Winch v 3T forwarding trailer

[RTFM]

Hi all first post please be gentle!

I have approximately 1100 ton of wood to thin and shift to farm roadside it's from two blocks of woodland planted in 1981 and 1990 all mixed hardwood with a very small amount of softs they have never been managed properly so access is tight.we have various tractors/JCB/slew etc but all to big to fit in and around wood so what's the best way to do this?? There is a path through the middle.

In terms of machinery investment there is another block of wood on the farm (about the same amount) that can be done in maybe 5 years time so said winches/trailers will be well used.

We intend to do this ourself during the 4 months of the year when we are not to busy on the farm.I myself spent 2 years on forestry work and then a year climbing back in the early 2000 but this was working for someone else. But now on the farm full time but looking for a bit more winter work we sell a few logs each year from wind blown and own a jappa so will process a bit for logs and the rest of the cord sell roadside.

Thanks in advance.

[Big J]

Micro forwarder like an Alstor will be the best bet in my mind. Winching that size of material is time consuming and cost ineffective. If you are looking to invest in the machinery yourself, look at the Kranman Bison.

[CHC]

Where are you based RTFM??

[RTFM]

Near Salisbury wilts

I've spyed your outfit before on here looks like the perfect thing for my needs

[Chris Sheppard]

For smaller stuff like you've described, a 3t trailer behind a small 4wd tractor would be much more productive than a winch from the sounds of it.

 

If it's a long lead to where a wagon can get to then maybe look at making a stack(s) on the edge of each block and get local contractor in with a bigger trailer to secondary forward it.

 

I've no photos on this computer but there's some dotted round on arbtalk of the last small setup I had (a bigger 4wd kubota and 3T Weimer) and for the work we used to use it for it was really quite productive if the timber was presented well (only had a short crane).

 

EDIT: just found a few pics

Edited December 2, 2015 by Chris Sheppard

[Gray git]

Is that the same little kabota you shifted all that timber Nr Scarborough for me chris?

Did a fantastic job as long as you dodged the ruts and bog holes left by the mulcher as I remember.

And not so good presentation from a lad who strangly only did 2 day's for me on that site to add to your joy.

[CHC]

Near Salisbury wilts

 

I've spyed your outfit before on here looks like the perfect thing for my needs

 

 

It has a 4.7 meter reach crane which helps a lot, the only thing is I had to make some bolster extentions for it as the load area is on the small side. but as Chris said on long hall routes it's better off getting it to the edge and getting a bigger machine in to move it the rest

[Chris Sheppard]

Is that the same little kabota you shifted all that timber Nr Scarborough for me chris?

Did a fantastic job as long as you dodged the ruts and bog holes left by the mulcher as I remember.

And not so good presentation from a lad who strangly only did 2 day's for me on that site to add to your joy.

 

It is John, I think those photos of it are actually on that Job

 

Those holes were definitely interesting to get round/across - bit arse nipping looking down from the tractor with a wheel either side of one of those ruts and the floor being another 4ft down from where it should have been

 

By any chance were his piles the ones that were dropped by chinook and consisted of lengths from 4-14ft?

 

Did enjoy that job - shifted most of it in a couple of long days and then we tracked the chipper and stumper in to get what the mulcher couldn't reach.

 

If I could only have changed one this on the trailer it would have been to have another metre or so on the crane reach. Reckon if I was buying another I'd be seriously considering one of the 3T Oniar ones with the extending crane.

 

Forgot to say before, I think ours was actually a 4T trailer rather than 3. IT was quite long (they are 3.7m sawlogs for some idea of size) but it was still only about 5ft or so wide.

Edited December 3, 2015 by Chris Sheppard

[Gray git]

It is John, I think those photos of it are actually on that Job

 

Those holes were definitely interesting to get round/across - bit arse nipping looking down from the tractor with a wheel either side of one of those ruts and the floor being another 4ft down from where it should have been

 

By any chance were his piles the ones that were dropped by chinook and consisted of lengths from 4-14ft?

 

That's the one's, was not happy with how he performed for a professional cutter.

 

When you get a 350hp+ FENDT stuck to the point you need a 15ton 360 to get it out your going to get big ruts but what a machine when it was working.