3pt skidding hitch project

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For NM and others with smaller skidders, do you run fluid in your tires? If so, what?

Thanks, Ron
I don't, some do.

on the little deere 440's it provides a huge amount of stability, but it also makes fixing a flat in the brush near impossible. There is also the concern of weight for transport, mine would probably only pack on an extra 1000#s with all 4 filled, so if I was still using the ole Ferd f600 it would have puked the trans a whole lot earlier, as well as being way overweight for CDL stuff, as it was I was dancing a fine line of legality...

Had one tire that was filled on for a few months, even with the one I could climb anything, which is good and bad, good in hey lets go over there, bad in oops I climbed this stump and rolled my machine..

I don't run chains, never needed em, and they tend to tear S up like roads and yards, leave big ruts etc
 
Also if it's a 4wd drive tractor I would consider loading the front tires over hanging weights on the front. For in the woods anyhow. Even a 2wd maybe. Less stuff to worry about breaking off. We bought a 4440 JD from Georgia like 10 years back. It had a full set of weights and the front tires were loaded. Luckily the one blew out on us before winter. They just had straight water in all the tires. Would've been interesting come winter.

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I was guessing that skidders probably didn’t run fluid due to the extra challenges posed by in the woods flats, including environmental issues, but didn’t know so thought I would ask. It is hard to match a purpose built machine.

The last tire I lost was not accessible to the mobile tire changers; it was pretty difficult for me to install a loaded tire that was not near as heavy as filled ones would be on my “new” tractor. I doubt I could stand one up.

I am also trying to stay tubeless and keep the weight below axle height, thus my concerns about corrosion with a half filled tire.

I don’t need weight on the front as the FEL provides more than enough. I need weight on the rear to offset the FEL and whatever I pick up with it. I will not be skidding any logs that are too heavy for the leftover lifting capacity of the 3 point hitch. Cutting firewood, I try to minimize skidding - just get it in the clear and cut to lengths that the FEL and the path can handle.

Thanks for the replies. I wish I could fabricate like thumbilly. I could get in a lot more trouble.

Ron
 
I was guessing that skidders probably didn’t run fluid due to the extra challenges posed by in the woods flats, including environmental issues, but didn’t know so thought I would ask. It is hard to match a purpose built machine.

The last tire I lost was not accessible to the mobile tire changers; it was pretty difficult for me to install a loaded tire that was not near as heavy as filled ones would be on my “new” tractor. I doubt I could stand one up.

I am also trying to stay tubeless and keep the weight below axle height, thus my concerns about corrosion with a half filled tire.

I don’t need weight on the front as the FEL provides more than enough. I need weight on the rear to offset the FEL and whatever I pick up with it. I will not be skidding any logs that are too heavy for the leftover lifting capacity of the 3 point hitch. Cutting firewood, I try to minimize skidding - just get it in the clear and cut to lengths that the FEL and the path can handle.

Thanks for the replies. I wish I could fabricate like thumbilly. I could get in a lot more trouble.

Ron
leverage, a hi-lift, pure stubbornness, a lot of swearing,some cribbing, and a few big pry bars changing skidder tires isn't so bad a lot easier with an excavator on hand though. 1 out of 10 would not recomend...
 
Brought a new tractor home to skid with a couple weeks ago. Nice little road trip to pa but so far it's worth it.
dab9cb6ab9f6b341b39509d2dd7b5b13.jpg


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So I built a second one of these minus the winch. The windows to skid trees are narrow this winter so I'm running two tractors. Got me thinking if there was much market to make and sell some of these. Probably need some around 500 without the winch. It would come with the receiver hooks and all the pins. Painted whatever color is desired. Have to have over 2500 to almost 3k for it to have a winch. A new winch is 1700

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So I built a second one of these minus the winch. The windows to skid trees are narrow this winter so I'm running two tractors. Got me thinking if there was much market to make and sell some of these. Probably need some around 500 without the winch. It would come with the receiver hooks and all the pins. Painted whatever color is desired. Have to have over 2500 to almost 3k for it to have a winch. A new winch is 1700

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if you sold them on the down low, you could probably do pretty good at it, the walenstien type winches are pretty expensive, though they are loaded with features...


I think the big issue with anything involving winches is liability, you build it it fails, you are on the hook literally.

now I say that just to bring up worst case scenarios, but its something you should consider before trying to sell em, Personally I think your onto something and the price point is skookum as frig, especially with the little winch. I just worry too much mostly...
 
I hear you. I feel like a small shield in front of the winch would be sufficient. Anything can be used beyond its limits and you cant control stupidity so I'm not sure how that would work. I guess I would sell low key. With a rating and a disclaimer

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So just a little update. Had to buy a brand new winch. This one functioned perfectly. Still does but the motor seal kept blowing out and pumping the winch full of hydraulic oil. Come to find out it was an obsolete model. No parts available. Can't even match one up. Brand new winch. $1700. Works awesome. Hung some weights and a front 3pt on the tractor. Hitch and winch can't take all the tractor can pull. I've thoroughly tested it. Got a few logs hung up and stood the tractor right up pulling on it. Also modified an old county plow for snow removal. Acquired a trailer and remodeled it also. Few other projects along the way as well. Been quit on here went through an almost 2 year long divorce. Had to gut and remodel an old farm house just to find somewhere to life. House market it rough here. http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/6157c416b3da9/Snapchat-700429635.mp4http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/6157c409163d7/Snapchat-1935199197.mp4http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/6157c3c175414/Snapchat-292125256.mp4http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/6157c4551fd84/Snapchat-688383348.mp4http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/6157c451640c0/Snapchat-1660776171.mp4http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/6157c43359b94/Snapchat-890519009.mp4http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/6157c4a9ac87d/Snapchat-1804338815.mp4http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/6157c772b56a0/Snapchat-238955835.mp4http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/6157c6c275cc8/Snapchat-1971429899.mp4

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I plan on loading my four 8.3x24 ag tires with windshield washer fluid on my 55 Willy’s with locking diffs. She’s a work in progress. I boxed the frame with 3/8” steel and tripled the frame in the rear. Just a yard toy skidder
 

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I love this type of thing, one thing I see as an advantage is the flex in where you have the "pull" relative to the height / location of the axle. Lower than the axle, the tractor will break traction , higher it increases the chances of wheelie potentially getting someone hurt. Good stuff :)
 
My front bumper is made from heavy ship n car channel. Weight wise the front end is maxed out. For the rear I fabricated a mini hydraulic rock dump steel body.
 

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