MULE LOGGING!!

[Tom]

Tonight is going to be a good night to watch the Discovery Channel, but especially after Dirty Jobs. 

After Dirty Jobs, at 10:00 pm e/p (I think that means Eastern and Pacific) is an Extreme Logging show on Mule Logging.

I've just got to see that. ;D

[Don K]

Been thinking about it since last Tues.  ;D

Don

[zopi]

I love those guys...wanna talk about green?

Most mules are smarter than most people I know...

[JV]

I'll have to watch that.  Probably 50 years ago, we had a logger come in with a mule and

a big white horse.  They stabled the team in our barn and bought corn and hay from us.

The first day, the mule had a real appetite and the horse just stood in the corner.  Day two,

same thing.  They watched closely the next day, going up grades the mule was pawing and

snorting, putting on a real show.  It was just that, the collar on the horse was dug in, but on

the mule it was just tight enough to look convincing.  After an attitude adjustment, the

horse had a real appetite and the mule was the one standing in the corner.   :D

[Radar67]

I've got it set to record since I won't get to watch it. The wife wants a couple of donkeys, told her they had to earn their keep as loggers if she got them.  ;D She didn't look very happy with that.  :

[timberfaller390]

It's going to be a good'un

[Lanier_Lurker]

Thanks for the heads-up, Tom.

Got it set to record.  Should be interesting.

[Banjo picker]

Yep , I want to see it too... Got a mule name Reuben.....Shoud put a tv out in the barn and let him watch it.. Tim

[low_48]

Best loggin' show yet. Very imformative and just plain fun to watch. I enjoyed the way he described the personality of each mule, and my could they pull Saw that truck on dirty jobs, that's a disaster waiting to happen. Must not have much for weight limits around there either. There were some huge loads for a single axle. That was a DanG fun hour of TV.

[timberfaller390]

Best loggin' show yet. Very imformative and just plain fun to watch. I enjoyed the way he described the personality of each mule, and my could they pull Saw that truck on dirty jobs, that's a disaster waiting to happen. Must not have much for weight limits around there either. There were some huge loads for a single axle. That was a DanG fun hour of TV.

Actually the truck on Dirty jobs was a Ford this one was a Chevy. Those side loaders are pretty common around here, fact is they are the only kind of self loader you'll find down here. As for weight, if your far enough back in the hills the DOT don't bother you to much. I noticed they didn't show a preview of another episode. Was it only a 2 episode series?

[Tom]

I sure did enjoy it.  It was the more real of any real-TV that I've watched.   I loved the Mules and I thought it was really cool that a "Greenhorn" was accepted and not made to feel bad at every turn.

If there was one thing I would wish for, it would be for them to show more than just the beginning of an action.  Some of it had a Norm's Yankee Workshop feel.  For example cranking the chainsaw, touching it to the log, cutting about 1 inch deep and then changing scenes to the log being in two pieces.  Heck, those that run chainsaws enjoy seeing them cut.   I know that time is limited on a show like that, but I can wish, can't I?

Then there are the "new" photograpic editors who think that a scene must be changed every 1/2 to 2 seconds.  It leaves my eyes and head hurting and me wondering what happened.  This show wasn't too bad, but even a hint of that kind of stuff makes my anxious. 

All in All, I want more.  I liked the woods, the animals and the Gentlmanly acting loggers who are laid back enough that they don't  question someone for not showing up for work.  I know the guy had to be ticked off, but he kept his cool and there was another day. 

[Don K]

There should be one next week on helicopter logging. Best I can tell it is a 3 show series. I would like to find one of those side loaders for my personal use.

[Banjo picker]

One of the better shows  I have seen in a while..Tim

[metalspinner]

I liked it , too. Those mules were beautiful animals.

My favorate part was the end when thet were in the yard log for the sale.  Those two women were all business. And it was very clear there would be no "Negotiating on the price." ;)  That old walnut with the heart rot running up it still brought $1BF.

[stonebroke]

What do mule loggers have against picker trucks? Other than cost they would be much safer and more efficent.

Stonebroke

[SeeSaw]

Tom,

Thanks for the heads up I would have missed it.  I sure do enjoy watching mules and horses pull a load out of the woods.  They sure do work hard and I'm always impressed at how it almost looks as if they just can't wait to get hitched up and pull the load. It's almost like they're showing off...  I think it's really neat and it sure is easier on the woods than big equipment.

SeeSaw 

[timberfaller390]

What do mule loggers have against picker trucks? Other than cost they would be much safer and more efficent.

Stonebroke

Side loaders are common down here (even though they are death traps) because they are cheaper than a KB loader and don't add the wait of a KB to the truck. So you can get by with a shorter truck and haul heavier loads.

[pineywoods]

Side loaders and mules were the accepted way of logging when I was young. That show brought back a lot of memories. The mules were phased out for 8N ford tractors. Most of the side loaders around here were home-made. Look closely, 4 inch pipe and angle iron. The winch that powers it is made from the rear axle off a car, driven off a pto on the truck tranny. I didn't work in the woods, had a job working in the local repair (fabricating ) shop. Loggers can break ANYTHING. Ditto what someone said about the DOT. Only place you ever saw them was on the major highways. I didn't even see a tag on the truck :. When the dot started cracking down on over-loaded single axle trucks, most operators just hung a tag axle under the back end. There's still a few of them locally.

[timberfaller390]

Most of the side loaders around here were home-made. Look closely, 4 inch pipe and angle iron. The winch that powers it is made from the rear axle off a car, driven off a pto on the truck tranny.

That's the other thing about side loaders. Guy's working around here with single axle trucks are doing everything as cheap as they can, and that's one way to cut a pretty good cost. I was very proud to see the chaps and hard hats though, most of the small time guys down here just wear boots and a ball cap. Any of our boys from Tennessee know or recognize them muleskinners?

[zopi]

I don't recognize them personally...but I sure know the type...those ol' hill folks can do ANYTHING..usually with almost nothing...can't wait to get back to God's Country..Go Big Orange!

My dad got out of hte Army at Ft Campbell Ky. in 1969..needed a job for a month or so, and went to work for a fellow named Opal Holland..worked for one of the big consortiums down in TN..anyway,
The old man who ran the company called Opal in one day and told him that he was going to pass on soon, and that his son would fire Opal..saw him as a threat I guess..Well, the old man died a week later and come to find out, he had left opal 20 grand..The kid fired him and he went home, sat there looking at the check..wondering what the hell to do..His wife said.."Buy a sawmill, stupid..it's all you know." So he did. He bought an old circle mill, set it up and started sawing contract and shares,
made a little money, and for 40 years, every time a piece of land in western Ky came up for sale that had so much as a stick growing on it, the old man bought it..He is still running that same circle mill today, they log his property, and probably hasn't cut a live tree that wasn't third growth in 20 years..he says he drives around after a storm and cuts out the leaners and blowdowns...has no logging equipment but an old JD tractor and a chainsaw..couple log wagons maybe..god only knows how much money he's worth...There is not a square inch of sheetrock in his 2500 square foot house..and it is every board native hardwood or cedar..he doesn't like pine and won't plant it.

Daddy took me up and introduced me to him in 2001 just before he passed..all in all it was one of the better days of my life..we cut a Christmas tree out at Opal's place that day  and hauled it in together..Opal showed me the mill and what could be done with it...and mentioned something he had just become interested in..something called a band mill...he planted the seed in me and after a few years it grew up and I bought my Woodmizer..here I am wanting to upgrade to something a little heftier...He taught me a lesson in pulling up by the bootstraps too..I think I'll call him after awhile...

[Tom]

Good on you, Zopi.  Those oldtimers are a goldmine, not only in informtion, but in self satisfaction too.  You can make a fellow like that mighty happy by spending some time with him. I've found that my time with them is as memorable to me as when I met them as a kid and admired them as idols.  Lots of those fellows aren't given the time of day by younger folks and they get mighty lonely.

[timberfaller390]

I don't recognize them personally...but I sure know the type...those ol' hill folks can do ANYTHING..usually with almost nothing

You ain't kidding. I wish I could get my grandpaw on the forum to tell a few stories. The way he raised me has made me sure a man can make a living with just hard work and common sense.

[SamB]

Good story Zopi! Brings back memories of my younger days and the older folks who influenced my perspectives on life. I was the last of 8 siblings 22 years between the eldest and the youngest. The 4 oldest grew up in the great depression era. I've seen pictures and heard the stories about the family mule that helped them make it through hard times. Makes one appreciate what we have to work with today.

[Tom]

Those 'family' mules were actually a part of the family.  I've got a picture of my Grandmother, her mother, father, sisters and brother standing in front of the farm house and the brother is holding the mule.  They'd never have left him out of the picture.  I 'spect he'd have eaten at the dinner table if they'd let him sit in a chair. :D

[zopi]

someone in another thread mentioned the Foxfire books...if you like the old ways and stories run out and get a set...lotta good knowledge in them, and the way things are going that knowledge might be
useful...

[wi woodcutter]

My mother has a riding mule-seeing that show just makes me think!

[loggjamm]

Hi, new to this forum. Usually stick to sawing and milling. I saw ( :D )that show on mule logging, it was great. I have a question for you guys; how exactly does that side loader work? What engages that thing to lift, and then stop at the top and then lower back down? I've done some crazy things but that just looks dangerous.
    Thanks, loggjamm.....

[Mooseherder]

Welcome loggjamm (great name)
Even with all the warnings I managed to miss the Mule episode. :(
I hope there will be some reruns. :D

[thecfarm]

Did I see one of the Butt brothers on there?  :D 

[Dale Hatfield]

I thought I heard him say one of them long ears name was Roxie?????

[pineywoods]

Loggjam, that side loader is usually a home-made rube-goldberg contraption that operates with pulleys and cables hooked to a winch (probably home-made)  mounted right behind the cab. The winch runs off a pto on the truck transmission. Hand operated clutch to engage or dis-engage the winch.  I've worked on a few in my younger years.  Can supply lots of details if'n you want to build your own  ;D

[zopi]

I was surfing around reading about mule and ox logging...saw some comments by Jason Rutledge...apparently DISC approached him about doing it but they decided he wasn't thrilling enough...he may get some time on one of the "green" shows though..

[thedeeredude]

Saw that too zopi.  Over on RH forum.  Cfarm, I believe it was the Butt brothers again from their first appearance on Dirty Jobs.  I didn't see the show and could really care less knowing who was on it.   Just my humble opinion.

[zopi]

I kind of dig the forecart arches...like a logrite arch with a seat on top..make the drag easier on the animals..

[timberfaller390]

I kind of dig the forecart arches...like a logrite arch with a seat on top..make the drag easier on the animals..

Yeah those are pretty cool. Brandt Einsworth who writes the horse and ox logging coloumn in Rural Heritage magazine, has one with a diesel engine and winch. Oh yeah  his team of oxen are named Timber and Jack.

[loggjamm]

Hey, Pineywoods, thanks for the offer, but my loggin' days are over. ( I hope!) I'll stick to millin' thank you very much. p.s. this forestry forum is the best!!!

[timberfaller390]

hey pineywoods, some technical details on a side loader would be great

[Dale Hatfield]

They must have bought all new PPE for the show.   They all looked brand new .
They stunt they pulled when they cut the tree the felled one was hung into.
He should have yelled in in best uneducated Jeff foxworthy voice HEY Yall come watch this.
A poor shot at drama and another Black eye for loggers

[timberfaller390]

They must have bought all new PPE for the show.   They all looked brand new .
They stunt they pulled when they cut the tree the felled one was hung into.
He should have yelled in in best uneducated Jeff foxworthy voice HEY Yall come watch this.
A poor shot at drama and another Black eye for loggers

I will agree about them cutting the hanger out.
Whether the PPE was new or not doesn't matter to me. I'm just glad to see guy's running a small operation in Appalachia wear anything but boots and ball caps. Most don't give PPE a thought.

[Corley5]

The house infection owners next door had their 10 acres high graded a couple weeks ago and the guy doing the falling was completely bald.  I know that because he didn't have any kind of a hat on  : let alone chaps or eye protection.

[zopi]

The house infection owners next door

:D :D :D :D

[Dale Hatfield]

I guess  my point being is. Its new and not used and I doubt that it gets used again.
If they were really worried about safety they would have pulled down the hanger  and moved on. But thats not how it was handled.  That was a complete disregard for safety .

[pineywoods]

hey pineywoods, some technical details on a side loader would be great

Here's how the sidewinder loader was usually constructed. All I ever saw were home-made out of whatever materials were available. Two of these mounted about 7 or 8 feet apart. The winch cable off both loader arms go to the same winch drum.





Very few had factory built winches. Usually like this..Mounted across the frame rails right behind the cab. The actuator lever and master cylinder usually mounted close by, wherever was convienent.




With this setup, crank truck, engage pto, and leave the truck idleing, the drive mechanism runs continuously. The winch drum side will apply just enough tension to keep the slack out of the cables, and the operator side will spin freely. Locking the free-spinning drum causes differential action to apply full torque to the winch drum. There is NO BRAKE available.
Release the lever and the whole works will fall..
Looks dangerous, but I never heard of anybody getting hurt with one.


Later edit.   Probably would work well with an electric winch

[zopi]

Log chuckin'...I'll stick with the slow stuff...

[ronnie tucker]

there is a shop in savannah tn that makes side loaders i have used their loaders i like them best when they started making them it was named the loggers pal i hire my hauling now with the mules i only have the saw motor to worry with ronnie tucker tn logger   the one used in the show was a savannah loader

[Banjo picker]

there is a shop in savannah tn that makes side loaders i have used their loaders i like them best when they started making them it was named the loggers pal i hire my hauling now with the mules i only have the saw motor to worry with ronnie tucker tn logger   the one used in the show was a savannah loader

Welcome to the forum Ronnie ,  Where bouts it Tn. are you from?  I live just across the line in Ms. over about Iuka.  Tim

[ronnie tucker]

i am located at paris tn ronnie tucker

[fishpharmer]

I really enjoyed the mule logging shows. 

Welcome to ForestryForum   Ronnie Tucker  its a great place.

8) 8)

[Banjo picker]

i am located at paris tn ronnie tucker

Ronnie my wifes sister and her hubby live in Paris.  R. Parker is him name he worked at the hospital till he retired a few years ago.  Tim