The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Forestry and Logging => Topic started by: treefarmer87 on May 20, 2011, 02:07:09 PM

Title: 540 G III
Post by: treefarmer87 on May 20, 2011, 02:07:09 PM
this is a really good looking machine. i would love to own one :) is there any differance in production in it and my c5? it is just a little bigger, and only weighs 22,000 lbs

http://www.amcars.cz/?page=iWork/JohnDeere540GIII
Title: Re: 540 G III
Post by: Bobus2003 on May 20, 2011, 05:04:22 PM
Difference in production.. prolly not much.. difference in price.. considerable
Title: Re: 540 G III
Post by: treefarmer87 on May 20, 2011, 06:58:31 PM
it is pretty :D
Title: Re: 540 G III
Post by: bushmechanic on May 21, 2011, 08:34:28 PM
Difference in production-oh yeah just in operator comfort alone. 8)
Title: Re: 540 G III
Post by: Autocar on May 21, 2011, 08:46:53 PM
Nice machine but boy would a guy have a high stress level on those monthly payments especially with the weather we have had for the last five months.
Title: Re: 540 G III
Post by: treefarmer87 on May 22, 2011, 09:34:37 AM
new on machinery trader it ranges from $160-200,000 :o :o :o
Title: Re: 540 G III
Post by: PAFaller on May 23, 2011, 07:34:50 PM
They are big money but guys do buy them. There are some 2 and 3 man crews around here that seem to always be upgrading equipment, and have fairly new stuff, but boy do they work. I would never want to be up against payments and forced to work through weather like we have had this spring. I know the payments come regardless, and maybe if you are contracted to a mill they fix the mess, but I have seen guys working with ruts to the belly pan and beyond. Never quite understood that. Just because the machine will go doesn't mean you should. With that said though there are benefits to new equipment. Most of it has a warranty to cover big stuff in the first couple years, of course operator comfort is a big one, and they almost always start and run well. A three man crew, with one guy cutting, one guy skidding, and one on the landing is a heck of a setup, and if everyone is versed in all the jobs you can really bang some wood out. For crews like that having good running equipment is essential to keep rolling, so many will buy new. Don't know too many one man shows that go out and buy brand new stuff though, thats a lot of iron for one guy to pay off. Maybe if I won the lottery.... ;)
Title: Re: 540 G III
Post by: Bobus2003 on May 24, 2011, 02:16:31 PM
Quote from: PAFaller on May 23, 2011, 07:34:50 PM
They are big money but guys do buy them. There are some 2 and 3 man crews around here that seem to always be upgrading equipment, and have fairly new stuff, but boy do they work. I would never want to be up against payments and forced to work through weather like we have had this spring. I know the payments come regardless, and maybe if you are contracted to a mill they fix the mess, but I have seen guys working with ruts to the belly pan and beyond. Never quite understood that. Just because the machine will go doesn't mean you should. With that said though there are benefits to new equipment. Most of it has a warranty to cover big stuff in the first couple years, of course operator comfort is a big one, and they almost always start and run well. A three man crew, with one guy cutting, one guy skidding, and one on the landing is a heck of a setup, and if everyone is versed in all the jobs you can really bang some wood out. For crews like that having good running equipment is essential to keep rolling, so many will buy new. Don't know too many one man shows that go out and buy brand new stuff though, thats a lot of iron for one guy to pay off. Maybe if I won the lottery.... ;)

A 2 man operation here bought a new 648G III a couple years ago. One guy fells limbs and marks the wood, other skids, bucks and piles. saw this machine for sale at the Deere Dealer so I think they upgraded again:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20739/2610/648GIII_2.JPG)
Title: Re: 540 G III
Post by: treefarmer87 on May 26, 2011, 05:40:14 PM
they are really nice i like the new 548s :)
Title: Re: 540 G III
Post by: jerryatric on May 26, 2011, 09:14:01 PM
Wagner just bought One off a fellow Logger friend, He bought it new in 06 put 1100 hrs on it to pay for it. Sold it for 90k. Funny story when he bought it within 1 hr he had it burried. Never got it stuck again. They make you very lazy in the winter. you don't wanna get out of the cab.