Gathering Firewood didn't go as planned. I need something better to skid logs.
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ก.พ. 2022
- I tried skidding this log but it didn't go so well. I'm going to have to cut it up and carry each piece.
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We live in southeastern Illinois on a 41 acre homestead. We just finished building our log cabin in 2018. Now we are focused on trying to grow our own food and raise livestock. Follow us on our journey we continue to develop our homestead and farm, while becoming more self sufficient.
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 👍
A winch that you hook into a hitch receiver would be handy for many applications.
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
It would be smart and make life easier to cut logging trails for your lighter tractor, thinning out your woods is beneficial for the young trees to thrive.
Use grapple to hold logs while cutting save your back and keep saw from hitting dirt
Love your videos... You could use the quad to pull them out of the woods, so the tractor can pick them up....
Gosh, you've been spoiling us this week with so many videos. Thank you
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 ...
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
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
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.
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.
Great vid.
Thanks for sharing your journey.
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!
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..
when i cut wood i make paths to get back to the tree. works good cause the chain isnt as long, pulls better.
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.
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.
Thanks for the talk at the wood shed. I guess thats looking north. Loved the back ground. Its nice to see old stuff sometimes.
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.
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.
That Stihl chainsaw cuts like butter. Those puppies are so big now.
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!
Several posts have already suggested you fit a winch to the tractor. I agree that this is a good solution and would add that a couple of snatch blocks strapped on growing trees would also be very useful when you can't arrange a straight pull out. Modern poly rope rather than a steel cable is far easier to use. Best wishes from Rutland, Old England.
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?? 🤣
i thumbs up and comment to support your channel THUMBS UP
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.
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.
from the Netherlands thanks for the video CVA
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
Cut a trail through the woods to harvest what you need.
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 ...
I’m with you. Nothing like being in the woods cutting up some wood
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.
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.
You didn't get everything done that you wanted but it's a marathon not sprint. Have a great weekend!!
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
Another great video!👍🏻
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
Winch mounted on a draw bar, so that you can use it with your truck or your tractor...
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
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.
Fell your tree the other way around during pull from the big end and lift it up so it doesn't flip up
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!
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
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.
I like the measuring rod attached to the bar. Cool idea.
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.
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.
Hey to you and Rebecca liked 👍the video it was relaxing God Bless your family. 👋😇😇🙂💕
Baileys online has great custom choker cables! I just ordered some and they were reasonably priced and fast shipping! 👍🏻👍🏻
That fire box is so cool - looks so warm! That's an oxymoron 🤣
You did get some great You Tube content and firewood. you made a video to keep that big you tube wheel spinning. Good one
Man you got all the toys. Been staring at a grapple for a while.
A couple of draft horses can go anywhere and skid logs out. :)
A bad day in the woods is better than the best day at work.
Evan.
1) Could you relocate your wood storage closer to your consumers (house, shop).
2) Cut a meandering trail, following the curve of the landscape, makes life easier for the next suggestions.
3) As mentioned in an earlier post, winch for the back of the tractor, check out Captain Kleeman channel, he adapted one, for his 755 John Deere.
4) Also check out his channel for his home built log arch, looks a little strange but works a charm.
A lot of this has been done before, please don't try and re-invent the wheel.👍😎
Best wishes from the far North.
You don't really want the primary storage to be too awful close to your living quarters. Until the wood has had a chance to dry out at least a little bit, it will invite lots of undesirables. While I no longer recommend his channel, Wranglerstar used the hood off an old Jeep as a skid, and used a winch to pull logs out. I do recommend Captain Kleeman's channel, but he's largely pulling logs on "trails" with a much smaller tractor. It does get the job done, and needs not much wider a cut than the four wheeler.
@@brentkreinop489 I didn't say, put it on the porch! But CLOSER, to the final use points, the idea, is to reduce re-handling/time.
Also, if your cutting a trail for a UTV, a small utility tractor trail, is not that much wider. No mater what, you will have to cut some. Careful consideration of the route, will keep the cutting to a minimum.
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
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!
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.
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!
Like “it’ll still burn” like the camo coloured chap better than the bright orange. Chers
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...
Get a winch with synthetic rope ❗️
Great video ❗️
Suggest a small winch on a hitch mount to go into your ballast box. Easy 80-100’ of cable to pull with.
The opening reminded me of the Project Farm video. 👍
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
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.
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.
Nice one evan. Isn't it great to do what you want now and again!!
The chainsaw chaps are actualy really clever, they dont physicaly shield you from the saw. They have fibres inside that pull out with the teeth of the saw and clogs it up, stalling it. It means you cant then drop it on your foot or something in surprise and cut that instead, because its stalled out.
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!
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.
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
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?
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 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..
watched u earlier on the flat screen,not subscribed to youtube on there,i luv cutting wood
1 have a 100 ft 1/4 inch cable with eye loops on each end. i keep it on the spool for easy transporting.
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.
YOU SHOULD HAVE A COUPLE SNATCH BLOCKS THEY REALLY COME IN HANDY CUTTING TREES
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👍🇳🇴
They are orange so you can see them...and to remember to put them on. Paint those chains yellow or orange so you don't lose them lol. Great video where is the Boss lately?
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.
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.
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
There are winches made for towing receivers that have wireless remotes that could help some and make life that much easier
Totally agree. You want to work smarter, utilize your bigger equipment more and make chores more efficient.
You could get you an old mule!!! 😆😂😆 Just like Eustace on the tv show Mountain Men! 😄
Fantastic video as always keep it up
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.
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.
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
Wallenstein makes a 3 point winch. Sawing With Sandy uses one to drag logs out of his forest. He is on youtube.
Just an idea for your shop wood stove ,a flue pipe fan blower lot of heat goes out that way.
Perhaps you should consider getting a cant hook. It would make cutting on the ground much easier with less chance of running the saw into the ground. The one I have really works well and is available on e-bay from professionalsell for $42.00 and free shipping.
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.
!
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
Awesome Even. Please be safe cutting down those trees.