Author Topic: building a log forwarding trailer (Read 8103 times)

logman81 · « **on:** February 22, 2011, 09:58:03 am »

I've been kicking around the idea about building a off road log forwarding trailer with loader to tow behind my 40hp tractor. Much like the Hardy and Metavic ones. I'm pretty good with metal working skills and have most of the tools needed to do it. I've got some basic plans from sawmillplans.com so I do have something to go by. Any thoughts or advice on this would be very help full.

redlaker1 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 22, 2011, 10:18:27 am »

I was thinking of building one as well, but never got around to it.

the one thing I wasnt sure about was the swing system, not sure if there is something available that you can buy? and would you need 359degree swing, or just 90degrees each way?

logman81 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 22, 2011, 11:43:34 am »

The plans that I've got say to use a hydraulic orbit motor with roller chain and sprockets. This would make it a continues rotation swing system. The question I have is how to mount the main shaft to the loader mount. Maybe I could use some sort of tapered roller bearings or something like that. It would need to be built very strong because it would hold the weight of the boom plus log/logs.

Coon · « **Reply #3 on:** February 22, 2011, 02:12:56 pm »

I have been building just what you are talking about for quite some time now. I have had it on the back burner for close to a year now but just dug it out of the snow a couple of days ago. If you look in my gallery there are a few pics of it there. I have a few more that I took yesterday but have not uploaded to the forum yet. Will get on it shortly though and post them. I have a couple of questions for the forum to ponder as well.

Brad.

P.S. I just brought up my old thread called Hydraulics Help Needed in the General Board. You might wanna read.

logman81 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 22, 2011, 05:18:41 pm »

That's pretty neat Coon keep up the good work. I'm going to use a mono- beam design for mine and run it off of the tractor hydraulics. Got it pretty much all figured out just need to start getting the things I need to start on it.

Maine372 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 22, 2011, 05:43:09 pm »

you wouldnt neccesarily need 360degree or continous rotation since the tractor will usually be in the way of going straight off the front. i would think 270 degrees would be sufficient. thats 45 degrees past perpendicular to the frame each way.

Ford_man · « **Reply #6 on:** February 22, 2011, 06:38:39 pm »

You may want to consider mounting a 3PT hitch backhoe on the front of the trailer you can pick up a used one real reasonable You can get a small grapple from Hudsons.
The Hyd. pump runs off the PTO

logman81 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 22, 2011, 07:33:08 pm »

I have a small 3 pt backhoe but I want to build the loader myself from scratch. I plan on buying a grapple and rotator assembly from vallby. I'm going to run the loader off the tractor pump, it is already plumbed to the back of the tractor for the backhoe so I will run it off that.

Coon · « **Reply #8 on:** February 22, 2011, 07:50:45 pm »

logman,

I have decided that I will be setting my log trailer up to run off of tractor hydraulics and also have a hydraulic powerpack set up for when I have the trailer behind an atv/utv or pickup. The rotator that I have for the main boom requires an oil bath to keep the bearings lubed. What I figure on doing is to build my hydraulic tank underneath it and mounting the rotator into the top, thus killing two birds with one stone. If you look in these two pics you can see what I mean.

Brad.

isawlogs · « **Reply #9 on:** February 22, 2011, 08:09:40 pm »

Nice pics, where are you putting the oil filter? if you have the rotator in the tank , and normaly the filter is on the return line, I would be afraid of shrapnal coming off the rotator and contaminatingthe iol in the tank .. then again might not be an issue . $:-\$

snowstorm · « **Reply #10 on:** February 22, 2011, 08:16:43 pm »

rotator in the oil tank?

?? no......no.........no no

isawlogs · « **Reply #11 on:** February 22, 2011, 08:24:42 pm »

I don't think that rotator will be rotating enough to warant an in tank install , grease the *&?% out of it and leave it alone. Not like it was on the business end of a loader unloading wood in a mill yard .

logman81 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 22, 2011, 08:48:13 pm »

I would have to agree with isawlogs keep it simple and keep it lubed! I'm going to use a orbit motor with double roller chain and sprockets for boom rotation when I build mine.

Coon · « **Reply #13 on:** February 22, 2011, 09:02:42 pm »

I don't see why it would not work to have the rotator in the tank like I have shown. I have to keep the rotator system raised up a bit to provide room for the sprocket to turn freely. Like I said the bearings inside need an oil bath. I was planning on putting the oil filter in the return line just before the tank. There should be no shrapnel coming off of anything, unless the chain decides to break. I have a large magnet that could be fixed to the bottom of the tank to cover this issue.

Brad.

barbender · « **Reply #14 on:** February 23, 2011, 10:24:53 am »

There was a member on here not too long ago that built one from scratch, grapple and all, and it was well documented with photos. I'm sure a search would turn it up.

logman81 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 23, 2011, 05:07:03 pm »

Thanks barbender I thought there was some one building one awhile back. I going to use the mono beam design, The main beam will be 6x6x1/4 wall square tubing, the log poles will be made out of 2x4x1/4 rectangle tubing and 2x1/4 wall Dom tubing that will be bent into the shape I need. It will also have a boogie setup 8 ply tires, I got most of it worked out!

I'm also going to purchase a 36'' vallby grapple and rotator with a half hanger. I also planning on using joy stick control valve just need to find where to get one.

John Mc · « **Reply #16 on:** February 23, 2011, 06:38:26 pm »

I am about as far from an expert on this as you can get, but...

I wouldn't be too nuts about running it off the tractor hydraulics. Working in the forest with this is a rough application. If you do break a line or develop other problems, how long before you pump all your tractor's hydraulic fluid overboard? If you are going to have a hydraulic power pack for ATV use anyway, why not just keep the systems isolated? It would also prevent cross-contamination if you had a problem in one system.

redlaker1 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 23, 2011, 06:42:47 pm »

as for having the chain drive and swing bearings in the hydraulic tank, I would avoid that for sure, even if you have to make a gear case to house the oil for those components. with only a return filter, if anything happens to that chain or bearing your pump is going to eat that and die.

logman you seem to have a good plan, joysticks are nice for sure, after running hoe alot its hard to go back to the old sticks... something like this would probably work https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=9-7677&catname=hydraulic

of course you will need a 5th circuit for the rotator, or a selector valve with a button to switch between rotator and grapple. and possibly a 6th circuit if you want stabilizers.

its also good to have load checks on anything that will be lifting or holding a load

I have been eyeing up those valby grapples/rotators for my mini excavator, they sure look like they would be nice.

logman81 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 23, 2011, 07:07:49 pm »

Thanks redlaker1 I think I'm going to need 6 circuit valve bank. I'm going to contact a few of the the log trailer makers like metavic or maybe baileys and see if they will sell me one of theirs. I know that it wont be cheap but I got to have the joysticks.

Thanks for the tip on the load checks I will keep that in mind. The grapples do look like nice units there is a place on ebay that is selling them. 36'' with rotator and free shiping $1900 I think. Has anyone bought one from them before? I forgot them name of the place but seems like a decent price.

barbender · « **Reply #19 on:** February 23, 2011, 08:57:37 pm »

todd.crow is the member who built one, I found the thread but I am not smart enough to link to it.

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Author Topic: building a log forwarding trailer (Read 8103 times)