Skidder help

[BargeMonkey]

 Depends on the rubber and axles. Narrow rubber and narrow axles makes for a tippy machine. If it was my choice I would go 240, youve got just enough machine to get alot done without being super huge either. A 453 isnt that bad on fuel, I have a 353 in my forwarder and she will go 3 days on a tank holding 20 gallons.

[timberjack26]

You need 230a or 240a. ...great for hills....all around good machine

[BEEMERS]

Welcome to the Forum EFR!..Let me throw out another option It may not be what you want or maybe it wont work in your application but have you considered a forwarder? They should be a bunch in your price range.Yes they have limitations but have you thought about it?

Check out my post from a month ago..I think it s titled" Logging this winter" or something like that.I too log in the winter and I use a forwarder and a dozer for a skidder.I know that in a lot of ways the dozer is a compromise over a skidder..but I already own it.It has a lot of other uses though I don't need to point out what.
Dozer is bad in the woods without enough snow to keep your tracks out of the dirt but I don't use it until I get the right amount of snow...which doesn't take long in Northern Michigan.Dozers bad on any long pull but I skid to small landings and use the forwarder from there.
Ok so I guess Im saying because you log in window consider a dozer IF you can make it pay with its wide range of other work options the rest of the year.
Consider a forwarder IF you have reasonable terrain and if you can buy it right.its nice that your not dragging anything if you do something not in winter..and it can load trailers and stack and do it all.
Not saying either option is better or maybe even as good as a skidder,just trying to broaden your range of options

[nastcat]

I own a little over a hundred acres and cut firewood for me and some of my family. I have been thinking the same thing that Beemer expressed the whole time I was reading this thread. A forwarder seemed to be a very good option. I have a old cobbled together S8 international and as old Iron mule. I find that I hardly ever need the S8, the Iron mule is just about as easy to maneuver it the woods and it will skid out a pretty hefty log. That little three cylinder perkins is very easy on the fuel.

[EFR]

Everyone, thanks for the help.  It is truly appreciated.  I was hoping to look at a machine this weekend, but can't get the gentleman to return my call.  Maybe its sold already.

Bemers and Nastcat:

I never really considered a forwarder for a couple of reasons:  First, more to go wrong.  I borrowed a forwarder from a friend when I was clearing a house lot.  Decent machine, but sooo much more to go wrong (hoses, parts, grapples, etc).  The second reason is the way I cut.  I have an outside boiler and when I cut, I take the whole tree out with the exception of under 2-2.5" branches.  I bring the hitch in front of the stove, cut off everything under +/- 3.5-4", then drag the hitch to the woodpile and limb it an cut it straight, then stack.  The small stuff I mix in with seasoned wood (keeps the woods clean and makes good coals at same time).  I don't think a forwarder would fit in as well.

[EFR]

Here's a picture of the crew.  Don't get much work out of them, but they're fun to be around.

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