Johnsond

Bit of progress with trailer build. Winch and ramps next. Looking to fab up a leveller at each end eventually.

From plenty of experience using horses in bad ground once they feel soft soft conditions underfoot they will be hell bent on powering out of it, and not at all easy to handle. The hoof is not good at spreading weight. Google horse stuck in mud etc and you will see plenty being hauled out.

Good strong trailers ??

Sounds like a pretty shit trip home. What trailer did you go for ?? Was it to put the mill on ??

That's a very fair price for all of that

Lol yeah nothing like a few slurps to loosen the tongue. Anyway that was then bud. No I got it at slightly less as it had been standing for a while and needed clearing. Had to sort own transport etc. I'm not sure reg how often they are around Andy as the big sawmills tend to buy up in big quantities well that's what I was told. Ref the trailer most of the frame etc was done myself, I'm in process of fitting the legs etc now in evenings, indespension units and tow hitch were sourced and fitted locally, mucked in a bit with guy at supplier etc but he set the units up tracking wise. Pretty happy with it for now I reckon I'm around 2 grand all in inc vat which is under the price for an equivelant xl trailer kit I think. OK my time was free but I think Ive got a stronger more adaptable item that I can add to later on. Ideally I'd strip it down and get it galvanised but I'm not done with the welding so I'd end up wrecking the galvo etc so probs will just hammerite it for time being until I get the final spec to how I want it. Hopefully get rails etc on this weekend and come up with a log loading solution. More than likely ramps and winch for now and maybe hyd loader later on. Apart from steel the only items are Knott 2700kg hyd damped tow hitch 2x pairs of 1300kg braked indespension units and cables etc 6 x trident towing sidewinder legs.

Ah welcome back bad lad ? They were from a forestry commission felling job Andy but were oversize and not wanted, they sat for a good while and were gonna end up off to biomass I think. Trailer is progressing

Cheers for the reply Is that the woodlands trailer ?? If not do you have any images of the set up. What was driver behind preferring the hand winch ??. Did you find there was a limit as to what you could get into the mill, some of the DF I have is right up on the max capacity diameter wise and 4.8M long so a decent weight.

Yeah no probs that's all I have for now but I'll put some more pics up once I get it set up. I've not made any effort to keep the weight down due to having plans for the log lifter etc in the back of my head hence its overstrength for what it is at moment. Gone for a twin axle braked set up. My licence is pre whatever it is anyway plus HGV1 so was not bothered by the 750KG thing.

Currently on E Bay

Yeah I've seen the set up they use and it's quite tidy how it all packs away etc. Very easy to copy for sure, ive a little 12v superwinch that's sat for years doing nothing that would certainly be better than handwinching. The hyd option is what I'm drawn to in long run as to be honest it's far from rocket science when you look at Norwood or woodmizer set up, Ive a few checks to make ref offset of wheels from rails and chassis height etc before I can be sure what will work best.

Hi All Part way through a trailer build for a 130 mill, just wondering how people getting on when loading logs ie best options if plant is not on site to be able to load logs etc. I've seen the vids with them being parbuckled up and they make it look so easy I'm sure reality is a bit different. Main question is has anyone constructed a log loader set up as Norwood and woodmizer have on some of the mills. Obviously hydraulics would be required but just putting it out there to see what others have done and how successful it's proven to be. Cheers

Hi All ive a surplus of 4.8m Douglas fir saw logs left. Just wondering what sort of value these would be if milled up into beams or planking. Majority are over 750mm diameter so plenty of scope for some decent size pieces. Also I've a few slabs and rounds of sequoia just curious in regards its value sizes are approx 2.2m x 800 x 70 mm cheers

Good luck with the project, if you need a place to drop anything that would do as firewood I have a farmer mate with a fastrac and trailer outside of rosyth with space.

I'd say the tri axle is more tolerant to poor load placement that a twin. For me it would be tri any day, I know it's personnel preference to a certain extent but based on my own experiences it's what I'd go for.

Try axle any day I've had numerous ifors both twin and tri and the latter is far more stable, load distribution tolerant and for me I find them easier to reverse. Yes they can scrub the tyres and are a pain to manoeuvre by hand but the pros outweigh the cons for me. Came home two days ago fully loaded on 5 tyres ie 1 punctured I could not have done same on 3.

Have you tried Ramko for hydraulic cylinders as they are reasonable Hi No I've not used them. Good thing I find with Hendry is even though a decent sized firm they are still open to joe blogs walking in and they have a small factory shop on site to let you have a look and a hands with the kit.

The mill was bought with 1 extension Andy which I think takes it up to 5.1m ?? I can't remember 100% at moment. In reality all the welding can be done downhand with a bit of effort moving the frame etc. As for powering it I've 2 options to consider, first is use a small flowfit 12v pump as used on Ifor tippers etc I've one on my trailer to power the A frame and it does a good few cycles before requiring charging. Would it do a whole day ?? Who knows but how many logs would I lift in a day ?? another unknown I guess. Second and probs best but slightly ott is to use a Honda GX motor I have and got a hyd pump for that with control block etc, I've left space at front behind A frame for whatever choice I make. Flowfit do some tidy stuff and I use Hendry hydraulics in Elgin for Rams controls etc very reasonable and good to deal with. I'll see if I have a pic of set up on front of my Ifor.

Trial and error fag packet engineering Andy ?? most of the time I can assure you.

Looking into that Andy and hearing differing advice/views, trailer will be well over spec with 2x sets of 1300kg braked units and a knott 2700kg hyd damped tow hitch, all the steel is new hollow section etc so I'm sure it would pass muster. Im hopefully gonna engineer in the capacity to retrofit a log loader at a later date. Spoke to Pavel at Trakmet about supplying a loader they fit to the mobile mill they have that I can weld on myself and am waiting for a reply ref can or will they and price etc something similar to that in the pics. If not it will be back to the fab bench, the 120x60x5mm section was chosen for the options to add things like the loader etc.

I figured I'd be close or poss slightly over Andy with the whole package so went for braked units. Slightly more expensive but not prohibitively so. Hoping to come in at around £1200 but I've not skimped on the size and thickness of the steel and if I'd gone single axle I probably could have knocked a bit off that.

Cheers Will do ref the brake clutch is good as that is blown out and cleaned with an air gun regularly. Was just asking as all the other saws I have including an old and severely abused farm boss have never shown this symptom. You tube tutorial as we speak ?

Hi last couple of times out my 461 brake has started to feel reluctant to engage, not in the anti kickback mode but when manually engaged or disengaged, the handle seems springy but will engage/disengage the brake with what feels like a lot more than normal effort ?? Any input would be appreciated cheers

Bit of humour is good for the soul. Bit of progress on the trailer today Andy, A frame etc is mocked up and the indespension units are ready to go on. Measured it up from tow bar to back and it came out at 24ft so a decent length and pretty much confirms in my mind the benefit of a twin axle set up. Getting a quote from highland coatings to get the whole thing galvanised but not yet 100% on that as opposed to a pot of hammerite. I'll get some pics over once it's a bit further on.

No it was a good one well it made me laugh anyway. Bit better than the political vitriol of late ?