Thread: Snigging Logs with a Tractor

Well early skidders were converted Tractors now days some are loader based there are some linkage grapples out there there is a bloke near Gympie that made them Idealy wrap a choker round the log then shorten the chain so you can lift one end of the log up as this will make it more controlable as for the winch thing a 15000 lb winch is great but if the trunk is draging against dirt crowns stumps and god knows what then naturly your going to have problems by the time you hire the dozer in you might have been able to hire a skidder in and done the job in a quater of the time .

I'm with itposs. Hire a skidder and be done with it. These are not small logs.
Possible problems with an 80 hp tractor include:
Down hill - log slides under you and tips you over, log shoots past the tractor and over the side,
Up hill - no winch so tyre damage as you sit and spin, snig chain pulls off the end of logs or comes undone and they slide back.
Cross slope snigging, Really dangerous on your farm tractor even with a draw bar pull the weight of the tractor is too light and the log can tip you over if it rolls or if you turn slightly down hill the drive of the tractor's lower back wheel will tip you over.

Your 80hp farm tractor is ok for pulling out a few logs of strainer post size in level to undulating country.
The job you describe needs a bigger machine with a winch. Even a big grapple skidder will struggle in steep contry with the bigger logs you describe. You need a winch.

cheers
Steve

Next question is is it feasible to use a 15000 lb vehicle mounted winch if required to direct the log. I'm using synthetic rope not wire are there any potential issues with this.

The rope will get chopped up whenever it is rubbed on the ground, wire will be the best thing for winching but watch out for breaks

My main problem is getting a skidder, there does not seem to be any round these parts. It's been along time since any logging was done here.

So I might be up for big $$$ for float hire to get it here, hence my looking at alternatives, I do appreciate there are problems and potential safety issues.

Guess I'm trying to find a way that works, is safe and also economically feasible.

It's a big ask I know.

Mission Beach Milling. (07) 4068 5455. Tully, QLD. Far North QLD, Qld North Coast, Tropical North QLD. Sawmill Equipment & Supplies ... I think these guys can steer you in the right direction Just hire the skidder and operator the dozer will work but I d not use any thing uder a D5 size (aka big yellow wedge)

Don't even think of towing with anything but the draw bar on a tractor, definitely not the linkage or anything higher than the rear axle, and even then if the wheels can't drive, it'll drive the tractor right over backwards in a split second.

Take the mill to the logs?

gonetroppo

The skidder may be your first choice, for speed mainly, but they may struggle in some hilly country and if there are no machines easily available in your area this is not an option.

A bulldozer would be your best bet. Somehing around 200HP and twenty tons. I have put it this way as machines vary quite a bit. A Cat D4 originally was about 60/70 HP but today is up around 140HP for the same designation (figures are typical and off the top of my head just for illustration.)

A D4 for your country may be a lttle small. I would look at D7/D8 or eqvivalent size in another brand. It will be able to tow two of the smaller logs at a time. I did some work in country that was mountainous more than hilly and that is what the owner used. He employed a contractor to snig 40 or 50 logs at a time. A couple of days work with the distances being quite long.

Once you have the logs in a dump you have chosen, probably on flatter ground you may be able to move the logs in a limited fashion.

You will probably need to either lift the front end of the log very slightly with the tractor or place a sled (improvised) under it to prevent the log digging in. Be prepared to add a lot of counter weight at the front of your tractor: As much as it will take, which you should be able to find out from your owners manual. I would gues from your machine that this might be up to 500Kg. I am also assuming that by this stage your logs will only be approx 6m ready for milling.

By lifting the front end of the log with the tractor (50mm max) it will give the rear wheels more grip, but don't overdo it: Don't gun it and consider what you are about to do and the size of log you are attempting to snig.

I have done this with a 60HP two wheel drive tractor. It was right on it's limit and struggled with a 6m 700mm dia log and a gentle downhill slope (no chance of the log rolling sideways).

A small winch (15000lbs) will only be useful to roll the log. (Actually a winch half that size will be enough to roll logs.) It would be nowhere large enough to snig.

As others have said, Be careful and stay safe.

Regards
Paul

Iwould use chain, if your rope breaks its worse than a whip ! if your tractor has a tow point under the back wheels that would be safest , your logs may need cutting to a smaller size . can be interesting on slopes a mdozer is best if you can get one , cheers Bob

Thanks for all the pointers a clearer picture is starting to emerge for me. Glad I asked the question, a lot of stuff is coming up that I would not have thought about.

Taking the mill to the log is not an option for most of the logs because of the sheer amount of cyclone debris and the degree of slope. Using a Tractor may be just to dangerous, and too time consuming to do it safely.

However looks like I'm onto a skidder, not sure of the size and cost and float hire. Also onto a D7 with winch. Again still to check on costs.

Main issue with all this is that it may end up being uneconomic. ie the cost is greater than what the milled timber may be worth.

I wonder, is there a rough rule of thumb for quantity of sawn timber that you would realize from Rainforest hardwood logs? (I'm pretty green at this milling caper as you may have guessed)

Yes, I should have mentioned to use chain in preference to wire (thanks Bob). Doesn't have to be huge chain if you use high tensile. 8mm or 10mm would be ample for what you are contemplating.

In regards to the economy we would need to know more detail of the logs. What are the species, what is the quality of the timber (was it damaged in the fall when the cyclone went through, some trees will fracture and were they sound trees to begin with) and how many logs are there?

As always, some pictures would help. I am out of touch with log value nowadays, but I am sure others can help here. Eight hours with a dozer won't leave much change from $1000, but that is dependent on how many logs of good quality you have.

Your first M3 of timber would recoup that cost for you.

Pictures, pictures, pictures.......

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Yes, I should have mentioned to use chain in preference to wire (thanks Bob). Doesn't have to be huge chain if you use high tensile. 8mm or 10mm would be ample for what you are contemplating.

In regards to the economy we would need to know more detail of the logs. What are the species, what is the quality of the timber (was it damaged in the fall when the cyclone went through, some trees will fracture and were they sound trees to begin with) and how many logs are there?

As always, some pictures would help. I am out of touch with log value nowadays, but I am sure others can help here. Eight hours with a dozer won't leave much change from $1000, but that is dependent on how many logs of good quality you have.

Your first M3 of timber would recoup that cost for you.

Pictures, pictures, pictures.......

Regards
Paul

Fair comment Paul, I'll try for some pics tomorrow.
Species are Black Wattle (Lots), Quandong, Leichhardt, Bloodwood, Silky Oak also a couple of Milky Pines and others I have not identified. (I've only been here 7 years give me chance)

There are 20 to 30 logs that are gettable and 10 or more times that that aren't.

Mostly sound the few I've topped and tailed no splits, fractures etc. Nice straight rainforrest logs. Remarkable really given that some other trees of 500mm diameter just snapped off at about 2 to 5 metres above ground level

I'll do my camera thing tomorrow
Cheers
Chris

Hmmmm, better work fast or the borers will beat you to it. How long ago were these logs blown down? It might pay to ask a local with a bit of timber experience to check the condition of the logs to see if they are too badly split, already have borer damage or stain. Most of the species you mentioned are hobbiest timbers with a slow market. You will need storage space etc. I would be looking for some on site advice before I booked the machine.

regards
Steve

Just a thought, have you access to an old axle and wheels, something out of an old small truck, wreckers yards have them. It is possible too fit it under a log and then strap it with 2 x ratchet straps diagonaly then tow it out. It does work well. You can dock your logs to length if they are too long.
regards John