Ok Googled it. Its a tracked cutter and I almost never see those in this area. Cutters here are rubber tired.
Thats a pretty old skidder isnt it? When did JD swap to green? Was it like 15 years ago or more like 10? Got a dual arch though.
The one with a log in the grapple is the one I'm running. Log is around 2.5' at the butt. Lost the driveshaft that runs the pump so we had to pull it apart. Need to make a door for it. Took the other side's window out so I could see, it was really yellowed. (Lexan) No idea on colors... don't really care if it was pink and glittery as long as it runs fine. The skidder I'm running is a 96 I think , 648D. The other one is a 98 or 99 I think. Age is subjective... no outfits out here are running new stuff, costs WAY too much. All this equipment doesn't cost anything to keep parked if need be.
I agree on 225k for a new 648 to be a bit pricey. Most around here run stuff 10 years old or newer. Once you get past that the breakdowns limit your production. Lost production costs you money that they can't afford so it one or the other. Newer stuff with thinner margins and high production or older stuff with larger margins. I know guys that do both. I sell wood and oversee harvests I dont own or run the equipment... dont want to, thats a hard way to make a living.
When the equipment doesn't owe you anything and you don't owe anything on it... If we get 1 load out in a day or 10... That's what we got out. We are just 3-5 guys deep. 3 owners and 1-2 "minions". The newer skidder has way more hours in it too, like 24,000. The one I'm running has around 7000. Plus it's not like there are other outfits with all the newest stuff competing. Only one big company and they focus in land clearing. They usually give us the logs.
Different areas. Sounds interesting. Down here every one horse town has 1-8 loggers in it!! The loads out thing I understand. Bit when you have to produce to meet a quota or a buyer is riding you cause you make him money too you either produce or go. And even if you dont owe on equipment those people and insurance still cost you and so do the parts! Feller butcher for one logger I got that runs paid for stuff went out. Needed the pump and motor for the head. Cost him $8k. You have to put back for repairs And upgrades.
This is one of the loggers I have working. This is a 2014, 648, you can also see the chipper. The second pic is a picture of the Tiger cat 234b loader and the Bandit chipper he runs. The last pic (if site allows it) is the other crew and I think a 2012 JD 648 and in the back you see the older Tigercat 240. I think the 234 is like 3 years old and the 240 is 4-7 years old? Everything you see here is paid but the chipper and the new skidder.also running around are two Tigercat rubber tired cutters.
Thinking about it I bet that 240 is a bit older than that. I think the chipper is maybe 2 years old. He just sold his third loader which was a printice(dont remember the model) a few months back.
I like them Nate. I personally like to see the old iron working more. I see the stuff I posted all the time the 15-30 year old stuff is rare. I got one logger whos backup is an old printice stick loader. His JD buncher is late 80s and he hauls 45 loads a week or so from what it cuts. He has older paid trucks. And use to run an old 86 timber jack skidder. He runs a newer timber Jack and a jd 648 thats maybe 6 years old. His loader is a 240b so nothing there.
No buyers, we are "from forest to final form"... Firewood, lumber etc. Sure customers don't like to wait, but it happens. Can't drop 300k on a new skidder. We have 2, if on goes down, can use just one. Same with most if the other equipment.
