new forcart

[lancek]

Just finished a new focart and thought I would see what you guys think. It has an electric winch to lift logs! I am most con serened with the draft angle I am not sure if the poles are at a steep enough angle lancek

[Andy Carson]

That is an interesting design. I imagine the four wheel design was used because of the weight on the winch? Do I see a pivot point to allow the shafts to pivot up and down (and follow the horse) over rough terrain? If it does pivot, is there some sort of limit to the pivoting so that the whole cart doesn’t tip back or nosedive? Maybe all the weight is too low for this to be a concern? Is this also not a concern when the horse is holding back the load? I am also curious about how well this design turns with four fixed wheels. Is there a steering (or articulation) aspect that I have missed? Does it still maneuver easily with four fixed non steering wheels? If carts like this with four fixed wheels are just as maneuverable and practical as the two wheels versions, there would certainly be a lot of use for them! I like the concept!

PS. I think as the shafts can pivot (I think), it seems your line of draft has to be exactly right to keep the cart from tipping back or forth when dragging the log. This seems like it could be set up just right, but the line is going to change a little with changing terrain, different loads, different lengths of logs, etc. Perhaps you need some sort of “fudge factor” figured into your design so that it will work if the line of draft is 15 degrees +/- 2 degrees (for example) not a design where the angle has to be exactly 15 degrees and will “nosedive” or “wheelie” if off a fraction of a degree. This “fudge factor could be provided by either 1. increasing the wheel base (which would definitely require some sort of steering with the front wheels) or 2. fixing the shafts (which would require going with a two wheeled design) or 3. Some other much more interesting modification that we’ll probably hear about in the near future… Maybe some sort of limited pivoting of the shafts? Maybe spring loaded rear wheels? Thanks for sharing, I like to design new things myself 🙂

PPS. Perhaps the “nosediving” “wheelie-ing” under load is tolerable is kept to a minimum. If one extended the hitchpoint forward as far as was practical it would limit the potential forward and backward tilting, and provide some “fudge factor”. Probably the tilting would be limited enough that it wasn’t an issue if you made a good estimation of the average angle of draft. I still worry about those shafts tilting when trying to hold back a load, but if it works, then it works…

[mitchmaine]

Hey lance, really like your cart. If you look in neapfd photos of elmin mitchells forecart, you’ll see the same cart made around here for 25 years. There are 5 or 6 closeby. All good except the fairlead is quite high, and prone to tipping over on corners or when you are winching in from the side. All things that can be dealt with, but that’s time and money. And they all seem to articulate making them hard to back in the woods. Also can be dealt with.
But your cart, using a walking beam, takes weight of horses, and with your low hitch for the cable improves stability.
I would be really interested in hearing how it works out for you, good and bad.
I have a set of walking beams here and I need a project.
Does your winch have a gear reduction for holding the wood up? Or are there dogs on the winch? And does a electric winch free spool? Never used one.
Nice looking cart. I’d like to use it for a week.

mitch

[lancek]

So far no tipping problems but thats only ground testing here on the property ! The beam is solid and not a walking beam I tried using a walking beam but kept breaking the wheels off, and I fell over backwards when backing up to a log! So I went with a solid beam, that is a 1200 lb hard maple on the back and we had no problem with tipping forward or back ward the beam is only 32″ long and Galahad doesn’t have much problem turning it! the shafts are on a pivot point and roll with the terrain it has stops to keep the pivot from going to far.

[jac]

Thats a neat idea Lancek. I remember a guy had one in the SFJ.. what is a “walking beam” though ??. I like the twin wheel idea a lot.
John

[Andy Carson]

Well that’s pretty cool then. I had worried about tipping and turning, but the proof is in the testing! Seems like a very useful concept…

[lancek]

Well the proof will be when we get into the woods ! But I am confident it should ride well!

[mitchmaine]

@jac 25799 wrote:

Thats a neat idea Lancek. I remember a guy had one in the SFJ.. what is a “walking beam” though ??. I like the twin wheel idea a lot.
John

john, a walking beam unit is one axle with two wheels in tandem (not dual) on each side and the walking beam is the yoke between those two wheels. the wheels are independant of the two on the other side so it can walk over hummacks and rough terrain. i still may try it. i like the idea of being able to swing the horses and line the arch up with the hitch.

[Jim Ostergard]

Nice rig.

There are some pictures here in the gallery of me and Rusty and my walking beam. Several things I like about the walking beam design are the nice-on-th -knees-ride over rough ground. I can control (I think) the draft by using a grab chain that will control how high up the butt comes on the slider pipe. The slider pipe seems to be the key for lifting. When I back over the butt or just jump the log (walking beam seems great for that), I hook up the choker at the forward and lower end of the slider pipe. As he goes forward the choker rolls up the pipe on a pulley and when stopped at the top is directly over the center of the walking beam.

The only thing I dislike is the tongue weight. I can lift it ok and I’m not very big but still wish it was less. The platform on the front stuck out another 18″ when I got it so that was first to go. I used a head rest from a car for my butt just at the top of the arch. Took a lot of pain out of the ride. Knees ok, butt hurt until I did that.

When I had Rusty (put the old fella down three weeks ago) really tuned up on it in a job I could back and fill like the devil to get him onto a log. It does drag the wheels a bit in a tight turn but one can live with that. With my new guy I will need a real good steady job to get him to that point. As an aside I just picked up a haflinger/quarter cross, 4-5 years old about 900 pounds and green. So, I got a bit of a project to get him going on it.

[Scott G]

@Jim Ostergard 25809 wrote:

Nice rig.

…When I had Rusty (put the old fella down three weeks ago)…

Sorry about Rusty, Jim. I know that old hoss meant the world to you…

[Jim Ostergard]

Thanks Scott,
Just put a Hafflinger/quarterhorse cross in the barn. Wanted a barn buddy for Zeb and this 4 yr old (just gelded) is green. Never been in a tie stall. He is 13.2 and about 800 pounds. Nice hind quarter. So now I’ve got my work cut out for me. Thank goodness for this site as I have never started a horse before. Been thinking of downsizing anyway so if I have work this year Zeb can earn the coin and then maybe I can just go with a couple of smaller guys. Will be an adventure.
Again thanks about the note on Rusty. He was a great pal, not always what I wanted in the woods but he sure taught me a lot and that has helped bring Zeb along and no doubt will help me with the pony.
We are in the thick of mud season so not much work. Doing a little milling with Jason when he is not boiling sap.
Jim

[Author]

Posts