Uniforest winch tractor modification

[Donnie]

Been working for a tractor trailer set up for a bit now and known the owner well. 
 

We do all aspects of forestry production, 4-500 ton clearfell spruce being our biggest job. 
 

Everything cut by hand and shifted with the Jake Crane on the tractor etc. 

 

Operator holds tree up with crane whilst I work the tree/sned and cross cut and he stacks. 
 

Randomly came to mind but instead of holding the tree, there could be a bracket on each side of this winch where you can rest butt of the tree on and give the crane some slack as holding a full tree in the crane will surely wear it out over time?

 

Anybody ever seen or done this before? I’ve heard of people doing it with skidders. 

[Donnie]

Brackets would be just below the wire mesh either side etc. 

[monkeybusiness]

Should work but might make it a bit wide. How about a big lip on the blade to rest them on? 

[woody paul]

4 hours ago, monkeybusiness said:

Should work but might make it a bit wide

You could make them slide in and out to keep winch narrow. 

[Donnie]

Aye or hinge up or down. Was hoping someone had made something like this before or something similar. 

[slack ma girdle]

If it was me i would use the chain slots. A steel semi circle with chain bolted on to hang off the chain slots. You may need to weld on a support at the bottom of the semi circle to stop it tipping the trunk. Easy to take on/off as required.

You might be able to do a similar thing with half a tyre.

Or do it the old fashioned way, winch the trees onto bearers to keep them off the ground whilst you are processing .