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Log Moving Equipment Choices
Question
Let me clarify. I'm not saying that a hoe would be wasted money. I'm sure that I'm not the only startup mill operation that has a tight budget. I know that a larger tractor would be nice however if I can spend $10k less on a tractor that will do the job then great! I'm just not sure what lift capacity I should be looking for. The tractor I have has worked well except for larger logs. I've had to shorten logs or turn them down all together due to the limited lift I currently have. Forum Responses
 Click here for higher quality, full size image From contributor G: I would also recommend a forklift. All terrain does a good job on unpaved ground. Unless you have a large wood lot I would try and pickup a size that can easily maneuver around your mill. Lastly avoid chaining up a log to the forks to use them as a over the load lifter. A boom forward action can cause the load to pull the lift over.  Click here for higher quality, full size image From contributor Y: I have a lot of diverse equipment here on the ranch. For the handling of logs and lumber I recommend a rough terrain forklift. I rescued mine from a retired friend last winter for $1500, and $3000 in repairs later I had a good machine with a real lift capacity of 5000#. Logging work will tear up a farm tractor loader and backhoes are not as cost effective. From contributor C: I have used everything from trackloaders to farm tractors. Forklifts work best for stacks of lumber or ties. The most versatile machine I have found is a four wheel drive high loader. Forklifts do not have enough tilt or rollback to handle logs efficiently. If you have ever tried to catch up with a log on a down slope you will understand. Used loaders in my area sell for $5000 and up. They have the capacity to load 20-25 ties at a time. Hope this helps. From contributor K: I would buy the machine that picks up 90% of the logs you work with, and is able to move the last 10% by skidding, rolling whatnot. My Kubota is 37hp and has 2k lbs lift at pivot point, or roughly 1500 with forks and log, or a little more. I find that being able to easily move the tractor to the woods, and it being 4x4 I can skid a very large log with it, and roll them up the trailer ramps, same with the sawmill having hydraulic arms to lift with. Having something really big that does everything you need makes it hard to move. If it has 10k lift capacity chances are you need a semi to have it moved anywhere, like for repairs. However I did recently buy a junky off road forklift, the kind based on a farm tractor turned around with 4k lbs capacity to unload trucks and lift lumber stacks. In practice without hydro drive it’s impossible to pickup lumber because it’s never on even ground, the thing rolls all over the place and being careful when setting it, say on the kiln carts is just too hard. For $3k it’s done some work, but I have a feeling it will cost me a lot in the end to keep it running. Before we got the forklift we just ripped the oversize logs with a big chainsaw as they didn't fit on the sawmill anyhow. The saw only cost $750 and we use it lots in the back country to fetch things nobody could. It’s used mostly for quartering oaks.
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