When Logging Gets Dangerous! Winching Huge Logs With a Tractor!

Things get interesting in this one! Logging can be dangerous and in this video you can see why! The snow increased the level of difficulty while trying to winch the logs up the hill as well. We also review the winch and explain how to safely operate it! We hope you all enjoy the video, thank you for watching!
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[@joekrell4971]

It's about time I get a comment out to Gierok Farms, I've been watching since you picked up the Oliver last year or so! You guys are the best, your dad is so matter of fact and down to earth with his wit and wisdom

[@joekrell4971]

! Hit the wrong spot, I'm not done yet! Been watching the KZbin for a few years now on TV and follow quite a few channels but was always disappointed on not finding much in the line of dairy farms on the KZbin in America's Dairyland, I'm in Sheboygan County on the east side of the state. I'm 63 and both my parents came off of dairy farms and that was the end of those farms! You guys are a breath of fresh air in this day and age of the mega farms! Be blessed as you endeavor on! God bless you all! Gotta love me some beef and cheese, it's the Real deal!

[@TSCROGGY]

I love your dad's witt and wisdom, "either the log is coming out, or the tractors going in" LOL, HAAAAAAAAAAAA ! Love It !

[@GierokFarms]

Lol thanks!

[@jetonaliuirnjea.y3348]

@@GierokFarms are

[@St705]

Great explanation guys. When pulling stuck logs, wrap chain around log so it unwraps as you pull the chain over the top.

[@donplautz9656]

Really good video thanks for sharing this 🚜

[@Adam_Poirier]

Good video man, your dad is really good explaining mechanical things. As an equipment mechanic guys like him are the kind of guys that I like to talk to

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you Adam!

[@kevinflatness1725]

Thanks for taking the time to let us tag along.

[@GierokFarms]

Thanks for watching that's why we keep doing it!

[@terencenelson4472]

Suggestion. You can double your winching power (pull more or halve the required force?) by attaching a snatchblock (AMERICAN MADE for consistent metallurgy) to the chain wrapped around the log and running the winch line through it back to your tractor. Also, winch makers sell weighted blankets to drape over the winch lines as a potential dampening force if the winch line breaks. I carry two in my winching kit. They're not expensive. Cheers.

[@benburns5995]

Great video, really enjoyed seeing the Winch pull those huge logs and how it works. When you were pulling both logs going uphill the front wheels of the tractor came off the ground. That was hard work for both you and your dad but the dogs sure had a blast running along with you.

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you Ben!

[@VicsYard]

Thought they we’re brothers. Great video boys. 👍🏼🇺🇸

[@colehatfield7721]

As I sit here with 9 fractures on my left leg and 3 on my right from doing this job I can really appreciate your winch haha... Thanks for the great video.

[@GierokFarms]

Get well soon! Thank you for watching!

[@HomesteadJay]

Awesome video! love the content! Those skidding winches are no joke! Its too wet up here in NH to do any woods logging now but glad you guys are still out there working!

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you Jay!

[@thomasdecato9786]

That's funny a NH guy ,I am also a Granite stater spending my first winter in Arizona love it my 5060 Kubota and my winch are sitting in the garage gathering dust, have pulled alot of firewood and pine logs out my wife says I am too old but I miss it I will let my family sell it when I am gone never could buy another one.

[@edwhipple7551]

I grew up on a dairy farm in Northern Vermont many years ago so nice to see that you guys do things the way we used to do them keep up the good videos

[@edwhipple7551]

I am a long-distance truck driver for almost 40 years now I would love to come and see your operation

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you Ed we are glad you like them!

[@davechristel5408]

Thanks for the video. Saw the winch in your shed on an earlier video. They are a great tool to have when moving wood. Glad to see your getting some lumber from that big red oak that was dropped. Be safe and keep up the good work!

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you Dave!

[@bluebirdhomestead]

Good work. Thanks for sharing your process. That winch looks really useful

[@jonathanwhite460]

excellent video on winching timber,been thinking if getting a winch,this is the best advice video i've seen.

[@jamesmckay9966]

You are the best explainer on the inter net bar none.

[@charlesjenkins8078]

That was a great video.All of the details really make the video. Thanks again!

[@terencenelson4472]

Boy! What a beautiful farm. Treasure.

[@David-ze3ln]

What a beautiful tractor and what a great sound! Cheers from Romania, Europe!

[@GierokFarms]

Welcome and thank you!

[@Mrcarlosspicey]

I really like that almost ASMR style intro. Got me hooked and now I’ve watched 20 or so videos in the last 2 days.

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you Parker we are glad you like them!

[@outdoorswithlarryrobin]

Great video guys, Teamwork,Tractor and winch getting it done. Have a great weekend 👍🏼🪵🚜🇺🇸

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you!

[@ruggedtimber1743]

Hey there , New subscriber here from Montreal, Canada . I have been binge watching your videos over the last 2 weeks and I must say they are truly enjoyable to watch. Your content is great and with a good mix of farm, farm life , repairing and fixing and I t is right up my alley. Keep the videos coming. Stay safe Kind regards Dirk

[@ineedfriends6764]

i am 12, me and my grandpa go back and log with a 1989 ford 2120 tractor with a grab hook on a welded 3 point setup (my grandpa will limb the logs and i will pull them out) and we can pull stuff bigger than that but still, i have respect for the safety you are puting into it and from the angle you are pulling from

[@irishlad8797]

Very good comment young man But b very careful working with trees and machinery Your grandpa sounds like a great guy. Have a good Christmas sir Seamus from Ireland 😎

[@johnthompson4162]

Great video, see why you need the winch. You are all very careful. Thank you for sharing. John T.

[@GierokFarms]

Thanks again for watching!

[@boomer1049]

Once again one farmer to another you do whatever needs done!

[@irishlad8797]

Oh my god. I just realised those are the beautiful rolling fields that u cut your hay and silage from just a few weeks ago Great video as always 😎

[@fridaynightmaplefootball975]

Great content, keep it coming.

[@miguelamaya6246]

AWESOME TRACTOR...

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you!

[@donaldmack7213]

Once again, a great video! Keep more videos coming!

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you!

[@stanhensley3082]

Wow,that was amazing. It takes years experience to take on a job like what we just watched. That was one of the most dangerous 😳 things 😳 I have seen. And you two made it look easy. Anyone watching this and thinks 🤔 anyone without years of doing this can do it is dead wrong. Doing any logging in these conditions is not for beginners. Very well done video. I have to admit you two had me holding my breath a few times.Keep your videos coming. Just don't scare the heck out of us. Amazing skills. Thanks 😊.

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you Stan!

[@davegenske8973]

That’s to cool. Thanks for the video

[@ericlaker1983]

Great video guys!!! Thank you

[@GierokFarms]

Thanks for watching!

[@Adam_Poirier]

You guys ever hear of the sweatshirt trick? I work for a rigging company and when the guys are winching something under a heavy load with a steel cable, they will throw a heavy moving blanket or a couple of sweatshirts over the cable. In the event the cable comes free or snaps the heavy blanket will absorb that shock and the cable will fall to the ground instead of whip lashing to the side. It does work pretty good, but I could see where it would be a little bit of a pain winching logs lol.

[@GierokFarms]

Never heard that but makes sense! Thanks for the tip!

[@freezerburn04]

Pat’s Quick hitch, bro👍 Schweet post thanks for posting!

[@the86125]

instead of un-hitching a log or 2 log at the bottom of the hill, put the cable back on the chokers and spool out 100-125 feet pulling the tractor ahead. Then plant the winch and winch them too you, and so on until your on flat. saves going back and forth and getting off the machine so many times loosing and re-hooking logs. the winch will pull much more than the tractor has for "pulling traction" in the snow due to the blade dragging in. Awesome looking set up! I've got a 4500 fransguard, for a little tractor compared to that monster.

[@mikeadams2339]

Thanks for explaining the winch. Loved seeing the dogz play and the jd work! Is there a video on how you made the chainsaw scabbard? Enjoyed everything you got a new subscriber.

[@darrylhayes9066]

Really enjoy you and your father's vlogs. You guys seem pretty cool

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you!

[@131dyana]

That is an amazing tractor and a great crane. what a terrific job. Thanks.

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you for watching!

[@hettro-cv6082]

Beautifull country! Great video!

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you!

[@nathansmith3817]

Your John Deere is absolutely beautiful 🚜

[@SilasLives1]

Another good video, thanks.

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you!

[@andrewgraves3719]

Love the chain saw scabbard. Think I'm going to put one on my dad's tractor. He doesn't saw much anymore (at least not alone, he's 84 and can't start them) but I'll go out with him and those would come in handy for our saws.

[@GierokFarms]

It's a handy way to carry a saw with!

[@8tomtoms8]

May be time for an electric chainsaw which he could use around the farmstead. I have a corded 16" Homelite which I love. No mixing gas, clogged carburetors, fouled spark plugs, and pull cords.

[@kerryzahn908]

Enjoy your videos. I would have left one log chained to your 3 point and left one connected to your winch so you when you started to get stuck you could release the one and get to the top then winch the other one up the hill. I have a wallenstein FX85 winch on a 38hp ct335 bobcat tractor works great. Especially in hilly and swamp areas. Love your setup 👍

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you Kerry!

[@garny3766]

Kerry, yup that is how I pull out my logs. I have a uniforest 55H on a ‘72 5000 ford. The remote is really slick pulling out logs. I rarely get out of the seat when finagling logs out. Most of the time I leave all logs connected to cable so I can drop, move tractor, winch back in, drop, drive, winch, rinse and repeat until such time I can drive away with them on the blade. Not to mention nice to start pulling in logs while you’re right next to the log. Makes quick work if you need to rehook. Only downside…expensive. IIRC It was $2K extra.

[@janne4638]

Great video guys,

[@stevegreene271]

Great video. We pull alot of saw logs out of the pasture edges in the fall or just after freezeup. Looks like I should invest in 1 of those winches. I'm surprised at how much snow you have compared to SE mn. We have bare ground here again.

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you Steve!

[@johnsheahan7914]

Great video as always keep up the great work and mind yourself

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you John!

[@miniaturefarmer464]

Pretty good set up!

[@jeffmartin3406]

Love seeing the orange Kill Bros grain wagons made in my hometown of Delphos Ohio. Luke Kill died a couple years ago at 95 years.

[@GierokFarms]

talk about a small world

[@douglasvandyke7666]

In the 1970's we had a log that had been cut near a asphalt topped road. The chain was of course under the log and in pulling it on the road it just quickly demolished the chain from abrasion. Sometimes you have to learn the hard way when you grew up in a city. Later, had a 3 point winch made in a European country but was not as rugged as yours, and somewhat problematic. The best of all was a dozer with a winch. Greatly enjoyed your video. Thanks.

[@GierokFarms]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@user-du1um2pl4g]

VERY INTERESTING !!!!!😊😊

[@Sigurd126]

super cool to see a norwegian-made winch! love the vid! if u guys ever want a new one i recomen Igland, its kinda the same but better:)

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you!

[@greggergen9104]

I really like that Winch. That seems like it would be great for pulling out stuck vehicles.

[@GierokFarms]

It probably would do a great good, thanks Greg!

[@delprice3007]

Great video, very helpful; getting ready to skid some big logs myself...pulling above the drawbar could pull the tractor over? Guessing that winch pully reduces the risk...do you think a log hook would help reduce the chance of the logs rolling sideways?

[@bluepower_4life703]

Never seen one of those winches in action. Pretty neat. I have those hooks on my chains as well. Love them

[@GierokFarms]

Thanks it's pretty nice!

[@JamesDedmon]

Awesome deal I like the log handling tool on that tractor.

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you!

[@farawayfarm2520]

Since I don't have a 4wd tractor I will have to stick to skidding with the crawler. I've never actually seen one of those tractor winches in action. I like River's markings she's a good looking dog.

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you my fiancé picked her out!

[@Daveco82]

Love it when River supervises!

[@GierokFarms]

She is so funny!

[@bernteinar906]

So strange to see the john deere of such size without a cabin. is that normal in the us. here in scandinavia (Norway) they all have cabins. cool that you have a Danish made vinch. i use the Norwegian made Igland vinch. its fairly the same type.

[@mcd5082]

Some nice hills there!

[@pirate4ever562]

Fascinating!

[@opinion4246]

Good job👍

[@anthonyhengst2908]

I've never heard of one of these winches. My family has burned wood for generations. We peel popple in the spring too. Sure looks to be a handy device. I'm going to have to look into this. Be safe out there ... Beware of widow makers!!

[@GierokFarms]

Thanks Anthony!

[@earlhoyt8745]

That was completely awesome although it was very dangerous what your dad did spin around on tractor coming down hill I held my breath GOD BLESS please stay safe 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻👍👍👍🙂🙂🙂

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you Earl God Bless!

[@Wilber-vm1dy]

Great video always enjoy them

[@bonniek3985]

Me thinks pop is a logger at heart!

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you Wilber!

[@jamesmckay9966]

YOU ALL ARE A SUPER SMART BUNCH OF MEN.

[@ArmpitStudios]

I wish I had River’s energy and exuberance.

[@GierokFarms]

No kidding!

[@bigworm585]

WOW great video

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you!

[@patrickcreath217]

Real good video...thanks. Long drag. That tractor have a diff lock?

[@dionwadefarmsllc]

New subscriber my friend

[@GierokFarms]

Welcome to the channel!

[@dbrbruce9950]

I really love these videos, but damn they make me sleepy.

[@GierokFarms]

Thanks not a bad thing!

[@Blazer02LS]

Watching that Deere ride on the rears brings back old memories. Way back a ways a logger on a nearby place decided to jump the fence and do logging on the old family farm. We found out after they had cut a LOT of trees. So we went into the log and firewood business to clear the tops and logs out. The skidder tractors were a TO-35 and a TO-20. We would back up, drop the 3 point, lift the logs up, block them and then back the three point drawbar under the log(s) and head on down the hill. The catch was coming up the other side, 90% of the time you were riding the rears and steering with the brakes pulling maple, oak, beech that were heavy...

[@GierokFarms]

It's a good time!

[@johnhenderson299]

Great video

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you John!

[@robertmacleod4058]

I had an experience like that pulling in a 16', 28" diameter hemlock log with my little John Deere 2240. I decided after that episode that the winch would only go on a tractor with a loader on it. Fransgard do make a really good winch

[@GierokFarms]

sounds like on big tree! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@billybobs841]

Good video guys would u recommend the tractor winch?

[@TF856]

Apparently there were a lot of Old Farmers trying to pull stumps out with their old Ford tractors and flipped over backwards and killed the operator! I once knew a girl whose father died the same way!

[@GierokFarms]

It sure is dangerous!

[@jeangodfreytyler4927]

Think about setting your chain hooks so that the log rolls when you start to pull. With the butt flare,we would cut that off and and angle it so that it would not grab. Slight angle like a sleigh runner. We used a 30 hp with a Farm winch for more than 35 years.

[@trevorslater2746]

Good call ,I do what you're saying about wrapping the chain around the log so when tension comes on it makes the log roll so its moving, keep the power on when you've got movement is half the battle

[@lhmm149]

I got the same winch but the name is Sandvik 3000. Its built in Norway :) very simole and nice winch. Nice video to 👍

[@fricknjeep]

hi there good show . made my own winch . it works well but a bit slow some times but it pulls . john

[@GierokFarms]

Sounds like a cool winch!

[@johnos4892]

If you used the 3point hitch to raise the end of the log, you could just tow the log by dragging with tractor , i've done it works great on this size log. No winch needed.

[@GierokFarms]

Thanks for the tip!

[@jamesbreault5762]

Good stuff men,👍👍👍👍

[@GierokFarms]

Thanks James!

[@kensmith1663]

I'm familiar with those lost chocker chains!!! Paint em yellow or hi vis orange. They show up better when you kick around in the snow for them.

[@justinmulhern3071]

Great video! Thanks for sharing! Where can I find those hooks for chains ? Thanks.

[@GierokFarms]

Thanks not sure, but they are nice!

[@spaceraja488]

Nice

[@user-nr9dx1gs5w]

Thanks for the video. 3 years ago my brother was skidding logs out of our woods on the farm and was killed. The tractor rolled over on him. Be careful! Typically we skid with horses.

[@svenerikhansen]

Nice video✌️why no cab on tractor in such open terrain and in winter time?

[@edwardcarberry1095]

Built a log lifter beam was 3x6" I beam for the 3 PT hitch and different sized log tongs for lifting firewood or short logs. Loaded three logs onto the 4 wheel trailer, something close to 24 " at the butt? Was with the Ford 3000 switched from 1st gear to 2nd so then the tires started to spin, so back to 1st gear. That was heavy.

[@GierokFarms]

Sounds like a sweet setup!

[@johnworthington9995]

I live in Wisconsin and work for John Deere, I’m a little biased but I enjoyed this video.

[@Deltaconcepts]

Would front weights or a loader up front help a bit?

[@turklayher4794]

Just curious that tractor doesn't have a differential lock? I believe he would have made it!! Just a thought. Great job you guys have some pretty big hills, beautiful country and lots of maple trees someone must be making syrup!!!

[@PDeker]

HI guys new to the channel, where is the farm located?

[@christopherbrown8164]

How do you like those double ring tire chains? Do they hold up well and do pretty good in the mud?

[@keithrobinson1331]

They say farming is the most dangerous job in the USA 👍 thanks guys

[@GierokFarms]

It can be thanks Keith!

[@timstevens2866]

Helps to put a chock block behind tires also

[@cameronrinner8933]

How many saws do you have?

[@jaroslavkoval8802]

Super 👍🇸🇰

[@stephencox4718]

Using a steel wire rope on a winch is the most dangerous part of that job! I would gust use a chain short hitch to the towing link directly on the tractor. That way the chain would allow for turning clearance & also keep the chain around the log off the ground & not be worn down buy dragging on the ground! But that's just me. Good vid, keep up the good work & listen to your dad!

[@starnet36]

Where are you located?

[@tpfromcentralpa1692]

FIrst time I ever seen one of the mechanical ones work, they bring a billion at sales here. I built one years ago but used a winch off a wrecker and pto drove it, but it was slow on 540, but worked well on a tractor with small 1000................Problem was most of the tractors we took to the woods were 540. Used it some, went over to the neighbors and never seen it again, probably still over there. Quit cutting wood so didn't need it anyhow. Was really nice though on our steep mountainsides where the only access was logging road cut in the sides ever 350 ft up the mountain, not really any other way to get to the logs easily.

[@GierokFarms]

Sounds like cool winch!

[@danielbrown8602]

I had a fransguard winch and it gave me nothing but problems. Clutch was constantly falling out of adjustment.

[@-SF1-]

If that Deere had rear diff lock it would pull a house...maybe not in the snow though lol. Could you add some weight to the front too? Seems light in the front but at least both tires were spinning up there.