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Handy tow cable

Started by WV Sawmiller, January 31, 2017, 05:23:17 PM

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WV Sawmiller

   Below is a picture of a very handy little tow cable I keep in the basket of my ATV. The hook/swivel combo was a $5 flea market find after I lost my previous one. The hook at the swivel end just fits around the ball on my hitch.

   I use this to drag fence posts, firewood and sometimes small logs off the hillside behind my home. The swivel is essential when I get on a side slope and the log gets sideways and tries to outrun my ATV. Without the swivel the cable will kink and sometimes even break. The 1/4" cable is about 6' long piece salvaged when I broke a longer one. I have used them up to about 10' but shorter usually works better. I used to just make a loop on the end and used a shackle on the end opposite the ATV but the hook is easier. It had a gate which was nice but I never have one that lasts very long before the little gate in the hook breaks off.

   This hook, a hatchet and a pair of fence pliers are essentials I always keep in my ATV.


 
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

azmtnman

Nice.
I use my ATV for EVERYTHING!
My '06 Polaris Sportsman has a trunk under the front rack that is the best thing ever. I keep a hatchet (a Gerber with a saw in the handle--kinda lame and light duty), a small buck saw, couple bottles of water and energy bars, some trash bags (lots of uses but mostly emergency rain gear) some gloves, a strap that is usually 100 lbs too little for what I need and a chainsaw adjusting tool or 5 or 6 because I grab one just in case the one that's supposed to be in there isn't! :D
  In the little rear trunk I keep a small 12V air compressor, a few tools and my TP.
1983 LT 30, 1990 Kubota L3750DT, 2006 Polaris 500 EFI, '03 Dodge D2500 Cummins powered 4X4 long-bed crew cab, 1961 Ford backhoe, Stihl MS250, MS311 and MS661--I cut trees for my boss who was a Jewish carpenter!

LeeB

Quote from: azmtnman on January 31, 2017, 11:19:52 PM

  In the little rear trunk I keep a small 12V air compressor, a few tools and my TP.

Because the woods aren't just for bears.
'98 LT40HDD/Lombardini, Case 580L, Cat D4C, JD 3032 tractor, JD 5410 tractor, Husky 346, 372 and 562XP's. Stihl MS180 and MS361, 1998 and 2006 3/4 Ton 5.9 Cummins 4x4's, 1989 Dodge D100 w/ 318, and a 1966 Chevy C60 w/ dump bed.

WV Sawmiller

AZ,

   I am like that with my 650 Kawasaki Prairie. I use it every day in winter to feed to stock - take a bale of hay up in the pasture and feed in a different spot each day. Throw a chainsaw and tools in the basket to go cut a log or firewood. Load a post and tools to go fix a fence when needed. Go to my deer stands to take feed to the feeders, hunt, bring deer back, etc. Sampson, my Rat Terrier knock around buddy jumps right up and rides with me.

  I go into withdrawal when it is in the shop. It is beat to crap from the abuse it has taken. Been flipped end over end twice, rolled more times than I remember. Every time I righted and cranked it and drove it home. Whole plastic body has been replaced once and I need to replace it again.

   I also keep one of those 12V cigarette lighter air compressor in the tool compartment and use it all the time to top off low tires on the ATV or trailers and such. I keep one in each vehicle too. Not high quality but if it keeps me from having to change one tire on the road it is worth more than what one costs (around $10-$11).
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

21incher

I have some short chains like that. I don't like cable because if it comes loose it will smack you in the back of your head. :o
Hudson HFE-21 on a custom trailer, Deere 4100, Kubota BX 2360, Echo CS590 & CS310, home built wood splitter, home built log arch, a logrite cant hook and a bread machine. And a Kubota Sidekick with a Defective Subaru motor.

WV Sawmiller

21,

   I normally have a 6' chain in there too but the swivel works better on the cable. Using a short cable prevents it flying back. I use long cables to drag logs down because they are so much lighter to use and also I can use them with a snatch block if/when I have to change the direction of the pull.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

Chuck White

I prefer a tow strap vs a tow cable!
~Chuck~  Cooks Cat Claw sharpener and single tooth setter.  2018 Chevy Silverado and 2021 Subaru Ascent.
With basic mechanical skills and the ability to read you can maintain a Woodmizer  LT40!

WV Sawmiller

Chuck,

   I have no complaints about a strap vs a cable except the expense. I guess with a strap you could get by without the swivel as it won't twist up and break. As I mentioned before my tow cables are made from short pieces of broken long cables. Of course if I used heavier cables I would not break them as often but with my undersized equipment, over-aged and overweight body working on steep slopes I generally use 1/4" cable. My best flea market find last year was about 200' of 1/4" cable for $20. It is especially handy when I have a long pull requiring use of a snatch block or two to pull and re-direct a log a time or two. It is also real handy when I have to climb up and tie a long cable to a leaning tree to pull it in the desired direction when felling close to fences, electric lines or steep drop-offs. I guess the professional arborists use long heavy ropes and if I ever find them cheap enough I'll get them too.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

GRANITEstateMP

I work in the parts room of a car dealership.  We had one guy in the shop that would take all the Warranty return seatbelts.  He'd use them as a tow rope / strap on his bikes.  They are strong, compact, and he had $0 into them!  Probably wouldn't strap to many logs with them, but fence posts and suck would be okay.
Hakki Pilke 1x37
Kubota M6040
Load Trail 12ft Dump Trailer
2015 GMC 3500HD SRW
2016 Polaris 450HO
2016 Polaris 570
SureTrac 12ft Dump Trailer

Chuck White

I have to agree with you WV Sawmiller, use what you have, especially if you don't have much ($$$) invested!
~Chuck~  Cooks Cat Claw sharpener and single tooth setter.  2018 Chevy Silverado and 2021 Subaru Ascent.
With basic mechanical skills and the ability to read you can maintain a Woodmizer  LT40!

azmtnman

Quote from: LeeB on February 01, 2017, 05:29:26 AM
Quote from: azmtnman on January 31, 2017, 11:19:52 PM

  In the little rear trunk I keep a small 12V air compressor, a few tools and my TP.

Because the woods aren't just for bears.
When nature calls!  :D
In Arizona, the "leaves" aren't really an option! :D :D
1983 LT 30, 1990 Kubota L3750DT, 2006 Polaris 500 EFI, '03 Dodge D2500 Cummins powered 4X4 long-bed crew cab, 1961 Ford backhoe, Stihl MS250, MS311 and MS661--I cut trees for my boss who was a Jewish carpenter!

LeeB

Definitely would be a prickly situation.  :D
'98 LT40HDD/Lombardini, Case 580L, Cat D4C, JD 3032 tractor, JD 5410 tractor, Husky 346, 372 and 562XP's. Stihl MS180 and MS361, 1998 and 2006 3/4 Ton 5.9 Cummins 4x4's, 1989 Dodge D100 w/ 318, and a 1966 Chevy C60 w/ dump bed.

goose63

Quote from: LeeB on February 04, 2017, 01:12:06 AM
Definitely would be a prickly situation.  :D

When we were kids my not to smart brother used poisonivy  ;D
goose
if you find your self in a deep hole stop digging
saw logs all day what do you get lots of lumber and a day older
thank you to all the vets

LeeB

Had an aunt did the same thing. Ended up in the emergency room.
'98 LT40HDD/Lombardini, Case 580L, Cat D4C, JD 3032 tractor, JD 5410 tractor, Husky 346, 372 and 562XP's. Stihl MS180 and MS361, 1998 and 2006 3/4 Ton 5.9 Cummins 4x4's, 1989 Dodge D100 w/ 318, and a 1966 Chevy C60 w/ dump bed.

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