2 weeks later the Land Rover and winch were put to the test pulling out a 23ft x 800lb long crook European Larch log on a very wet misrable grey day that is destined to be hand hewn to form a cruck blade.
This very heavy log was supported on rollers to ensure that it was not dragged along the ground where it would have been coated with mud and flints.
The Land Rover was pulled well back and the winch cable extended to ensure that a good straight extraction run could be acheived.
The supporting rollers were leap frogged from the rear to the front of the log as it was pulled by the winch.
This technique helps to ensure that the ground is not rutted by the log being extracted.
When the cruck log had reached the Land Rover the winch was released.
The Land Rover then pulled back to the log pile where the cruck log was destined to be stored before it is pulled onto the hewing bunks.
This whole process was then repeated only this time two straight medium sized logs were pulled out in tandem.
The logs in the storage pile are raised off the ground on bearers to ensure that wet conditions that would encourage rot and long horn beetle infestation are avoided.
Logs ready for debarking and hewing.
This investment by The Oxfordshire Woodland Group in a members land Rover (Series II) has already proved its worth for log extraction and wire fence tensioning and is undoubtedly a good low cost multi task option that can be considered by small woodland owners to help move a small numbers of heavy logs.
Ken Hume OWG
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