Hello everyone. My two brothers operate water systems and have some newer trenchers and equipment and had this Vermeer M-475 surplus to their operation. It had a bad clutch and they "donated" it to my homesteading/cabin building/land clearing project. It has a Ford Industrial Diesel 4-cyl engine, T-18 4speed with hyd shuttle and creep speed. I dropped the quick hitch trencher (now it is very nose heavy) to fabricate a winch mount/lift boom/log skid hooker/tractor weight bracket on the back. I bought a Warn 18,000 lb. hyd winch on ebay and have plenty of tractor suitcase weights. I have a John Deere 3020 and Ford 960 but both are row crop height and my acres are hilly so turning over is easy. My Ford 640 (low slung) is out of commision for now. I have skidded some with the 3020 with a Warn 8000 electric/3-point hitch and dragging hook, but I feel way up in the trees. Also a friend is letting me "store" his Wood Mizer LT20 (old aluminum portable style) bandsaw mill on my place in exchange for me repairing the odd and ends that are worn or need machine work, so I am out of the fabricate my own bandsaw mill business for now and ready to saw wood. This saves me some time for 2011 as I was going to build one this year to start the deal. NOW I have what looks like a mini-skidder donated to me and I am thinking it is worth the time and effort to "convert" it from trencher to skidder. What do ya'll think? Will the backhoe up front be in the way? I was thinking it could be used to handle some logs in certain situations. Thanks, Paul in Mississippi
PS: I am trying to upload photos of the trencher but cannot make the dang thing upload. I see my gallery but it's empty and that is far as I can get. Help with uploading photos to this forum????
Hello,
I just joined the forum after seeing this post. I have a 94 M475 with the 65HP John Deere Diesel. I scrapped the trencher and have a forklift weight on the back to counter the backhoe. My plan is to do the same as you are talking about, winch on back with fairlead/arch to pull logs. I do plan on doing a bit of fabricating to make the backhoe removable while leaving the 6 way blade on front. I will need to cut apart the blade frame and fab some new mounts for the hydraulic cylinders that lift the blade. Mine has the ability to articulate but is missing the hydraulic Ram to do it, so that's on the list too.
I have 31" tires on it now, and I have to warn you, the ground clearance is the limiting factor. I am hoping to save up for 4 16.9x24 R1 tires to give it some more ground clearance. I also have to say, this machine is heavy....if you get it stuck, you will have a very hard time getting it out with the backhoe on front and weight on back. That is one reason to make the backhoe removable.
I've been planning this for about 6 months, and am encouraged to see someone else thinking the same thing.
Please share some more ideas, we can probably help each other out.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/24804/IMG_3777-3.JPG)
This is mine this past summer right after I painted it
mjeselskis,welcome to the forum.Are you using this on your own land?I'm just thinking that just cut your stumps low,yes,it requires more sharpening of a chain and you will do fine.I run a tractor,18 inch clearance,around my land for just about 20 years and have had no problems.Quite a few changelings,but it can be done.My land is not too easy either to go where I want to.I could do some damge with that.By the way,new tires might be a tad pricey,have you priced them.
move the backhoe to the back . take the bucket off and hang a grapple on the boom bingo you have a swing boom grapple skidder with ablade on front and no extra weights to carry arround.just thinking outloud
Somebody here has done that! I just cant remember who. He will be along though.
I promoted this idea awhile back, here are the pics of a local machine I had found, never bought, but was trying to help someone who may have been able to use it. Ford diesel. There is an extra rear diff above the rear one, it ran the trencher, so if anything ever gave way, you'd have the extra parts. Personally I think for general property maintainence and use as a skidder it looks awsome.
Ironwood
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11262/vermeer1.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11262/vermeer2.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11262/vermeer3.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11262/vermeer4.jpg)
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Quote from: thecfarm on February 08, 2011, 07:12:15 AM
mjeselskis,welcome to the forum.Are you using this on your own land?I'm just thinking that just cut your stumps low,yes,it requires more sharpening of a chain and you will do fine.I run a tractor,18 inch clearance,around my land for just about 20 years and have had no problems.Quite a few changelings,but it can be done.My land is not too easy either to go where I want to.I could do some damge with that.By the way,new tires might be a tad pricey,have you priced them.
I am using it on my own land. I will definitely need to cut the stumps low but most of the woods road are already there and in good shape so I can get around pretty well. New tires will be pricey, but I'm keeping my eyes open for a used sets on rims. I only paid $2500 for the tractor, so I really can't go wrong with it.
I just picked up a PTO Braden winch, and Hydraulic motor to run it, so I'm getting closer to making it more useful as a skidder.
Gday
First off Welcome to The Forum to both Paul and Mj ;) ;D 8) 8)
I like your thinking and yeah going by the size of the machine if you are planing on only using it for thinning and skidding out small to medium size timber the backhoe should not get in the way unless you are taking it into some realy tight spots I would fab something like a small Crab Grab for it to make handling logs easier quicker and more positive Mate ;)
Regards Chris
Quote from: Ironwood on February 08, 2011, 12:33:00 PM
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11262/vermeer3.jpg)
That machine looks pretty massive when you put a logger next to it :D
Ive got a older ditch witch that i have the same intentions with.. Think it'll be good on small tracts where even the 440 is too big
Pittsburgh craig's list has a Gearmatic #9 in the farm and garden section for $1750.
Ironwood