Compact fowarder

[Chris Sheppard]

Whilst there is (or was when we had ours) plenty of work around for a small forwarder, I found that it was more hassle than it was worth going out forwarding for others, and I'd definitely not let anyone else drive it.

 

Our last set up was a biggish compact (30odd hp) and three tonne trailer and a few years prior to that I had a 50hp alpine and used to use a 2t trailer behind that.

 

Transport was always a ballache with either as there was no way everything could be got onto site without making two trips or using a truck of some sort.

 

Small gear definitely has it's place, and it is possible to make it pay on certain commercial sites, but it's far too easy to convince yourself that it's worth doing. Fair enough if you've got the work of your own to justify it, but if you need to pimp it out right from the start, then it's a quick way to wear out an expensive machine.

 

That said, I really fancy one of those Malwa forwarder..........

[Gray git]

Alstor is a good machine but I'd not let it out as easy to do a lot of expensive damage quickly if you don't understand the machine.

The market for small machines on site is good round us at the moment as lots of small woodlands are being managed again with having such a good market for biomass grade small timber.

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Whilst there is (or was when we had ours) plenty of work around for a small forwarder, I found that it was more hassle than it was worth going out forwarding for others, and I'd definitely not let anyone else drive it.

 

Our last set up was a biggish compact (30odd hp) and three tonne trailer and a few years prior to that I had a 50hp alpine and used to use a 2t trailer behind that.

 

Transport was always a ballache with either as there was no way everything could be got onto site without making two trips or using a truck of some sort.

 

Small gear definitely has it's place, and it is possible to make it pay on certain commercial sites, but it's far too easy to convince yourself that it's worth doing. Fair enough if you've got the work of your own to justify it, but if you need to pimp it out right from the start, then it's a quick way to wear out an expensive machine.

 

That said, I really fancy one of those Malwa forwarder..........

 

Agree with the malwa and the falcon I've already hinted at. The Vimek / Alstor stuff is just so disproportionately expensive, you've got to have a grant to make it even slightly sensible; and why should the tax payer foot the bill for ill-conceived projects? Far better a Valmet 820 or TJ 810 (I know, I know! they're rare as rocking horse poo); best of both worlds. Not convinced there's a hire market for such tho; call these comments negative as much as you like.

Edited October 4, 2014 by TimberCutterDartmoor

[rovers90]

Agree with the malwa and the falcon I've already hinted at. The Vimek / Alstor stuff is just so disproportionately expensive, you've got to have a grant

 

The Malwa was nice at the APF but it is £170k!!!

[CHC]

Thanks for all your advise would have more work for a compact as have some woodlands to manage and would be able to put other things on it. You are right on hiring it as machine only as it can be a bit of a recking service

[HPCostello]

Agree with the malwa and the falcon I've already hinted at. The Vimek / Alstor stuff is just so disproportionately expensive, you've got to have a grant

 

 

 

The Malwa was nice at the APF but it is £170k!!!

************************************************

The Falcon is €90000 ..... big difference in price to the Malwa!

[PeteB]

Allan Marshal has got the Iron Horse thing now and I always thought that a canny tool for small scale extraction amongst other stuff where access is required to get stuff in or stuff out! Anyone see that at the APF or know how much? Allan did tell me but I forgot.

[oakleaf50]

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