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Gnerd
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# Posted: 26 Mar 2021 20:29
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Possible situation: getting a log kit to build a cabin. Need to unload logs off a truck, put them somewhere, lift them into place during construction.
Available equipment: tractor with loader.
Desire: to move the logs around safely and without marring them up.
What's the best way to accomplish this: suspend logs under loader bucket with chains or straps? Swap out loader bucket for pallet forks? Something else?
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Bruces
Member
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# Posted: 26 Mar 2021 21:24
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Pallet forks
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 27 Mar 2021 08:35
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Pallet forks would be my first choice..how ever depending on the size of your machine you may not beable to stack the top of the wall. They just dont usualy lift 8ft.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 27 Mar 2021 14:59
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Yeah pallet forks are the usual go to. One other option is an 8' length of plywood on top of the fully curled bucket and strapped around it. Gives a bit more height capability and stabilizes the length, as a 20 footer on pallet forks can tip fairly easily. You can add front and rear uprights too.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 27 Mar 2021 20:42
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Dont use chains if you dont want a distressed look, use straps.
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mj1angier
Member
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# Posted: 28 Mar 2021 09:48
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I have the clamp on pallet forks for my bucket. They work ok for as often as I need to move a pallet, but would not want use them all day. No matter how tight you clamp them, they will move. But for the time or 2 each month I need to put a pallet on a trailer, they are fine.
You could use a boom pole set up to lift top logs
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 28 Mar 2021 10:21 - Edited by: paulz
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Quoting: mj1angier No matter how tight you clamp them, they will move
Lol, been there. Plus on my tractor you can't see the tips as you approach the work, bucket in the way, so they get knocked crooked. I can always count on plenty of on and off the tractor exercise when I use them.
Still handy though for many things.
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halfmarathondon
Member
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# Posted: 29 Mar 2021 12:21
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What are your plans for counterweight on the tractor?
Especially with bolt on forks, you are putting a lot of weight out in front, and the higher you lift the more unstable your machine will be.
Safety first. There are 101 to get killed on the tractor.
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Nobadays
Member
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# Posted: 29 Mar 2021 18:26
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Quoting: halfmarathondon What are your plans for counterweight on the tractor? Especially with bolt on forks, you are putting a lot of weight out in front, and the higher you lift the more unstable your machine will be.
If the bucket on the tractor can safely lift a load of dirt/gravel, it can surely safely lift a house log. I've used a small Kabota tractor to lift 8" three sided logs up to 25' in length with no issues. And have used a 10' gin pole chained with chain binders in that same bucket to extend the lift to place higher logs using a nylon strap.
.... A nylon tree protection strap or lifting strap on the balance point won't mar your logs. Just be sure to place a block under the log as you set it down so you can remove the strap.
On our full sized backhoe at the city I worked for, we torched holes in the bucket to allow bolting the forks.... we used worn out road grade blades.... to the bucket. 2 x 3/4" grade 8 bolts per fork. No shifting or coming loose.
Safety is very important and I am not down playing the need for caution but tractors/backhoes with front end loaders can do a great deal of work besides just moving dirt and rock. The counter balance is already factored in.... unless you are using a farm tractor not really designed as a loader with a universal front loader attachment. Wheel weights may be needed on a make shift rig but you still have the considerable weight of the tractor as counter balance.
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mj1angier
Member
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# Posted: 29 Mar 2021 18:43
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I have loaded tires and keep my box blade on the back
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WTFarm Girl
Member
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# Posted: 2 Apr 2021 08:02
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Plenty of other factors:
Weight of the logs
HP of tractor, loader lift height, and weight of tractor.
Older lower HP tractors are heavier than modern higher HP tractors too. A modern tractor may not be heavy enough even WITH a boxblade.
Likely 70hp or more would be heavy enough WITH boxblade or brush hog mower (adds nice counterweight).
You could also buy or rent a grapple bucket if you have 3rd function.
If you wrap your forks with something (cloth, paper, thick saran wrap, etc) it will give you a bit more "grip" on your forks so in the event you don't get it perfectly center it won't instantly slip off those smooth metal fork tines ;)
(I've moved LOTS of logs and railroad ties)
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 2 Apr 2021 08:19
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Clamp on forks also put the weight way out in front of the bucket.
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bensonclot
Member
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# Posted: 1 May 2021 04:33
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Pallet forks is actually the best when it comes to loading and unloading logs from truck. When I tried something else it didn't work for me. Had many issues.
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WILL1E
Moderator
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# Posted: 3 May 2021 08:24
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For round logs:
https://www.amazon.com/Lifting-Timber-Dragging-Handling-Carrying/dp/B08T63D7DH/ref=sr _1_12_sspa?_encoding=UTF8&c=ts&dchild=1&keywords=Lifting+Clamps&qid=1620044614&s=indu strial&sr=1-12-spons&ts_id=256375011&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyWVIwMjFMU DE2TTlOJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNTQ1OTMxMTBFSk5WU0ZCNkpSSyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNDc2MzMyMz ZFMjBTODJEQkc0RyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX210ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWN rPXRydWU=
Or for square logs:
https://www.amazon.com/Stands-Vertical-Lifting-Opening-Transporting/dp/B08Z3XZGFD/ref =sr_1_15?_encoding=UTF8&c=ts&dchild=1&keywords=Lifting+Clamps&qid=1620044614&s=indust rial&sr=1-15&ts_id=256375011
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