Forcat 2000 VS Conventional Log skidder

[Good Feller]

Well I went through and marked my TSI job.  Aint no way a four wheeler is going to pull logs off this site.  The logs are too big and the ground too steep.  It would be a waste of time and torture on my 4 wheeler.  What I think would be useful is a machine called a forcat 2000.  Does anyone have experience with one?  What's a new one cost and what are the pros and cons?  Looks like they'd be handy for small scale logging and thinnings.  I also like the fact that it's light enough to be hauled with the truck and trailer that I currently have.  I've heard other people say that it is better to buy a used small log skidder such as a John deere 440 for the price of a Forcat.  I really don't want to buy a 20-30 year old log skidder that's on it's last leg.  That scares me to spend that much money on something that old.  I am also not a mechanic.  I think any 30 year old machine would be nothing more than a maintenance project. On top of that, I have no way to haul it.   


       

[Maineloggerkid]

 You can find old machines that have been maintained that will run forever, but if you want new machinery, and can pay the price, thats good too.

I actually think that you could get a small skidder cheaper than the forcat, but I don't really know. The forcat looks like a good machine, but I have never seen one in person.

[timberfaller390]

I haven't actually played with one but I have done a pretty good bit of research on them. Personally I would rather invest my money in a small skidder or a dozer like a 350 john deere. Either one will pull way more than the forcat after all it only has a 27 hp engine. There are a couple of other threads discussing the forcat and a youtube video just search "forcat 2000" on youtube. I think for what you are doing a small dozer with winch would be a way better investment than the forcat. Also consider a 4x4 farm tractor.

[zackman1801]

i would also suggest a small skidder or dozer. The forcat costs alot new, they have small engines and i can imagine finding parts would not be easy unless you found a dealer close to you. With older used skidders such as TJ or JD you can find one for cheap (used TJ's go for about 6-7K around here) and parts and service are easy to be had. Also a dozer can also be used for plowing and earth smoothing, the forcat would most likely have a hard time with that since it has a small blade like a skidder. They also seem to have winches that are a tad bit underpowered. they look like neat little machines but not something you want to stake your livelihood on or even your business. if your going to get into commercial grade logging your going to need professional grade tools. Just how big is this wood? and how steep is the ground?

[Ironwood]

I recently looked at a Ditch Witch articulated four cylinder (Ford) 45 HP diesel, hydraulic drive over shafts, four wheel drive with a nice six way blade and a backhoe above that. The trencher had been removed and looked like it would make an AWSOME smallish skidder. All it needed was a winch/ fairlead on the back, $4500 bucks (way cheap and way cool and versitile). I think it weighed about 7000, which is PERFECT for behind a 450-550 truck. If I could swing it financially I'de all over it. Overall dimensions, 6.5' wide, and maybe 15' long on four 11-28ish sized tires, with a set of chains and a winch you'de be pulling, digging, leveling, skidding and trenching. For me this would be perfect for a small farm where you don't want to tear up my 24 HP tractor skidding logs. Look around, you find something more versitile than just a skidder.


    Ironwood

[thecfarm]

A couple things that turned me off,12½ inches ground clearance,25hp motor,2770 pounds.Not much weight for twitching logs that are big you stated.I priced one at an Expo.I forgot the price,but it was a sticker shock.  Nice machine if someone has the money and the time to use it.I don't feel it would be a machine that would bring a good amount of wood out at any one time to make the payments.I would like to have one for my place.But that won't happen with the money I have now.

[Maineloggerkid]

The Forcat in 2 words---- Special purpose.

[wi woodcutter]

i agree with mainelogger and zachman  i think a small dozer or a good older skidder would be the way to go. with the dozer you could also use it to maintain roads.

[Woodhog]

Try a 4WD used farm tractor with a winch .  You only have 30 acres and it might be easier to get rid of when you finish up the piece... If it is a long distance to the landing you could also get a forestry trailer with a loader to haul it out with.

[bkellyvtme]

Wouldn't the Awassos skidder fall into the same category as this Forcat? "Special Niche Machines". I don't think anyone could pull out enough wood to feed the family or pay for either machine. I looked at the Forcat website and it says that you can get to those hard to reach "swamp cedars and veneer timber". I think if I have to go into a swamp to get wood it is not a good thing. Just my thoughts.

[zackman1801]

someone posted here a bit ago that they went to get wood and the guy had a mini skidder, well the pulp truck got stuck and they tried to winch it out, they ended up pulling the skidder to the truck. The mini skidder is nice because its got special features but its not got the power to pull enough logs to justify its price.

BTW i think the forcat is somewhere around 25-30K i thought i read it on a dealer website. kinda crazy.  i really feel that this macine has little purpose, if someone is going to be logging small scale then they arent going to be able to afford the machine, and if someone is going to be trying to log in a big operation then they are going to be left behind when the big machines show up. Plus its too expensive for firewood guys.

if you want more than a skidder go with a tractor or a dozer, both have multiple purposes, but you have to be really careful with tractors on hills especially with big logs. a dozer would suit your needs, as long as speed isnt an issue for you. :D

[Good Feller]

You guys have made a lot of good points.  Seems like everyone would gladly take a forcat if given one though.  The price is just a huge turn off. 

I'm starting to get some timber stand improvment jobs.  Instead of leaving some of the low quality logs in the woods to rot,,, I was wanting to harvest them and sell as pallet or ties.  It might not even be worth the extra effort to harvest this low quality wood.  Someone asked about size of wood,, some of these trees are up to 20" dbh.  We are talking $0.30 bd/ft delivered.

I've thought about getting a small dozer.  What sizes would work well for a small operation?  Are they any good in ice/snow?  A small dozer would be half the price of the forcat. 

Thanks for the info.  I'm not going to buy tomorrow.  Just wanting to get some ideas.   

[Kodiakmac]

Well, you can probably pick up a small used dozer cheap enough, but I've used dozers to skid and I have a few comments: slow, rough, and the logs are really in the mud unless you rig up some kind of a skidding arch...and that can be cumbersome to manoeuver.

No, I'd be looking at a small used skidder...maybe a nice little gas job.  There are some 200 TJ's and C4 TFs that pop up now and then for under $10K Cdn...and I think JD night have made a 440 or 340 with a petrol burner.

The Awassos (stupid name) skidders seem like nice rigs but they're out of my price range ($50-60K)

[Maineloggerkid]

   For your lot, a john deere 350C dozer would be good. I have skidded wood with one. Kodiak is right, though- i has its downsides. ONe downside is the same as a tractor, they are easier to tip over backwards unless you have a winch or small arch. Trust me, I've done it.

   You can find dozers with winches and small skidder arches mounted right onboard, and those are real good setups. My dad and uncle used to run a logging operation with a 1010 deere dozer, and they even cut big pine with it. A 1010 is even samller than a 350, and it has a gas motor.

[timberfaller390]

Those old deeres were small but they could do a pile of work. When I was still working for the Forestry Commission my dozer that was set up to fight fire was a 350C. I loved that little dozer, I could take that little machine anywhere. As a matter of fact when the state retired it  about 2 years after I quit working there, they called me to come load up my "baby" for its last ride to the bone yard.

[Good Feller]

Got some info back from Forcat, here's what they said:

*The price for the gas model is $28,000.00 CDN and the shipping would be aprox $1000.00. (I think that's about $23,630 USD.)   

*The best way to describe the Forcat’s performance is that it is similar to a single horse logging show.

*It has a hydraulic back plate that works as a brake to keep the machine from getting pulled backwards when winching.

*Most parts are off the shelf parts such as the Koller engine, White and Dan Foss hydraulic motors. There is a 1 year warrantee on the machine, and the Koller manufactures warranty on the motor. The Forcat is made in Qubec.

*We sold one to Allan Smith (smithhugalogger@dishmail.net) in Montana

*If your ground disturbance parameters, your trail widths, and nontargeted stem retention parameters can be met using the 440 John Deere the John Deere will significantly out produce the Forcat.

[nas]

Looks like a great little unit for logging eastern cedar or firewood.  The fact that you could haul it on a utility trailer is nice too.  If I could find a used one...  The new price doesn't seem to bad considering a new conventional skidder is I believe well over 100k?

Nick

[zackman1801]

yes for a  brand new skidder that is much much bigger you could pay or 100 grand but for a used medium sized skidder you could get one for 10-15k and even cheaper than that around here.

ive seen arches similar to a skidder arch welded right to the winch drum and the back of the skidder. ive also seen tow behind arches, both work extremely well if you know how to use them. There is an old guy around here who uses and old dozer and arch and produces as much wood in a week then the guys who use skidders, just because he knows what hes doing and can use the arch well. Dozers work well in snow they spread the weight out and the tracks dont sink like tires. usually what we do is if we get alot of snow or have to break a skid trail in the winter, we take the dozer out to get the first load, drag it back with that and then use the skidder once the trail is packed in a little bit.

[Kodiakmac]

Something else you might consider is a used Bombardier - they're a dime a dozen up here.  Same steering clutch/brake setup as the Forcat.  Ones I've seen come with 4 or 6 cylinder Chrysler engines...I think some may have GM or Ford engines as well. 

Some of them are already rigged for skidding with a winch and fairlead.  I've seen 2 of them in the past few weeks for sale.  One of them near Lac Des Loups, QC in VERY nice shape.  If interested I have owner's name and ph. #...he only speaks French.  He also has a used 230 TJ and an old C4...he wants too much for the skidders...didn't ask about the Bombardier.

[Ironman]

In my opinion when you are buying equipment, there are several factors that you can ignore at your peril.

1.  Never take chances when it comes to getting what you need.  Anytime you get something else it always costs you time and money.  Most of the guys I know log to pay the rent, so getting the wrong machine is not an option.

2.  'Never' go with a unproven brand or technology (in this case both factors apply) when you can go with something that is tried and true for same or less money.  By tried and true I am refering to a John Deere, TimberJack, Franklin or CAT.

3.  Never forget that when it comes to buying equipment, always go with the better brand, even if it costs a little more in the beginning.  No matter what happens, at least it will have some resale value at the end of the day.  Many loggers will retire with only the value of their equipment to serve them as some kind of retirement savings/equity.  Bearing that in mind would you rather have sweated and strained to pay off a Forcat 2000 (huh?) or a John Deere 540?  Beleive me there are thousands of guys looking to buy a JD tractor at any given time.  The Forcat 2000, well probably a few less.

4.  When in doubt, buy what everyone else is buying.  There is a reason why CAT equipment sells better and for more money than anything else.  There is a reason why Harley Davidson sells for more money than any other bike on the road.

The answer in my opinion is a no-brainer.  No disrespect intended to those who favor these kind of innovations.  We certainly need innovators.  But keep in mind that loggers have a tough enough go as it is.  They certainly can't afford to gamble on equipment that is less than proven.  There are lots of great, smaller, tried and true cable skidders that can get the job done and will run forever, if properly maintained.  I include among them the 440 JD Skidder, the 508/518 CAT Skidder, the TJ 230A and the Franklin 405.  All of these machines are very light and can be had for about $15,000 in a ready to go condition.

[Kodiakmac]

Yup. Agree with Ironman almost 100%.  You could broaden the TJ range to include all the 200 series...and you could throw in the Treefarmer C4 and C5 models.  I don't know anything about Franklin, but they were smart enough to buy TF!

[Dale Hatfield]

I wouldnt think twice about a used skidder. But dont let a good motor on a poor tracked dozer sell you into a pitfall. New tracks roller sprockets on a JD450 D  will run well above 15,000 grand.
Look for a dozer blade on a skidder if ya feel ya need that kind of blade  JD sold em.

[zackman1801]

aint nothing i enjoy more that putting tracks on a dozer in the snow a mile out in the woods after they fall off!

[beenthere]

aint nothing i enjoy more that putting tracks on a dozer in the snow a mile out in the woods after they fall off!

I hear ya Zack
I did that "once"... while teetering on a ravine edge. Backing up, came outta the tracks. Managed to walk one back on, but the other was with come-alongs and a lot of sweat..even in 0°F and light snow.
Wanted to push it over the edge and leave it..

[Maineloggerkid]

Track machines are nice when they work, but undercarriges are definetly a high maintnence proposition. Money and time.

[james]

the other problem with a track machine in snow is that on a side hill those steel tracks make great ice skates and a real harry ride
james (speaking from experience)

[Maineloggerkid]

Ya, ice cleats are almost something you have to have.

[mad murdock]

I agree with the above sentiments.  Better off buying used Iron, i.e. International S8, JD 440, old TJ or whatever.  I bought a Garrett model 15 diesel skidder from craigslist for 3,000.00.  The winch still needs some work, but it is a good old machine, and will last forever.  I do not use it fuull time, though I have drug out about 8 truckloads with it in the last 2 years.

[John Woodworth]

Having run skidders for over 30 years now would be hard to convince me that any kind of production at all could be had with the Forcat, it's time and place is for small logs and small jobs.Skidders in my oppinion are the most unuversal and cost effective way to yard yet tracks have their own place at a price. I've run the big Deere's and Cat skidders in the past and presently have two Garret 21's and a Garret 10. The Garret is a economical skidder to run and work on and the 21's will pull with the best on 40 gallons of fuel a week verses 40 gallons a day with the others.
The Forcat with it's 8000 pound winch compared to my Garret 10 with a 8000 pound winch would be no comparison as far al production however it would be good for thinning but they need to get the butts off the ground which I think would create a rolling over condition on sharp hard pulls. I don't know what they cost but log prices today for small jobs have to be figered in and prices here in the North West today wouldn't justify the cost.
I personaly would recomend a serious look at used skidders to anyone just look close at what you are bying and if you run across a Garret the old girl will work it's heart out for you.

[Shawn Bevins]

Somethings need to be clarified, the gas powered unit does not exsist anymore, we phased it out because of overheating and lack of power, the new unit has a 36 hp Perkins deisel engine and can skid up 3 times it's own weight 4100 lbs X 3 = 12300 lbs , as for parts we have all parts in stock and ready to ship to anywhere in North America within 24 hours.  I have included a link for our new video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOh3PLvjKso  and tech specs for your review, we will also in the very near future offer this unit with a standard skidsteer plate front and rear so all the attachments you see at this link http://www.quick-attach.com/  will fit onto the machine, also the name of the machine has been changed to OXTRAC.

[tughill]

Personally, I think a Deere350/450 or Cat D3/D4 with a winch and log arch is the way to go.  I guess it's all relative, if you are considering using a 4 wheeler, then you are not really thinking much about production, and the Forcat would be relatively better, but fairly expensive, and probably hard to sell (for a reasonable price) if and when you want to get rid of it.  Old skidders are kinda the same to me, right now for example the log markets are bad, so logging equipment is very difficult to sell.  Older dozers are always in demand for farmers, do it yourselfers, loggers, etc. more so than an old skidder.  As far as track problems, to me it's no better or worse than tire problems.  Ultimately if you are not mechanically inclined, you probably shouldn't be getting involved with any of this equipment.

Good luck, this whole thing is kinda like auto racing, "speed costs money, how fast do you want to go?"

[mahonda]

Well just to add some worry to your dilemma, We bought a used skidder a number of years back. Cat 508 grapple skidder. ran great to start worked really well, put a plow on it to push snow, and it pushes a ton. so after about a year we lost the engine. okay new reman was about 8 thousand i think after all the mechanic costs. so about six months after that lost the torque converter. not to bad to fix but couldn't find a new one for almost four months. so after that we welded the center pivot back together new pins, bushings, few hoses and the tranny still leaks. we have a 550g dozer with almost 20,000 hours and still starts and runs great put lots of tracks on it though, but tires or tracks its all money. and if you have tires you almost have to have chains in the winter and they cost almost as much or more than the tires. But don't give up if it was me and i had a few jobs to do and not looking at going full time, RENT deere and cat will rent a small dozer with a winch for a little bit especially good deal if you have the job all cut. so just have to skid while you got it rented so its not sitting there. Good luck and renting means they turn the wrenches my favorite part

[sjfarkas]

I'd still take a bobcat track machine over all options mentioned any day.  

[nas]

Like this one? ;)






Nick

[beenthere]

Well nas. That one certainly looks stuck.  : :

Ya think?? ???     ;D

[4genlgr]

i was going to suggest a 4wd compact tractor and a threepoint hitch winch then i read "logs to big   land to steep"
my 40hp JD 990 with a farmi winch can do quite a bit but most of the time i cut out the big logs in the woods take them out and come back for the rest   smaller trees come out full lenght, and the bucket is nice (multi purpose machine)
from the sounds a small skidder would fit your bill better with the ground yyou discribed  hunt around there should be a good used not abused one out there some where

[bill m]

 Good Feller
  Don't let everyone tell you that you can't make a living with a small machine. I am using a 55 hp. tractor with a grapple/winch on back and a metavic log trailer with loader and use less than 15 gal. of fuel a week. The pine on the job I did last winter averaged 800 ft. per tree and I did well enough last winter to take most of the summer off. I know this set up will not work on every site but on real steep and rocky ground it's hard to make good money with any size machine unless your getting the wood for almost nothing. Small machines do have their place in this business, you just have to decide what type of jobs you want to take on and size your equipment accordingly.

[sjfarkas]

I've never seen a skidsteer stuck that bad.  Generaly if one of those goes down then anything will go down. 

[nas]

The operator worked pretty hard at getting it that stuck :D

Nick

[Warren]

I am with Ironwood.  If money is an issue, look for alternatives at a cheap price.  JJKane just had a utility company auction near where I work.  They had a Rayco stumper consigned.  Big machine, no attachmetn on the front, big hydraulic winch on the back.  All it needed to pull wood was to weld some type of arch above the winch.

They also had a smaller tracked Ditch Witch machine.  No winch on the back.  But more than enough hydraulic circuits to run a winch. Plus plenty of room in the rear for a winch and arch.  Already had a small blade in the front that would be useful for yarding and stacking.

Unfortunately, I was out of town the day of sale.  I know a good number of units went dirt cheap. Still trying to find out final selling prices on the track units...

-w-

[Ironwood]

I got my 24 HP 4x4 tractor stuck cleaning out my burn pit this past few days, actually the 4WD went out and I was WAY down over the edge in the hole and did not have a rear implement to counter weight the front, so there I ws WAYYY stuck, I grabed my little Yanmar crawler and a cable, thinking "no way" especially by myself w/ no one to run the tractor and the hydraulic locks the wheel when not pushing a pedal (Hydrostat), well #$^ if it didn't just drag it out w/ out a breath. It had al four tires dragging on the tractor and the ground while a little slick I thought it would create more of a traction issue for the Yanmar than help w/ the tractor tires. So this has me thinking that perhaps this little Yanmar may make a great little skidder for "occassional" use. I have been around skidders and know I will never pull a skidder sized twitch but I dont think many of us have any idea how crawlers can pull and the traction and weight dispersment issues, myself included. I am learning on this little capable unit that it is pretty neat. I think a SERIOUS small skidder could be built w/ a small footprint, and OVER sized engine.

                   

             Ironwood

[moonhill]

I stopped at the neighbors to day to look at his new tractor, it had a farmi winch on the back.  I wanted to look at the winch.  When I got home I started looking on line and came across the Forcat 36D, the tracked skidder discussed a bit in this topic.   I think it is a neat rig.  I have always had an affection for small scale things.  My land is wet in a lot of areas, not so wet it is swamp but I know my L35 Kobota will not work in such conditions, an ATV is too small.   I see the Forcat as fitting in between a small skidder and the tractor, and quite comfortably too.  The price is up there as noted, but you could easily wear out a new ATV once or twice at which point you have compensated for the cost of the Forcat.  It seems much more maneuverable than either a tractor or the ATV.  By the way it is priced around the same as a small tractor.  The little tractor will be beat up a little as well.   

That is a nice size log being pulled in the clip on the 2nd page.  Flat ground, no obstacles, lets see it in a real setting.  I wish they would show some video of it in 2' of snow.  How about one stuck like the machine on the 2nd page. 

It is almost Christmas, though I would dream a little.  That is when it starts to get dangerous.

I have to go back to the search window and see if there is more discussion on these skidders. 

When I found the Forcat on line, I first thought, the FF should have some discussion and it did, thanks. 

Tim

[thecfarm]

Wait until you see one up close.I saw one at a show.I was not that impressed,What about a small dozer?You can make anything look good on a video.

[moonhill]

That is the caution.   The one you saw at the show, was it the improved version or the older one with the gas engine and 1000 pounds lighter? 

I saw a question in some other thread asking if there was any in the Maine or New Hampshire area, it was an older post, I would put that question out once more.  The machine would for sure need to be seen in action.   I read many comments but not much input form first hand experience.  I think I saw one direct positive view, most others were form a larger skidding perspective, all very sensible I must add. 

I don't see a small dozer as being an efficient tool, yes it could do the job, so could my little tractor.  I see problems with both options.  Reading over the old post I am also leery of older machinery and being stuck with a track off or some such issue, I want to skid wood not repair old machinery. 

I find there is no such thing as an all around multi purpose tool, there is always a compromise somewhere.  I would rather have a tool specific to the job than one which will do it with restrictions.   

Tim   

[Ironwood]

I bought this unit reasonable. It seems there are some smallish track dumps out there that would be up to the task, reasonable cost and high floation. I saw a slightly bigger IH-30 in our equipment trader for $10,000. Combined w/ and arch (for the REALLY big ones) it would work well. I have looked at mine and thought the bed could be removed, or made quickly removable and a hydraulic winch put behind the crane. I am going out today to play w/ it in the snow to see how it behaves.

Ironwood

[moonhill]

How wide/long it that rig and what does it weigh? 

I have a Swap loader on my truck, I wonder if a similar setup would fit on your rig.  You can just dump it off on the ground and lift on something else. 

Tim

[Ironwood]

I call those "hooks", or hook truck. Is that what you mean?

The crawler weighs about 5000#. I am going out to run it in the snow ;D Curious how it might work. I have NO expectation of any kind. Side hills on tracks are dangerous, so if I do some bad weather work I may look into tracks w/ some degree of protection from that. I have seen some designs that address this.

    Ironwood

[lancek]

Well everybody is going to laugh at me but the only way to do proper tsi work is with horses a good team of horses with a little bit of training and your up and running! The set up will cost you less than $ 4,000.00 and most of it will reproduce itself.And your fuel cost will only be $150.00 per month! And I know that there is going to be the comment that a team cant move as much as a skider but I disagree with that . I say you dont have to because you dont have the expences that you do with a skidder! And there is allso tecnolagy out there that will inhance your capabilitys and get to the point of doing what a skidder will do with out the resedual damage! May I suddgest going to Draft Animal Power - Sustainable Farming, Forestry and Living http://www.draftanimalpower.com/index.php?s=ef04614d3939008b451169e83afed7be this site has a lot of good info on horse logging and farming that might intrest you

[Ironwood]

No laughing here. My land would work well w/ horses, moderate downslope to the field. And I here you on the proxy damage.

                   Ironwood

[Ironwood]

Well it is no deep snow machine, too heavy. BUT it will SKID. The current physics are bad (hitch point WAY out the back, due to the crane), I am thinking of making the bed and rear part of the bed sub-frame removeable. I will mount a hydr. winch in the center frame bay just behind the crane base and use four Reese reciever style mount points to slip the subframe back together (at each frame member). This would allow me to use the bed hydr controls for the winch and I could use the Reese points to put on a "pan" to prevent logs from jamming the tracks (like a miniature version of what you see on the back of a JD440). This log is a BIG pine, I would guess 5000# or so, 15', pretty much a dead drag, as the end isnt really elevated. The snow obviously helps.

This really shows me a smallish unit could be a skidder for limited use. I guess limited is the key. For me, it will work fine, if you where trying to make a living on volume commodity work, it would not. 

Ironwood

 

[stonebroke]

If you took the bed off, you could mount a grapple upside down and have a clambunk. You could probably load a lot more then you could haul.

Stonebroke

[moonhill]

lancek, you won't find me laughing at horse logging.  An option for sure, I would just as soon hire a single or team.  Thanks for the reminder.  

Ironwood, one of these.  My truck is a Mitz. Fuso FG140, it has the smallest unit mounted on it and it can handle up to 9500 pounds.  It functions as a dump as well.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0JFeKZk0IE

Tim

[thecfarm]

Moonhill,must of been the older one,saw it 4 years ago.If I had the money and wanted tracks,I would go buy a new small dozer for the same money.I could use a dozer to smooth out the old pasture and to push rocks.
lancek,I would like to have horses.Wife had 2 horses and I had one for the woods.Was going to train it,but the wife got sick and we had to get rid of them. I had skidder guy tell me horses make more of a mess than a skidder cause you can't run over the brush and break it up.I was and am using a farm tractor and never run over mine either.I told him,guess you never heard of sawing the brush so it will lay on the ground.

[Ironwood]

I believe we regionally call those a "hook" truck. My buddy has one (like yours) on a F-450, 4x4 ext. cab.

Ironwood

[moonhill]

My apologies for the diversion, just for those that haven't seen these in use.  This is a larger version of what I have.  I use mine to transport my little tractor and as a car carrier when the little box quits on the side of the road, too. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d16YqyRh74&feature=related

I have a Cat 307 for the dirt work. 

Tim

[moonhill]

How about one of these. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZzkqoSSmJo&feature=related

Tim

[lancek]

Cfarm sorry to here about your wife I hope everything turns out OK and Ironwood thta machine you have coupled with a team would be a great set up twich the logs to the trail head with the horses and move them to the landing and load with the machine!
As far as the allester I tried to get in touch with the manufacture and they never returned my calls or email who imports these?

[Ironwood]

Alstor, While looking very capable in the terrain,  I would be concerned long term (or even shorter term) it could be busted up pretty good. I keep thinking of things like. Frickman's forwarder that has broken in half a few times. Granted his has seen thousands of hours use and likely 100's of thousands of board feet moved, but woods work is ROUGH. 'Course you folks know that.  :

Ironwood

[motohed]

How about one of these. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZzkqoSSmJo&feature=related

Tim

That is way cool , but I bet it is almost as expensive as a good used larger version .

[moonhill]

There is a series of videos, some put them into some tricky positions.  They are all new, would be interesting to see an older one that had been used a bit.  I take it no one has been around one to report what it is really like?  I don't know the cost.  I wish I had more time I would love to experiment in making a similar unit from scratch. 

The forwarders seem top heavy, are the real one top heavy? 

Tim

[motohed]

Somethings need to be clarified, the gas powered unit does not exsist anymore, we phased it out because of overheating and lack of power, the new unit has a 36 hp Perkins deisel engine and can skid up 3 times it's own weight 4100 lbs X 3 = 12300 lbs , as for parts we have all parts in stock and ready to ship to anywhere in North America within 24 hours.  I have included a link for our new video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOh3PLvjKso  and tech specs for your review, we will also in the very near future offer this unit with a standard skidsteer plate front and rear so all the attachments you see at this link http://www.quick-attach.com/  will fit onto the machine, also the name of the machine has been changed to OXTRAC.

This thing looks good on flat ground . I would like to see it in action in rocky terrain , muddy terrain , etc . I had never given these small machines much chance before owning a skidsteer , the one I have is mighty powerful being a Bobcat T 320 . I have grappled a 16 foot oak lod that was 48 to 50 + inches in diameter and carried it away with little to no problem . I know it is considerably larger and more horse power than your forcat .  I am also amazed with the my 16" feller buncher schear head , which I use on it for clearing firewood trees etc . I always thought bigger was better ,but these compact machines pack a lot of punch for a machine of their size . I wish I had a hot saw head for sawlogs , but for now we cut saw log timber with chainsaws and wedges like most everyone else I supose .
                                  Scott

[debushau]

This unit is a forwarder but its forcat size. There's a neat video of it on youtube. Made in Japan by Canycom.

http://canycomsales.com/menu/products/by460.php