Iron Horse - Anybody got one?

[fattyphatcakes]

I've meen eyeing this machine for a while. Seems like it would really make us more productive on projects in the foothills. Anybody here have or used one?

http://www.tiltonequipment.com/Jonsered/Tilton_Jonsered_iron_horse_lpage.html

How do they do on steep nasty slopes?

 

[fattyphatcakes]

could is it for this too

 

[treeman82]

I've always wondered how useful those things actually are compared to what they cost. Figure you could do a lot of work with a skid steer (tracked or wheeled) or you could do a lot of work (and have a bunch of fun) with an ATV pulling some form of trailer.

 

[fattyphatcakes]

We called the dealer in Idaho and it sounds like around $10.5k. It looks like it would work well in the mountains, get into tight spots and rough terrain with out tearing up groundcover too much.

I found a thread where jamie had one in his list-o-stuff.

It would be fun to have an atv, but I've had several jobs where it would have been just too steep.

 

[JJackson]

The same price I found looking around the internet. Think it would be good for a small wood lot or areas where you had to move a lot of material across long property. with the add on wheel thing you could haul a long log with little effort.

 

[fattyphatcakes]

I thought it might be fun to put a lawn tractor blade on it to plow driveways and sidewalks. Could also use it to haul mulch, compost, etc to difficult access areas. Maybe this is something I run into more often than most. Seems like a good tool, but I haven't heard of many people using it.

 

[Froggy]

We use one it's great. A real back saver. Excellent log puller in tight places. Well worth 10.5Ks.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Wow! :alien:

It's really worth it? And actually functional?

 

[DDM]

How about one of these less than 2K

http://www.countryhomeproducts.com/...Mode=0&BC=0:Home|3:Powerwagon2Step&LinkType=3

 

[Nickrosis]

I never cared for the DR products...don't seem commercial grade.

What's the GMC tag line.... "We are professional grade" ....still trying to figure out what that actually means.

 

[fattyphatcakes]

If your working on a 30-40% grade, I don't think that thing will cut it. Or in snow.

Inadequate tools make me furious

I'd like to know how that iron horse does skidding logs up hill. That's 90% of the reason I want it.

Oh, 30-40% is professional grade.

 

[jamie]

aye

we have one and its great, he have a basket on the top, undo the ratchet and the crane picks it up, whacks it off the side of the 20m cube trailer and the bottom falls out and empties itself.....great.

ours is a bit more battered than tha one though....

well worth it

jamie :evil

 

[IndyIan]

I've used my atv for a bit of logging, it works well on a 30-40% grade. As long as your going downhill (is a 40% grade a 22° angle?)

My thinking is that if you are working on 40% grades alot how much pulling capacity does anything have left after it hauls itself up the hill? My atv can skid about 800lbs on flat trail, going up 22° it might do half that. Would a capstan winch be better? Maybe with tracks pulling power doesn't drop off so fast?

Ian

 

[Al Smith]

Pretty neat machine.

Sounds like it would work well,if you wanted to lay out 10 grand.How much does it wiegh?I normally,drag them out with a tractor.If they are real big,I use the old cat.

 

[glens]

Ian,

I believe 40% grade would be 18°; 45° being 100% (1 foot rise/fall in 1 foot distance).

22° ÷ 45° = 0.49 [49%]

Glen

 

[Scars2prove-it]

No one uses them around here. A lot of companies use Toro Dingo's because they can load trucks with them. They swear it's one of the best tools they've bought.

 

[Nickrosis]

I'd like to hear from someone who has both Dingos (Dingoes?) and skid-steer loaders, with lots of attachments for all, to see what they prefer to use.

It seems people move to Dingos and graduate to loaders.

 

[fattyphatcakes]

Yeah, I've been looking at the capstan winch as well. Definately a cheaper option that will do much of what I need. Likely to buy that before dropping 10k on the horse. Sometimes we have worked on 100% grades. Getting the logs uphill wasn't a practical option. A portable winch would probably get the job done if if had to be. My biggest concern is tearing up the hillside, that is very important to many of my customers. Low impact is a priority, what other options are there?

 

[Froggy]

The iron horse is well worth it if you can make your money back with it. It pulls logs excellent and huge piles of brush. Takes the work out of those big jobs. There for making you more money off the job in the long run. I've always believed you have to have the best equipment for your company, but you have to stay with in your proffit level. Spending money to make money is the way it usualy works. If your truely interesed in this piece of equipment you should get one from the place you can purcase one and try it out. See if it's going to make you money and take the work out of work.
BB

 

[IndyIan]

How about a real horse? If you can find a local horse logger that is interested in smaller jobs it may be the cheapest option. Also some of your environmentally aware customers may be impressed?
A single horse would go alot of places an iron horse couldn't fit as well with less damage. Short skid lengths is what they like though. I think they are around $70-80 an hour for a team.

Ian