Low impact Residential Machines????????????

[adronetree]

Ok guys I need your experience on this one but I'm afraid your answers will be what I already assume.
We have always done jobs with a chipper and tracked bobcats with grapple. Dragging/carrying the logs to the street with the bobcat and either dragging/carrying the brush to the street or pushing the chippers around on the job with the bobcat and chipping on site.

I've been looking for a solution to the yard damage problem for many years now. I live in Norway half the time and I've discovered all these mini forwarders like the Alstor 8x8, Woodtiger, etc. I've also been looking at machines like the Iron Horse and the Taurus Oxen.
They use these machines in northern Europe and I have yet to see a Bobcat in Norway. They are cutting their logs shorter than we do back home though.

The big question is will any of these machines pull a ply log out of a yard on residential work in the states? At 17'5" and 10 inch - 28 inch diameter are any of these machines capable of doing the job if the homeowner insists on minimal yard damage? I'm thinking none of them can pull that much and if we cut them shorter then they are hard to get rid of if they are pines or poplar.
Heres a good link to some of the choices out there:
http://www.gosta-gustafsson.se/Skogsmaskiner.htm

If the ones I have mentioned won't pull it then do you guys know of any machine that will?? Anybody have any of the machines I've mentioned? Anyone have a magical solution?

Thanks,
A

 

[Bearcreek]

Get a tractor with a front loader or articulating loader. Something that doesn't steer by "skidding" the tires. Those machines from Europe may be good but I'm guessing repairs and maintenance would be ridiculously expensive. I've seen a few of them at trade shows and they didn't look capable of moving the size wood that we work with anyway. They're primarily designed for forwarding 8"-20" pine logs it seems like, not 28"-48" maple like we get all the time. Your situation may be different though.

 

[timmcat]

You could add a skidding arch to your team then there would just be tire tracks across the yard.
All of the Iron horses I've seen around here are used in Walnut pruning operations where they need the low speed and flotation of the tracks to be able to work through the winter. Most of the tree services also process firewood so they aren't to concerned with long pieces.

 

[adronetree]

Get a tractor with a front loader or articulating loader. Something that doesn't steer by "skidding" the tires. Those machines from Europe may be good but I'm guessing repairs and maintenance would be ridiculously expensive. I've seen a few of them at trade shows and they didn't look capable of moving the size wood that we work with anyway. They're primarily designed for forwarding 8"-20" pine logs it seems like, not 28"-48" maple like we get all the time. Your situation may be different though.

Yes we have tried A300 all wheel steer bobcats and tractors/ articulated loaders before. They do work well not damaging the yard but they dont have the traction the T300's have.
Up hills or while its wet is no good and equals almost the same amount of damage to the yard under any condition but dry.
Now if a tractor or Bobcat had 8 wheel drive and flotation tires then maybe it would rarely slip and tear the ground up??? I dunno

 

[Zale]

You need to get in contact with the legendary Aerial Mason. He has the perfect solution.:msp_wink:

 

[jefflovstrom]

You need to get in contact with the legendary Aerial Mason. He has the perfect solution.:msp_wink:

I saw this thread and knew someone would say it! LOL!
Jeff

 

[no tree to big]

You need to get in contact with the legendary Aerial Mason. He has the perfect solution.:msp_wink:

but you would have to cut everything to 3 feet to fit in the slip... I shoulda videoed it but my $300 lawn tractor from 20 years ago can pull my 5x8 utility trailer with 12-1500 pounds of wood on it through the yard just fine gotta pull a bit of a wheelie to get goin but once your rolling your good to go I have even more faith in the Wheel Horse I got from the elderly lady next door in trade for about a $450-500 removal I said I'd do it for free but she kept sayin she would pay me... I had mentioned I needed to get a new rider cause the deck is falling apart on mine and she cant get on this one to mow so now its in my shed

ok now back on track I think the best bet would be to get a log arch and your choice of whatever smaller turf friendly machine

 

[Saw Dust Smoken]

machine to move logs

Most tree biz use 4x8 sheet of plywood. Most mini machines can run and turn on 4x8 sheets. No need to be on grass or soft lawns. With pallet fork for log. The 28" to 48" log can be moved in fair sized pieces. 1000 to 1200 lbs... and load machine on the 1-ton for drive home.

 

[Saw Dust Smoken]

load and go

Load for home!

 

[adronetree]

Plywood?

Most tree biz use 4x8 sheet of plywood. Most mini machines can run and turn on 4x8 sheets. No need to be on grass or soft lawns. With pallet fork for log. The 28" to 48" log can be moved in fair sized pieces. 1000 to 1200 lbs... and load machine on the 1-ton for drive home.

Well we've been doing the plywood deal for years.

 

[adronetree]

Most tree biz use 4x8 sheet of plywood. Most mini machines can run and turn on 4x8 sheets. No need to be on grass or soft lawns. With pallet fork for log. The 28" to 48" log can be moved in fair sized pieces. 1000 to 1200 lbs... and load machine on the 1-ton for drive home.

Yeah I have been doing the plywood deal for years. Get tired of dragging the stuff around.

View attachment 232049

 

[flushcut]

Have you looked into ASV RC50 or 30 with turf tracks? They may be available over the pond. I have been using a Vermeer s800tx with minimal damage from the lug imprint but you must be mindful of your turning or otherwise it gets ugly. The machine has really impressed me as far as mud (spring thaw slop) and snow traction and flotation and if it is really bad or the HO is picky I lay down plywood.

 

[KenJax Tree]

We have a Kubota R420S front loader with grapples on the bucket

 

[Saw Dust Smoken]

machine to move logs

Looks like 3 sheets wide? How big a machine you running? For a mini the single sheet end to end works just fine. For most jobs just the gate or hi traffic area is sheeted. If the customer is real picky. The price will match that. Moving sheets is a lot less work than moving logs all day by hand!

 

[Bigus Termitius]

You need to get in contact with the legendary Aerial Mason. He has the perfect solution.:msp_wink:

What do you mean contact, this is aerial mason. He's got to be the only one on the planet that believes dual flotaion tires gives you "8 wheel drive."

 

[cory nicols]

I use a model 2000 swinger articulating loader with a rotating bypass grapple and turf tires, for my work it is amazing. Drags brush, feeds chipper, has a great height and lift capacity. I have owned a vermeer mini skid, and i would never go back. I know everyones application and work areas are different but for my business it has been remarkable. This may not help answer your question but i have been wanting share my experience. Good luck.

 

[Saw Dust Smoken]

size

The swinger weights? Height and length? I missed a Gelh 20 articulate by one day. Having both would be sweet!

 

[adronetree]

Looks like 3 sheets wide? How big a machine you running? For a mini the single sheet end to end works just fine. For most jobs just the gate or hi traffic area is sheeted. If the customer is real picky. The price will match that. Moving sheets is a lot less work than moving logs all day by hand!

Well Sawdust that job picture was a plywood setup for the Chip/Log truck, T300, 6 ton excavator, and a Bandit 1590 chipper to enter and exit the back yard. It was a double pool dig after about a 40 tree removal with no front yard damage:msp_smile:
We have a commercial roofer who sells us removed 3/4 plywood for around 2 dollars a sheet. We buy hundreds of sheets at a time. Found him on craigslist.
If we were ever busy enough I'd have to go and buy a truck just haul plywood though:bang: