New to this have a a few questions for you guys.

[adronetree]

Sorry for the stupid questions in advance just trying to get a better idea of you guys industry here..I have been a tree contractor most of my life but I'm starting some logging work now.
In Georgia/North Carolina on twisty bad mountain roads what would truck owner operators generally charge per 30-35 ton loads to run short distances (10-15 miles) to a log yard?
Assuming I own the log trailers and have a 1 year project steady 6 days a week. I'm not soliciting for business on here but just getting opinions on what the correct numbers should be.

Also wanted to know what you guys think the all around best forwarder would be for the SE mountains? And the best feller machine?

I'm familiar with them all but have little experience with any of them on different terrain, most of my work would be in the mountains now..

Thanks..

 

[bitzer]

Your best feller for steep ground would be a "timber faller". A rare and unusual animal in these mechanized times. He runs a long bar and uses what god gave him to lay out timber. The best forwarder for steep ground has a long cable that you choke your trees with.

Every trucker seems to have their own pay rate system. Per cord and per millage usually up here. That short of a haul up here you'd be in the $2-$250 range. That is for self loaders. Right around $30/cord or $60/mbf.

 

[adronetree]

Your best feller for steep ground would be a "timber faller". A rare and unusual animal in these mechanized times. He runs a long bar and uses what god gave him to lay out timber. The best forwarder for steep ground has a long cable that you choke your trees with.

Every trucker seems to have their own pay rate system. Per cord and per millage usually up here. That short of a haul up here you'd be in the $2-$250 range. That is for self loaders. Right around $30/cord or $60/mbf.

Hmm. Yeah we intend to use saws for now. I guess the main machines would be a few 660s and 395s. Its the only way I have ever done it. Never owned a felling machine. The ground isn't too steep on the job. A yarder is not neccesary on this job I think it would eat up more time than it would save. The few steep spots are easy enough.

I was thinking of a forwarder just because of the distances I have to cover in the bottom of a valley where I might not want to build too much of a road to try to get the trucks that far in. The local yard is by the ton and I didn't plan on using self loading trucks. Wouldn't a self loading truck reduce its payload by a good bit?

 

[4x4American]

we have a bell feller buncher, we don't use it much at all but boss said its pretty good for clearcuts on flat ground, the bosses son is living down in florida now but bossman said his son got to be a real good operator on the bell and it boosted production by a lot..nowadays we dont really use it though.

here's a video of it in action Bell Feller Buncher - YouTube

If you're not that great running it, you can pinch the bar and FSU and pop chains off it and all sorts of bad stuff. Personally I prefer the oldER fashioned chainsaw for falling...not a big fan of that tennis shoe logging stuff

 

[bitzer]

I meant a cable skidder not a high line. The closer you can get the trucks to the wood the more money you are going to make. Long skids kill production in my opinion no matter what you're doing them with. You have to figure out the costs either way, putting a truck road in or skidding. Which one is going to be cost effective and efficient.

 

[echoshawn]

Self-loaders do run at a reduced payload for obvious reasons, and increased price per haul. For a larger job, a separate loader would be the way to go IMO.

The Timbcos that they run around here run on relatively steep ground. If you can run a skidder on it, you can run the Timbco. Most of the guys here run full circle blades instead of the harvester bars.