Suggestion for timber forwarding on steep slope

[Buzz]

Horses, drain pipes, scouts and an Alstor... could be the most expensive firewood you've ever pulled off a hill LOL

[Buzz]

We used two tracters with two winches, that were conected at the top via a big pully. One winch pulled the timber down, the other pulled the cable back. You need very good comunication between the man chockering and the people on the machinery for the system to work safely (and very low tree stumps). This will not work on large site but it might fit the bill for you and it is a lot cheaper to set up than a skyline.

 

Cool idea for problem solving. A timbermaster takes about 3 hours to setup depending on distances and then requires 1 man to operate and one to chocker.

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Soz not been in touch; outlaw entertainment today - I won't vent here - would take 79 pages! Now thinking of making a forwarding trailer to tow around with the tracked chipper! Heath Robinson!

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Found the machine I need - here it is. Aint happening tho - unless they rent it down ere...

 

http://www.artcom-tradebridge.com/images/IronHorse_prod.info.pdf

[Highland Forestry]

you could buy a large(ish) tracked dumper quite cheap at the moment, weld some bolsters on to it and then suffer loading it by hand - the upshot would be that you can tip it out at the other end. You could even mount a crane on it if you bought a big enough one. They are cheap cheap now, saw some the toher week for about £1500.

[cousin jack]

Yeah, horse logging did cross my mind. Don't want to dirty the timber tho with skidding?..?

If the slope is steep like you say very little of the timber will be in contact with the floor, only the top end, butt ends hitched close to the horse gives you lift. The other option is a sled.

[PeteB]

Horse logging downhill,hmmh. Still think the drainpipe would be the most fun!

[cousin jack]

Horse logging downhill,hmmh. Still think the drainpipe would be the most fun!

 

That's where horses are at their most productive, because of the angle of draught they can pull 3-4 times what they can do on the flat, drainpipe would be fun, but would'nt fancy parking my car anywhere near the end of the chute, lol.

[PeteB]

I respect your superior knowledge and you're very correct about the angles etc, but the logs have no brakes so don't they meet the Hoss now and again?

[cousin jack]

I respect your superior knowledge and you're very correct about the angles etc, but the logs have no brakes so don't they meet the Hoss now and again?

It's pretty important to have a horse and operator who knows what the're doing and that could happen yes, if the tree rides a stump or bank etc.,an experienced horse however will "feel" if the load starts to run, and they will turn and stop, hold the load and then carry on again when you give the command. Most of the time your load will act as it's own brake via the end thats in contact with the ground, you can always ensure more braking power if you hitch the top end rather than the butt, if you have a free run to the bottom just keep the horse moving.