I do not know anything about tractors and not nothing about hauling logs with one. I am looking for advice.
I would like to buy a tractor to pull out some cedar logs. I am looking at a MF 35 with a front end bucket or loader and a 3 point hitch. Alternatively I was thinking of an 8N but apparently they are prone to flipping (I am not sure about this part). The cedar trees are not that big - maybe 20" from the bottom to the top where it is 4 to 5 inches. I saw another discussion on the same issue where the person was dragging logs out using his 3 point hitch with a draw bar attached? Does this make sense. There is an issue with tractors catching the log on something and then flipping backwards. The suggestion was to get right over the front end of the log and then lift it up high with the 3 point hitch before pulling it out. They also suggested cutting the limbs off and the top off before moving it so there was less weight and less likelihood of catching on something.
The tractor I was looking at is a MF 35. It has a front bucket loader. I thought I could hook the front bucket on the log, lift it up and drag it backwards out to the road. Then if it catches on something, The front will be held down and will not flip over. The worst that can happen is I hit something on the way out backing up. If the chain snaps it is short and unlikely to do any damage or whip around.
Alternatively, if I can run a cable from the front bucket of the tractor through a pulley attached to a tree at the road and then to the tree I want to haul out. Then I can back down the road, which will again eliminate flipping. However, I could get the tree hung up and snap the pulley or the cable. The pulley is good for a ton and the cables are usually much stronger. If the cable snaps it can whip around and really hurt someone. But if the cable is stronger than the pulley, the pulley will break first and there should not be a problem. Well that"s what I was thinking.
Does anyone have any idea what is the best way to haul logs or any comments or suggestions on the above?
I would like to buy a tractor to pull out some cedar logs. I am looking at a MF 35 with a front end bucket or loader and a 3 point hitch. Alternatively I was thinking of an 8N but apparently they are prone to flipping (I am not sure about this part). The cedar trees are not that big - maybe 20" from the bottom to the top where it is 4 to 5 inches. I saw another discussion on the same issue where the person was dragging logs out using his 3 point hitch with a draw bar attached? Does this make sense. There is an issue with tractors catching the log on something and then flipping backwards. The suggestion was to get right over the front end of the log and then lift it up high with the 3 point hitch before pulling it out. They also suggested cutting the limbs off and the top off before moving it so there was less weight and less likelihood of catching on something.
The tractor I was looking at is a MF 35. It has a front bucket loader. I thought I could hook the front bucket on the log, lift it up and drag it backwards out to the road. Then if it catches on something, The front will be held down and will not flip over. The worst that can happen is I hit something on the way out backing up. If the chain snaps it is short and unlikely to do any damage or whip around.
Alternatively, if I can run a cable from the front bucket of the tractor through a pulley attached to a tree at the road and then to the tree I want to haul out. Then I can back down the road, which will again eliminate flipping. However, I could get the tree hung up and snap the pulley or the cable. The pulley is good for a ton and the cables are usually much stronger. If the cable snaps it can whip around and really hurt someone. But if the cable is stronger than the pulley, the pulley will break first and there should not be a problem. Well that"s what I was thinking.
Does anyone have any idea what is the best way to haul logs or any comments or suggestions on the above?