Posted: 2/25/2026 3:50:52 PM EDT
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Anyone have any experiences? I think I want one. Problem is, they're more than I want to spend. Except for this one: https://mechmaxx.com/products/3-point-hitch-forest-skidding-winch It's assuredly chicom, but the price is right. I have a Mechmaxx sawmill and I love it. I also have a Mechmaxx hay roller and it's decent, but not great. Another issue is, this winch is rated for 25-60 hp tractors. Mine is 71hp with 64hp to the PTO. Aside from accelerated wear, would that be pushing it? I can always run a PTO clutch if I absolutely have to, as I'm doing that already with my 50 year old Bushhog cutter. Another option is building my own, which I've actually already started, but a ready made unit would probably work better. |
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Your pto HP isn't going to hurt it unless you are sloppy and let it constantly slip the clutch. The clutch on the winch is the fuse. Stay within rated pulls and don't burn up the clutch and you are fine. Honestly probably better to run it on the higher end of the horsepower rating anyway. You can run your tractor at a lower RPM. Quieter for you running it and burning less fuel. |
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Originally Posted By dusty3030: Your pto HP isn't going to hurt it unless you are sloppy and let it constantly slip the clutch. The clutch on the winch is the fuse. Stay within rated pulls and don't burn up the clutch and you are fine. Honestly probably better to run it on the higher end of the horsepower rating anyway. You can run your tractor at a lower RPM. Quieter for you running it and burning less fuel. I figured running at idle would be plenty for the logs I'm pulling. I just need to be able to grab the ones that aren't safe to back up to. |
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I have an Igland tractor log winch on a 60hp Kubota tractor. Great piece if equipment. A couple of things that are important when using it: 1) be very careful when pulling logs. My winch is rated for a 60 hp tractor. I believe it’s rated for 10,000 pounds. You can very easily flip the tractor over if you’re pulling at an angle and the log gets stuck and you don’t get off the winch. 2) taking it on and off can be a bit tricky, my winch set up, comes with a leg that I can supposedly lean against. I have not had good luck with it. I typically find a tree that I can back up to and unhook the PTO and top link and strap it to a tree then I can unhook the bottom two arms. The unit is very heavy and as it’s only balanced on the single blade at the bottom, you need to be careful not to get between it and the tractor. |
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Originally Posted By POW-MIAneverforget: I have an Igland tractor log winch on a 60hp Kubota tractor. Great piece if equipment. A couple of things that are important when using it: 1) be very careful when pulling logs. My winch is rated for a 60 hp tractor. I believe it’s rated for 10,000 pounds. You can very easily flip the tractor over if you’re pulling at an angle and the log gets stuck and you don’t get off the winch. 2) taking it on and off can be a bit tricky, my winch set up, comes with a leg that I can supposedly lean against. I have not had good luck with it. I typically find a tree that I can back up to and unhook the PTO and top link and strap it to a tree then I can unhook the bottom two arms. The unit is very heavy and as it’s only balanced on the single blade at the bottom, you need to be careful not to get between it and the tractor. 1) my tractor is pretty heavy with fluid filled rears. Also the winch I'm looking at has a dozer-looking blade that I assume will dig in under load. There's plenty of trees and stumps to do what you suggest otherwise. Hopefully I can pull in a straight line. 2) I probably won't be taking this off. I have another tractor for farm stuff. This one has a forklift attachment and I usually just use it around the sawmill. |
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it is cheap. I havent seen any reviews by anyone who has used a winch before. mostly youtube influencers. there are a couple of other companies that make them, ingland, wallenstein, fransgaurd, hudson, Tajfun (European even though it sounds Asian) For some reason most of the winches are European brands. there are lots of old wallensteins hanging around. |
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I have a Kubota M7060. I have a Farmi 351 winch I bought when I had a Kubota L4240. I have only used it a couple times with the M7060. With both tractors it works great with pulling trees to encourage the direction of fall. They work great reasonable loads of logs. I think I would benefit from a larger winch on the M7060 but cannot justify the expense as I don't use it as much as I used to. I would focus on making sure you get a unit which has a history of being rugged and can be rebuilt. Mike |
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I guess I'll look on facebook marketplace for a name brand. If I dont find anything in a reasonable time frame I'll order the Mechmaxx. Plan B is build my own. I already have a new Harbor Freight 12k winch and plenty of scrap metal. Plan C is my JD 650J, but its down with an electrical gremlin. |