First major scrounge - how to get wood up hills with no motorized vehicles?

[MasterMech]

I'd be concerned about skidding logs across the grass as the owners are obviously concerned about damage?

Hence the log arch suggestion.

 

[HDRock]

I downloaded the plans and dimensions for one of those from one of the members here. A friend who used to work in a welding and fabricating shop is going to put one together for me. I already have the axle with rims and tires from an old utility trailer and a big set of Dixie skidding tongs for the build but I don't think he's going to get around to it soon. So I'm looking at other options so I can get this big pile done this spring. But once I have both the log arch and the capstan winch with 300' of rope it's no longer out of the question to bring logs up out of the deep gully behind my office in the first photos in my original post. I've seen videos where they used a log arch with a capstan winch to bring logs up some steep inclines, and that combo was pretty slick.

I have been looking at the log arches ,and thinking of building one,I have plans for a larger one to use with tractor or atv
It would be very much appreciated ,if you could send me the plans you have ,or tell me where I can download them

 

[HDRock]

(broken link removed to http://www.motherearthnews.com/uploadedFiles/articles/issues/1985-09-01/Log%20Hauler.pdf)are the plans I found
Article

One built from those plans

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[BrianK]

I'd be concerned about skidding logs across the grass as the owners are obviously concerned about damage?

Hence the log arch suggestion.

Actually the coal company that owns the property was sued recently by an ATV rider who broke their arm while riding without permission on the coal company's property. As a result they have forbidden any use of motorized vehicles on their properties and they are actively pursuing anyone violating the policy.

My written agreement with them to take downed wood on their property explicitly states that use of motorized vehicles is prohibited.

(Wonder if a DR Power Wagon is considered a motorized vehicle? Probably only if it has a sulky.)

 

[BrianK]

I have been looking at the log arches ,and thinking of building one,I have plans for a larger one to use with tractor or atv
It would be very much appreciated ,if you could send me the plans you have ,or tell me where I can download them

Here you go:
Logging Arch........

 

[Mr A]

Actually the coal company that owns the property was sued recently by an ATV rider who broke their arm while riding without permission on the coal company's property. As a result they have forbidden any use of motorized vehicles on their properties and they are actively pursuing anyone violating the policy.

My written agreement with them to take downed wood on their property explicitly states that use of motorized vehicles is prohibited.

(Wonder if a DR Power Wagon is considered a motorized vehicle? Probably only if it has a sulky.)

Litigation is a curse. You can sign away rights to sue, but then if you use your health insurance, or other insurance for the vehicle, due to mishap, the insurance companies sue each other whether you want to or not. Doesn't matter if anyone is at fault or not, it's cheaper to settle, they settle and raise the coal company's rates. I am working on some logs pretty far from the road. I walk in, cut up 10 or so rounds, and haul out 2 at a time with my hand truck. I am far ahead in my stockpiling, so when I want to take a walk for exercise, I walk to the pile of rounds I cut and take a few home, but to get ahead you do need faster, easier scrounges. That hill doesn't look to steep, you could get a cord a month this way. Maybe you could hire an Amish guy and his mule cart.

 

[blacktail]

60 feet and a 15 year-old kid. Buck it up, add a wheelbarrow, and you've got your wood.

 

[HDRock]

Log Arch — 800-Lb. Capacity, 16ft.L Log Capacity
Sale $109.00

 

[schlot]

Being down that long, is the wood getting punky at all? I'd hate to see you go through all the effort only to get junk wood.

 

[ailanthus]

You could have about 500 cord delivered to your driveway for the cost of the triple-CABG you had. Please don't jeopardize yourself carting wood uphill! Now the 15 year old, that's another story...

 

[BrianK]

60 feet and a 15 year-old kid. Buck it up, add a wheelbarrow, and you've got your wood.

We have a two wheeled lawn cart and that's how we've taken about four cords out of the woods directly behind my office which is just a block from this pile of wood. That would be the obvious solution here too but I have more of a time constraint. The parking lot I'm using for this pile belongs to my dentist's office and I'm constrained time wise with when I can use their parking lot due to their office schedule. I'm just trying to figure out a method that's both quick and efficient.

 

[BrianK]

You could have about 500,000 cord delivered to your driveway for the cost of the triple-CABG you had. Please don't jeopardize yourself carting wood uphill! Now the 15 year old, that's another story...

That's why I'm looking at using a capstan winch. "Better living through chemistry." Internal combustion chemistry.

Being down that long, is the wood getting punky at all? I'd hate to see you go through all the effort only to get junk wood.

My son and I were climbing on the pile on Saturday and it still seemed rock solid. I guess we won't know for sure till we start cutting.

 

[Woody Stover]

60 feet and a 15 year-old kid. Buck it up, add a wheelbarrow, and you've got your wood.

That's worth it to me (or at least its a good excuse to buy a winch I probably don't really need.)

Since your son can help, you might do what we used to do; Use a wheelbarrow and tow strap with hooks. Put a hook on each end of the axle, forming a loop with the strap. Your son can loop it around his chest and pull while you lift the wheelbarrow handles and guide the load....not too strenuous (for you at least.)

 

[BrianK]

Since your son can help, you might do what we used to do; Use a wheelbarrow and tow strap with hooks. Put a hook on each end of the axle, forming a loop with the strap. Your son can loop it around his chest and pull while you lift the wheelbarrow handles and guide the load....not too strenuous (for you at least.)

We've been using one of these:

We've hauled four cords out of the woods directly behind my office with it so far. But with this big pile of wood and time constraints I mentioned above, I'm trying to figure out something a bit quicker and a lot easier.

I'm picking up the capstan winch this afternoon. For $250, I figure I can't go wrong. They're listed considerably higher on eBay and with the mount included this unit would have originally sold for well over $3000.

 

[MasterMech]

Log Arch — 800-Lb. Capacity, 16ft.L Log Capacity
Sale $109.00

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[Woody Stover]

We've been using one of these:
We've hauled four cords out of the woods directly behind my office with it so far.

How much can you carry in one trip...that cart doesn't look too heavy-duty but I can't really tell from the pic. The problem with the wheelbarrow is that the load is balanced on one tire, so the "handle man" has to stabilize it from tipping. Nevertheless, we were putting three or four decent-sized rounds on it.
Sounds like a great score on the winch, though...that'll do the job.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

We've been using one of these:

We've hauled four cords out of the woods directly behind my office with it so far. But with this big pile of wood and time constraints I mentioned above, I'm trying to figure out something a bit quicker and a lot easier.

I'm picking up the capstan winch this afternoon. For $250, I figure I can't go wrong. They're listed considerably higher on eBay and with the mount included this unit would have originally sold for well over $3000.

That cart can haul a lot for sure. We have one similar and have used it more than I care to admit but we've also had it for 30 years or so.

Certainly moving that wood a mere 20 yards is not that much work especially with help. Also because of your physical problem, let that boy do most of the work!