Trying the Log Lifting Arch

I just finished enough of the welding to give this thing a try.  I’m lifting some small butternut logs that are a foot or so in diameter.  I designed the size of the arch for lifting much larger logs.  The arch is made from 3″x2″x1/4″ tubing.  The winch is a 12000lbs Harbor Freight winch mounted to the front of the trailer on 4″ 5.4lb C channel.

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3 Responses

  1. Need a stop on the arch to keep it from crashing down . Someone could really get hurt with that thing falling. You could then releas the log partially loaded and reattach for a second pull and final load.. Alternatively build a ramp off back of trailer and drag the log onboard, no arch needed.

  2. Hey man, I’m in the planning phase of building one of these. I am having issues with the math. How did you decide on the tubing?

    I will be building one about 30% larger so want to use the lightest thing I can. Looking at 4×4 x .120 but I am wondering about how much reinforcement is needed so the hinge doesn’t fail. Probably scab 1/4 plates or weld in a sleeve. Ideas?

    1. I went with 1/4″ wall mostly since it was easier to weld being new to welding especially with a stick welder. I’m no where near the limit of the arch’s strength with that max carrying capacity of my trailer (5000lbs). You could easily drop to 3/16″ wall. I’ve seen a few of these trailers and many don’t have the added gussets. I added them mostly because I hadn’t done much welding prior so it was cheap insurance to take some stress off of my tube welds. I had also planned to weld on additional material at the hinge point but never did. It hasn’t been an issue without it. The holes haven’t deformed. If you’re going down to 1/8″, you might consider adding some material there. This of course all depends on how much weight you’re planning to lift.

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