Skidding Logs on snow

[highlands]

Hello all, I have been looking at ways to get logs out of the bush in the winter and am wondering how the max a tracked 6x6 with the 440 2 stroke would work. I have a bandsaw mill and only have time to work in the bush during the winter, growing food takes up the summer time. I have a small 4 wheel drive tractor which works ok, as long as I keep the roads plowed.

The problem arises when I move to different bush in January and there is 3 or 4 feet of snow. I also have a lot of up and down hill travel. Will a 6x6 with tracks pack a trail down well enough to skid logs out. I don't cut monsters, the biggest trees I tackle are 18 inches at the butt end. If anyone has any feedback regarding logging I would appreciate it. I thought a 4 wheel drive tractor would do it and have been dissappointed with it.

I really enjoyed the thread regarding the electric conversion. We are in the process of building an off grid home and would love to have an electric utility vehicle. It appeared to be a pretty straight forward conversion. Pretty awesome.

Good day

[salamander]

reality check

If you are atttempting to drive through very deep snow, when the belly of your machine bottoms out; it will lift the tracks right off the snow. You have to drive your trails every time a foot of snow falls to keep them packed down, when you do go out into the really deep stuff, have a come along and winch ready to assist, a couple of shovels and a buddy with a strong back along for the ride doesn't hurt either. The flats are OK with momentum, but you will not be able to climb anything significant if there is more than a couple feet of the white stuff.

I skid small trees like you aim to with my tracked 6x6; I use chains with the winch to get the trees out of the deep stuff and onto the packed down trail first.

Happy logging!

[LarryW]

I saw a trailer like contration to help with logging, it was shaped like an upside down U and had wheels at the end, the log sat in between them. when pulled it would pick up the front of the log so it wouldnt dig in. Neat Idea I though.

[argohunter]

Skidding Logs

Highlands

Are you using a wheeled log arch, cone skid, stone(boat)skid, nose skid, chains with tongs etc. or just chains to skid those logs? That's some pretty deep snow to be skidding logs through using conventional skidding means. If you are floating on top of that 3-4' of snow with the Max, you will initially need to float out those logs just the same,that is, until you get a trail in the snow packed down. You may want to consider building a wide stance (50" or less) arch platform tobaggon to get a low psi under the load that your skidding out. An old junker flat bottomed aluminum boat cut down to size works well for this. Notch out the boat transom to stabilize the log(s) from rolling sideways. Strengthen up the bow to rig your appropriate towing appliance. Minimizing the psi footprint in that deep snow under the logs is the key thing until you have packed that trail down. Float 'em if you can't tote 'em.

[highlands]

Thanks for the feedback, I was planning on using a small trailer to get the end of the log off the ground to skid them to the road. I like the old boat idea though. I have a gas powered winch to help get the logs out of the hard to reach places. I don't want to put much more money into the sawmill business other wise the economics just don't add up given the price of lumber. It is just slightly more than hobby, but not much. However, since winter is my only time to cut wood I'm looking for the most bang for the buck. I guess there is no clear cut easy way. I'm probably just as well to keep snowblowing and plowing the trails clear and use the tractor to drag them out. I have to prove to my wife that any investment in equipment will have a return in the end (more than me cruizing around with a smile on face). The 6x6 looks like it would could be real work horse. I'm still waiting to here back from the fellow selling the 440 max. From what I have read about them I will try to get it if the price is right.

[SiliconTi]

My MAX IV with tracks is able to pull a 4'x10' trail drag full of snow, so the log should not be an issue if 1) the butt is off the ground and 2) the trail has been run over a couple times with the MAX first. I have had my MAX out and it will bully its way through 18"+ of snow, but not with the drag on it. I have a winch on mine and have had to use it once as Ihigh-centered, but with practice you'll be fine.

[azz7772]

what kind of trees there would be a big weight difference between say a maple or oak and something like pine ..... Not to knock our machines but maybe something like a bombardier bombi with 24 inch tracks might be a better work machine for something like that.here is a link to what I mean

http://www.chameleoninc.com/snowcats/bombi.html

[micmac]

I would not recommend this with a two stroke engine. What you want is low end torque not high revving HP

[Flying Bone]

trade your max for a trackster!