Skidder or Tractor

[terry f]

   Thinking about getting one or the other. What I need to do I could get by with a small 4WD tractor, but for half the price I could get a retired skidder. How much life could you expect on one that is running and seems in good shape? I'm talking about sending it to the old foiks home where it will probably run less than 100hrs a year of light duty. Some of the prices I've seen are not much more than scrap or parts, and less than a atv. The tractor I would have to trailer home as my place is somewhat remote, but the skidder I would just leave there.

[thecfarm]

I could use both a skidder and a tractor,but I would not want just a skidder for what I do around here with it. I use the loader on the tractor alot. Right now I'm hauling away a stone wall with it. I dig dirt up in one area and move it to fill up rocks holes are to level a place out.A tractor leaves a much smaller foot print in the woods,but a skidder is safer and made to work in the works. With an older skidder you will have break downs too. A skidder will make faster work of getting the wood out,less trips to be made.

[JDeere]

I have both a skidder and a tractor with a winch and that is a tough call. If you are only cutting for your own use and enjoyment, I would probably go with the tractor. As the cfarm said, there is a lot you can (and will) do with it beyond skidding wood. Don't just let the initial cost determine what you do. Tractors are relatively cheap to run and maintain whereas a skidder can become very expensive very fast if you have a major breakdown. Production wise there is no comparison, as the skidder will pull circles around the tractor. Good luck with your decision. Let us know what you decide.

[WH_Conley]

thecfarm covers it pretty good. I use my tractor and loader every day I do anything. I winch logs with it, handle pallets, around mill and on the farm. I would like to have a skidder to. You would have to look at which one you would use the most.

I don't know your neighborhood, might give vandals a thought before leaving machinery any place.

[Peter Drouin]

the loging I do is on my own land, and im never in a hurry I have made roads here and there on it. A skidder would be faster but I like my JD , with the walasten 1200 it will pull any tree I want or 2. but I don;t want break it so I go lite and often

  

  and the cab is nice you just cant go crazy like you do with a skidder

[Ironwood]

Not sure what I envy more the tractor or the shed!

 Nice, Ironwood

[terry f]

    Thanks for the replys. This might be a stupid question, but is it possible or have seen a snowblower mounted on a skidder? Nice setup Peter, but way out of my price range. I agree on the shed.

[Ironwood]

You would likely need to drive the blower by hydrauli,c which does rob some HP. But that said it should work, most skidders should be 45-100HP.

Ironwood

[Maine372]

ive never seen a skidder with a snowblower but lots of guys have found a way to hook up old state plows to  push roads open. some sort of temporary mount like the snow pushers they use on parking lots.

[gspren]

  Many years ago near Patton, Maine I saw a huge snowblower with a 4 cyl Wisconson engine on it that was mounted on a skidder. I didn't see it in action but it looked impressive.

[redneck]

I can't stop looking at that shed nice job!!

[Holmes]

I can't stop looking at that shed nice job!!

I think his saw mill is on the other side of the tractor. That is a very nice shed.

[grassfed]

I farm and I have 4 tractors and a 501 farmi. For logging I have two skidders (one for parts/backup). I hate running my tractors in the woods! I have a 100 hp SAME tiger that would probably out pull my 440B in a contest but it gets too beat up in the woods and it does not turn as well. I might be the problem or maybe it is my rocky woods but it is hard on the tractors. I think that Peter might be able handle that JD in the woods, but if it was me that beautiful Deere would be a pile of junk in a week.   

[chevytaHOE5674]

If you want a machine that was designed to pull wood then no tractor can compare to a skidder. Skidders are designed to be used and abused in the woods and keep on ticking.  They have the tires and underbody protection to handle constant use in the woods.

If you want a machine that can do hundreds of tasks from brush hogging, FEL work, plowing, discing, as well as pull some wood then a tractor is a good alternative. You have to be more careful with them as they just aren't designed to be worked in the woods constantly. But they will get the wood out if your not interested in all out production.

[Peter Drouin]

My sawmill is on the other side  holmes:D    

  

  and grassfed I am real carefull with JD cost to much                    

[mad murdock]

I have used tractors, cats(dozers, and skidders in the woods.  I would take a skidder any day over any of the above, as it can handle the abuse, even if you take it easy, you will ding up a tractor sometime, it will just happen.  A used skidder would be my choice, especially if you are talking about 100 hrs a year in the woods.  Don't sound like much but it will be the difference between joy and misery for every hour you put in on the machine, IMO.  I use mine for pushing dirt and snow as well as pushing logs up into a nice deck, and even moving logs around with the blade and a chain. (grab hooks welded to the blade in strategic locations are REAL handy).  The winch on the skidder can be used in many ways, especially if you have a snatch block some extra cable and chain, etc.  (though you can do this with a tractor winch too.) If your terrain is at all hilly, the skidder will be more stable on uneven ground as well.

[Peter Drouin]

your right madmurdock and with a skidder you don;t have to worry about the winch being ripped off the 3 pont hich

[Side loader]

Excellent advice and I too like the shed.  Been tractor logging for a couple of years now and today brought home a jd540d grapple skidder.  We have managed to break 2 valve stems had a flat on a rear tire, broke the center link not to mention the Broke fender, blinker ect. All in the past month or so  We've been moving about 50 tons a day with a 50 horse Kubota. It will work, BUT a tractor will be abused and a skidder should not, as a forestry machine is it's designed purpose. My advice would be if you are truly "pitle logging" then a tractor might work. But a skidder is by far the most logical choice for moving a greater volume of wood. Hope it works out for ya.

[Piston]

I'm surprised more people don't use/recommend the Kioti Payeur forester?  I think that would be my ideal smalltime logging setup, however I have no experience on them and have never seen one in person. 

I believe I would prefer a front end loader with grapple attachment for the woods over the small straight blade it comes with though. 

I think Woodmills has one of these, or had one? 

Peter,
Please stop posting pictures of that shed/mill/tractor setup you have.  It's just cruel    Your driving me crazy!   

[thecfarm]

What I'm more surprised is Peter has not broken the glass out of that tractor. That tractor should pull some wood.I only have a 40hp and can go good with that,but looks to be 50 or 60hp?