What are the lagistics of something like this? My ideas are scattered but I've been thinking about it since yesterday and i'm going to try to scratch them out for ya for feedback. Tell me Im an Idiot ;-).

Background.
I grew up on a family dairy farm in upstate NY. Its still in my blood and on my mind as a Network Manager. This spring we are building a house and we got tired of borrowing trucks from friend/parents so my wife and I purchased a 2004 Ram Quad Cab Laramie With a 325/600 CTD AND WE LOVE IT!!!!! Been swaping motors into cars which they had no business being in for about 7 or eight years now... Big Blocks in S10's and H22's (prelude VTEC) into CRX's to name the two big ones. My welding/fabrication skills are decent and Due to the H22 I can do most fuel injection wiring now with a little patience.

OK so with all of that useless information in mind this is what I'm brainstorming. We purchased a sawmill and need a way to move logs. Both to skid and to load. There really is not a machine out there for the small time logger. Its all either makeshift stuff with a farm tractor or buying a whole lot of specialized equipment.


2x6 box steel frame with a Dodge Truck drive train using Dual Transfer case..

What DTC setup will work with a 99+ 24V CTD setup?

What production axles would stand up to that much torqe geared down that low?

Is there a PTO setup for these trucks? Hydraulic pump?

The idea is to create something of a log skidder, but lighter weight and with a front end loader so I put logs on and off a trailer and on to a skidway for sawing.

Steering would be left to a standard front axle as I would not want to deal with the headaches and the roadability issues of crab or articulations steering...

Any answers to my questions above are appreciated and thanks for reading my long winded stuff. I'll slap more ideas out as I get them...

 

Definitely out of my realm of knowledge, but I'll try to say something without putting the foot too far into the mouth...

I think that you need a flatbed. Put a crane on the front of the flatbed, and the drivetrain with 6 ATV wheels underneath it. Load logs onto flatbed, drive it to log mill, unload flatbed. I'm thinking a crane this...

www.LogLoader.com

Then you need a big hydraulic pump, which can't be too hard to find. There's a way to turn a transfer case into a PTO with modifications, I don't know how though. If you use the right tranny, the PTO will be there already.

The six wheel trick has been done before. I think you just stack two transfer cases in series. T-Rex

They make off-road Cummins for construction purposes. These put out more power at low levels, and would probably be right for you. Take one of them, put it around a tractor transmission, axles and transfer cases, put all that under a flatbed and put the crane on top of that.

And that's my totally uneducated point of view.

 

make it a 12v Cummins, and then you're talkin'! you can run a PTO off of any of the factory manual trannies.

 

Thanks for that information guys.


Begle,

I like your idea, for some purposes. My only issue would be that I need something to lift the boards with once they are stacked to put them into/out of my kiln and I need a loader for a bunch of "around the farm purposes" The crane would work great for putting the logs on the flatbed and probably less of a compromise in that area but I do need a little compromise as this machine needs to go down into the woods also.

Forrest,
Where do you get the PTO from? is it a gearbox from Dodge that is already on some of the trucks?

Thanks, Jim

 

the manual trannies have a standard PTO flange on either side of the tranny. just hit up your local PTO/hydraulics shop and ask them for one that'll fit whichever tranny you're using.

Forrest

 

What kind of board lifter do you need? Something like a forklift or like an excavator scoop? I think you could find a big forklift for the front end, put the crane on the back. Then, you could use the crane to put the logs right onto the forklift. Put some bigger claws on the forklift, angle them up so that they don't roll off. Have the forklift rotate 90 degrees when full so that you don't have a front end as wide as a log.

So my idea now is a forklift with a crane and a Cummins.

 

THat would mean only hydraulic power when the clutch was engaged? man I never stop asking for crap do I?.... I really would need hydraulic pressure while the clutch was disengaged for lifting the loader, while stopped or changing gears. Hmmmm... that is interesting though.

 

while stopped, just have it in neutral w/ the e-brake on and the clutch out... no problem.

they run off the trannies for tow trucks and stuff... would you really be lifting the loader while changing gears?

Forrest

 

Ok, then use a roller pump like the old John Deere type off the front of the balancer. May take a little work to clear the fan, but would allow for constant hydro pressure. Seems to me that they would push about 2400-2500 lbs. Somebody will probably jump in with exact. A few cylinders and some extra remotes.... oh yea, sounding like fun.

Ed

 

racinrex you said you have put a big block in an s-10 before, how hard was it? could you do it to a gmc sonoma? what big block did you put in 350 351 427 454?

chris

 

Why would you go with an electronic engine, stay with the simpler 12 valve engine for reliability. If you take the fuel solenoid out and go to a manual shut down lever, that 12 valve will run once you get it started even if the entire electric system falls off the machine on the ground smoking.

 

Racinrex, what area are you in?

There is a guy by me that builds log homes and has his own sawmill, with kiln. I mostly see large, heavy red pine in there. I watched him cut a few times. The blade was powered by a Cummins ( I think c series). He used a 9n with forks on the loader to move the wood. I'm sure you could find a stronger, maybe more reliable tractor than a 9n for the time and money your thinking of investing. You clould also get your money back easier if anything surprised you down the road. Otherwise look for a used pettibone for sale. Most of the ones I see need a lot of money put into them as well. I'm leaning towards getting more onvolved with timber myself, after I get some personal stuff taken care of. Probably ween off this job too, after I get vested.

 

Use the commnercial engine with the compressor on it, use a larger truck powersteering pump. It puts out 2500 and has plenty of volume for a cylinder. Just needs a larger reserve tank. Snow plows use this method all the time.

 

If your really interested in this, find an old Oliver 1850 with the perkins engine. The drivetrain on these tractors is very reliable AND the Cummins will bolt in without extensive work. There is a fellow on the YtMag site that has done a couple of these. he goes by the name of Shep VA. Look in the Oliver section. Here is a link to his web pageShep VA . Have fun.


DuaneW

 

As a farmer, and a logger, I reccomend that you purchase a 40-60 hp 4wd farm tractor wih a loader. You get the best of both worlds, you can farm or garden with the tractor and log with it. You can also put different attachments such as buckets, forks, and or a bale spears. I personally use a 383 Massey Ferguson (81hp) 4wd with a loader to log a good bit with and it works great. I also put up hay with it plow my tobacco ground, feed cattle etc... with it. Just my .02

Tom