20' get a good snatch block and learn how to use it with your cable on your new winch ;), it will make a difficult pull very easy.
Buy a "Farmi style winch", mine is a "Farmi" brand winch made by "Normet "in Sweeden it is a 1982 and works wonderfully there are many brands all should be fine.
Spend time making woods roads on your wood lot and few main roads and then make spur or twitch roads off from them into desired areas.
Lastly twitch the tree to an opening then carry the tree with the grapple to the splitter. I have a 1995 Kubota with a homemade grapple, and I then pick up the trees tree length up to about 4' off the ground and saw them into stove length. It makes it much easier on your back no bending over. Good Luck with everything JeffinMaine
Thinking a good tow cable, 50ft long, would be a great addition. They also make poly cones to put on the front of the log, when pulling they deflect from oncoming obsticles.
You didn't get everything done that you wanted but it's a marathon not sprint. Have a great weekend!!
Nice one evan. Isn't it great to do what you want now and again!!
I have a similar dilemma of getting logs out of the woods to a spot where the tractor can then move the logs to the firewood processing area. I purchased a Portable Winch & a cone. The company is Portable Winch company. Tim in northern TN
To make retrieving logs from way in the woods easier get a few relatively inexpensive tools to add to what you already have. These first options assume that you have the wide pasture to pull trees into.
snatch block ($30-$100, depending on size/quality)
skidding cone ($130-$140)
3/8 inch diameter steel cable (14.4K# failure) (250' $160)
or
5/8" double braided polyester rope (15K# failure) (250' $190)
I think I'd get the rope, its more versatile. It can more easily be handled, stored and be used for other purposes. (get the correct snatch block)
If you're working in real tight spots or are a long... long way into the woods you might want a portable winch.
PCW5000 gas powered portable winch ($1,000-$1,600)
In which case the 5/8" double braided polyester rope is the only choice.
But if you have LOTS of money there is always a logging winch to attach to your tractors 3-point hitch and is PTO powered.
Wallenstein logging winch ($4,000 to $6,000)
The skidding cone prevents the end of the log from digging into the dirt and being difficult to pull when the log is being pulled over uneven terrain. Or... if your tractor is over the hill, almost forcing the end of the log into the dirt as you pull it. The snatch block gives you the ability to pull a log at an angle different than the direction of travel of your tractor. Or, the snatch block can be used to double the pulling power of the portable winch.
It will be interesting to see what you choose to do.
OH, that tree with the top taken out of it... cut it down.
We used cable that we bought from Lift companies as they replaced the cables after a service. It was at scrap value and it worked out very cheap. Regards Billy from South Africa
Can’t beat yourself up Evan. You did a good job! That wood will burn just fine. Love watching you on the farmstead, making it happen! Thanks for sharing. Like what you’re doing in the shop too!
Good video. You have a great tractor&grapple. You need 3/8" wire rope chokers in lengths of 8'-25'- 50', should cover your needs pretty well. If you have a swaging tool , or can borrow one, you can make them your self or have them made. You need a snatch block you can trust. When you drag logs choke the big end , then you wont get hung up in a fork of the tree. And take it easy when pulling, you shouldn,t need more than a 1/4 to 1/3 throttle with your tractor. If tractor stops , go back & check what you are pulling, to see what is hung up. I use a TO-30 Ferguson that has all the power I need. Stay away from nylon rope. Like your videos, Have a Good one from the Emerald Empire.
I bought that same sharpener. Works great!
I enjoy your content. I used to be a partner a towing company in Chicago and we used to tow vehicles from all types of lengths and impossible depths of ravines. Instead buying chains try tow cables , but not on a winch, just wound in a big circle until you use it. Its relatively light but super strong for pulling strength. Some vehicles were wedged inside buildings on top of rail road bridges , drainage holes, we got them all out using tow cables. Just a thought.
A couple of draft horses can go anywhere and skid logs out. :)
watched u earlier on the flat screen,not subscribed to youtube on there,i luv cutting wood
The opening reminded me of the Project Farm video. 👍
Just a thought, if you had cut limbs protruding off the tree first I think the tractor could have pulled it to the field with no problem thus saving you a lot of extra work. I don't mean to be negative at all because I enjoy your channel very much. As my dad use to tell me all the time " Work smarter not harder" and a lot of the time he was correct...
Totally agree. You want to work smarter, utilize your bigger equipment more and make chores more efficient.
Sure wish I was closer! I have a 20ft. chain and some stripes I would give you! But I'm in Mid Florida! Always love watching and you are living the dream! God bless y'all!
Recomend a winch, makes the work way easier..And you dont need to drive as much in your fields.. its a win win
Regarding your labor intensive wood process: recomend to put splitted wood on pallets(wit some faming) for drying and for easy handling with the tractor👍🇳🇴
Try leaving those logs in your bucket and cut your rounds. May save some wear and tear on your back. Nice video today. I like it when people do what they enjoy.
I used to drag them out with a chain and the 4 wheeler to get close enough to where i could get to with the tractor
1 have a 100 ft 1/4 inch cable with eye loops on each end. i keep it on the spool for easy transporting.
Try using that brush grapple to make trails through the brush. I know you don't want to scratch up your tractor, but you can make some usable trails by using it.
hi ,you should make yourself a path with you tractor to get in there .....keep the good job
Cut a trail through the woods to harvest what you need.
Hey Evan go to tractor supply and get a 3000Lb wench for your 4 wheeler for logging
Man you got all the toys. Been staring at a grapple for a while.
Just an idea for your shop wood stove ,a flue pipe fan blower lot of heat goes out that way.
Cutting a trail will be your best bet for the long term. You will not always be able to reach the trees from outside the woods. There are always trees that need to be removed use those to make your trail. The orange is good because you are easily seen by others. It's a good safety color. These are all my opinions so take that as that. Love what you and Rebecca are doing. Some day I would love to be in your position. Only a bit younger than you so I need to get into gear...lol
There are winches made for towing receivers that have wireless remotes that could help some and make life that much easier
Go to a farm auction and see if you can buy chains there cheaper than new. The old ones are most likely better than new anyway.
Fell your tree the other way around during pull from the big end and lift it up so it doesn't flip up
Nice looking tractor!
had a kid skid 50 foot
x 10" logs off my farm with a honda 300 2 wheel drive , he cut them into those little bundles ya see at the gas station and made a small fortune , lol
Those 12V harbor freight winches are pretty decent, especially if you can get them on sale. They sell mounting plates for them pretty cheap too, could bridge to the tow bar or 3 point fairly easily I suspect?
In order to prevent double handling of firewood to & from the house porch & inside the new barn you should build 2 storage wood cradles for both locations that can be picked up by the tractor folk lift to wood shed loading & dropped off at both locations preventing double handling - you can design the cradles to look well on the house porch & barn ??????? You all be well.
Having cut lots of timber for firewood, it was my experience that you handle each piece of wood 17 times...it definitely warms you up many times!
Stacking the split wood on pallets as it's split would say a trip or two to be able to use the tractor as well
EVAN,
You'd be surprised how big a tree that 4 wheeler
will drag. I drag some pretty big ones with my
John Deere lawn tractor.
!
If you do firewood gathering often enough, you might consider a PTO-driven skidding winch and snatch block to help get logs out of the woods.
what about some frames like at the house and when you split the wood stack the splits in the frame then when you need wood at the house just pick up the full frame and take it to the house and bring the empty frame back to the wood shed ready for filling again
That front end grapple is awesome! Definitely something that comes in handy bringing home the wood. We have a cub cadet ranger and when my Tacoma got decommissioned a year ago because of a bad frame, it became a bull in the woods. But that is so much better that grapple😂😂🤣🤣 Awesome video Evan!
In addition to my keeper straps, 20’ tow strap and 15’ of chain, years ago I made up a 50 length of 5/16 braided wire rope with chain hooks on each end, Easy to carry and use, it’ll reach way down in the woods to help pull stuff out. If it’s farther than 75’ in, pick another tree.
Pretty much the same. I made up a 75’ cable, have a heavy 20’ chain and a light 10’ chain. Somewhere in the bottom of a bucket or along a trail there’s a 15’ intermediate weight chain I’d really like to find again. 😏
Scout’s like: You okay Dad? (At the end) Lmao, my dog does the same thing when I’m outta breath. Dogs are so comforting!
You should check out a portable winch and a log cone.These can save you a lot of labor.
We take the splitter with, right out to the woods... haul it out with a winch on the truck, cut it, split it, stack it on pallets in the truck. That's the last we touch it because then we can handle it with the forks. That's the least handling we have come to find.
Before buying more chains etc.. what if you simply cut trees into 12 foot sections and drag them out with 4 wheeler, then tractor can pickup all of them and bring back to woodshed.
Back when we lived in Southern Illinois, we heated our house and water systems with dead trees. I never wanted to kill a live tree and was successful for over twenty years of living out in the country.
YOU SHOULD HAVE A COUPLE SNATCH BLOCKS THEY REALLY COME IN HANDY CUTTING TREES
Badlands Harbor Freight winch 12,000 lbs works great on my Kabota L2501.
If you can do any welding make another balast box for your tree cutting stuff. Towards the middle build in a section to mount a warn wench. Anderson power poles going to the battery on the tractor and a 200 ft soft wench cable.
Wallenstein makes a 3 point winch. Sawing With Sandy uses one to drag logs out of his forest. He is on youtube.
Evan, you should buy off road diesel which Red in color diesel. No road tax! Much cheaper.
You have every thing you need !! That four wheeler will do a lot providing you cut the logs the right size
Warm up the old tractor for snaking the trees out of the bush to the field and then just use the new tractor with grapple on to haul them to the wood shed. The new tires will snag or puncture and expensive to replace, and who will notice a few scratches on the old girl.lol
Nice job otherwise. Fun day.
I think a winch would be perfect for pulling logs out of the woods and who knows what other projects you could use it for
you have loader tractor. make use of it, there always going to be wind blown trees farther back,, cut trails in to get it around, and get more good firewood cut the big old ones out an leave the younger to grow,, you start adding chain after chain, strap after strap, you cant see way back what is happening, next thing you know you have a strap or chain hook coming right at you though the back window and you dont have steel screen on the windows to stop them, i have been on so many EMT call with A GUY WITH A HOOK OR CLEVIS TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD DOING WHAT YOUR DOING WITH THAT hp.. it happens so fast, a huge sling shot.. cut trails in,, be smart and thin out the big old trees,, to let sun hit the ground and get more growth,, what your doing you could use an old 4x4 pick up or ATV to skid them out, no tractor needed, so make use of it..
atv and cart is hard to beat in the woods, you have to cut rounds anyway..