Elmsdown Forestry

As a ex handcutter cant believe the piece rate for chestnut product is so low when the end product is going up in price. Should be a minimum of £15 ton cut stack and run the saw through the top in descent firewood chestnut fencing a good chunk more. A lot of mention of chip being low value but it isn’t, £32 roadside, ok ain’t great but 18-20 ton to cut 6-8 to extract and a token gesture to the land owner. As previously mentioned piece/tonnage rate is the only fair way to work. Over the years I’ve done day works and tonnage and always made more on tonnage with a decent rate and getting on with it. I’ve also employed guys on day works and doesn’t really work out unless it’s the big narly stuff I can’t do with the harvester. Unless the cutters are too notch and get there arse into it it will never pay for anyone no matter how it’s paid out. Margins are just too tight in forestry with the middle man being the top earner for doing the least amount of work. Decent hand cutters are a rare find and undervalued heavily with the skill and knowledge required to go home safe with a sensible income.

think you will find that is Kent!!

If what I was told is true they are nothing but agro, major problem with injectors so engines are now on back order. The hire company who brought my hire truck to me last week after a 2 month old ranger fried it’s battery said they got loads of new transits parked up that don’t run. Enjoying the move to ford!!

Anyone have any experience of using this alternative to diesel? Already seeing the crud build up from the new improved environmental diesel and the GTL is supposed to be the answer.

Stand corrected! After looking through the scale history (tragic I know) tank weight full was 2350kg, dry weight 765kg 1000kg diesel and all the crap in the storage box adds up! But still as said struggles to lift. Pine log 4.9m max lift was 1860kg.

Yeah they are fine cranes not faulting that but 2 4.9m Corsican pine logs where weighing 1350kg on the forwarder scale and x loading was on its limit.

Evening J The cranab on the Komatsu isn’t actually a very powerful crane compared to others on the market. The 1110D/E crane has better lift but is slower through the motions and the Ponsse cranes even more power/lift. Unless you’ve got a power boost on that crane can’t see it lifting any more than my grab tank which when full is 1800kg and the tx really struggles to lift it high enough to slide it between the pins onto the bunk.

Would it not make more sense to put a grapple saw on the TX, more flow and bigger bunk.

Pretty sure it won’t work. Head computer also operates the knives and saw functions. Be less agro to find a decent used grapple saw set up, shear head or even a smaller feller buncher head.

Ive only ever treated pine stumps on fc ground and never been asked to treat spruce on any estates I’ve worked. A lot of people say it’s a waste of time. I hate the stuff and when fc bring it out in 25ltr drums you end up covered in the shite and stink like pig piss for the rest of the day.

Sounds a fair price to me delivered in I know of roadside prices being 60 so not a bad price at all. Does anything go down in price and why should it. Contractors cost go up so products do the same.

On that note the hilux will be up for sale once the ranger turns up. If there’s any interest parties 2015 black invincible truckman s series canopy rear liner and rubber anti slip mat should be approx 105k miles serviced regularly long mot cam belt done 11.5k +vat

Drove the 3.2 ranger wildtrak today. Very impressed. Much better than the hilux and for me felt better than the navara tekna so order one. High spec engine seems good less vibration than the navara and a nice driver position. But as with them all there’s good and bad.

45k for the Amarok is mental money for a work vehicle. If was looking to spend that much would go ranger raptor with the new 10 speed box, but at 49k still a joke to be trashed in the wood. Apparently the x class with the 250bhp engine is brilliant and Merc have ironed out the faults from Nissan.

Navara n-guard definable on my radar along with a 3.2 wildtrak. The 3ltr hilux is a good truck but I do a lot of miles and need the 6 speed box for motorway.

Just took the mk8 invincible X out uncomfortable for me right knee constantly pressing against hard door trim no such Previous model. Each to there own. I was definitely not going to do long journey in that.

Mine is the last of the old shape 3ltr so has been pretty good all round. Reckon the new one isn’t actually as comfortable to drive as the mk7 or the navara.

The only trouble I had was the starter went 3 months ago apart from that never skilled a beat.

Evening, Time to change the 15 plate hilux invincible now for sale. Interested to hear others problems with new hilux and new Navara. Rough mpg Cheers

Roadside ash available on various sites Hampshire/West Sussex. 2.5m length 4-16 inch and 16inch upwards. Can arrange haulage on flats or crane. Sold by the m3/load. Nick 07595290954

Evening J Have a 840tx myself, very capable machine and with the right operator very good over the ground. Just watch out for the pins/bolsters in the racks not Komatsu’s finest quality metal and bend really easily. Check the welds on the bunk extension and if it’s been extended to fit more than 2 bays of 2.7-2.8 stay away as will cause centre joint issues. Beware in stuff like Corsican 2 bays of 2.7 chip can easily be upto 15 ton. Good luck with it.

Evening all. I am looking for transmission pump for fmg 678 anyone know of one out there or donor machine for sale Cheers

Looking for recommendations for a descent work boot. Been wearing airstreams for past 5 years lastest pair worn out now so need to replace with non chainsaw protection boot as hardly ever pick up a saw now. Must be comfortable with toe cap protection and waterproof as will be worn for nearly 10 hours a day.

It only needs a re seal so it’s a easy fix but most want it for 2-3 days.

Evening all, Need a relatively large crane ram repaired in the north Kent area on real quick turnaround anyone recommend hydro places/ag mech that are good. Thanks