Mechanical log lift

[Joe Petersen]

I thought I would share this contraption since there has been interest in the milling activities.

I was trying to come up with a way to load big logs by myself. I haven't quite accomplished that yet, but I can load some big logs now instead of having to mill on someone's property. I'll use this to lift and then back the truck or trailer under the end.

As you can see my son makes a perfect helper until I come up with a way to anchor the lever handle so I can walk away to move the truck under. I may just use tent stakes or something. Will see.

The slab in the pictures was loaded up with a tool box and an anvil for weight to act as a makeshift log. I'll be cutting logs down to 8 foot so it should work well.

[Jeff Mohr]

I like it! Been looking for a way to lift logs by myself. Give it a test with a real log and definitely report back. Thanks for posting.

[Richard M. Wolfe]

My friend used an A frame and chain hoist. The A frame consisted of a heavy three inch pipe a little wider than his utility trailer with a "V" on each end that he slid about eight foot lengths of 3 inch pipe on. This made the center part about six feet off the ground. He fastened the chain hoist in the center and raised a log that he had wrapped a chain around and backed the trailer under it. I don't know how much the A frame would take....about a half to three quarters of a ton would be my guess. The chain hoist was about fifty bucks from Harbor Freight and at the time probably about the same for the pipe. Yours has the advantage of being cheaper. His would handle larger logs by lifting from the end and backing the trailer under them and then raising the other end, which your lift could also do. Then we mounted an 8 ton winch on the front of the trailer and can load logs about a ton and a half using heavy angle iron skids. We're negotiating for a Bobcat right now.....and want to get a larger trailer. Nothing about this logging stuff that's not expensive! :(

[Jim Becker]

Very clever application of a lever for a problem solution!

[Lee Koepke]

maybe some sort of "rachet" system on the far side support. When the lever is depressed to the ground, a cam flips under and locks the lever in place. Could also double as a safety feature?

Kind of like the cams on an extension ladder ???

[Dennis Lopeman]

I get the Baileys catalog and saw this contraption:

http://www.baileysonline.com/itemdetail.asp?item=FA025&catID=164

The picture they show in the catalog "demonstrates" how it works... Anyway - the jist of it is that you use the grapple at about the MIDDLE of the log and then the lever action lifts it up and you can roll it almost by hand...

EDIT: here's the junior showing a dude rolling it:
http://www.baileysonline.com/itemdetail.asp?item=JA016

Now - this one is expensive - but you could do more research and figure out how to make one... I know I will - I mill all my own lumber on a Logosol.

[Josiah Bartlett]

That's quite a heavy duty solution.

I use my 2 ton hydraulic engine hoist, it has a telescoping arm and casters. Only works well on hard surfaces, though.

If I didn't already have the engine hoist, I'd have one of these:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=41188

[Dennis Lopeman]

Yup - I was considers some Harbor Freight stuff, too - especially in the engine mechanics section... Maybe someday if I "go commercial" - I'm just a hobbyist right now.

[Joe Petersen]

I am super cheap as evident by the milling of my own lumber. I built this out of materials on hand. (Like most of my projects) Save the 7 lag bolts bolting the metal straps in place.

I like the lever aspect better than any hoist or hydraulic jack because of speed of use. This is up and down in a matter of seconds. The cam lock is a good idea. Once I actually put the thing in use I will better come up with a solution.

I was most worried about the legs splaying out or the A-frame giving way, but this thing didn't even groan or strain except the lever of course which bowed pretty good. I may change it to an on-hand shorter piece of square tubing that is 1/4" walled instead of this 3/16". When I tested the thicker tubing it didn't bow, but wasn't long enough for my son to get the leverage to lift. I did have to warn him about the trebuchet(sp?) properties.

[Peter Quadarella]

Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world. :D

Nice job!

[Dave Lindgren]

My dad built a similar gantry back in the late 40's to pull engines from the diesel trucks he worked on. Justification: When I'm not using it the kid can use it for a swing. It worked with my mom, and I was the only kid on my block with a 16' high swing rated at 3000 pounds.:D

2fo2bb

[Joe Petersen]

I cleared a pin oak and this is what we hauled. It was the first tree lifted with the lift. It went well. I know I need a winch to drag into the trailer once it is set up there. At one point I was not paying attention and lost the lever in a slingshot (only slightly) and the A-frame fell apart. My son about crapped.

These really aren't worth posting.
Thats what I get for letting the boy run the machine.