ZUGHAUBE FÜR HOLZSTÄMME

I have been able to skid out heavy logs with an ATV using the cone and a log chain, I'm talking about logs you could not move manually or lift without a peavy or other log jack. They slid out easily, stayed clean, and did not tear up the ground. This thing is very tough, shows only minor scratches. Can also snub a bunch of smaller diameter logs together and pull them out easily in one go - no snagging.

This worked really well for about 20 logs and then there was a hole in it suddenly. Was hoping it would be tougher.

Exactly what I was expecting

I have a narrow path with a steep valley on each side (old strip mine). I have lots of dead timber (mostly ash), some still standing. This cone allows me to fell the tree and pull 12 foot logs from the valley onto the path. I tie a bowline knot to the front guard of my UTV, run the rope through a snatch ring, connected to a tree saver via soft shackle (live tree on opposite side of path to the log I'm pulling), then run the rope through the skidding cone and tie another bowline to the loop of a steel chocker cable which surrounds the log. The cone makes an impossible task possible. If you can't get the cone under the front of the log, it generally seats itself as it is being pulled, as long as the knot holding the log does not get caught in the skidding cone hole - it has to be able to slide through to pull the log up into the cone. I love this thing and I'm surprised I have not cracked the plastic given the beating I've given it.

The cone is tough, and did a great job pulling over rocks.The nose hole is 2.5" x 1.5", and the depth of the cone is about 25". The opening can handle 20" logs as advertised.Bottom line: I don't regret the purchase and I plan to abuse it some more.Things I didn't think about before buying:- In my neck of the woods, it is not uncommon to climb on 45-55 degree slopes, and even steeper angles on the road cut/fill slopes. Typically it is easier to fell a tree on the uphill side of the road and drag down. This cone has no way to secure it to the log/choker, so when pulling downhill (and nose-diving hard into a road) the cone just slides down the rope doesn't help at all.- If you use a rope choker, you want this cone to stay "snug" on the log to protect the choker from abrasion while skidding. I tied a drop loop in my choker, and used a large carabiner in order to both choke the log and prevent the cone from sliding up past the carabiner while I was pulling downhill. That was a fun knot to loosen up! I'm sure I can do better, but haven't put thought into it yet.- The cone isn't heavy, but it is bulky. Hauling it up a hill is a pita. I often tie a rope to an uphill stump/tree to aid in climbing from the road and up/down a steep berm. I grab rope with one hand while holding a chainsaw/cable/winch/line with the other. Remember those 45-55 degree slopes? It sure would be nice to have an easy way to backpack this cone. As it was, I put a large carabiner inside it and used another rope to pull it up behind me like a bell. Worked well enough and no big deal. Certainly easier than a saw.If the cone came with some mechanism like a built-in self-locking pulley to keep it snug on the log/choker, it would net 5 stars from me. Maybe a prussik knot with a fat rope would do the trick. Hmm...