atv skidder trial

ROGER....BITTERNUT...........THAT IS A NICE CONCEPT....... AND YOU CAN MODIFY IT FOR MANY DIFFERENT FEAURES....AND MAKE IT DO DIFFERENT THINGS.............. I WAS THINKING DEER CART FOR ATV...........BETTER THAN MY SLED I USE NOW......... .... GOOD PROJECT THAT SPARKED A LOT OF INTEREST..........GOOD JOB GENTS...........................ROCK.............. ....... [email protected]

You've built a practical device that I expect will be copied by many more than you can imagine and produced commercially.
Great job.

A little modification and your log skidder becomes a rough terrain engine hoist. Add some longer shear legs making taller A frame and chain hoist. Maybe a 55gal drum on tongue for water ballast or stabalizer legs with casters extending aft. If you need to transport your load then sling it forward to top level section of slider bar.

Originally posted by aweaver
Bitternut,

Don't let RockyD see those open tubes!

Aaron

Too late, Aaron....I seen 'em!

[Henro]

Bitternut,

Sounds like you got all your ducks in a row.

Now all we need is an action shot!

Have fun draggin' them logs!

[bitternut]

Hi Henro

There actually is a stop sort of when the slider reaches the top. At the top there is a short horizontal section and the slider will ride up on to the horizontal section till it hits the end of the riser. I can limit the height by leaving more slack in the chain when I hitch up the chain on the grab hook. In my limited trial I found that it is best to leave some slack in the hook-up in case the log lays different when you get to where you want to drop it off. The first log I skidded was sitting on a hump and I hitched it up tight. When I tried to unhook it on flat ground I had to jack the log up to get enough slack chain for unhooking. Also by leaving some slack in the hook-up you get more of a horizontal pull which allows the slider to ride up the inclined bar easier.

I think the danger would be having too little lift rather than too much. You are limited by the diameter of the log and the height of the arch section. If you don't have enough lift you run the chance of the butt end plowing into the ground when you go through ditches, dips or water-bars.

I was really amazed at how little you actually had to lift the end to slide the logs. I was lifting the larger end of the logs which I think is the right way to do it. Weather permitting I will be giving it some more trials this week-end. I will pay close attention to your concerns and let you know if I discover any problems or weaknesses. Here is a picture of the top part of the lift bar also.

[Henro]

Bitternut,

Very nice work and interesting concept!

One thing that came to mind is: I wonder if you should put a stop on the tube that the clevis slides up, to limit the amount of lift you get from the log as you are moving forward?

The reason I am bringing this up is that should the log grab on something, while you were moving forward, it could cause the log to get pulled up real high [maybe] and perhaps the center of gravity going that high might make tipping over a possibility. Might also cause a lot of upward lift on the back of your buggy at the hitch point.

Just a thought related to safety, not sure if it is a valid concern or not.

Do post a pic of your rig in action if you ever get the chance. Really neat!

BITTERNUT...........HAHAHAHA.............THAT IS WHAT I'M HAVEING FOR SUPPER TONIGHT..........WISCONSIN RING NECK AND IT IS MY LAST ONE................BOOOOOO..................ROCK.. .........
[email protected]

[Scott V]

New York New York!But if she would go to LA that would work also.

[bitternut]

Cope

I am located just down the NYS thruway from the national champs Syracuse. Actually about 80 feet off of Lake Ontario in zip code 14012. My woods are about 100 miles South near the NY PA border.

Scott V

I thought she was from LA.

[Scott V]

RockyD,keep posting the weather down there,and maybe a few people will get home sick.

Also bitternut,don't post your weather anymore,because the mayor here is from New York,and she will never leave if she sees you posts.

[cope]

bitternut, where in western NY?

[bitternut]

Actually guys I looked around at pictures of different ones on the market and also adapted some ideas from some Amish loggers that were skidding with horses close by my house this winter. I kind of figured the incline plane was the best way to do the lifting and the grab hook on a choker chain was the simplest and cheapest way of hanging on to the log. My wife came up with the idea of storing it by standing it up on its back end with the tongue sticking up. Takes up a lot less space that way.

As for the tree huggers we usually use a 12 ga or just leave them in it and give em a real thrill ride. They don't seem to mind the ride, just the sudden stop. Just kidding of course. Actually never seen a tree hugger in my woods. I think they are a Left
Coast species mainly.

To answer Rocky D about that white stuff here is a picture I took today of some of the wildlife hiding out under my truck. Not to worry though as soon as the Santa Anna Winds start it will all turn to water.

[cope]

Originally posted by Scott V
Bitternut,how do you get the tree-sitters out of the tree to cut it down? The atv setup for that is pretty neat.You can get right up to the trees pretty good.

Scott, trees burn better with bunny huggers in them.

Great design and workmanship! It's nice to build something and have it work for you so, that you don't have to.

I keep seeing that white stuff on the ground in some of guys pictures....what is that? It's been 80 degrees here today

[Scott V]

Bitternut,how do you get the tree-sitters out of the tree to cut it down? The atv setup for that is pretty neat.You can get right up to the trees pretty good.