DanG-DeadHeader Log Lifter

[getoverit]

I finally got the DanG-DeadHeader Log Lifter finished and had some logs to move. It took me a few minutes to figure out how it all worked, but in no time I had loaded several logs on the trailer and hadn't even broke out in a sweat doing it.






Thought I would give credit to the master engeneering minds that helped create this wonderful tool



You guys are geniuses !! Many thanks for all of the technical advice while this thing was under construction !

[DanG]

 

[Murf]

That looks like a DanG clever idea. 

In fact, if ya put another one on the front and made a ridgepole up, you could have a pretty DanG big mobile pup tent. 

For your log dogs. 

Ok, not such a funny joke....... 

[sawguy21]

So how do ya make that puppy work?

[SwampDonkey]

Now if ya could just cut some of that lumber and design a door for the shop instead of using that wind whipped tarp... 

[jon12345]

cut some of that lumber and design a door


least right now don't gotta worry about gettin locked out 

[red]

looks good

and slightly redesigned

[Part_Timer]

That's one fine looking loader there Ken.  I like the paint job.

So how do ya like that new truck of yours??

[getoverit]

The truck runs like a top, and so far I've been real pleased with it. I even had some custom logos made for the doors 



I'm working on trying to find some pine logs to cut to make the doors for the new woodshop. I'm alos going to panel the inside of it with pine boards that I cut myself, if I have to cut down one of my own pines to do it 

sawguy21, if you look at DanG's gallery, you will find detailed pictures on how this works. Basically, it is a swinging "A" frame with a winch attached. The A frame is swung backward, lowering the top of it , and then a chain is attached from the log to the top of the A frame. when the winch pulls the A frame and streightens it up, the log is lifted and placed on the back of the trailer. From there, it is simply pulled onto the trailer by the winch.

I took DanG's idea and modified it a bit, and by golly it works! I have discovered that I can also use the winch and A frame as a crane, and lift some heavy loads up in the air by using a snatch block. I just chain off the A frame so that it is at about a 45 degree angle on the back of the trailer, and then use the winch, through the snatch block, to lift heavy loads.

The base of the lifter slides into the stake pockets in my trailer, so it is easy to remove when I want to use the trailer for other things. I addded a bolt in each leg, through the steak pocket, to hold it in place and keep it from bouncing out while I'm going down the road. Remove those 2 bolts, slide the legs out of the pockets, and its a normal trailer again!

Here is a picture of the "knuckle" at the base of the A frame.





Thanks for the compliments !!

 

[sawguy21]

Ah so,  thanks, I learn sumpin here every day.

[getoverit]

I had something happen yesterday that I thought was kinda funny. I had seen a really big Pine tree that someone had cut down in their yard, and left my card on their door. The guy called me back in a short while, and to make a long story short, told me to come get it. I was there in about an hour, with the "DanG-DeadHeader Log Lifter" in tow. 

This guy had already cut about 20' of the top of the tree into firewood size chunks, but what remained were 2 logs, each of them 20' long and both of them about 30" in diameter.

I told the guy I was there to get the logs, and he asked, where is your equipment?? I told him I had all I needed, and he said, well, who is helping you?? I told him I could load it and be gone in a few minutes, and he says " THIS I GOTTA SEE"

I backed the trailer up to the log, set up the DDLL in place, put a chain around the log, and in short order I had it on the trailer and ready to be trailered home. Because of the weight and diameter of the logs, I had to haul them one at a time, so it took me about 45 minutes to go home and drop off the first one before I could get back. Before I left, the owner was on the phone telling whoever he was talking to...."you gotta see this... this little short guy came over here with no more than a winch and trailer and loaded that big log all by himself and didnt even break out in a sweat doing it"....

When I got back for the second log, Not only was the owner there, but 3 of his sons (who turned out to be contractors needing large beams). I loaded the second log, and made deals with the sons for selling them custom sawn beams for their construction projects.

All the way home, people were breaking their necks trying to see who it was pulling this HUGE pine log down the road, and almost running me off the road trying to write down my phone number from the sides of the truck.

It was a good day !!

[metalspinner]

Cool.

[Fla._Deadheader]

  Maybe it's time to start receiving them "royalty checks", EH ??   

[Part_Timer]

Way to go Ken

Sounds like things are starting to pick up for ya.

sound like quite a gig picking up the free logs and turning around a selling it right back to em.

Tom

[Lud]

Well done, Ken.   Nice RED paint and excellent Lettering. 

[wiam]

Harold maybe you can talk him into half of what he paid for the logs.

Will

[eagles nest]

say how tall is the A frame & what thickness square tubing did y use

[WeeksvilleWoodWorx]

Here ya go Eagle.

Log Lift

[getoverit]

Thanks for all the kind compliments !

The REAL praise should go to DanG and Fla_Deadheader though. It was those guys that inspired my creation and got me started on the physics of the log lifter.

I will add one note though. For small logs, the 8' A frame lifts the logs a pretty good distance off of the ground, and when it gets past the 1/2 way mark, the Log is moved forward and the log and the A frame comes crashing down on the trailer with a thud.  For the LARGE logs like the 30" diameter by 20' long log I loaded the other day, it is just right on the lift height and because the log weighs so much, it doesnt come crashing down and falling forward when it hits. It's a nice gentle landing on the trailer.

The A frame legs are 8' long, and it is 3" square tubing , 1/4" wall. Its kind of heavy to be using for the little logs, but just right for this monster log. There was plenty of room on each side of the log for the lifter to lay down.

One advantage to having an A frame is that it can help to "winch" the logs down and hold them in place when transporting. Just lay the A frame down on the log, and tighten the winch cable going to the top of the A frame. It centers the log because of it's design, and holds it in place too. I use a 2" winching strap at the front to hold the logs in place on the front end of the trailer.

[Fla._Deadheader]

 There is quite a bit of geometry involved with building the first log loading arch. The reason I fastened the base of the arch about 18" forward of the rear end of the trailer, is so that "crashing down" could be controlled.

  Also, I did not use the original arch as a "boom", by pulling on it with the cable. I ran a cable through a snatch block, that was hooked in a chain on the arch. My design will allow the placing of logs anywhere on the deck by simply sliding the block from one side to the other. We used a chain to "grab" the arch before it fell "over center", and when you release tension, the arch settles back down in it's original "set" at approximately 45° to the trailer bed. Then you slip the cable loop farther down the log and winch it further onto the trailer, OR, take the cable out of the block and winch the log forward.

  My operating instructions were not completely followed as I described, so, the arch is used differently by DanG and Ken.

  Oakiemac has the trailer now. Maybe he is using the arch, maybe not ??