Self-Loading, Self-Dumping Log Hauler

2011 - Volume #35, Issue #2, Page #35

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Al Holt, Butternut, Wis., built a dump-style log hauler equipped with a wood rack and hydraulically-operated boom.

    "I use it to haul logs to my sawmill. It really works slick," says Holt. "Except for the hydraulic components, I designed and built the entire machine including the winch."

    What makes the tandem-axle log hauler different is that the hydraulic-operated boom mounts on one side instead of on front. The boom swings nearly 270 degrees, allowing logs to be dragged in from as far away as 100 ft. from both sides and back of the machine. The boom is raised and lowered by a 32-in. long, 3-in. dia. hydraulic cylinder, allowing Holt to raise the log and swing it over onto the rack.

    The boom can handle logs up to 20 ft. long. To operate both the boom and winch he plugs a pair of hydraulic hoses into a pump that he keeps on his Chevy Suburban, or into the pto-driven pump on his tractor.

    Another unique feature is the winch, which was made using the front drum brake from a 3/4-ton pickup. The winch mounts on the side of the log hauler and is driven by a hydraulic motor. "By using a 12-volt remote control, I can operate the winch from more than 100 ft. away. It lets me control the boom while hooking up logs and then dragging them in and loading them on the trailer," says Holt.

    Holt also designed the log rack to dump the load. "I raise the boom all the way up and attach the cable to the rack, then operate the winch to raise the rack and dump the wood off. An extra pulley in the cable works like a block and tackle to provide twice the pulling power for dumping."

    He bought the remote control unit from a company called Futaba for about $800. The remote control operates a solenoid air valve that activates a small air cylinder on the winch's clutch. The remote control also actuates the hydraulic motor and boom through solenoid valves as it loads the log. There are six buttons on the remote control û two to engage and disengage the clutch, two to extend or retract the cable, and two to raise and lower the boom.

    The winch mounts on swing bars so that it automatically centers the cable with a 1 3/4-in. wide opening in the frame through which the cable runs. The frame above the spool serves as a hydraulic reservoir.

    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Albert W. Holt, 14711 St. Hwy. 13, Butternut, Wis. 54514 (ph 715 769-3696; aholt000@centurytel.net).

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Self-Loading Self-Dumping Log Hauler WAGONS/TRAILERS Miscellaneous Al Holt Butternut Wis built a dump-style log hauler equipped with a wood rack and hydraulically-operated boom

     I use it to haul logs to my sawmill It really works slick says Holt Except for the hydraulic components I designed and built the entire machine including the winch

    What makes the tandem-axle log hauler different is that the hydraulic-operated boom mounts on one side instead of on front The boom swings nearly 270 degrees allowing logs to be dragged in from as far away as 100 ft from both sides and back of the machine The boom is raised and lowered by a 32-in long 3-in dia hydraulic cylinder allowing Holt to raise the log and swing it over onto the rack

    The boom can handle logs up to 20 ft long To operate both the boom and winch he plugs a pair of hydraulic hoses into a pump that he keeps on his Chevy Suburban or into the pto-driven pump on his tractor

    Another unique feature is the winch which was made using the front drum brake from a 3/4-ton pickup The winch mounts on the side of the log hauler and is driven by a hydraulic motor By using a 12-volt remote control I can operate the winch from more than 100 ft away It lets me control the boom while hooking up logs and then dragging them in and loading them on the trailer says Holt

    Holt also designed the log rack to dump the load I raise the boom all the way up and attach the cable to the rack then operate the winch to raise the rack and dump the wood off An extra pulley in the cable works like a block and tackle to provide twice the pulling power for dumping

    He bought the remote control unit from a company called Futaba for about $800 The remote control operates a solenoid air valve that activates a small air cylinder on the winch s clutch The remote control also actuates the hydraulic motor and boom through solenoid valves as it loads the log There are six buttons on the remote control û two to engage and disengage the clutch two to extend or retract the cable and two to raise and lower the boom

    The winch mounts on swing bars so that it automatically centers the cable with a 1 3/4-in wide opening in the frame through which the cable runs The frame above the spool serves as a hydraulic reservoir

    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Albert W Holt 14711 St Hwy 13 Butternut Wis 54514 ph 715 769-3696; aholt000@centurytel net

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