Almost lost two logs -- log arch?

[huskyhank]

Yesterday I milled a couple of oak logs. I had the first cut (in half long ways) done on both and ran out of time so had to leave them at the site. My intention was to finish quartering them and then transport tomorrow.

I drove by the site at lunchtime and found a crew of landscapers smoothing the area and putting down grass matting. My logs had to go right now or be pushed in a hole. No way was I gonna get them in the truck alone. The crew offered to help. I made two trips to get the four halves to my house. All is well now but I almost lost logs and a couple hours of work. Whew!!!!

This site is huge with lots of activity going on in a sporadic fashion. I can get permission but there is no way I can depend on anyone waiting on me. I'm gonna have to figure out a way to move logs.

Carrying one log at a time is fine and I don't have to go but a couple of miles on a public road so its not got to be truly highway-worthy. I'd like to pull it with my 4wd pickup. The LogRites look great but they are really expensive. Tell me about small log arches, please. Or any other way to move up to 9 foot X 30 inch logs with hand tools and a truck.

 

[sleddude5]

How old and what condition is your truck in? How long is the truck bed? Do you mind some bumps in the bed?

 

[huskyhank]

How old and what condition is your truck in? How long is the truck bed? Do you mind some bumps in the bed?

Its five years old, half ton and its still pretty nice. I have a topper on it and would like to keep it on. That's what I used today in two trips but I won't always have 6 guys to help load it. If I mill boards on site I can load by myself but its really not enough truck to drop a 30" log on and I don't have a a way to get the log up in it anyway.

 

[gr8scott72]

Its five years old, half ton and its still pretty nice. I have a topper on it and would like to keep it on. That's what I used today in two trips but I won't always have 6 guys to help load it. If I mill boards on site I can load by myself but its really not enough truck to drop a 30" log on and I don't have a a way to get the log up in it anyway.

Trailer and a good winch!

 

[huskyhank]

Trailer and a good winch!

Does anyone have pictures of their trailers and/or winches set-ups?
I have a small utility trailer I might could modify.
What's a good plan?

 

[irishcountry]

Not sure if it would help but page 1 shows how this guys gets logs in and out of his truck (and the cap is on) hope it helps??? http://billswoodcreations.com/lumber-1.html

 

[lumberjackchef]

Did you see the way that guy in that link dries his lumber. It's no wonder that he has so much trouble getting good boards! Never seen that method before anyone else dry their lumber vertical like this guy?

 

[ROOTSXROCKS]

I loaded this log by myself, by splitting it first and tipping it into the trailer.
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=115717
BUT the rest of it was simple leverage and balances and a low trailer lifted one end and back the trailer under them.

I have strongly considered an Axle or three bound with chains for a short haul but haven't had to use that yet.

 

[excess650]

Does anyone have pictures of their trailers and/or winches set-ups?
I have a small utility trailer I might could modify.
What's a good plan?

If you mean rated for a ton or less, a small utility trailler may not be adequate. Logs are surprisingly heavy. I did have a log weight chart with various species, diameters, and weights per foot....

 

[huskyhank]

My trailer might be up to a short run with one of the logs I got yesterday. I figured them to be about 1000 pounds each. I could just barely pick up one end of the smaller halves and only enough to get a pry bar under it.

But the structure of the trailer isn't up to use of a winch or come-a-along to drag the log on-board. Its constructed from angle iron and might be reinforced to do it but it still would be over weighted.

I did a search and found this from one:

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?p=1722086&highlight=log+arch#post1722086

 

[petersenj20]

I wish I could afford one of the cranes like in the previous post.
I posted my log lift a while back, and it still works well.

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=68641

 

[WadePatton]

Did you see the way that guy in that link dries his lumber. It's no wonder that he has so much trouble getting good boards! Never seen that method before anyone else dry their lumber vertical like this guy?

i know a fancy gunstock blank sawyer and a large slab furniture specialist who dry much, if not all of their wood vertically.

 

[irishcountry]

Yeah I've seen it stacked vertically as well.

 

[ROOTSXROCKS]

Isn't stacking verticly only for after the wood is Dried ?

 

[huskyhank]

I'd think stacking vertical would work just fine. If the wood has stresses its gonna move. If one side dries faster it'll move. I don't think stickering and stacking weighted will overcome the tendency of wood to move. Not for air drying. I think sticking and stacking is a commercial standard that has become custom 'cause that's how the big guys have done it for a long time.

 

[huskyhank]

Here's the almost lost logs and my trusty 2100 Husky I used to mill them. I'll quarter the logs in a few days.

 

[irishcountry]

Looks good!!!