Receiver Hitch Rope Brake

[MasterBlaster]

Sohner at the Buzz posted this, it looks very interesting! He said it was made by Arborists Designs, the same people that make the Hobbs lowering device. Do any of ya'll have one of these?

[NickfromWI]

Looks simple enough. I'm a bit skeptical of hitch-anchored rope brakes. I'm waiting for the picture of a log suspended in mid air, dude holding the rope, and the back tires 2' off the ground!

Convenient idea, though.

love
nick

[Skwerl]

That one looks like it has a lot of dust and scratches on it from riding behind the seat of the chip truck, and no wear marks from rope. :/:

[TheTreeSpyder]

A redirect pulley low on a stump between upper pulley and truck would help there, then chock truck, then turn wheels so that if truck got dragged; it would tend to lock down tighter. Also, load weight in back of truck.

With a truck rope brake we are able to lift and or pretension line. i've done this with Porty or Fig.8 on truck; lock off to tighten etc. If no good reciever, we've run chain off the frame or krab to frame + 4" web; another good reason for having low redirect then; so we don't get a pull up on bumper etc. as chain/web curls around it and gives 1+ loading.

[Burnham]

I thought exactly the same thing, Skwerl.

Doesn't mean that it couldn't be useful...might just belong to a guy with no imagination. :lol:

I think you'd have to be careful, like with those electric winches that mount to a receiver hitch. The receiver is designed for straight, level pulling loads...keep to that and all will likely be well...hard to do with winches...and bollards too, I bet.

[Frans]

It is actually a good idea. Having a portable friction point is really helpful.

I have never used this, but over at the Buzz, I am waiting for Robert's reply to my question: How much does this cost?

Seems like it would cost less than the truck mount option Greg Good (GRCS) provides.

Right off the bat, I am leery of all those little spikes sticking out of the drum.
Maybe they help to avoid overlapping of the rope on the drum?

[NickfromWI]

I wonder if you could use the pins to take a wrap, then go around a pin and wrap the other way, so as to prevent rope twist while lowering?

love
nick

[Frans]

Nick, you would then increase friction to the point where nothing would move

[MasterBlaster]

I wonder if you could use the pins to take a wrap, then go around a pin and wrap the other way, so as to prevent rope twist while lowering?


Right off the bat, I am leery of all those little spikes sticking out of the drum.
Maybe they help to avoid overlapping of the rope on the drum?

I sure would like to see how the ropes supposed to wrap on it. I can figure out most of it, but there are some parts I'm not sure of.

[NickfromWI]

I was thinking something like this...

I think both configurations would work. I'm not sure how I would rig it for those medium heavy loads....the ones that you lower the most!

I'd like to see an owner's manual for this thing.

love
nick

[NickfromWI]

MB, I was thinking it might be a place you could hook a pulley for lifting applications...

[MasterBlaster]

It doesn't look stout enough for something like that.

[Burnham]

I wouldn't like to put such a tight radius bend in the rope as Nick's drawing show. I know most of the load would be on the wraps, but it still doesn't look right to me.

[Frans]

one of the biggest problems with the products produced through Don Blair, is the product back up.

The Bry dan saddle, hobbs, hobbs rope brake, etc all have very little back up included.

I think you are just supposed to understand it.

[wiley_p]

Looks simple enough. I'm a bit skeptical of hitch-anchored rope brakes. I'm waiting for the picture of a log suspended in mid air, dude holding the rope, and the back tires 2' off the ground!

Convenient idea, though.

love
nick

Your concern could be relieved Nick by using a tail hold block for a redirect, then your worst case would be the truck spinning its tires, or maybe sliding towards the tail hold. Cause I'm sure you wouldn't want to create a bad line angle by pulling out on the upper block. Also, I trust you wouldn't have the truck directly under the load.:)

[inztrees]

I would say its to lock the rope off. This would be done by going round drum then green hook to yellow hook to ears with a clove hitch. But that is just a gess.

[TheTreeSpyder]

Soft Lock?

[MasterBlaster]

I prefer Heavy Metal! :rockon:

[Ax-Man]

Looks like someone went a little overboard with the welder to me. Big time overkill. Not to take away from the person who made it but I'll stick with the GRCS truck mount with the winch.

[stehansen]

Looks like someone went a little overboard with the welder to me. Big time overkill. Not to take away from the person who made it.

That's what I was thinking. I don't know about you guys but my pickup weighs 5,000 lbs empty. If you start dragging that around or lifting it in the air you are cutting a really really big piece. One that should be anchored to something more solid. That being said I would like to make something to fit on the front of my bucket truck. Better get to workin' on it.

[Burnham]

Dang, Steve. My 2001 Dodge 2500 4x4 weighs 7700 lbs. curb. You sure that rig isn't heavier than 5k?

[stehansen]

That is what it says at the scales at the dump. It's probably because of my svelte physique.:D

[Paul B]

Dang, Steve. My 2001 Dodge 2500 4x4 weighs 7700 lbs. curb. You sure that rig isn't heavier than 5k?

that is a heavy pickup, I thought my F250 was heavy at 5500 lbs.

[Al Smith]

Once again,I'm not a pro treeman.I am an old time sailor and rigger though so rope usage is rope usage no matter if you are mooring a ship or lifting an I-beam.

All a friction device does is increase the area in contact of the rope to provide a stopping or retarding of load forces on the rope.Kind of giving a mechanical advantage to a person trying to stop say a thousand pounds of force,more or less.

I don't think it would be a good idea to circle the pins on that drum with the rope because it would weaken the rope and chafe the dickens out of it.Better to circle the drum,providing more friction contact area.The pins are there to prevent overlapping of the rope,causing a rats nest mess.

Ha,I too have visions of a pick-em -up jerked half ways up a tree from a big giant limb.:lol:

[sotc]

my dodge is over 7k also

[Burnham]

my dodge is over 7k also

Built like the proverbial brick outhouse...not like those candy-azz Chevs and Fords :P .

[squisher]

Yah that seems heavy. My 99 chevy 1 ton dually crewcab longbox bigblock 4x4 only weighs 6,000lbs.

My Ford 1 ton with the sander and plow on it is 7,600lbs and that's 1,700lbs of accessories.

Ha what's the GVW on those Dodges, throw a chainsaw and a dog in the back sounds like you'd be overweight.:D

[Burnham]

Yah that seems heavy. My 99 chevy 1 ton dually crewcab longbox bigblock 4x4 only weighs 6,000lbs.

My Ford 1 ton with the sander and plow on it is 7,600lbs and that's 1,700lbs of accessories.

Ha what's the GVW on those Dodges, throw a chainsaw and a dog in the back sounds like you'd be overweight.:D

Well, you got me thinking I better see if I know what i'm talkin' about, Justin. My Dodge is the 2500 ext. cab 4x4 with the 8.0 liter V-10.

The GVWR is 8800 lbs, max trailer weight 12,550 lbs.

I guess I don't really know what the standing empty curb weight is of my rig as outfitted with Warn 12k winch, tool boxes and tools, but if you subtract the max trailer weight from the GCWR of 19,000 you get 6,450. I'd guess it's about 7,000 currently outfitted, maybe some little bit less, so perhaps at some time I weighed it at 6600 and mis-remembered it as 7700 :|: . Anywho, that leaves me 1800-2200 lbs. cargo capacity, give or take.

[squisher]

Heh I was just trying to get a razz in, no biggie :P


:lol:

[Burnham]

Heh I was just trying to get a razz in, no biggie :P


:lol:

Like I'd take a razzin' from some Canucklehead without doin' something about it???

:D

[squisher]

Ya, ya I know you Americans are a cocky bunch, I would be too with Gary the gas man on my side.:D

[sotc]

ive scaled in over 12k before and have regularly pulled my chipper while weighing 10k

[squisher]

You scaled just to check it out? I don't want to scale my plow truck full of sand.:O

[sotc]

yup, any time ive got a load on and the scale master is gone ill whip through and check:)

[squisher]

Same as here the scales are always left on so you can pull through and check if they're not around.

[TheTreeSpyder]

i'll agree with Al's frictional area of contact theory; but also i believe if the

The 'pins' would be there to align rope (best if rope is more perpendicular to drum/ not at upward angle); and then perhaps at point of low tension (after several turns on drum) to lock off; like on boat cleat, fig.8 etc.

Upward angles are harder on vehicle traction, so if pulling over with truck, i think it is best to redirect low (and have log weight in truck). For when pulling over a tree; as you advance, you deal not only with the increasing rope tension fighting traction; but an increasing upward lift angle fighting traction. so would view best use as same here, this would also serve line into drum at perpendicular angle. Could then more safely pretension or even lift; then lower i think.

[stehansen]

Thanks Burnham, now I feel inadequate.:(

[Al Smith]

That gizmo would likely work .I don't think however I would try it tied off to my Ranger pick up.

It would rather embarrasing to have to call a crane to retrieve it out of a tree.:lol:

[Old Monkey]

My old tree service in California had a tubular steel bumper with rounded pins for lowering. It worked awesome. We lowered off of it and used it attaching a pull off line to.

[Burnham]

Thanks Burnham, now I feel inadequate.:(

My work here is done.
:P

[lumberjack]

...not like those candy-azz Chevs and Fords :P .


Hmph, my 2wd, 5.7 liter V8, regular cabbed, flat bedded 1 ton CHEVY weighs 7klbs empty.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v639/10mmsheepdog/IMG_2584.jpg

22klbs combined:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v639/10mmsheepdog/Trees/IMG_2166.jpg


Nearly 26klbs combined:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v639/10mmsheepdog/IMG_2949.jpg

[MasterBlaster]

Carl, don't you think that trailer was about one log overloaded?

[lumberjack]

Yeah that piece of brush tipped me over I believe, but it let us finish the job. :lol:

[MasterBlaster]

Cool. Sometimes you gotta be an outlaw...

Besides, you weren't going far... right? ;)

[squisher]

OK enough of this speculation, here's the scale numbers off of my 92' Ford 1ton 4x4 with sanding unit(empty) and plow on:

Front Axle 2150kg x 2.2=4730lbs

Rear Axle 1750x 2.2= 3850lbs

combined =8580-weight of sander and plow(1700lbs)=6880lbs

Ok so heavier than I was quoting my apologies, those are the actual scale numbers less than a week ago and the sander(800lbs) and plow (900lbs) are from the owners manuals.

Now I'm gonna have to re-scale my chevy when I get a chance, maybe I can't haul as much as I thought.

Carl your deck must weigh alot? And are your scale measurements with you in or out of the truck?:P

Hmm this means in theory with wet sand my loaded plow truck, no trailer would weigh 8,580 + 6,000 = 14,580:O . No wonder I forked up the springs.

[JIML]

I can recall several times our big chipper at work being scooted sideways a little with the winch.
BC1800 vermeer, sticker says 9600lbs. winch is rated at 2000lbs of pull on the first wraps on the drum. I don't believe scooting a truck around should be that difficult, especially if your pulling UP and off to one side.

[brendonv]

Ok I'm lost.

Say a truck had a GVWR of 12,500lbs. The truck empty weighed 7000lbs, and lets pretend I had a load of 5500lbs. Would that mean I cant tow a trailer too because the total is 12,500lbs?

If thats the case, why would a truck have a rating of being able to tow lets say 10,000lbs, but that would put the truck at 17,000lbs.

Someone school me!

[Burnham]

Ok I'm lost.

Say a truck had a GVWR of 12,500lbs. The truck empty weighed 7000lbs, and lets pretend I had a load of 5500lbs. Would that mean I cant tow a trailer too because the total is 12,500lbs?

If thats the case, why would a truck have a rating of being able to tow lets say 10,000lbs, but that would put the truck at 17,000lbs.

Someone school me!

The figure you want to look up for your truck is the GCWR...combined gross vehicle weight rating. That tells you maximum loaded truck and trailer together...on my Dodge 2500 its 19,000.

[sotc]

you could still tow. the gvwr is truck and pay load (including trailer tounge weight) not trailer

[Al Smith]

Good heavens,those pick-em -ups are heavy. My old '57 F-600 dump truck tipped the scales at a tad over 8 thou empty .It would haul about 6 or 7 ton though pretty good but snailing along at 45 miles per hour with a tail wind going down hill.

[Bounce]

Uh, am I missing something here? If the friction device was attached to the back of your truck, you'd have some pretty severe limitations: only small pieces (unless you start every job with a fully loaded truck) and no shock loading (unless you like ripping the hitch receiver off). Who would want a friction device that could only be used for relatively small pieces under static loads only? This may the reason I've never seen one of these in any catalog.

[TheTreeSpyder]

Smaller pieces, no impacting, other friction(high) sometimes; but workable in proper ranges IMLHO.

[Frans]

I have a receiver on the front and rear of my truck. The GRCS attaches to it and works just fine

[No_Bivy]

:thumbup:
I have a receiver on the front and rear of my truck. The GRCS attaches to it and works just fine

[lumberjack]

Cool. Sometimes you gotta be an outlaw...

Besides, you weren't going far... right? ;)

About 9 miles.


And haha Justin, I was waiting for someone to say that.


My daily driving civic with me in it weighed 2740lbs when I went across the scales on the way to class today. Worse tank was still 34.6mpg, best has been in the 39's, never had a tank of pure highway driving though.

[squisher]

Carl I think you may suffer from the same disease I have, leadfootitis it's hard on mileage.:D

[Al Smith]

Carl I think you may suffer from the same disease I have, leadfootitis it's hard on mileage.:D To cure that ,you have to "brick" it. Put a brick under the gas pedal.:P

[sotc]

OK enough of this speculation, here's the scale numbers off of my 92' Ford 1ton 4x4 with sanding unit(empty) and plow on:

Front Axle 2150kg x 2.2=4730lbs

Rear Axle 1750x 2.2= 3850lbs

combined =8580-weight of sander and plow(1700lbs)=6880lbs

Ok so heavier than I was quoting my apologies, those are the actual scale numbers less than a week ago and the sander(800lbs) and plow (900lbs) are from the owners manuals.

Now I'm gonna have to re-scale my chevy when I get a chance, maybe I can't haul as much as I thought.

Carl your deck must weigh alot? And are your scale measurements with you in or out of the truck?:P

Hmm this means in theory with wet sand my loaded plow truck, no trailer would weigh 8,580 + 6,000 = 14,580:O . No wonder I forked up the springs.

scaled my dodge empty today at 7900. i do have a steel chip box ontop of my bed rails. also did a freebee for a buddy and grossed my 1 ton at 14460 :O

[squisher]

Is your Dodge a 3/4 ton? That doesn't leave alot for cargo capacity.

14,460 on the 1 ton nice!:D

[sotc]

i can put 5 yards in it, i pay more attention to what the tires can handle as opposed to the manufacturers reccomendation:D yup 3/4 ton dodge

[squisher]

Lol, me too. Things are way lax around here for pick-ups. Big trucks, they'll go to town on.

[TheTreeSpyder]

i can put 5 yards in it, i pay more attention to what the tires can handle as opposed to the manufacturers reccomendation:D yup 3/4 ton dodge

Suspension needs to be able to absorb and adjust to dynamic forces; of turning, stopping, dips etc.

[squisher]

Nah, run 'er hard and heavy if it breaks fix it stronger.;)

[Mangoes]

Squish....you use sand???!!? 'Round here snow removal guys feel they have to have the snow burnt off in 45 mins........so pure salts the name of the game. Really disgusting how much salt goes down when some calmer driving habits and sand would work fine. My father is the roads superviser for one of the last municipalities in York region still using sand/salt mix, everyone else is pure salt. echk!

Moving on...
My Dodge (pics have been posted) weighs 3600kg with the aluminium dump. 3500 SRW 4x4 Cummins 24 valve (engine alone weighs close to 1300 lbs) GVW of 5200kg can't recall GCW. Aluminium box is 7-800lbs max.

Squisher do you have a link for the airbag system you installed in your truck?

[sotc]

3500 SRW 4x4 Cummins 24 valve
what year is it? down here you couldnt get srw 1 tons till 03 or 04, i thought yours was older

[Mangoes]

1998

[squisher]

Kevin I will have a look and see what brand of airbags I've got again and see if I can find a link. Also yah I only spread straight sand, the road guys here use a sand/salt mix and also use anti-ice sprays.

Willie I'm pretty sure that we've been able to get one ton SRW of any of the big three for many, many years now from what I've seen around anyways.