I moved into a new place on 70 acres and have been going around cleaning up a lot of the dead fall from over the years. The whole property is rather hilly, so while there is a logging road that gives excellent access through most of it, I can't get the tractor closer than 100 ft from the large wood I am working with. I have found many times (such as with the attached picture below of my MS 250 w/ 16" bar) that I'm dealing with large trees and rounds that are not easily moved. I'm thinking of splitting into "lug-able" pieces with my Fiskars splitting ax, then haul to the tractor with a garden cart/sled or something. How do you guys deal with these?
winch with a lot of wire rope, cut the logs into 8' lengths and drag them out? Or maybe a 4 wheeler with a smaller trailer to pull them out? You might be able to tow a splitter right up to them with the 4 wheeler too.
I have asked this very question before, might have been this very forum. Noodling with chainsaw is a valid option that I sometimes use. Also, I bought a really nice heavy duty dolly, it might be listed in my sig. I think I got it at Tractor Supply and I shopped hard to find a good one and it is. It has an extension that can fold down to handle huge rounds. I have wheeled them out of locations I could not get my truck to.
What type of tractor is it? I’d probably cut them to firewood length and load onto a gorilla cart or dolly and wheel over to the tractor. Those aren’t all that big, maybe 16-18” diameter.
I've been working some large oak rounds myself recently, rolling them 50+ feet through the woods. When you've got a clear shot without large rocks or branches in the way it's bearable. I had so many rounds to move that I ended up cutting saplings and making myself a narrow deer trail basically without any obstructions. My way of thinking is they're already round so they'll roll. If you cut or split them first now you need a cart or some way to carry them. Multiple trips through the tress with a cart full of splits presents its own challenges. It's a tough job no matter how you do it though.
If I had 70acres of hills and a tractor with a winch and a winch skidding cone I’d drag them to where I wanted to cut split and stack. I endorse getting a bigger saw too. Nice looking forest and firewood you got there.
Do you have a snowmobile? Maybe you can stack the wood and then drag it out in a sled after the snow falls. That’s how Rope does it in Alaska... I have used your method of splitting with a fiskars and hauling by hand. I think using a winch, atv or snowmobile would make you more productive.
If it’s in the budget I’d get a 3 point winch. They are a game changer. No time spent cutting a road to get to the wood. You pull the wood to the road.
More or less the same way you described. never have tried a winch or any type of rope/pulley system. A lot of work as i know. Is the terrain too rugged for a hand truck? One with bigger pneumatic tires? Id recommend a bigger saw as well. Welcome to the FHC btw! Great to have you join us!
Hmmm.. I sounds like there are a few options, I'll have to try noodling vs splitting for these later this week. I had been considering the winch route some day; an equipment dealer near by is selling Igland 2501 winches that will work on my Kubota B2601 for ~$2400. Chainsaw is on the list of upgrades too. The ms 250 has been great, but its a little small for bucking up the big oak/maples, and probably isn't the quickest in the world for that work. Thanks for all the responses folks, its nice to hear the wide variety of experiences and routes you all have tried.
WELCOME TO FHC! Glad to have you here. Skidding winch for me too. I can reach in 200' if I have too. Drag the logs to a deck or landing & go from there. Agree on a larger saw as well.
