traction/pulling power of an atv

Chances are no, not if the log length is worth pulling... You have several things working against you, first and foremost being traction: if you could get some of the weight of the log off the ground and onto the back tires you could help a lot. Either way, since you can't get the lead end off the ground make sure you bevel it so it doesn't dig in.. Also, with snow on the ground beware of hidden stuff that could stop you cold when the log hits it (don't ask how I know).. Good luck, but be prepared to hand load it..

Jason

CowboyAndy said:

What can I expect an atv to be able to do?

On sunday I am going to be harvesting a big azz pine from behind where I work. One of the other guys who works here is going to be helping and bringing his 4 wheeler. Im not sure what it is, but I know its a fairly inexpensive model.

There is some snow on the ground right now, and it has to go up a slight hilll. Do you think it will work?

Click to expand...

I am not a 4wheeler guy, and it would depend on how big azz the pine is? If its a big trunked tree, you might be better off cutting it into smaller sizes.

My 4 wheeler in low can pull some weight, but the trunk digging into the ground will be a factor.


Shipper

I thought I could do it with my Garden Tractor....Bad Idea. The winch on my Jeep reeled it right up. (This was a 12" oak, maybe 20' long.) Do you know anyone with a winch on there truck?

i have a kawasaki brute force 750 with a clutch kit and 28 inch mudlite tires. i use a chain and make sort a chocker type slip knot around the logs. i pull them realy good three at a time, about as long as my flat bed car trailer and about 10-12 inces thick or more(spruce and birch). the hardest part was getting traction in the snow to get started after that i realy didnt feel them back there and it only took about 3 seconds to realy get going. i think it did good. way easier than trying to back up a truck trough the woods and all that. way quicker too. i have a few budies with teh same "get up" and we all do fine. plenty of power.

oh yeah the key is to just stay going, dont stop.

But you've got a real quad. A BF 175 and 4wd...............................

so. put some mud tires on any 4wd drive and see what happens.

Andy, you probably already know this, but when pulling a log, always hook the chain on the back side of the log and put the tractor or atv on the opposite side. That way you actually roll and slid the log sideways a bit, which gets you started moving. Many times you can pull a lot bigger log than you think just by hooking this way.

Well since the tree is at work I suppose you can make it a part time lunch/after work project. Just noodle cut a few rounds every day so you can wheelbarrow 'em and load 'em in your S-10 to bring home every night. Big deal so it'll take 7-10 days...at least you're still making production. And that's not easy to do with sun light scarce this time of year...

...game, set & match... Andy!

Me and a friend built a logging arch about 5 yrs ago for my sportsman 500. 10 cords and 4 thousand mbf of pine pulled so far largest was 22" 18' long for a post and beam addition. It doesn't do well on slopes greater than 15% with that much weight though. I would say you are looking at a snatch block, rope and a truck if you want to get it out whole. I have moved logs over 200' to the road this way, any way you look at it unless you have tractor or skidder it won't be easy. good luck