Any ideas for skidding logs over rough terrain with an ATV without spending big $$$$ on a log cone or other device ? I'm using just lines and angling the front of the logs. Kinda mickey mouse, yes. BUTT...... Yes, I'm cheap.
I think the dray (stone drag in my lexicon) would be the cheapest way to keep your logs out of the dirt. Could build a sturdy frame from small logs. Build a skin out of scrounged plastic barrels. It would be nothing more than a large sturdy toboggan. Here’s a post with Backwoods Savages dray. For rough ground a skin may be better with a curved front to ride over obstacles. Just my opinion. We had a stone drag that was older than the hills when I was a kid. Two logs and sheet metal underneath. Came with my grandfathers farm. Long gone except for the chain which looks like it was handmade by a blacksmith firewood carts for Atv
Hope you have low range and 4WD on that atv. I did it once but did not repeat as I didn't want to put the atv through that again! And they weren't huge logs.
Dumf, perhaps one of the best things about the dray like I built is that it is easy to change the construction. I built ours for what we needed. I am still considering building one more but will put bigger runners on it to get it a little higher. Still, what we have has served us very well and it cost around $10.00 to build, which is much easier on the pocketbook.
Someone I saw used an old car hood as the base at the front of the load. The hood kept the front of the load from digging into the ground. A cheap solution, but I don't remember what he was using to pull the load.
Got most of this 18" DBH Ash out to where it can be bucked. Decided to cut a 45 angle on the log heads, slip knot bowline over the log, figure 8 to the ATV hitch and pray in low. Worked for all except the lower length ~ 18" dia, 12' long. So I quit and said %$#@&. ATV just spinned....should have put the chains on. B.S.'s dray sounds like a plan.
I got permission on 30 acres that was select cut to have all the tops. All they cut was oak and hickory and there are some big diameter tops laying around. Building a log arch for behind the atv. Arch isnt done yet but I’ll post pics when it is.
Cutting the material from an old boat trailer that has 2 1/2” square frame, not the open c-rail they use now. Going to cut the running gear off the end of the axle then welding to the bottom of the frame. 13” tires that I had foam filled to prevent tire failure. Going to mount a boat winch with strap that runs thru a fairlead to lift end of log. Once the log is up approximately 24” will wrap a chain that is welded to each upright around the log and take the weight off winch. On a good day should be able to back the arch straddling the log, winch it up, choke it with chains and go.
