Preventing Log Slippage on Bobsled Bunk?

[Does’ Leap]

I lost two logs today as the slipped off the opposite side of my sled while loading them. My bobsled was slightly down hill from my logs (with the bunk sloped downhill as well). I kept my binder in a leather pocket in the sled to prevent this, but when I removed the binder to gently shuck my log toward the outside of the sled it slid right off..twice:mad: I have thought about making stake pockets, but don’t want to make my bobsled any wider. The other thing I have considered is welding little nubs (1/2 square stock) on a piece of flat bar which could be screwed to the bunk. This would help the slippage, but also be a hinderance as well. Last idea is to drill holes in the outside of the bunk that would accept the handle of my binder thus making a make-shift stake (currently my leather binder pocket is about 2/3 toward the outside of the bunk and only serves for one side). Aside from finesse, practice and utilizing trees on the opposite side of the sled (when available), any suggestions? Any of the aforementioned ideas seem functional?

Thanks.

George

[Carl Russell]

Stake pockets are a great way to prevent the bunk from splitting on the ends!!:cool:

Also, possibly drilling a 1/2-3/4 hole to put a peg or rebar into, or the tip of the peevey…..

The aggravation of this phenomenon is enough to take the time to change a few things. Piling snow on the lower side to tip the sled back the other way, or perhaps just leaving a log on the ground as a bumper, or even chaining that outer log back to the sled until you’re ready to chain it on. I’ve used chocks of wood, pieces of limb-wood wedged against the sled, my shovel, hammer…… anything available.

And chain them tight, and check the load often, as frozen logs can make for interesting sledding.

Carl

[efdgoon]

Without knowing the way your bobsled bunk is set up, my first thought was to put a stake pocket on the front or back side of the bunk as not to make the sled wider. Good luck.

[Does’ Leap]

@Carl Russell 38584 wrote:

1……or even chaining that outer log back to the sled until you’re ready to chain it on.

2. And chain them tight, and check the load often, as frozen logs can make for interesting sledding.

Carl

1. I ended up doing just that after losing my second log. I think some stake pockets are in order. Do you know off hand how long your bunk is with and without stake pockets?

2. So far so good with sledding frozen logs. My two bunk chains generally stay pretty tight, but my top chain will often need a tighten or two. I did lose a load on my scoot last week when I stepped the horses forward a few feet to retrieve the top load of logs. I didn’t think I needed to bind the bottom load as it was flat ground but the whole load just slipped back and off my front bunk.:eek:

I really enjoy riding the bobsled with a load of logs and watching the sled pivot under the logs. Loading troubles aside, it is a great tool.

George

[Carl Russell]

@Does’ Leap 38588 wrote:

….. Do you know off hand how long your bunk is with and without stake pockets?

…….

I really enjoy riding the bobsled with a load of logs and watching the sled pivot under the logs…….

Bunk is 4 foot 6 inches, 5 feet to the outside of the stake pockets.

Bobsledding Logs

It’s 4:30, quarter to five,
on a crisp mid-winter afternoon.
The sun has gone down behind the hill,
and you can see dusk forming in the shadows.

Dry powder snow covers the ground.
The temperature never got above fifteen degrees today,
but working in the sun, you warmed up easily.
Now a slight chill seeps into the dampness of sweat on your shoulders.

The team is ready,
hitched in front of a nice jag of fine straight logs.
Put your coat back on, and check for mislaid tools.
Climb up on the load, gather lines,
brace your feet, and calmly call on your animals.

As the load lurches forward,
puffs of steamy breath float from the horses’ nostrils.
You can feel the weight of the load through your legs,
as the bobsled travels over humps and through hollows.

Hooves thump and squeak,
as chips of ice fly from sharpened caulks.
From below the load comes the jingle of bridle chains,
and as the logs rasp over the frozen snow
they put forth a whine, like from a bow on a fiddle.

Feel that?… That’s the spirit in your soul dancing the bob-sledder’s jig.
” Now we’re logging”.

1998; For Walt Bryan; Farmer horse logger, family man.

Carl

[Brad Johnson]

There are few more satisfying feelings than riding high on a load of good logs as you pull off with your team on the sled. I never get tired of that moment when the horses start of move ahead and we start off towards the landing – pure magic in the woods!
-Brad

[Does’ Leap]

Carl:

That is a beautiful piece of writing – I remember it from your SFJ article on the bobsled. It really brings to light the poetry and allure of using this great tool.

I ended up letting in my “binder” pockets as my bunk is already 5′ and I didn’t want to make it wider. Here are some pics:
[IMG]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Kqcbd3TLh2s/UOFrsLqXUCI/AAAAAAAABl0/f9WbzfP6Ono/s1152/P1040144.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yeedIY8_9bo/UOFrscTnKiI/AAAAAAAABl4/2WNXYiQWXrQ/s1152/P1040145.JPG[/IMG]

George

[horsemedic47]

I look foreward to the day that I can take my team in the woods and Ride high on the logs. That is a beautiful piece of writing Carl, Very inspirational.

[Author]

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