I don't have a lot of knowledge about Tigercat machines, but have worked some loggers that run them and speak highly of them...Big downside on the skidders (or upside depending on your circumstances and perspective) is hydrostatic transmissions...they aren't nearly as fast on long drags with good skid roads as say, John Deere skidders. And fuel consumption seems to be a lot higher for the guys running Tigercat skidders. There knucklebooms are certainly growing in popularity, and I believe it is he 720 feller buncher is one of the most popular cutters around, never here anything bad about them and seem to do great for pine thinnings and such. We run a 848 John Deere, and its plenty fast, brings a monster load, and is not bad on fuel (replaced a 648 and 548 with the one skidder, doesn't seem to really burn much more than he 648). Now the 648 was direct drive and the 848 has torque converter, so u lose a lot of that wheel spin that was present with the smaller skidders, and with 35.5 tires it isn't burning fuel spinning, it moves things.
