Hybrid ATV Log Arch

[sublime68charger]

this is the start of my ATV Log Arch that is a Hybrid from others,

As I want to keep the ATV able to be nimble backing up to the logs

so I have 450 ES Honda Foreman that has a Cycle Country 3pt system on the back,

that is the start. from the local CL I got a toolbar Hitch that is the base of my Arch.

this last easter I got 2 tires and hubs from my uncle who scrapped out a rotten Boat trailer.

got some free time to tinker in my work shop and things start to get put together
first pic is toolbar and tires from behind, 2nd is side view

 

[sublime68charger]

Mock up for getting the tires bolted up to the tool bar,

Made this with some scrap wood I had around till I was happy with how it looked then I made the same parts out of scrap metal that I had as well,
first pic is wood mock up, 2nd is starting to weld the Metal parts up

 

[Jags]

Looks good so far...but I am not sure what I am looking at. Is the 3 point an actuated 3 pt or is it static? Is this thing gonna have 4 wheels? I am just not getting the vision.

Most archs have the wheels several feet back from the tow vehicle to help balance the weight of the log. Your set up so far has me confuddled on what the finished product is gonna look like.

 

[sublime68charger]

Final test and fit of the dolly tires.

the idea is the dolly tires will carry the weight of the logs and if I need a little bit more traction I can raise the 3pt up to gain rear drive wheel weight. though I'll loose steering it will be a balance act i suppose

and then when Im empty I can pick the dolly wheels up and be able to maneuver the ATV where I want when backup up to the logs in the woodland
2nd pic is final wheel install and fit, Right wheel is a little kiddywhapuss but dosnt seem to bother when I took atv out for a test drive

 

[Jags]

So is the dolly gonna be chained or attached in some way to the middle of the log with the end of the log attached to your 3 pt? Still not getting the full picture.

 

[sublime68charger]

Looks good so far...but I am not sure what I am looking at. Is the 3 point an actuated 3 pt or is it static?

the 3 point is actuated so that when empty I can raise it up to back the atv up where I want then set down to haul the logs.

there is 1 bolt I will have to take out which will let the 3pt float up/down right now its in a set position which works great having down pressure for other things I use on the 3pt.
but for the arch I'll want it to flex up/down but I be able to still pick the arch up from the ground if I put the 3pt in full up mode

Is this thing gonna have 4 wheels? I am just not getting the vision.

just the 2 wheels

Most archs have the wheels several feet back from the tow vehicle to help balance the weight of the log. Your set up so far has me confuddled on what the finished product is gonna look like.

those archs also are towed behind the ATV and you have to be able to turn without jack knifeing your self into the arch. this is direct behind the ATV and tracks in the same wheel ruts, I don't know if my setup will work out how I want or not. but if not the wheels Unbolt from the tool bar and the hubs Unbolt from the struts I made so I can go back to the drawing board and make a design that set the wheel's father back.

more to come shortly.

thanks for your replay

 

[Jags]

So you are gonna drag the log?

 

[sublime68charger]

So is the dolly gonna be chained or attached in some way to the middle of the log with the end of the log attached to your 3 pt? Still not getting the full picture.

idealy yes I want to have a seperate dolly to pick up the middle of the log then the other end will be picked up by this system behind the ATV,

for now I only have this system being built, but at least I can pick up 1 end of the log and hopefully be able to skid it out of the woods. I have been just using the ATV and chain and pulling the logs on the ground and the ATV can only pull so much.

I think if even I can only pick up 1 end of a log I'll be able to pull more wood at a time and have less hassle to due so wont get caught on old stumps, or dig into the ground

 

[sublime68charger]

So you are gonna drag the log?

yea Ill be dragging the log but be able to pick up the leading edge,

 

[Jags]

yea Ill be dragging the log but be able to pick up the leading edge,

Ahhh...now I get it. Using the term "arch" usually implies lifting the whole log off of the ground. I was thinking of this type of arch...

 

[sublime68charger]

more work down on the system,

Winch Installed and Roller Fair Lead put into place as well

also top towing hook is set up. the Idea will be to use winch system to pull log with choker chain to the ATV and then pick up leading edge of log, then raise leading edge up and secure to top towing point lower winch hook off chain, drag log to where I want, use winch hood to pick up release from top hook and then lower to ground,
rinse and repeat

 

[sublime68charger]

Ahhh...now I get it. Using the term "arch" usually implies lifting the whole log off of the ground. I was thinking of this type of arch...

so what are they called when only picking up the leading edge?
I thought that was also a arch as well? but I could be wrong I'm not the best in the terminology
department. A skidder maybe?

sorry for the confusion, I like the Arch Idea but there's now way I can back that thing up to where I have logs at,

My long range plan is to make a Arch like what you pictured and when Empty tow behind my Hybrid system, Leave towing arch on the main trail, use ATV and Hybrid system to get log down to trail and then put other arch on back 2/3 of log and pick up and then have the log off the ground for transport. I have the material's to make the trail behind arch just haven't had the time.

My Hybrid will also work on its own to just be able to pick up leading edge of log and drag the rest, I hope.

this is where I am at right now got my choker chain made,

I still have to get the winch wired up I have a wireless winch control system I need to find, for now I gonna put on a old rotatory switch to test this system
and then I'm out to the wood's for some testing of the system

 

[sublime68charger]

Winching the test log on up to the arch,

This old dead tree fell on top of my rock pile I'll be needing this fall for landscape trim around my garage. So it made a great testing log for trying the arch out on.
1st pic is pulling log up to arch, 2nd pic is after I got pulled up to the burn pile and had already lowered log back down
,

 

[sublime68charger]

I pulled around 7 different logs today and thinking I'm gonna need to extend out the top hook and fair lead placement so as I can get a more vertical lift.

No problem the top square tube will fit a 1x1 steel bar so gonna put a length of steel stock and move the towing hook and add a 2nd fair lead block for the winch. Wasn't unplanned for to have to due this. My main fear was the dolly wheels and brackets would epic fail my first turn at pulling a log.

Comments or any other ideas on this little adventure of mine are welcome,

I'm no expert just kinda making this up as I go so to speak,

Thanks sublime,


I cut up one of the logs that I had pulled up and after clearing some brush to throw on the burn pile I turn around and view my youngest in this photo,

I asked her what she was doing and she told me she was adding sprinkles to the blocks of wood

 

[Jags]

Ha - too cute.

You having any problems with the wheels of the dolly sliding sideways in a turn? As you extend out you are going to be putting more weight on the wheels and more side stresses on the 3 point (during turns). I don't know if this is gonna hurt anything, just pointing it out.

 

[sublime68charger]

Jags nope pulling with the ATV was fine

the problem was lifting the log up to hook the High hook and then picking up again at the wood lot to unhook the high hook and let the log back down.

the log would catch the rear hitch and then the winch would not be able to pick log up to release from the high hook.

I think if I move the high hook back 10"-20" and the fairlead the same ill be able to get a more vertical up/down.

and if I due it right I can make that adjustable in the top square tube where the High hook already is.

of course if I was pulling square faced flat cut logs maybe the hitch wouldn't cause me as much problems with the up/down release at the end.

 

[Jags]

the log would catch the rear hitch and then the winch would not be able to pick log up to release from the high hook.

Maybe a skid plate on the back of the unit?

 

[sublime68charger]

that or I can grind/cut that rear hitch off.

its just welded to the bottom of the tow bar.


cept my long term plan had a tow ball put on there so then I can pull another arch behind me and drop 2nd arch off at the main trail, use the ATV and Hybrid to go up in the woodland and bring log out to main trail and then put 2nd arch on the rear of log and pick up the back end of log and then away I go the 1.5 miles back to where I want to have my wood processing area.

pull logs in on weekends when I have time, then after work during the week when I only have 1-2 hours of daylight left I can work on blocking/splitting the wood.
that's the rough plan at the moment it'll be totally different in 6 months.

 

[sublime68charger]

got some more work done on the arch,

retooled the High lifting point and took out for a test run,

pulled this log around and did okay.

it worked out How I wanted it to,

I still have some work to due yet on the arch I want to add 2 slip hooks for when I am pulling multiple lines of light brush and just using chains so that I can pull the lines up snug.

so far works how I wanted it to.

now will just have to see if it holds up over the long haul.

log out far and then pulled in close and tied up to pull on down the trail,