new guy looking for advise

[c_silva88]

ok so heres is my back story i've been doing firewood with my uncle and grandfather since i was 8. when i turned 16 i started working for my cousins company full time till we had a disagreement 5 years ago since then i've been with one other tree company and most recently worked at  a local scrap yard till i realized the woods is where i wanna be. right now my set up is i have a 96 f-superduty 8 foot dump a ms290 (all i could afford at the time). right now i'm getting my wood out by dropping the trees in the wood 16ing them and loading them in a trailer i tow behind my bronco 2. now the set up is working but it takes almost 3 trips to get a cord out. i have the chance to buy a homemade skidder from a friend that needs the winch hooked up and a few finishing touches for 500, or buy a neighbors treefarmer c4 for 5000.  right now i'm going to look at a  044 and 038 for 400which if are in good shape ill be buying . right now i'm getting roughly 10 cords out but i'm always falling behind on my orders due to not being able to get the wood out at a faster pace. i knew starting out i was gonna have to find a better method of pulling wood out but i'm leery on what route to should i go for the skidder or try to keep using the bronco till i save enough to buy a real skidder?

[barbender]

I'd say if you KNOW you have enough firewood orders to pay for a skidder on a short term note, it may be one route to go. I'd go for the C4 and skip the home brew personally. Actually, as I work in a large cut to length logging operation and watch all the wood we leave laying on the ground, I think an ATV and an arch like a logrite would be slick for cleaning up to utilize all the firewood left in our slash. I think one would work slick for low impact firewood removal, cleaning up snags etc. I wouldn't be surprised if a guy could get out 3-4 cords a day, whether or not that is enough production for you I don't know. Sometimes the bigger equipment can be too much if you are trying to leave a light footprint.

[clww]

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, c_silva88!

[treefarmer87]

welcome to the forum. Get the c4. it will be a big change and  speed up production. the treefarmers are a great skidder.

[thecfarm]

That skidder should do what you want. Are you going to sell logs too? Welcome to the forum.Or is firewood worth more than logs now? By the way,how are you splitting the wood? and loading your truck?

[c_silva88]

i havent been selling logs im planning on it in the near future as far as splitting my grandfather lets me use his splitter for 2 days for a cord of green blocks and i load it by hand i dont mind giving him the wood cause 1 it saves me time and 2 it helps him out if only he would d let me use his jd 440 lol.

[mad murdock]

If grandpa has a JD440, swing a deal with him for that! Would be the best fit IMO for what you describe of your current operation. The treefarmer is a good machine as well, if you buy the JD you can keep it in the family. Welcome to the Forestry Forum, and definately don't overlook the used saw market, I have increased my saw inventory by 8 saws this year, and have only paid a grand total of 30.00. Most saws if they got compression and spark just need a good cleaning, looking over, new carb kit and spark plug, retune and cut wood!

[logman81]

Hey c silva88 welcome to the forum. What part of exeter are you from? Where is that c4 located I'm looking into getting a smaller skidder and selling mine. I also have a tractor with winch and it works good for firewood. It has a grapple bucket to pile logs or load a truck or trailer as well just my 2 cents! Keep in touch neighbor!

[logman81]

Their is also a small 205 timberjack in exeter off rte 2 near the plaza in the gravel bank. It has been sitting there for awhile but might be just the ticket if you don't get the tf. It's old but I know the guy that owns it and it has been totally gone through. If your interested I can get you his # he may be willing to sell it.