Would it be expensive to convert my C5 to a grapple skidder? i like the fact of how narrow it is, and how i can go thru the woods in it, and its small enough to be towed behind my topkick also. would i be better off getting another skidder? all the grapple skidders i have seen are way too big for my needs though :(.
I'm sure there out there.. I have seen a few 440's With grapples, and i know of a Grapple assembly thats for my 550G dozer. Similiar size would prolly work
It's not worth the conversion unless you have all the items that you will need.If you have to buy everything then it's going to get expensive because you will need the arch ,grapple,hydraulics,and a good guy at welding.In my opinion it would be better to buy one if you really need one.
this guy knows what he is talking about ....listen to him kid.....besides graples and clutches dont get along
better to buy a purpose built machine. grapples tend to carry the wood higher too, so narrow may not be as beneficial as you think. plus imagine the down time making no money while you try to get your frankenskidder working right.
if a grapple is what you want get one, but dont bugger up that nice treefarmer in the process.
If your machine has the 8 lug axles it will never hold up to a grapple. You would be better off trying to find a 340 timberjack with a grapple there not much bigger than your tree farmer.
A young guy who's working his tail off and always thinking is no kid.
The C5 appears to be the old Garrett 21A and the frame is not heavy enough for standard grapples,however the grapple that Baileys could be mounted on arms with the winch providing the lift, the only bad point the turn cannot be sucked fordward enough but would be ok for lighter turns.
please remember that you can still do excellent work with a little bit larger machine.
It might just take a little different strategy when you lay things out. There were, and still are a lot of folks who run grapple behind hand sawyers (thinning and clear fell) doing very little damage.
i think ill hold off for now, if i do ill buy another skidder :) like this one its not far from me http://www.millardsmachinery.com/10267.jpg
im going to have to go to a deere one day, cause there arent many manufactures out there anymore