If you really need to get logs out of the woods and don't mind some tinkering, look for an older smallish skidder, running ones can be had around these parts for $6,000. - $8,000., you can use them and tinker them into better condition and then you can resell it if need be and get most of your money back. Homemade skidders can be ok, but you'd have to spend huge amounts of time and money to have something that doesn't work half as well as a factory skidder. A factory built machine can churn it's way through just about anything you'll come across, whether it be a hill, mud, rocks, fallen trees..........a homemade truck/skidder will get hung up a helloffa lot quicker and you'll be looking for someone with a skidder to came haul you out if your homemade winch doesn't have the guts to pull it out. Just my opinion.