taff

Hi Sheppy1, I have a MB Trac 1300, its very tidy has forestry guarding and a Werner 10 ton double drum remote comtrolled winch on the back, im thinking of selling, if you re interested click on search on arbtalk and type in MB Trac 1300 skidder for pics and comments!

A 540b that takes me back, not long after I started on the timber I was pole lenghthing for Andrew Mcfee who had one of those skidders and it was brilliant. Bit of an update I ve sourced an 860 which from the pics looks a maybe, I ve driven an 840s2 and an 840.4 both superb but never an 860 looks very big! I feel its definitely worth viewing. It s a black cab is yours?

Erase those thoughts Chris! I use to fell for a kockums in 1989/90 it was hopeless then and unlike fine wine I doubt age will have enhanced it!! Ours had the ability to breakdown on the low loader!!

Interesting big bolt, What model of loading shovel is that? Your ground conditions look very good might be more challenging if its heavy and wet?

Looking for a long term solution really, thanks Kernow

Hi Luftwaffe, Sounds like you have a grapple skidder, what is it mate? They re hard to find in the uk especially for sale! You never know how long you ll have to extract your produce but in my experience its getting further every year! I'm very nervous of those older forwarders, the potential repair costs put me right off, rightly or wrongly. What do you forward with?

Anyone still using a volvo bm loading shovel? If so how do you rate it and what are the pro's and con's?

Hi Luftwaffe, You re right, the issues you ve highlighted are hurdles that have stopped me going ahead with it! But what s the alternative, a tractor/crane trailer will not handle the size of timber we are often in or travel the heavy clay ground in wet weather.

Hi all, Looking to pick your brains! We are a small hand cutting team, felling and extracting hardwood(the bigger the better!). Skidding out the butts leaving the less glamorous job of clearing up the tops. Here lies the problem, I cant justify or afford a large purpose built forwarder. Anybody out there using or know of any alternatives? I ve spent twelve months chewing over the idea of a 13ton excavator with a rotator and timber grab on the end of it. Perhaps pulling the tops together with it then cutting them up and loading a drag trailer which can be pulled with the mb trac. I d then have to track to roadside to unload trailer, not perfect but a possible solution? Any ideas? Cheers

You ve absolutely sold that to me! I thought of dropping air in take down to top of bonnet and sweeping the exhaust back and fixing to brash bars but your way is the neatest. Does the exhaust cause any noise or vibration issues when fixed to cab?

Hi, that's a lovely 1500. I'd love to relocate my air in take and exhaust like that but for now I'll go careful! Got to earn some before any more can go out! I think that I could get more speed but 50k is comfortable, yes while she was at Alex Prices the boys opened up eighth gear, makes a big difference!

Yes Mike that's what i'll do, I ve got some BIG lumps to move first. So hooking the yellow hooks back onto the rope will work lovely for now. I ll have to get some fairly hefty choker chain cause these winches will pull!

Yes I did consider a purpose built in fact mid build I almost had another change of mind! If your sole use is timber skidding then its probably a no brainer especially with the addition of a grapple but I just felt the flexibility of the mb won the day. Purpose built units generally have single drum winches and are not remote controlled, they are pivot steered which I personally dont love and sourcing a good one for sale in the uk appeared tricky. The werner winch on mine is driven off the N16 pto so I still have the option to attach things to the reduntant rear pto shaft, I could also pull a forwarding trailer with the mb, driving the crane pump off the pto, its reverse drive so that may also prove advantageous on occasion too. Finally I can travel from site to site at 50k saving low loader cost.

Good advice, thanks for the heads up luftwaffe.