Author Topic: ATV Log Arch (Read 4534 times)

mitchash · « **on:** April 10, 2006, 10:28:30 pm »

I just found this site and am really inpressed with all he info! We have been doing small logging jobs on my fathers land (just getting the wind damaged trees out before they go bad) the last couple of years with 4X4 ATVs and a small (16hp)4X4 tractor, we barrow a 550 John Deere dozer for the big stuff. We are interested in getting ATV log arches. How well do they work? How are they for getting in a tight spot? What about one with a winch? Is there any plans out there to build your own? Thanks, Ash

Part_Timer · « **Reply #1 on:** April 10, 2006, 10:51:08 pm »

Welcome to the forum

If ya go to the search button on the top tool bar and type in log arch you will find several threads. Also go into the image archive and look around. There are lots of pictures.

Here is one of one I made.

I use it mostly behind the truck but it works fine behind the quad

There is enough info on here to make one yourself

Tom

RSteiner · « **Reply #2 on:** April 11, 2006, 08:07:08 am »

I made one 20+ years ago to go behind a small tractor. My son has used it behind his ATV many times the biggest log he has transported this way was a white pine 12 feet long 14" at the small end, it was the second log after the butt log.

The only problem you need to watch out for is the log weight when going down any loose steep ground. I guess tongue weight would be a consideration also not wanting to over load the tow point of the ATV.

Randy

blueox · « **Reply #3 on:** April 11, 2006, 11:05:57 am »

Ash,

Welcome to the forum. I've seen the Future foresty log arches. They are well built and he has small to big. To go behind ATV's, snowmobiles, your car!! Etc...They're website is www.futureforestry.com

Good Luck

Laurel

solodan · « **Reply #4 on:** April 11, 2006, 11:38:09 am »

I called Future Forestry last week and was going to order one of their arches. I talked with Mark and he told me to wait till he sent me the video. Well I watched it yesterday, and now I am gonna order 2 of them

Their arches do well in tight spots, where as all the others I have seen do not. You can back up with their arches loaded. The video is pretty cool, especially the 50" log one guy picks up and pulls down the road with a Volvo

IndyIan · « **Reply #5 on:** April 11, 2006, 09:56:25 pm »

My neighbour made this one up and it is just about right for an atv, light enough to lift over a log and the tires follow in the atv tracks. There is a cable attached to a boat winch which picks up the log and I used a chain to take the weight off the pullies and into the middle of the arch. This gave some extra tongue weight which helps out an atv quite a bit.
The biggest log I've moved is a 9' 20" on the small end white oak... 1500lbs and it could probably do a bit more.
Here it is with a smaller white pine log

Onthesauk · « **Reply #6 on:** April 11, 2006, 10:50:38 pm »

I watched Mark from Future Forestry do a demo at a DNR class a couple of years ago with a Honda 400 and one of his arches. Light enough to throw over a log but sturdy enough to haul a pretty good sized log. I've got one of their smaller hand arches but kind of think I've got too much slope for the bigger one.

solodan · « **Reply #7 on:** April 12, 2006, 08:17:13 am »

Onthesauk ,

How about their fetching arch? That one seems that it would work well on slopes. Well I guess I will find out when I get one, cause it is plenty steep down here.

Frank_Pender · « **Reply #8 on:** April 12, 2006, 10:00:30 am »

The photos with the Volvo are he and his car. The car is now history, as his daughter got sideswiped and the care was totaled. His doughter was not injured. No, she was not hauling a log, at the time.

solodan · « **Reply #9 on:** April 12, 2006, 01:27:02 pm »

I figured it was Mark in the car ,I just didn't know if it was really his car or just a marketing tactic to show that you don't need a huge vehicle.

Well, I'm waiting for him to call back, so I can order a fetching arch and the little JR arch, and the extension handles for both. I would have overlooked the little one, based solely on the price, but after watching the video I think I would use the small one quite a bit.

Quebecnewf · « **Reply #10 on:** April 12, 2006, 04:51:26 pm »

I had a guy build one for me . Mine is about the same as all the rest. I just have a ring with a hook attached to it on over a sloping piece of pipe that runs down at about 30 degrees. Back up over the end of the log choke it with a chain and hook the hook into the closest link of chain. Then as you move foward the strain on the log causes the ring to slide up the pipe lifting the end of the log of the ground. and away you go. When you get where you want just back up and the ring slides back down the pipe lowering the log to the ground. Remove the chocker chain and go get another one.

Works great but the only thing that I have found is that you must be real good at backing up in order to place the arch in just the right spot over the log, I think there is a picture of this in my gallery.

Quebecnewf

HARLEYRIDER · « **Reply #11 on:** April 18, 2006, 09:59:11 am »

I just built myself a logging arch for the ATV. It's simular to one of the sponsors arch, but I built mine the same width as my wheeler, and put a 2000lb electric winch and battery box on it. I have a twist-lock plug that plugs into the atv's battery for charging. I welded chain hooks all over it, to give me many options for securing the log for transport and tounge weight. I have about $400 into it including the winch. I'll try it out this week.

sbishop · « **Reply #12 on:** April 20, 2006, 08:29:03 pm »

here are pics of the one I made a couple of months ago...hauled some big logs with it!

Please use The Forum Gallery for photos. IM's are legal too.
admin

I got the plan from this address, I think I got it from someone here!

Good luck

mitchash · « **Reply #13 on:** April 23, 2006, 10:17:50 pm »

Couldn't find the pictures or plans for the log arch. Ash

HARLEYRIDER · « **Reply #14 on:** April 25, 2006, 05:52:36 pm »

Finally got around to taking pictures and putting them on here.

getoverit · « **Reply #15 on:** April 25, 2006, 09:47:34 pm »

Nice looking arch !

HARLEYRIDER · « **Reply #16 on:** April 25, 2006, 09:55:23 pm »

Quote from: getoverit on April 25, 2006, 09:47:34 pm

Nice looking arch !

Thanks.
I just have to weld in a guard to protect the winch now. ...and maybe put in another pulley to get the cable out of the way. The tires and battery was free, and I have just over $400 into it...... including the winch. I'll plug into the ATV's 12v, to charge the winch battery.

Work smart, not hard

Part_Timer · « **Reply #17 on:** April 26, 2006, 10:36:56 pm »

That is a nice looking arch. How wide is it between the wheels?

Tom

HARLEYRIDER · « **Reply #18 on:** April 27, 2006, 08:57:48 pm »

Quote from: Part_Timer on April 26, 2006, 10:36:56 pm

That is a nice looking arch. How wide is it between the wheels?

Tom

Thanks Tom

26 " between the verticles. I figured anything bigger than 24" shouldn't be pulled by a 800lb ATV

. ...and Its the same width as my ATV....50"

Part_Timer · « **Reply #19 on:** April 28, 2006, 07:33:02 am »

Makes sence to me.

We had mine behind the truck and were pulling log out this winter. A buddy of mine decided that he wanted to help. We got the log in the arch and I backed the truck up he hooked it up and got in. We started out of the woods clanking and banging all the way. We started up the last hill and I stopped the truck. He asked what's wrong. I told him look back there. He turns around and there is the tongue of the arch sticking straight up in the air. Cory forgot to lock the tongue to the ball.

Oh well newbies.

Tom

Mooseherder · « **Reply #20 on:** April 28, 2006, 04:37:33 pm »

Thanks to the education received on the forestry forum.

I saw the biggest Logging arch ever yesterday being pulled behind a pick-up.
It had to have been 12 foot long.
Said to the guy with me. You know what that is? He said no.
I proudly proceeded to tell him.

HARLEYRIDER · « **Reply #21 on:** May 02, 2006, 08:28:28 pm »

I used my arch to lift and try to ove a red oak log 22"D 16'log (2700lb). I doubled the (2K) winch with a snatch block, and it lifted it

. but it was just too heavy to move with a 900 lb ATV (with 4wd not working). I think I have to move the pulley foward to put more log weight on the hitch. right now, it lifts up on the hitch when lifting a log.
But it lifted the log enough to put the bunks under it....and mill with the ATS

getoverit · « **Reply #22 on:** May 02, 2006, 11:19:05 pm »

Do any of y'all actually go down the road with a log arch? I'm wondering if the DOT will flag ya for not having a bottom in the trailer, or if it is ok to transport a log this way???

solodan · « **Reply #23 on:** May 03, 2006, 12:15:40 am »

Probably depends on where you are at. I wouldn't get on the highway, but the less traveled county roads might be ok.Just last week I saw a guy skidding 16 footers 20" Ponderosas down the road and around the corner to his house. Then he would lower the plow and roll them up hill into his yard. Then after all this he bucked them into 16" rounds.

Like I mentioned before, Mark from Future Forestry can be seen in his video towing a huge 50" log down the road behind his Volvo.

highpockets · « **Reply #24 on:** May 03, 2006, 04:43:49 am »

Getoverit, I always wondered the same thing.

walleye45 · « **Reply #25 on:** May 03, 2006, 12:20:35 pm »

I live in Northern Michigan and wonder if anybody has an Arch in Northern Michigan Eastern Upper Peninsula that they would like to rent out for a week? I would love to own one but one more thing in the garage and the wife will string me up!!!!!

Mooseherder · « **Reply #26 on:** May 03, 2006, 04:03:26 pm »

getoverit
I saw one on Lantana Blvd. last week. Lantana Blvd. has 3 lanes of traffic east and 3 lanes going west. The pickup pulling it was going at least 50 miles an hour. (no tree on it)

It was big and blue.

HARLEYRIDER · « **Reply #27 on:** May 04, 2006, 08:45:36 am »

I built my arch at a friends shop in northern maine. then drove home to CT with it. The way I see it, it falls onder the same rules as a wood splitter.

solodan · « **Reply #28 on:** May 04, 2006, 11:39:26 am »

I really don't think you would have problems transporting an empty arch this way, but a loaded one may be a different story. I can actually transport a good sized log fully suspended with my arch.

sawguy21 · « **Reply #29 on:** May 04, 2006, 11:57:46 am »

Probably have a severe flat spot on the log and questions from the local gendarmes.

getoverit · « **Reply #30 on:** May 04, 2006, 10:53:06 pm »

not if the log is completely suspended off of the ground with the arch. There is a differnece between a skidder and an arch.

It would take some pretty big tires on an arch to haul the logs that I bring home. My trailer has tandems on it, and both tires on both sides sag sometimes. I guess I could build an arch and put some 10 ply semi tires on it, but if it isnt legal to drive down the road with a suspended log, then it isnt worth building.

solodan · « **Reply #31 on:** May 05, 2006, 02:45:38 am »

Yeah, I would just assume to load the logs on the trailer. The only reason I have the arches is to get my logs to the trailer. I can pick up a 25" log of any length. It would not make sense to move the mill for one log that size. very rarely can you drive right up to a log in my neck of the woods. I will move the mill for a 40" or 50+ log".

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Author Topic: ATV Log Arch (Read 4534 times)