Skidders Logging Equipment Upcoming Auctions

About Skidders

Skidders are heavy forestry machines used to pull cut trees and logs from the site where they were felled to a landing where they are further processed or loaded onto logging trucks. The process of moving the trees from the cutting site to the landing is called “skidding.” 

The skidders you’ll see for sale on ForestryTrader.com tend to be heavy four-wheel-drive tractors, often with an articulating chassis, that are capable traversing rugged terrain. Mounted to the front of the skidder is a cable and winch or a grapple attachment, or both, with a short hydraulically powered boom. Other common features of skidders include a reinforced cab and a blade on the back that can be raised and lowered by the operator. These machines are typically powered by diesel engines, and come in a variety of sizes and capabilities.

Types Of Skidders

Most often, skidders are classified as either cable or grapple units, with the former designed to reel in and haul logs using a winch, and the latter using a grapple or a clam-bunk attachment. Today, cable and winch-only skidders are less popular than grapple or dual-function skidders. Skidders with a single-function boom utilize a pair of hydraulic cylinders to lift and lower loads. Skidders with a dual-function boom employ four cylinders, providing a wider range of movement. Some grabble booms can also be swung from side to side, letting the operator access logs that are not lined up with the front of the machine.

Find The Right Skidder

Popular manufacturers of new and used skidders available on ForestryTrader.com include Caterpillar , Deere , Franklin , Tigercat , Timberjack , and Tree Farmer .