Chris Schultz
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- Minturn
Been thinking of making a purchase, stumbled across this in my research. If you could have one of the above mentioned devices, which one, and why?
GRCS vs. Hobbs (great video)
- Thread starter Chris Schultz
- Start date
Been thinking of making a purchase, stumbled across this in my research. If you could have one of the above mentioned devices, which one, and why?
Jeff Kowell
New member
- Location
- Windsor
That was done in my home
Town . I remember when they did the test . I own two HOBBS and two GRCS . The GRCS is a way more versatile device . You can lift logs and use a drill for power lifting . Extremely strong . Can't go wrong with the GRCS
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I recently got the grcs one of the guys I work with has a hobbs it's been rebuilt onto a different frame because the original got hit by a big piece of eucalyptus years ago.
The hobs works I've got nothing against it, I'd say it seems a little easier to lower stuff with after it's off than the grcs I'm usually in the tree so I can't speak to much on it but that's about the only minor win for the hobbs that I have noticed.
The grcs has been great it's so fast and low effort to use its saved a ton of time and allowed us to do some pretty big trimming over houses that I normally have to climb and piece down to a few cuts with a pole saw. We did a single large oak branch (80 ft long) it had a big stub that had broken of about 10 feet long with a 20" diameter we had to take off before we could put the whole thing on the ground I climbed up made a seat cut with the notch towards the block/grcs on that section and I left more hinge than I thought probably 2 inches the guy running the grics lifted that section of branch and snapped the hinge no problem. We've used the grcs on a large number of jobs now that we have just cause it makes things easy even if it's just dragging trees/brush up a steep hill.
The pictures a section of branch we did that was growing way out over the deck and house got a point in up high and did it in a few pieces just cutting slow and lifting them away from the house.
The hobs works I've got nothing against it, I'd say it seems a little easier to lower stuff with after it's off than the grcs I'm usually in the tree so I can't speak to much on it but that's about the only minor win for the hobbs that I have noticed.
The grcs has been great it's so fast and low effort to use its saved a ton of time and allowed us to do some pretty big trimming over houses that I normally have to climb and piece down to a few cuts with a pole saw. We did a single large oak branch (80 ft long) it had a big stub that had broken of about 10 feet long with a 20" diameter we had to take off before we could put the whole thing on the ground I climbed up made a seat cut with the notch towards the block/grcs on that section and I left more hinge than I thought probably 2 inches the guy running the grics lifted that section of branch and snapped the hinge no problem. We've used the grcs on a large number of jobs now that we have just cause it makes things easy even if it's just dragging trees/brush up a steep hill.
The pictures a section of branch we did that was growing way out over the deck and house got a point in up high and did it in a few pieces just cutting slow and lifting them away from the house.
Attachments
@Vicente you really want to put a fairlead (block/ring) above your ld if the line is running out to the side as much as in your picture.
theres situations for both devices (like it was pointed out many times). i own both, if i had to choose one it would be the hobbs. yes, slower lifting but almost indestructable/reliable.
i like the grcs/other makes of selftailing sailing winch because one person on the ground is often times plenty to drift/lift/lower pieces into open landingzone whereas with a hobbs doing longer lifts/ more than just pretension alone is annoying.
the other day we used the smartwinch in sandy/dirty conditiones.. it takes awhile to take it apart, clean, regrease..
friedrich
theres situations for both devices (like it was pointed out many times). i own both, if i had to choose one it would be the hobbs. yes, slower lifting but almost indestructable/reliable.
i like the grcs/other makes of selftailing sailing winch because one person on the ground is often times plenty to drift/lift/lower pieces into open landingzone whereas with a hobbs doing longer lifts/ more than just pretension alone is annoying.
the other day we used the smartwinch in sandy/dirty conditiones.. it takes awhile to take it apart, clean, regrease..
friedrich
flushcut
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Delavan, WI
GRCS is better for lifting and the HOBBS is better at lowering.
- Location
- Chardon, OH
@Jonny Click on the "Watch on U-Tube" line.
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Chris Schultz
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- Minturn
@Jonny not sure why when I copy and paste the link it shows that, but if you click on the underlined “watch on YouTube” it should open the video (it did for me at least)
Muggs
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Canuckistan
https://tcimag.tcia.org/tree-care/tips-and-best-practices-for-using-lowering-devices/
In my opinion, the Harken winch on the GRCS is a hell of a lot stronger than people give it credit for. We have a tendency to see it as this fancy and slightly delicate thing (it is very expensive after all) but in reality it is nearly bomb proof. Watch some of Greg's old videos and see how hard he is on it, dropping big wood into it.
"Don't use it for big negative rigging, but, we broke 3/4" ropes repeatedly on it, with no damage to the winch... '
In my opinion, the Harken winch on the GRCS is a hell of a lot stronger than people give it credit for. We have a tendency to see it as this fancy and slightly delicate thing (it is very expensive after all) but in reality it is nearly bomb proof. Watch some of Greg's old videos and see how hard he is on it, dropping big wood into it.
"Don't use it for big negative rigging, but, we broke 3/4" ropes repeatedly on it, with no damage to the winch... '
Shadowscape
Been here a while
- Location
- far north
I'm a Hobbs fan. GRCS is probably nice if you do a lot of lifting, but I don't lift wood that often to justify getting one when the Hobbs does everything I need it to do. I guess it boils down to what you intend to use it for mostly. Lifting or lowering. If I need to lift wood, I normally have a winch with me, or two.
chris_girard
Branched out member
- Location
- Gilmanton, N.H.
Agreed
Muggs
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Canuckistan
Matias
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Butte County
That is an impressive amount of cranking power with that big wrench.
Muggs
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Canuckistan
Not a realistic test by any means but very impressive. Would have liked to see a block 50 ft up, run the rope up and back down to the load cell at the base of the tree. 100 ft of rope in the system would be a good test.
I had the volvo video mixed up with a rigging rings video, or is there more than one drop a volvo video?
My thoughts are respect the ratings because they build in reliability in the face of metal fatiguing cracking etc. Melting ropes/smoke now that's a sign.
The HSE report really clued me in to reducing -ve rigging force peak spikes. Hint let anchors slip a bit. Also beautiful shots of sling leg angles loaded! You could see the friction induced arc shape too.
My thoughts are respect the ratings because they build in reliability in the face of metal fatiguing cracking etc. Melting ropes/smoke now that's a sign.
The HSE report really clued me in to reducing -ve rigging force peak spikes. Hint let anchors slip a bit. Also beautiful shots of sling leg angles loaded! You could see the friction induced arc shape too.
flushcut
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Delavan, WI
IDK the GRCS fits my market very well
Things i have learned after owning both-
1. The Hobbs is a fucking beast at pulling/lifting, and the findings in the Zaccheus video supports this idea. Hopefully the vid will put to rest the regurgitation of this false notion the the Hobbs is somehow lacking in the pulling/lifting department.
2. The Hobbs is a better device for negative rigging big wood, and heavy lowering in general
3. The Hobbs wins in the durability/longevity department by a wide margin..My original Hobbs from the 80's is still in service in the Truckee/Tahoe area and still taking decades of abuse in stride...My old GRCS on the other hand is spending the rest of it dayz as part of an art installation somewheres in northern New Mexico. Viva LA Hobbs!
4. The Hobbs can seamlessly go from negative rigging a huge log to lifting that huge log without the need to swap out parts/bits & bobs. And no need for an entire thread on how to store all those bits and bobs.
flushcut
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Delavan, WI
Having owned both myself the GRCS wins usability in my market. As for lifting put a four foot handle on the GRCS and run the same test. The HOBBS is good no doubt.
Serf Life
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Maine Island
How many threads has this been in? No problem with it, buncha gear heads, like the mini vs art loader or 1vs2 bridges or which lift… We neg rig as little as possible, and do comparatively light weight but frequent lift and drops. Multi trunk pines/maples being most common where leads are rigged whole, and occasional long lift storm damage with tons of cranking.
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