Berfor Forcat 2000

[Coon]

 Bunny what is the ground clearance on the J5??  Just curious for comparrison sake.  Just working on the plans for my machine and am thinking of about 12-14 inches ground clearances as we do have some rough terrain out this way.

Are the wheels on the J5 off centered in the tracks or not.  I have seen some of the groomers and other tracked vehicles that way.  Alos how wide are they?  I am using 18 inch wide on my unit.

[sprucebunny]

Coon, the J5 has about 11" of ground clearance and symetrical tracks that are 16.5" wide.
I'd guess that the ground pressure was 2.5 psi, similar to the Scout. That's heavy for a 'snowcat' and it will need packed trails to work efficiently in snow. Of course, more ground pressure equals greater traction and pulling ability.

This is an early machine and originally had a light weight body/hull made of 1/16th " steel. Later models had a heavier body. Someone had gone over the center tub of mine with 1/4" steel. They had not armoured the differential housing at the front and I had to have that fabricated because it leaked so bad.

[Coon]

The ground pressure on my unit will be considerably lower than 2.5 psi when empty.  I don't have a clue as to what it will have with a load on.  Guess time will tell.  I redid some of the plans last night and I will have 13 inches of ground clearance.

[jim king]

Here is what I think is my solution to bringing out 200 pound cants  8 foot long about 5 to 8 miles now.  I got two small ones that will carry a ton a peice and a larger one that carries 2.5 ton.  We are just finishing building what we call a road and it is all done with pick and shovel for dirt moving and chainsaw for bridge building.  The three tracked tractors cost $10,000 for the group and needed very little fix up but a lot of paint and sanding.  Here are some photos.  If the bridges look crooked it is because they are.  We built them this way so a wheeled vehichle cannot enter as that is when the stealing and problems start.

[Don K]

That's alot of work by hand. Kinda reminds me of all the tunnels, trails, and roads the Viet Cong built during the 50's and 60's.

Don

[thecfarm]

Looks good.Glad you posted jim.The picture with the man on the bridge I noticed a foot path beside the bridge on the right?Was there some timbers layed down before to walk on before?What are you needing a bridge for in the same picture?From the angle there does not appear to be a stream or anything there.I know it was needed or you would not of built it.How many more bridges were needed.Lots of work,but lots of wood that can be removed.I would like to see more pictures and stories when you get going.

[twobears]

 is this the same group that was in the sawmill/woodlot mag??

 delbert

[jim king]

Thecfarm:  The footbridge laying along side the bridge we are building on this site was there for foot traffic as this area is a bog.  In total we have 17 bridges in about 5-6 miles with the biggest being about 33 feet long and 10 feet high.

twobears:  Yes the story in Sawmill and Woodlot is about us.

[sprucebunny]

Jim, those carrier/dumps look like a great multi purpose tool for you. I considered them myself but they cost about twice as much here and they couldn't tow much weight.

I hope you will post some more pictures of your track-friendly trails and crossings. Keeping wheeled vehicles out of my land is a problem, as well.