dieseldog5.9
Senior Member
Looking around for a small skidder for some once in a while lot clearing, which seems to come down to timber jack and Deere, I have all Cat equipment and thought about a Cat skidder.
Found some timber jack 230 and 240 they seem like purpose build machines and generic parts. They seem easy to get in and out of, guessing the 4 cylinder is preferred over the 3, and the manual transmission I believe is rugged and inexpensive to fix.
Deere makes a smaller skidder, 440 and 540. But seem to have specialty parts, and bring a premium price for old machines, and more difficult to get in and out of. The power shift transmission could be expensive to fix.
Older Cat skidders, 508 518 look like logging was an afterthought and getting in and out a pain with a chainsaw. Also the transmission could be expensive to fix. They seem rare so parts could be difficult.
I have a 20 ton tag trailer to move it around with so weight width and height are a concern.
Any thoughts are appreciated, any makes or models to stay away from, or a particular model that is a diamond in the rough.
Found some timber jack 230 and 240 they seem like purpose build machines and generic parts. They seem easy to get in and out of, guessing the 4 cylinder is preferred over the 3, and the manual transmission I believe is rugged and inexpensive to fix.
Deere makes a smaller skidder, 440 and 540. But seem to have specialty parts, and bring a premium price for old machines, and more difficult to get in and out of. The power shift transmission could be expensive to fix.
Older Cat skidders, 508 518 look like logging was an afterthought and getting in and out a pain with a chainsaw. Also the transmission could be expensive to fix. They seem rare so parts could be difficult.
I have a 20 ton tag trailer to move it around with so weight width and height are a concern.
Any thoughts are appreciated, any makes or models to stay away from, or a particular model that is a diamond in the rough.