TB:
You have to consider the actual weight of the logs you think you'll be moving.
Here is an example of what I mean.
In the thread labeled "cutting out the middle man" you've said: "my largest timber would be the anchorbeam at around 10"x14"x24'(including the protruding tongues)." To get the diameter of the log you'll need to produce a 10" x 14" beam, I measured from 10" on one side of my framing square to 14" on the other side across diagonally and got 17 1/8". So that is the minimum diameter. And this timber would have some sap wood in it. A larger log would have to be used if you wanted to not have any sapwood in your timber, but that's another story.
So, now I've looked at my log rule scale at 17 1/2" in diameter and my scale only goes up to 20'. At 20' in length the estimated log volume is approximately 285 board feet. Using a log volume weight scale that says eastern white pine logs weigh 4.85 lbs per bdft that this log will weigh 1382.25 lbs.
An white oak log, at 9.65 lbs per bdft, of the same size will weigh 2750.25 lbs.
These are very large and heavy logs that, in my opinion, will be very hard to move with a lawn tractor. If possible at all.
Go out to your woods and cut down a small tree and try it.
Experience is a great teacher......
Jim Rogers
(From my experiences these weight charts are wrong and the actual weights are much higher.)
