Flotation Tire ??'s

[Slamm]

I have 540B's and we are currently working some dry bottom ground. It looks like we are going to get another nice job in similar bottoms ground, that for now is dry, but it is fall/winter time and it is going to get wet, which for around here shuts everyone down, as it doesn't quite get cold enough to maintain a good freeze and therefore just thaws out and re-freezes every other day.

Does anyone have some thoughts on good flotation tires for this size skidder. I have almost exclusively worked hill ground, so this flat stuff is nice, but the mud or soft ground is going to be a problem and I want to be ready for it.

My only other help/advice has been a local logger that says he is running John Deere 548's and he bought one set of rice tired type of mud tires and something he calls a "straigh bar'd" flotation tire, and he stated that the flotation tire on those bigger 548's can work, where a man can't walk.

These would be great on my smaller/lighter machines ....... I think.................., but where do you get them and how much are they, anybody have any used ones around?

Anyone have any pics of these type of tires.

I know about the "swamp logger" show, but I don't have a TV or watch TV and therefore have never watched these logging shows to have seen that type of operation.

Thanks,

Sam

 

[hanniedog]

Just to give you an idea we replaced a 30.5 x 32 12 ply combine tire for $2,000. If you go with bigger tires bigger rims will also be needed. Bet you could get close to $10,000 tied up in doing that.

 

[logging22]

Gonna try a set of 18-4 26 rice and canes this year on a 225 timberjack. Think it might work for the soft stuff.

 

[Slamm]

Just to give you an idea we replaced a 30.5 x 32 12 ply combine tire for $2,000. If you go with bigger tires bigger rims will also be needed. Bet you could get close to $10,000 tied up in doing that.

Yeah, that is what this guy was saying, but if it gets me one more winter job or some other wetter jobs they would pay for themselves pretty quickly.

This other logger was saying his bigger machines can go where a man can't walk in the mud so, it sounds like it works.

You have any pics of that size/style of tire?

Sam

 

[Slamm]

Gonna try a set of 18-4 26 rice and canes this year on a 225 timberjack. Think it might work for the soft stuff.

This other logger tried the rice tire setup on the same model skidder and says they don't work near as well as the straight bar, wide tires do, I don't know.

Possibly the rice tires work if there is a bottom to the mudd, but in these creek bottoms and flood ground there isn't a bottom. Just once in a ditch or dryer back water ditch, I spun my regular tires about 2 times and sank to the belly pan, so I don't think rice tires (which are more agressive) would work as they would just get you to the belly pan in 1 full spin not 2, LOL.

At least with the wide flotation tires they would keep you up ontop of the mud .... they may spin a little more, but you aren't going to sink.

Sam

 

[logging22]

This other logger tried the rice tire setup on the same model skidder and says they don't work near as well as the straight bar, wide tires do, I don't know.

Possibly the rice tires work if there is a bottom to the mudd, but in these creek bottoms and flood ground there isn't a bottom. Just once in a ditch or dryer back water ditch, I spun my regular tires about 2 times and sank to the belly pan, so I don't think rice tires (which are more agressive) would work as they would just get you to the belly pan in 1 full spin not 2, LOL.

At least with the wide flotation tires they would keep you up ontop of the mud .... they may spin a little more, but you aren't going to sink.

Sam

Food for thought Sam. Might try a little wider tire if i can find the rims. Those jacks are light, compared to the big Cats and JD's, so thats an advantage for me. Cost isnt really a problem around here. Lots of farmers around with tires. Used, but still good enough to try out. Maybe a set of chains to go with them. What you think?

Les

 

[hanniedog]

Just google firestone tires, their website has a selection feature so you can see what a certain tire looks like. You will definetly have to go with a forestry type tire for the added toughness.

 

[371groundie]

another forum had this discussion recently and one guy was wanting to run dual tires. if one goes flat the other will get you out. then they were talking about running smaller diameter tires on the outside than the inside. that way on hard ground you were only wearing out one set of tires and when you started to sink the smaller tires would help you bite and float.

 

[Slamm]

another forum had this discussion recently and one guy was wanting to run dual tires. if one goes flat the other will get you out. then they were talking about running smaller diameter tires on the outside than the inside. that way on hard ground you were only wearing out one set of tires and when you started to sink the smaller tires would help you bite and float.

Hey, you've mentioned some ideas there worth looking into.

How do/would the duals work in the woods where you are bouncing off of trees and such? Think the "clamps" would hold up to that?

Thanks,

Sam