Decided to try out the homemade log arch I bought today. Get an idea of the mods I want to do. Make sure the machine will pull it and not have it fall over in the rough stuff. Picked up a couple sticks that had fallen across one of my trails. Really looks like a war zone back there. Branches pouring off the dieing trees like rain. So it needs a cradle in the front to keep the logs from twisting around. Figured it would. Gonna replace the hand crank with a cheapo electric winch mounted in the rear. I’ll get a separate deep cell battery and mount that too. Can also use that battery to power the front winch when using my splitter. ATV batteries just don’t have the oomph for long term battery usage and I don’t want to keep the machine running just to power a winch. Looks like an ugly load job and it is. Wasn’t messing around, down and dirty. It’ll get better after I mod it a little.
I like it. I’ve never owned one but if I did I would try to make something like this. Not much to fail. The harder you pull the higher the load will be lifted Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I don't know better, so allow me to ask a stupid question. Why not cut in place, and throw into a trailer? Maybe it's less lifting if you can drag it to the splitter, and cut it right there?
Depends upon the woodlot and if you can get a trailer to the spot. I don't have one of those but have seen them used and can see the benefits. How about it TurboDiesel
Looks like a cool homemade rig - I'd question needing to lift them that high as it could roll over on an incline, would make for a frustrating log load.
Personally I’ve found several reasons. One, I hate throwing them into a trailer. Then I have to throw them out too LOL Have a dump trailer but it’s not going into my woods. Deep mud and boulders I’ve got plenty. I tried but it’s just not happening. A winch picks up that weight with the push of a button. Really can’t beat that. I’m not particularly old but I’m broken. Bad back, bad leg and chronic Lyme. Doing whatever I can to keep going or I’ll become a pillow on the couch By pulling logs I can concentrate on just getting them home. Then I can buck them whenever I want. I’m looking at a lot of logs in the woods. Gypsy moths killed a lot of trees. Branches are junk. Just the logs will come home. These were just some sticks in my way. I have a winch setup for my splitter to lift the heavy stuff. Basically just trying to use mechanical advantage wherever possible.
It was defiantly a concern of mine which is why I did it. LOL That’s how I roll. A test is no good if you don’t push all the boundaries. I was also trying to get the longer one off the ground,,,which it was when I left for home. They’re not supposed to drag. Turns out I tested its stability a little more than I had planned. One rear wheel broke through the ice in about a foot of water. Didn’t tip. Then one rear wheel of the atv broke through the ice too. Press the go button all the way and power out in a wheelie. It all worked but wasnt planned. Next test is to see how much log I can let hang off the back. I’ve seen the claim that the weight is always centered on the arch. Doesn’t make sense to me though. Time will tell. FWIW it is expandable. It’s at its shortest length right now. Haven’t even tried to pull it out and see how long it will go yet.
