Bunk Cart

[mstacy]

Carl,

You describe loading logs onto a “bunk cart” by backing to the log, chaining, and then driving forward such that one of the wheels rolls the log up onto the bunk. I’m fascinated, but can’t quite visualize how this works yet.

Do you have any photographs or diagrams? Better yet, a demonstration at Animal Power Days 2008 in Tunbridge would be great!

Regards,

Matt Stacy

[Carl Russell]

Matt, There is a slim possibility that I can have my bunk cart rebuilt by then, but what a great idea. I’ll think about it.

With the cart backed against the log so that both tires are touching the log, the animals are facing perpendicular to the lay of the log. With the log chained to the cart, as the horses (or cattle) move forward (perpendicularly away from the lay of the log) the end they are hitched to moves with them, swinging the log out of the perpendicular alignment.

In other words as the horses move forward the angle between the alignment of the cart and log changes from a right angle to an obtuse angle. Now one wheel no longer touches the log, but the other tire is being pressed on by the forward end of the log.

As the wheels are moving forward they are rolling over the top, up from the back, down on the front, and as the end of the log presses hard against that tire, the motion of the tire lifts the log up. As the log beings to come near the top of the tire, the team is turned so that the end of the log comes off of the tire, and swings onto the bunk. The far end of the log will probably move only slightly throughout this entire sequence.

You may be able to visualize it better if you think of turning too sharp with a wagon behind a tractor, to where the tongue of the wagon hits the rear wheels as they move forward, and the tire will try to lift the wagon.

I know this deserves a demonstration, not to mention the design of the cart. I’ll see what I can do. Carl

[Author]

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