grapple conversion?

[treefarmer87]

was toying with the idea of converting the c6 into a grapple skidder,but i dont want to mess up a good cable machine ??? if i did put a grapple on it, i am going to buy a buncher.

[Woodhauler]

Just making more iron to work on!  You get another fuel bill too! Stay with what you got and make a living at it.

[lumberjack48]

tf87 you don't need a grapple skidder, before buying a buncher.

I had a buncher with two cable skidders, a grapple doesn't work good on steep ground or soft ground.

Buy the buncher and see how it goes with just a cable, you'll be surprised. I used the mainline for the first choker, when your wood is piled right thats all you need. I had 4 more chokers to grab stragglers, you always lose a few, even with a grapple.
I found a buncher to be nice in mixed timber where you can't get a full turn of any one species. Its nice to put firewood in one pile, pulp in another, saw bolts and logs in another. Lay a tree cross ways to pile trees on so its easy to slide the cable under, 30 to 60 second hook up.

[Autocar]

 Treefarmer your a young fellow and it sounds like your making a living. I wouldn't live beyond your means give it time and plug along till oppertunity comes a knocking. Thats just my two cents for what its worth  ;)

[treefarmer87]

I believe it would be more trouble and money than its worth, since its a factory cable machine i sould just keep what i have. i am making great money with what i have now

[Ed_K]

 I would wait a little longer before going into much more debt,next 2-3 quarters may get tougher to sell timber.

[lumberjack48]

tf87 i seen a guy that had put a small shear head on his C4 TF cable skidder. This was many yrs ago, he'd shear a bunch, turn around an hook, it really worked out good.

Your C6 would handle a 15" shear head, i would like to see you take some of the danger out of your logging operation. This would be the way to go, shear all the pulpwood an firewood, you could make 2-3 cord piles, this way that C6 would be happy pulling.
I know this is what i would do if i was to start logging. I would load the back tires to get enough weight on the back.
I believe this would make your operation very efficient and take the danger out of felling. Your way to young to end up like me, when you know how to cut the danger down. A small shear head and the mounting wouldn't set you back so far that you couldn't make it.
Think about it, look around for a shear head, the reason i say shear head, very low up keep, shear ground level, dirt has little effect on the blades.

Again something to think about, low cost equipment with high yield

[treefarmer87]

i was thinking the exact same thing lumberjack.

[jd540b]

Treefarmer, I yarded wood with a cable skidder behind my shear for a couple years before I bought a grapple.  Worked out really well.  I have a 105 frankin shear and it really is a good way to go.  Cut 75-80% of trees safely and can put them exactly where you want them.  The only thing with super big hitches (2-3 cds) is you have to get in there to limb them. Better off making 3-5 tree hitches and gather a few up on the way out.

[jd540b]

I'll add one more thing...along with the increased production/efficiency, etc. You also have another piece of equip to move from job to job, another motor to fix/tires/chains/starter, etc. etc. etc. You get the picture.

[treefarmer87]

i know there are pos. and negs. to getting one ???