Log Loading Ramp for trailer??

In rec.woodworking Terry King <[email protected]> wrote:
> Question: Has anyone seen a good design for a "log loading ramp"
> to go on the back of a trailer, when winching good sized logs
> out in the woods?? I just built a "wood gathering trailer",
> and the winch mount I built fits on the rear Class 4 hitch on
> my GMC Yukon, and has a trailer hitch on IT so I can winch onto
> the trailer. It's already MUCH easier than loading wood up at the
> pickup bed level, which I've done for years. BUT there's that
> "Get one end of the log up onto the trailer" part. I once
> saw a photo of a drop-on ramp that would 'help' the log up
> and was moveable right-to-left for different logs in a load.
> But I don't remember it well...

> Anyone seen or built one, before I try to invent one??
> It needs to have somewhat of a Vee shape, to guide a log end
> up and on... I think. Large round tubing is what I got, other
> steel I can get. Cut, weld, and like that.

> I'll post a pointer to the whole deal when I get it all working.
> Which better be soon.

> --
> Regards, Terry King ...In The Woods In Vermont
> [email protected]
> The one who Dies With The Most Parts LOSES!! What do you need?

I've thought about buying a small hand-crane and mounting it on the
back of my trailer for things like this. Here's one at Harbor Freight
that goes on sale quite often:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=37555

Lance

Well I went the unconventional method and load my logs on my flatbed
fro the side. I have 2 short ramps than come dwon from the side of the
trailer to the ground. They are detachable. I have a wich mounted o
the opposite side opf the trailer.
I pull the trailer up alongside the logs or roll the logs along the
trailer, layout a sling made of cable, that is attached to the same
side of the trailer as the ramps are. Each end of this cable is
attached on the tailer side, about 8 feet apart. The I lay out this
looped sling on the ground, and roll a long onto it, or use a log
lifter to raise up one end and place the cablesling under the log,,
and attach the wiches cable to the central point of this sling, turn
on the winch and roll the log up the ramps and onto the trailers bed.
ONce its on the bed, roll it to the far side, and repeat the process.
Before I added the winch I used to use a small tractor for the pulling
power, easier than winching them the length of the trailer and having
to get the end up on the trailer. Even with a tilt bed trailer, each
log loaded makes it that much harder to load the next and then get the
bed back down again.

Of course this will only work if you have a flat bed, unless you make
some kind of setup to allow it to roll up and over fenders or a low
bedrail, but its still doable. Ramps don;t have to be long either.



On Thu, 25 Sep 2003 09:37:54 -0400, Terry King <[email protected]>
wrote:

>x<>-Question: Has anyone seen a good design for a "log loading ramp"
>x<>-to go on the back of a trailer, when winching good sized logs
>x<>-out in the woods?? I just built a "wood gathering trailer",
>x<>-and the winch mount I built fits on the rear Class 4 hitch on
>x<>-my GMC Yukon, and has a trailer hitch on IT so I can winch onto
>x<>-the trailer. It's already MUCH easier than loading wood up at the
>x<>-pickup bed level, which I've done for years. BUT there's that
>x<>-"Get one end of the log up onto the trailer" part. I once
>x<>-saw a photo of a drop-on ramp that would 'help' the log up
>x<>-and was moveable right-to-left for different logs in a load.
>x<>-But I don't remember it well...
>x<>-
>x<>-Anyone seen or built one, before I try to invent one??
>x<>-It needs to have somewhat of a Vee shape, to guide a log end
>x<>-up and on... I think. Large round tubing is what I got, other
>x<>-steel I can get. Cut, weld, and like that.
>x<>-
>x<>-I'll post a pointer to the whole deal when I get it all working.
>x<>-Which better be soon.

--
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OK, it's called a log lifter - doh!

http://www.logsplitters-ironoak.com/lifter.html

"George" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> There's also a cant hook with a leg type thing for bucking that might lift
> high enough. Can't remember the name just now, but most logging/firewood
> places should have an idea.
>

I use one of my car loading ramps...works fine. I have used a board also.
It doesn't take much, just some low sides to help keep the log from rolling
off. I put the ramp in front of the log when the log is up close and I can
see where it wants to go. I use an electric winch, 5K rating, mounted on
the front of the trailer bed, 16' long. I also usually charge the battery
while working, with a small generator. The drain of winches that size is
wicked and I'm going to change to gasoline someday.

But I can load 2' oak, at least one layer. I do all sorts of jackleg tricks
to get the second layer!

Wilson
"Terry King" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Question: Has anyone seen a good design for a "log loading ramp"
> to go on the back of a trailer, when winching good sized logs
> out in the woods?? I just built a "wood gathering trailer",
> and the winch mount I built fits on the rear Class 4 hitch on
> my GMC Yukon, and has a trailer hitch on IT so I can winch onto
> the trailer. It's already MUCH easier than loading wood up at the
> pickup bed level, which I've done for years. BUT there's that
> "Get one end of the log up onto the trailer" part. I once
> saw a photo of a drop-on ramp that would 'help' the log up
> and was moveable right-to-left for different logs in a load.
> But I don't remember it well...
>
> Anyone seen or built one, before I try to invent one??
> It needs to have somewhat of a Vee shape, to guide a log end
> up and on... I think. Large round tubing is what I got, other
> steel I can get. Cut, weld, and like that.
>
> I'll post a pointer to the whole deal when I get it all working.
> Which better be soon.
>
> --
> Regards, Terry King ...In The Woods In Vermont
> [email protected]
> The one who Dies With The Most Parts LOSES!! What do you need?

One of the tricks logers use (which you never think about) is that
they drag the small end of the log first. The big end would dig into
the ground but because of the shape, the small end tends to skid.

On Thu, 25 Sep 2003 16:21:27 GMT, "George"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Advantage to the snowmobile trailer which tilts. Tongs and a comealong do
>it all.
>
>If I didn't have that, I'd rig a piece of sheet goods with a couple of hooks
>to fit in the tailgate pockets. Or an A frame which, when winched at the
>apex, would raise the end of the log and sling it toward the trailer.
>There's also a cant hook with a leg type thing for bucking that might lift
>high enough. Can't remember the name just now, but most logging/firewood
>places should have an idea.
>
>"Terry King" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> Question: Has anyone seen a good design for a "log loading ramp"
>> to go on the back of a trailer, when winching good sized logs
>> out in the woods?? I just built a "wood gathering trailer",
>> and the winch mount I built fits on the rear Class 4 hitch on
>> my GMC Yukon, and has a trailer hitch on IT so I can winch onto
>> the trailer. It's already MUCH easier than loading wood up at the
>> pickup bed level, which I've done for years. BUT there's that
>> "Get one end of the log up onto the trailer" part. I once
>> saw a photo of a drop-on ramp that would 'help' the log up
>> and was moveable right-to-left for different logs in a load.
>> But I don't remember it well...
>>
>> Anyone seen or built one, before I try to invent one??
>> It needs to have somewhat of a Vee shape, to guide a log end
>> up and on... I think. Large round tubing is what I got, other
>> steel I can get. Cut, weld, and like that.
>>
>> I'll post a pointer to the whole deal when I get it all working.
>> Which better be soon.
>>
>> --
>> Regards, Terry King ...In The Woods In Vermont
>> [email protected]
>> The one who Dies With The Most Parts LOSES!! What do you need?
>

Advantage to the snowmobile trailer which tilts. Tongs and a comealong do
it all.

If I didn't have that, I'd rig a piece of sheet goods with a couple of hooks
to fit in the tailgate pockets. Or an A frame which, when winched at the
apex, would raise the end of the log and sling it toward the trailer.
There's also a cant hook with a leg type thing for bucking that might lift
high enough. Can't remember the name just now, but most logging/firewood
places should have an idea.

"Terry King" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Question: Has anyone seen a good design for a "log loading ramp"
> to go on the back of a trailer, when winching good sized logs
> out in the woods?? I just built a "wood gathering trailer",
> and the winch mount I built fits on the rear Class 4 hitch on
> my GMC Yukon, and has a trailer hitch on IT so I can winch onto
> the trailer. It's already MUCH easier than loading wood up at the
> pickup bed level, which I've done for years. BUT there's that
> "Get one end of the log up onto the trailer" part. I once
> saw a photo of a drop-on ramp that would 'help' the log up
> and was moveable right-to-left for different logs in a load.
> But I don't remember it well...
>
> Anyone seen or built one, before I try to invent one??
> It needs to have somewhat of a Vee shape, to guide a log end
> up and on... I think. Large round tubing is what I got, other
> steel I can get. Cut, weld, and like that.
>
> I'll post a pointer to the whole deal when I get it all working.
> Which better be soon.
>
> --
> Regards, Terry King ...In The Woods In Vermont
> [email protected]
> The one who Dies With The Most Parts LOSES!! What do you need?