skidding logs with an RTV

H

hammerhead

Member
Brian I don't remember all that I had asked you in the PM that I lost. I do know this was one of the questions... and thought it might be useful here.</P>


Of course anyone else that is twitching logs with their RTV please chip in also.</P>


Do you use anything to hook your winch line to the logs? Do you just wrap your winch line around the log, or do you use something... like tongs a choker chain.. or a skidding cone?</P>


glenn</P>
 
[quote user="hammerhead"]Brian I don't remember all that I had asked you in the PM that I lost. I do know this was one of the questions... and thought it might be useful here.


Of course anyone else that is twitching logs with their RTV please chip in also.</p>


Do you use anything to hook your winch line to the logs? Do you just wrap your winch line around the log, or do you use something... like tongs a choker chain.. or a skidding cone?</p>


glenn</p>[/quote]
I still haven't received that PM. Hey Neil - Any DB errors?

Hang on... I'll be back in 10 minutes with some pics. I'd have a lot of typing to do it if wasn't for this camera...
 
OK, I took a pic of some baling twine as a joke to show how I do it but I'll skip that...

I have a few 2" straps, hooked on both ends, about 7-8' long. One is <u>always</u> used around the log. I never wrap the winch cable directly around the log as that can/will ruin the cable.

Here's a pic.
 
Depending on distance, if it's long, I'll use a 20' 10K pound strap. More than one may be used depending on how far away I am from the RTV.
 
The aforementioned straps all occur before the winch cable.
The winch cable is then either setup as a direct run to one of the straps or first run through a snatch block to control direction.
If a snatch block is in use, I'll use a strap like what was first pictured around a tree then connect the snatch block to that and run the winch cable through the block.
 
Wow that was fast.. Thank you once again.</P>


I figured just wrapping the winch rope was a no-no.</P>


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The bailing twine photo would have been great [:D]</P>


</P>


Has anyone used a skidding cone? They look like a great idea. </P>


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glenn</P>


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</P>
 
I responded before they all came in... So you use straps for further away pulls vs winch rope extention...</P>


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The pm I might have messed up on myself. </P>


glenn</P>


</P>
 
OK, I have a strap around the log, possibly through the ground and maybe around a tree to control direction. (Normally, it's the strap around the log directly to the winch so it's not as elaborate/complicated as it may sound).
At this point, I use the wireless remote on the winch and a cant-hook in hand and start dragging the log. During the process I'm at the log and dragging (a benefit of the wireless remote on the winch) to assure it doesn't snag or get caught on a tree.
The log is towed to the trail then chunked into length and loaded into the RTV. (Splitting occurs at the wood shed).

If the log is huge or something I don't want to do with the RTV, I'll use the Farmi winch on the back of the tractor. Not picking on the RTV but this setup will blow away anything you can do with the RTV. I don't prefer this option because the RTV can get to the wood faster and carry it out. The tractor/Farmi is slow getting there and then has no carrying capacity to get the wood out.

OK, trivia time. What's this tool for? (It's related to the subject).
 
[quote user="hammerhead"] I figured just wrapping the winch rope was a no-no. [/quote]
That's a definite NO-NO!!! You're cable will be ruined very quickly.

[quote user="hammerhead"]Has anyone used a skidding cone? They look like a great idea.[/quote]
I haven't used one but where I live, they won't work. I live in some serious hills. Dragging a log is very dangerous as it can roll down the hill. When that happens, you and your RTV are dragged down with it and bye-bye to your RTV and probably yourself. Not a happy ending...

I have some logging tongs that I could use with the Farmi but with 200' of cable on the winch and some specialized chains, I don't bother with them. Want to buy a new set of logging tongs?
 
[quote user="bczoom"]OK, I have a strap around the log, possibly through the ground and maybe around a tree to control direction. (Normally, it's the strap around the log directly to the winch so it's not as elaborate/complicated as it may sound).
At this point, I use the wireless remote on the winch and a cant-hook in hand and start dragging the log. During the process I'm at the log and dragging (a benefit of the wireless remote on the winch) to assure it doesn't snag or get caught on a tree.
The log is towed to the trail then chunked into length and loaded into the RTV. (Splitting occurs at the wood shed).

If the log is huge or something I don't want to do with the RTV, I'll use the Farmi winch on the back of the tractor. Not picking on the RTV but this setup will blow away anything you can do with the RTV. I don't prefer this option because the RTV can get to the wood faster and carry it out. The tractor/Farmi is slow getting there and then has no carrying capacity to get the wood out.

OK, trivia time. What's this tool for? (It's related to the subject).

[/quote]</P>


</P>


You use it to pull the strap under the log?</P>


glenn</P>
 
[quote user="hammerhead"]The bailing twine photo would have been great [:D][/quote]
Here 'ya go (pic below).

BTW, I don't think I would use a skidding cone, even if I was on flat ground. Here's my thoughts/reasoning.
When you fell a tree (or Mother Nature fell it for you), it hit the ground and stayed there. There's no dirt, sand or otherwise on it and it's clean. That's what your chain on the chainsaw likes. No sand, dirt, clay, gravel, grit... to ruin the chain. 10 seconds in those conditions (sand, dirt, clay...) will dull a chain faster than 10 hours in wood. My preference is to drag as little as absolutely possible for that reason. If the log even touches dirt, I try to avoid using the chainsaw in that area.
 
[quote user="hammerhead"]You use it to pull the strap under the log?


glenn[/quote]</p>

Ding, Ding, Ding!!! We have a winner!!!. 90% of the people I ask that do something with logs or firewood miss it. It does a nice job of pulling a strap or chain under a log.
</p>
 
[quote user="hammerhead"]So you use straps for further away pulls vs winch rope extention...[/quote]
Not sure exactly what you mean by a "winch rope extension" but yes, I use straps. A 20' 10,000# strap is about $7. I would rather use those through the brush than a $1/ft piece of Amsteel. I've never ruined/broken one of those 10K# straps doing firewood so they're worth it to me. BTW... If you use one of those 10K# straps trying to pull something out with your truck, they can/will break. I'm sure they made it to the 10K# mark before I broke it (as the truck tires were smoking on pavement after a good jerk on the strap and all 4 tires were spinning on the truck before it snapped).
 
Sorry to leave in mid conversation... We went out snowshoeing with others.</P>


You can buy the Amsteel rope as extension. It has finished ends. I like the strap Idea though. </P>


I don't won't to winch my logs any further than I have to either. I was wondering about the cone.. for the winching you do, do. The 50 -100 or so that you pull to bring it to your trail. I would prevent it from hanging up on stuff.. and perhaps help keep it out of the dirt. </P>


I myself would have waited to see how much if any trouble I have with that to start with. I will get the wireless remote.. and I do have a log Peavie. </P>


</P>


Do you have a special source for that logging twine? My suppliers up here don't seem to have it. [:D]</P>


</P>


glenn</P>
 
[quote user="hammerhead"]Do you have a special source for that logging twine? My suppliers up here don't seem to have it. [:D][/quote]
Unfortunately, this kind is very hard to get. I get it from a friend of mine who bought a bunch from an auction years ago.

I was all set to give an action shot of it yesterday but the wood I was cutting I could drive right up to so I didn't need to drag it.

On a related note, I need to vent. Our ground isn't frozen right now (and it should be). Where I was cutting is down the road where a friend clear-cut a wooded area to build a house. He said to take all I want so I've been trying to get a couple trailer loads/day. When I return home, I have to drive through the yard to get it to the wood pile. The trailer tires aren't wide and I'm leaving huge ruts in the yard so I had to stop. I'm actually staging loaded trailers in the driveway right now waiting for the ground to freeze so I can get them to the wood pile. It's getting cold again over the weekend so I'll be able to proceed but it's really messing me up right now...
 
[quote user="bczoom"][quote user="hammerhead"]Do you have a special source for that logging twine? My suppliers up here don't seem to have it. [:D][/quote]
Unfortunately, this kind is very hard to get. I get it from a friend of mine who bought a bunch from an auction years ago.

I was all set to give an action shot of it yesterday but the wood I was cutting I could drive right up to so I didn't need to drag it.[/quote]</P>


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Bummer I really like that method, I guess I will have to stay with the straps. [;)]</P>


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I am sorry you can't get into the woods.. or to your wood pile. Our ground up here [Maine]is not even froze up that well. We had a very wet late fall, then things started to freeze up, then we got a lot of snow, so with the insulation and not much frost, the ground thawed again. ... wet soggy ground under several feet of snow It has to be hard for the loggers.</P>


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glenn</P>
 
I'd really like to mail you some of the twine but I'm on my last roll so I can't afford to give any up.

It's just annoying that I can get it cut and to the edge of my property (park trailers in driveway) but can't take it that last 200' without doing yard damage. The trailer tires are narrow and I've been leaving 5" wide, 5" deep ruts through the yard. I just can't do it anymore without having to do a bunch of patching in the spring. I haven't made too much damage yet and a paving roller in the spring will fix it but I don't want to get into bringing in fill and re-seeding.

Maybe I'll just pull the RTV in the shop for a couple days and do some things to it instead. [:D]
 
bczoom,</P>


That's what so great about days like this, we all get to install more " goodies " on our RTV's >>>></P>


Cost us a little money, but heck, look at the return we all get !!!! A BIG SMILE !!! [:D]</P>


</P>
 
Still at my desk but hopefully heading out soon.

It's due for a service but the dealer is out of tranny filters so I'll be doing that next week.
I also ordered the hand throttle. I'll play with that to see how it changes things.

Other things to do to the RTV on this pass so I have things to do until the filters arrive:
A couple of my lights aren't working so I think I need to replace the switches.
The GoLight
Another Strobe light
Amsteel rope for the winch
Probably more 12v accessory plugs
Maybe a second battery.
Probably will replace existing battery.
Possibly new stereo (I can't get the CD door to open on the current one).
2 replacement speakers? When I installed the high air intake, I lost the spot where the speakers went since they mounted on the rear of the vertical ROPS. Maybe I'll just try to relocate but I haven't found a good spot yet.
Possibly going to add Uni-strut rails to the sides of the cargo box so I can easily put/carry things on the outside of the cargo box.
Along the same lines as the Uni-strut on the cargo box, I may make a setup to put a toolbox on the front guard. One of those trapezoidal boxes that goes on the front A-frame of a trailer. I'll have to dig but thinking ajdillon may have done this or something similar.
 
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