Some fairly knowledgeable folks here to bounce a idea across. Let me know if I am nuts or what
I need a small skidder, and have the idea to build one out of available stuff. I have access to a 3/4 ton 4x4 truck. So I do some thinking, and came up with the following possible idea(s). Gotta kind of do it on a budget, sort of.
Grab the truck and ditch the body entirely. Yank the 203 full time transfer case. Possibly ditch the 400 (GM) engine as well. Use a small V8, or inline 6 with a auto tranny. Build a transfercase like the mud guys do with large chains and sprockets. shoot for about 4.5 to 1 ratio. The truck should already have 4.1 in the axles. Put some big meats on it. Build a boom like a normal skidder and put a electric winch on it. boat tail the beast, sort of like the big boys. Go to the front and make a small set of forks to help with decking. I already have some cylinders, valves, and pump so the expense there is minimal. Function not form. Not building it to be pretty, just able to pick up and skid some logs efficiently.
Ideas? Thoughts? Suggestions?
I need a small skidder, and have the idea to build one out of available stuff. I have access to a 3/4 ton 4x4 truck. So I do some thinking, and came up with the following possible idea(s). Gotta kind of do it on a budget, sort of.
Grab the truck and ditch the body entirely. Yank the 203 full time transfer case. Possibly ditch the 400 (GM) engine as well. Use a small V8, or inline 6 with a auto tranny. Build a transfercase like the mud guys do with large chains and sprockets. shoot for about 4.5 to 1 ratio. The truck should already have 4.1 in the axles. Put some big meats on it. Build a boom like a normal skidder and put a electric winch on it. boat tail the beast, sort of like the big boys. Go to the front and make a small set of forks to help with decking. I already have some cylinders, valves, and pump so the expense there is minimal. Function not form. Not building it to be pretty, just able to pick up and skid some logs efficiently.
Ideas? Thoughts? Suggestions?