Fast tow log trailer

[Squaredy]

I have for years been wanting to get a fast tow trailer for transporting logs locally, as I am offered lots of good logs that are uneconomical to pay someone else to collect.  They very rarely come up second hand and I think at £13,000 or so new this is just too much for a piece of kit I would use maybe a couple of times a month.  

 

I therefore will probably stick to a dropside Ifor Williams trailer and a winch.  Has anyone got a great winch they would like to suggest for the purpose?  Also methods and tips would be handy.  Bear in mind this will be for good size logs, not firewood so each log will weigh half a ton or sometimes over a ton.

 

I have for four years or so used my Transit with a crane, but this is starting to develop problems and is expensive to keep on the road, and I no longer need it for anything else so it is going.

 

Suggestions appreciated.

[Peasgood]

 

[Will C]

Can you transfer the crane onto the new trailer with a engine driven hydraulic power pack?

[Squaredy]

41 minutes ago, Will C said:

Can you transfer the crane onto the new trailer with a engine driven hydraulic power pack?

Well it is a good idea and I have mulled over this, but it would be an expensive job to do this properly.  To be honest I think I would struggle to find someone willing to do it.  The professional guys would not want to get involved with old kit, and cowboys would probably make a mess of it.

[Squaredy]

1 hour ago, Peasgood said:

 

That is pretty much it.  Wonder if my Dachsunds would be able to do it.....?  They have a very low centre of gravity....

[david wood]

am sure if you supplied crane, engine/powerpack and trailer a really good ag engineer/blacksmith could put together in a way its never going to be an issue - too far away for one i use to help sadly.

[kav]

I’ve purbuckled (i think thats the right term) some decent lumps up ifor ramps using truck winch or petrol capstan. The capstan is nice as uses rope

[aspenarb]

A small crane on an IW trailer can work well, with the crane and power pack fitted it will need ballast at the back to compensate for drawbar weight so it's best to start off with a triaxle.

A mate had this one built.

 

 

 

[aspenarb]

[doobin]

10 hours ago, kav said:

I’ve purbuckled (i think thats the right term) some decent lumps up ifor ramps using truck winch or petrol capstan. The capstan is nice as uses rope

Parbuckled. Yes you can shift some gear with that. It’s how the old matadors moved some massive butts to the mills back in the day.