Any ideas on tools to help move heavy wood

[B_Turner]

I regularly have to wrestle large (up through 1000 lb) blocks of wood so I can move them or cut them enough to get them into my trailer.

For example the last tree (a few days ago) I spent three days cutting on was 68 inches at the flare where I flush cut it. most of the rounds I cut were in the mid 40 inch range.

I usually work solo, and I want to come up with mechanical aids to make certain operations easier (guess I am getting too old ....)

I remember seeing in that famous book on chainsaw milling he used two modifed bumper jacks to roll logs. Great idea.

I have two operations that I find killer hard (solo) with big wood especially on the site.

1) Standing up a large round (say 40 inches diameter up) that is laying flat.
2) Getting my hand cart tipped back once I've strapped on a block that weighs over say 500 lbs (depending on the slope).

Anyone have any good ideas on tricks (tools) to make these two things easier? I am currently working about 3 trailer loads of wood and I need to figure out a smarter way to persuade the blocks to do what I want as I cut them.

Naturally I have various sized dollys, big pry bar and some very large cant hooks which are essential. But I need some new tricks especially for on site.

 

[CharlieG]

My Suzuki ATV heps me out alot-pulling logs out of the pile and woods, as well as trailering the wood up to the house.

 

[Wet1]

I have a light weight aluminum floor jack (the steel versions are too heavy to carry around in the woods) that comes in very handy for lifting heavy rounds and trees. The other thing that can be very useful is a come-along or winch system.

 

[Urbicide]

B, do you have a tractor with an FEL? A set of pallet forks on the front and a logging winch on the back would probably work for you.

 

[B_Turner]

I have a light weight aluminum floor jack (the steel versions are too heavy to carry around in the woods) that comes in very handy for lifting heavy rounds and trees. The other thing that can be very useful is a come-along or winch system.

I've consider hauling a floor jack, but one problem would be getting underneath the wood. I'm starting to think maybe some sort of bumper jack gizmo what had a 90 degree angled plate instead of a hook (like the lip of a hand dolly). If a bumper jack could be modified so that it could lower that angled plate to the ground then I could use a long bar to lift the wood enough to slip the plate under the edge.

I forgot to mention I also have a very strong come-along (big iron one, not those cheapie ones) that I regularly use with chains and pullies for persuation.

I also designed my trailer to have a vertical receiver between the bed and the toolbox into which I can drop a cable winch mounted on a stalk. So if I can back up to a log I can use my large skidding tongs to grab it and drag it right into the trailer (13 inches high at top of deck). Works slick when I have the room and the log isn't bigger than maybe 40 inches.

If I have full access to a log or stump I have worked out techniques to work solo any sized wood up to maybe 80 inches diameter. But often sites are such that I don't have that luxury of convenience and time to work the wood that thorough on the site. They want me in and out as soon as possible.

 

[B_Turner]

B, do you a tractor with an FEL? A set of pallet forks on the front and a logging winch on the back would probably work for you.

I've thought about a tractor for home, but often the real challenge is on site. Often the tree is behind someone's house with no room for a machine of any size. And generally the yard is sloped which makes it all even harder.

Also once home some of my neighbor's have tractors, big backhoes etc and I occasionally do enlist some help.

Here's a pic of my next door neighbor making life easier. This is the simple case as I load the stick onto blocks. Then I cut rounds off (in this case each round weighted 1000lbs) onto blocks off the ground and I cut the exact blocks I want out of the piece as the piece lays on the blocks.

I've worked out tricks and techniques for this type of case and it's really pretty straightforward.

http://www.billluce.com/pumkinjpgs/pumkinjpgs/8535_2.JPG

 

[Austin1]

A thousand pounds! I am lucky to cut a whole tree that weighs that much dead of course. Every truck I own all 4 of them have a Warn winch on them from 8000lb to 15000lb on the big Ford. Really helps to drag a tree out of the woods.

 

[Stihl 041S]

Hi-Lift with a dog leg bolted to the hook. Tip it a little and drive it under with a sledge. Hold on to the handle or eat teeth.
If you can slip a peice of wood under it, then some sections of pipe or broom handle, you con roll it into position, works for Bridgeports anyway. Once strapped to the cart, a six foot cheater should give you enough leverage. My $.02.

 

[B_Turner]

Hi-Lift with a dog leg bolted to the hook. Tip it a little and drive it under with a sledge. Hold on to the handle or eat teeth.
If you can slip a peice of wood under it, then some sections of pipe or broom handle, you con roll it into position, works for Bridgeports anyway. Once strapped to the cart, a six foot cheater should give you enough leverage. My $.02.

I hadn't seen those hi-lifts before and I just checked them out a little online.

Very interesting. I wonder how low they can go.

Maybe have a strap that hangs down with a hook to get even lower like their accessory for jacking a car by the wheel.

In terms of putting rollers under wood, generally the ground is not hard, clear or level enough on site.

Wonder who locally sells them for me to take a look at.

 

[Kingsley]

What are you using this wood for?
If it is firewood, I have quartered or halfed them to move them.

 

[2000ssm6]

Backhoe or front end loader with forks.......really saves the back.

 

[TJ-Bill]

Cherry picker attached to the bed of a truck, or a winch would work well.

 

[clearance]

Cherry picker attached to the bed of a truck, or a winch would work well.

I had a little crane on the bumper of an '80 GM 4x4. I would lift a V-8 with the tranny attached. It could pick up big short logs. I also had a steel headache rack. I could put on end of the log up on the tailgate end of the box with the crane, then hook onto the other end. As it lifted up I pulled it into the box with a come-a-long attached to the headache rack.

I moved a maple log about 8' long and about 30"+ d.b.h. like this once.

 

[Philbert]

It looks like we are past the "Lift with your knees, not with your back . ." territory here. Any type of tractor, Bobcat, or back hoe, of course would help, but I am assuming that this is not an option. Horses and mules are probably also out.

A truck mounted winch would probably help. Warn Winch also makes a portable version which you might be able to hook up to a nearby tree:
http://www.warn.com/works/pullzall/index.shtml

Baileys has a number of log handling carts ('arches') and accessories:
http://www.baileysonline.com/search.asp?SKW=KW148&catID=164

Finally, if money is not an object (sigh), Jonsered Iron Horse:
http://www.tiltonequipment.com/html/transporters.htm

Philbert

 

[Stihl 041S]

Hi-Lift at TSC or any farm store. Rollers go between the wood and the aforementioned PLYWOOD

 

[Urbicide]

How about a Lewis winch?


http://www.baileysonline.com/itemdetail.asp?item=LW+400MK2&catID=239

 

[Stihl 041S]

Forgot, the dogleg is easier to grab with than a strap. Different sized rollers and tipping on the rollers help to get morw rollers in.

 

[Cameljoe73]

What about a chainsaw powered winch? I have one, but I have never used it, so I don't know how good they work. Seems like a very versatile tool to have. If you can't get a piece of equipment to the wood, you arn't going to get your truck mounted winch very close either.

How about a Lewis winch? sorry, totaly missed that

 

[Philbert]

Another Thought

If you look back at some of the older pioneer/frontier technology, back to Egyptians building pyramids and the like, they developed a number of leverage tools to move heavy blocks of stone (sorry, could not find any good photos to paste here).

You could make a simple lifting frame or derrick out of wood or pipe that you carry with you. Set up an inverted 'V' next to your large log on the ground and attach ropes or chains connecting the end of the log to the top of the 'V' and continuing to your truck, winch, or come-a-long. Pulling horizontally should pivot the 'V' away from the log, causing the log to lift or stand up.

Be careful working alone!

Philbert

 

[Rleonard]

What is your buget? You can make things a lot easier with a larger investment in equipment.

Me? I use a Case 580SK backhoe with a 4-in-one bucket. I can grab an entire tree and manuver it as needed.

Bob