Usually not really, not a fan of maple and my splitter isn’t either. But a neighbor just bought their dream property a few towns over and had some trees taken down. Sugar Maple,,,,,,so,,,,,,why not? If it were Silver I wouldn’t be interested. Almost got this pile on the first load. Left 2-3 small logs there. There’s another two loads at least in another spot. Tree guys came back and needed to remove two tiny dead branches just above my truck. Maybe I could have gotten it all on there but I also wanted to know just how heavy this stuff is on the road. Wasn’t bad, black locust is heavier.
I had posted this pic on Facebook this morning. Had a reply from a Facebook friend in my town that I’ve never actually met asking me if I want some more logs. Of course,,,,,going down Saturday afternoon to get some Black Birch and Oak logs. Friggin cool. Stay tuned.
Im not a fan because my homemade box wedge hates it. Not sure why but running maple through it is 10 times harder than hickory. Two years ago I burnt my first sugar and silver maple. Could definitely tell the difference in the wood stove. Sugar for the win. Nice straight forest trees,,,,yeah all good I’ll take em. These yard trees grow muscles and knots all over.
Went back for another small load this afternoon. Mostly oak this time. A lot more short “tree service” logs tho there were a few long ones.
Some nice Maypo logs there. Im with you as I prefer sugar maple grown in the woods. Makes some nice splits. Do you have a four way wedge for the splitter? Is it easy to switch back and forth?
I’m curious about how you load your trailer - looks like maybe you get the front end of the log started up onto the trailer with the overhead pulley on the back bar, then switch it off of that pulley to pull it to the front? Do the tongs do a good job with that process? Just curious - I’m always interested in the different ways folks get the same job done.
Yes get the front end lifted up and on the deck or previously loaded logs. Usually need the tong close to the front to accomplish that. Usually another quick pick from just a little further back to get it really secure in its position. Then another quick pick from about 3/4 way back to get it up and laying flat on the trailer. One more quick pick to from the tail to get it as far forward as possible. When I have 2-4 logs on the trailer in such a fashion but still sticking out the back too far I drop the tong and pulley and use “the foot” for a straight pull onto the trailer. The foot. Overall the tong is the easiest tool to use. I’ve used logging chain and it’s more work trying to get it under a log laying on the ground. Also get it back out once the log is laying on it. The advantage of chain is you can pick things a little higher. That helps when you’re loading high but I never bring a chain anymore. If I feel the need I’ll just use the winch line for an extra high pick. Using the tongs in smaller incremental picks is still easier. The key is really using several picks on a single log. Try to grab it from the rear when the front is just resting on the trailer and it’s liable to swing sideways instead of slide on. Another consideration is the length of the log. The longer the better, easier and safer it is to load. Something like 6 feet is the worst. Short and stubby doesn’t know which direction it wants to go
Thank you very much, I appreciate the explanation and all the details. I like your "foot", too - great idea! I was trying to figure out how the tongs would work for the final forward pull if it was the last log in the layer with cramped side space, but that device seems like a fantastic solution. I may have to copy that. LOL
It is a nice system having seen it used myself firsthand. Joe even let me use the remote. I remember "winch in" and "winch out"
Copy away. Hopefully your welds are better looking than mine. FWIW I’ve cut off the center spike, it was too much spike not enough grip. Works better with just two. They could be even smaller diameter for more penetration. Think those are 5/8”s. Just some guide rods cut off an old plow. Do you have a trailer and winch system already? If not another tip I’ll share is get a “trailer winch”. They’re designed to run faster feet per minute than a normal winch and with a longer duty cycle. It’s one area you shouldn’t skimp. A cheap winch will be nothing but a headache and waste of money in the long run. It’ll tear up winches and batteries. I run a Superwinch 5500. Bought the first one by sheer accident. A good deal on FBMP new in the box never used. It worked so well when it finally died I bought the same one. The second one is not as good as the first. It works but it’s not as powerful and it’s so tight the clutch doesn’t work. But it gets the job done.
Thanks for the tip on the winch; I did not know the difference. I have a dump trailer and here on the farm I usually load it with the skidsteer. There are times, though, that I leave our main farm to go get trees from different places, and I don't want to haul the skidsteer because then I have to make another trip to retrieve it after I dump the load. So I often end up just cutting the wood into firewood lengths and loading it all by hand. This idea gives me another option. Thanks again!
ok one more then If there was one thing I’d change I would mount my winch higher. Once you start stacking logs the rope will get in the way. I usually try to stack higher on the sides first then fill in the middle but higher would be better. The first log test. It worked. Before I built the arm in the back I thought a sturdy ramp would work. Forget the ramp idea. No fun.
Good tip, thank you! My trailer is a gooseneck so there’s already a frame up pretty high, so that part should be easy enough. Any specific winch model you would recommend, or at least a weight class range, to save time when I start looking?
Honestly,,,,not really. You have a gooseneck so I would assume a large trailer. I’ve picked 36” white oak on my ten foot trailer. Lifted the rear end of the truck right up getting it on board That’s with a ten foot trailer and 5500lb winch. I don’t think my second winch of the same model could do the task. You may be looking at 9-10 thousand pounds. Also my suggestion of a “ trailer winch” may be too old school. Doesn’t appear to be a thing anymore these days. I imagine regular decent winces advanced enough to perform the same functions. Look for a good line speed in a quality name. Warn is one. Not their fastest winch,,,that’s like $4000+. I would expect to be spending about $1000+. Sherpa is a top of the line Australian winch company and you’ll see that in their price but they were top of the line when I was looking some years back.
