Working in the NE woods with plenty of snow pack on M6800 skidding

[Gus1957]

Skidding out a 40ft Hemlock log coming down the hill and tried to turn onto the main road - log caught and thru tractor sideways over a rock off the edge of road. Winch was hung up on the rock so had to unhook, drive tractor out, cut log in 1/2 and then winch log forward again to re-hook and go. Had to come back for the other 1/2.
Always a good day with the sun shining in the winter when working alone.

 

[Bee-Positive]

Glad it didn't flip you over - on a sunny day - working alone - with the ROPS down.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

This is where tire chains come into play.

 

[RCW]

That's an impressive hemlock log.

Chains would have helped.

Wasn't driving it, but lifting the log that high while skidding reduced front wheel traction.

Front chains, or ballast in the loader bucket might have kept the front tires planted to get it out in one piece(?).

Glad you got everything out, including the log in 2 pieces.....

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

Oh my, I think I might have wrinkled the vinyl seat.

 

[Gus1957]

Glad it didn't flip you over - on a sunny day - working alone - with the ROPS down.

Yup forgot to put it back up after refueling coming out of the barn.

 

[NordTrac]

Had a couple of close calls myself today. Forestry winches are so powerful, they can jerk the tractor pretty bad when a log gets caught.

 

[Gus1957]

When my winch was new it could pull the tractor sideways and quickly lift the opposite side rear tire up a foot or so if you weren't quick to let go of the rope.
I used to hook all 4 firewood size trees less than a foot in diameter and bring a big bunch down.
The bigger saw logs I always cut out smaller diameter trees that need thinning like stunted Hemlocks and put them under where the bigger tree will fall so the big log can slide across something and hopefully not get caught on a stump when I have to pull up hill.
If I had the money I'd buy a remote control winch and stand farther away but being 70 soon it doesn't make sense - probably will never replace the tractor either at these prices.