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Yarding:
Yarding, or twitching lumber as we call it here in Maine, is simply using whatever
means possable to get the wood from stump to the landing. While everything from
horses to forwarders can be used, I typically rely on either a rented cable skidder or
my Kubota Tractor.
means possable to get the wood from stump to the landing. While everything from
horses to forwarders can be used, I typically rely on either a rented cable skidder or
my Kubota Tractor.
Power and traction are your limiting factors when it comes to pulling trees out of
the woods. In this harvest I have set the tractor up with a set of forks for moving
logs around in the yard, and have placed a small Fransguard Winch on back as
well. The latter allows me to get the butt end of the log off the ground and helps in
keeping the log from getting hung up on roots, rocks and stumps. At the same
time, the winch enables me to reach trees over 100 feet from off the main twitch
road.
the woods. In this harvest I have set the tractor up with a set of forks for moving
logs around in the yard, and have placed a small Fransguard Winch on back as
well. The latter allows me to get the butt end of the log off the ground and helps in
keeping the log from getting hung up on roots, rocks and stumps. At the same
time, the winch enables me to reach trees over 100 feet from off the main twitch
road.
This is an old photo, taken about 12 years ago as I was harvesting wood for my
home. This is a rental skidder, a Clark 666 Ranger which I have used many times
over the years for large harvests. The tree I am standing next to is a White Pine, 32
inches in diameter if my memory serves me correctly.
home. This is a rental skidder, a Clark 666 Ranger which I have used many times
over the years for large harvests. The tree I am standing next to is a White Pine, 32
inches in diameter if my memory serves me correctly.
Having a back-up plan on anything is important. With so many variables, having a
back-up yarding plan is no exception. My first plan in this harvest is to pull each
tree I fell out tree length. If this proves to be too much I can always cut the tree into
logs and try to pull them out that way. If a tree is too big, I often do that. While
pulling one single log at a time takes a lot more time, sometimes it is the only
way to get the logs out.
back-up yarding plan is no exception. My first plan in this harvest is to pull each
tree I fell out tree length. If this proves to be too much I can always cut the tree into
logs and try to pull them out that way. If a tree is too big, I often do that. While
pulling one single log at a time takes a lot more time, sometimes it is the only
way to get the logs out.
Weight Transfer is critical in yarding lumber, and it very evident using small
tractors such as this Kubota. As the butt of the log is picked up of the ground with
the 3 point hitch and winch, all this weight is placed on the rear tires. This makes
the front end light, and often times unsteearble. While "steering with the brakes"
is possable, a term meaning you use the brakes to steer the tractor like a
bulldozer, it is not advised and hard on the tractor as well.
