4Runner doing work

The Tacoma guys have a "Doing Work" thread. Why not our 4Runners

I had a large Oak fall during a late winter storm and take out my utility lines and one of my poles. Ultimately, it was pretty expensive, but I claimed the wood for my little firewood business. The bulk of the tree ended up laying down over a steep hill side along my driveway. I pulled most of it up with my tractor. But, I'm getting to the big end (over 30" diameter). So, I hitched a 9' section (online log weight guide puts it over 2500 lbs) with a snatch block and pulled it up where I'll saw it to firewood lengths.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-I0w3_amj4

Hitched to one of these in the receiver:

 

This definitely deserves a reply. Can we have details? What did the off-camera end of the rope anchor to? How did you grab the tree trunk? Wire rope or synthetic? Why an open hook vs a shackle? Did you use 4-low? Was it a piece of cake for your vehicle or did you feel it was working hard?

 

Just had a friend use his winch to cut down a tree and pull it away from his home while going down.

 

Off camera anchor was a tree with a soft sling, the thicker of the two laying in my cart here, and the the cable I used was a repurposed winch wire cable also there in the cart.


I used a choker chain to grab the log, and hook to a snatch block. Then cable through the snatch block to the 4Runner. I never used the 4Runner for this purpose before. I usually use a clevis shackle (also laying three in the cart) to my tractor instead. I knew my tractor was not enough to pull this particular log. I did not have another soft shackle, and just set the hook on the end of the cable to the open hook. I started in 4-Lo, but decided I needed to re-position involving some pretty tight turning, so, when I was ready to pull, I only set to 4-Hi and the 4-Runner had no problem with the pull. I pulled slow, and steady as the log crested, rolled twice, then butted the edge of the asphalt. No jolts.

FWIW, I move logs for firewood processing all winter long and use slings, chokers, come-along, log arch, static lines, throw bags, . . . None of it really 4Runner related, though there are plenty of my retrieves on YouTube.

Alternate angle of the same 1:06 pull:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbfjomXmEr4

 

Nice! I’ve done a good bit of rigging myself and I always like to see other people’s styles.

 

Thanks. I don't want to clutter this 4Runner thread any more than I already have. But, I recently took some pictures and video of me pulling a leaner out of a snag in the woods on a Tractor forum at: Felling without a saw . Just a curiosity opportunity, not a diversion from the 4Runner discussion.

 

I have the exact same rear hitch setup that stays in the car unless needed, 25K lbs straps, and a 10k hitch pin. Can't wait to actually use it someday like you!