The economics of running an older harvester and forwarder in a farm forest

[chainsawdom]

Sorry to hijack this thread but woodworm was that you on the red harvester near the monumount on the a11 the other day as Iam on a 360 with lancasters back filling the new underpass there and see it working.

[Stephen Blair]

We were in the same situation, older, purpose built harvesters looked cheap but reliability of these machines was always going to be an issue, a new machine is bad enough to up keep! Next option was a 360 excavator set up, this was expensive and still required another outfit for forwarding, luckily David ridings valmet 8400 tractor with botex roof mount and keto head outfit appeared and I have never looked back, harvest for a few days, then throw the head off, grab and trailer on and away you go forwarding, all with the same base unit. Within days, I had contract work coming out my ears to justify buying the machine. Mobilty, low ground pressure and low running costs, couldn't ask for more once the stability issue was over come, still learning!!

 

Pictures would be great, I remember David putting a video of it when he got it.

A roof mount could be used on the OP's farm aswell:thumbup1:

[County 764]

Timberjack 870 for sale, gives an idea of price

 

timberjack 870 For Sale in Mayo : €17,000 - DoneDeal.co.uk

[Melodeon]

Timberjack 870 for sale, gives an idea of price

 

timberjack 870 For Sale in Mayo : €17,000 - DoneDeal.co.uk

 

It was adverts like that (and indeed an earlier iteration of that specific one!) that spurred me to pose the opening questions in the first place!

 

I find myself gravitating towards a midi-digger/stroke head set up at the moment, something along these lines:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXwFxRsNIsM]Kesla 20SH harvesting head on 8 tonne Neuson excavator - YouTube[/ame]

 

Still not 'cheap' by any means, but I'd be getting new equipment (the harvester parts!) and I'd have plenty of work for the digger too.

Edited January 17, 2014 by Melodeon

[County 764]

Ye that sounds like the sensible option. Might be worth a call to Caledonian Forestry Services. Never had dealings with them but I know they put Kesla heads on excavators

[Melodeon]

Ye that sounds like the sensible option. Might be worth a call to Caledonian Forestry Services. Never had dealings with them but I know they put Kesla heads on excavators

 

I've been making enquiries along those lines already!