Tigercat vs. cat

[@LoggerWade]

I know what your saying and i respect that. And as far as a well built machine that opperates good i can't argue at all with that. I think that they are targeting your style of operation with there equipment because thats where the opertunities are. With our style of logging ground speed means alot. Select cut stuff like we work is hard to be efficient at. So you end up running around alot scratching up a load instead of having a full one layed out ready.

[@LoggerWade]

Great comment thanks, i have heard of a Ranger. Have heard good about them but never been around one.

[@LoggerWade]

Thanks for commenting, it's great to here from the tropics. All the new models have great ergonomics from deere, to tigercat. The trees i was dragging there was smaller than we pull but I'm shore our trees are nothing like trees that grow in a rain forest. The modern skidders are well built, expensive, and efficient. I'm partial to deere, but they all good, and tigercat has put out alot of effort in the southern Hemisphere.

[@shawnevans58]

Wade, buddy you took my comment wrong as i tend to joke around alot. I know you have some top of the line equipment. I was honestly joking buddy. The only one question that crossed my mind was the Prentice cutter but as you said technology has come a long ways and my reply was if she still does the job keep rolling with it. I joke around alot as you do. If we were talking and not typing you would get me as someone open minded, not serious unless i need to be.

[@keithwatson7658]

I have drove a 525C cat skidder! Exactly like the one he drove in the Vija! I loved it, but I recently quit my job to go to a bigger company and I'm gonna be in a tigercat skidder, idk what size yet! I hope I like it though!

[@LoggerWade]

thanks for commenting, them are good points they could put in a two speed gearbox and have there cake and eat it too.. Just an opinion, if they would speed up them slow things hell we would all buy one they are really well made

[@no1wrench]

I think tigercat saw your comment wade... lol. The EHS machines are scary fast.

[@LoggerWade]

Hahaha bamm! Yeah i bet you guys are chipping too. We do select cut hardwood we arnt after huge drags as much as we are about trying to minamize residual damage and stay up in the winter. Thanks for comment though!

[@Brutemandave]

Got plenty of experience on both the deeres and cats and have found over time that once you get used to the cat controls they easily outperform the deere, the cat drivetrain does a better job at turning the engines power into pure traction, unlike the deere which has a bad habit of breaking loose easily. Also with the grapple, when your wood is weaved and not aligned with each other then it is difficult to effectively grapple it, with any type of grapple skidder.

[@khalilsimmons6277]

David Crowley

[@LoggerWade]

One thing for sure as the skidders get bigger it gets harder to get around in tight spots for sure!

[@garybaker730]

Is your operation in Indiana? If you get time or the place video some skidder road building and skidder drags, little boy loves watchin em. Thanks.

[@sheikhabrahim3463]

Thanks for the comments.I do know about these skidders.They are well adapted here.However,are your machines Clark Ranger or Ranger?A.Mazaharally and Sons used to have the Clark Rangers 666,667 and 668.These are older machines with Detroit Diesel and Cummins.Anyway,all the best to you and the business.

[@treeclimberdave]

hey wade! i love the cat too. I ran a 545 a few times when it was too windy to fall timber. that thing was pulling two or three full length fir trees 30-36+" on the butt end with out any problem. really had to downshift for the steep hills but it sure was a kick in the ass! youre right, that pushbutton shifting takes some getting used to. :)

[@LoggerWade]

yeah I think after a guy gets used to it it'd be bad to the bone

[@miguelcordero7164]

+LoggswgsqghfsggsiwqoerwdQgxslsdsXbcer Wade qkasdnmzs

[@chimaira3134]

Great channel you have here, one of the best I follow. Great videos! Thanks

[@patreekiller]

Im more into the buncher then skidder. we just got a new timberpro 735 with there barsaw, love the thing. much better then the timbco i was running. you guys should look into getting one.

[@sheikhabrahim3463]

Wade greetings from Guyana,South America. First let me say that this is a very cool video.However, I would suggest you give us a tour in and around the machines.I'm interested to see the controls to assess the ergonomics aspect for the operator.First time I'm seeing aTigercat.Here in Guyana the most popular Cat is the 528(old model).Wade how do you think the 620D and 525C can stand up to the giant tropical Purpleheart,Greenheart ,Mora,etc,etc.I see the logs there are like firewoods.Anyway thanks

[@prestonclark1910]

Did you manually swap the transfer case into high gear

[@LoggerWade]

David, thanks for the comment i could see where you are right about the traction but it seemed to me that the cat wanted to squeeze the trees togeather instead of rolling them up in a bundle. I'm used to 648gIII and our johnny would have bundled them up.... Wouldn't have drug them as good but would have bundled them up!!!

[@LoggerWade]

Hey thanks for the comment, i have talked to you boy before on a knuckleboom one time. I know my stuff gets alittle silly from time to time but my goal here is to make a freinldy place for a logger to put his feet down and hang out. I'm a good logger devoted to the job, but that don't mean i don't also have alot to learn. With the right atmosphere people tends to loosen up so they can learn from each other

[@khalilsimmons6277]

Logger Wade

[@khalilsimmons6277]

Logger Wade

[@khalilsimmons6277]

Logger Wade

[@brennoncheshire8613]

Appreciate the videos and the atmosphere y’all work on wade, it’s a good time!

[@MetalThrasherX]

There are other problems i have with cat, to access the hydraulic reservoir, you need a wrench to take off the stupid plate just to get to the cap, at least jd the cap is easily accessible. To access the batteries you need a 9/16 wrench to take off 2 bolts. Alot of design flaws in cat that i dont see in jd or tigercat. My only complaint with jd is you pretty much need 3 arms to operate the wheel, shifter and joystick

[@monster89chevy]

Cummins_12valve86 if you’re used to a 648 g3 John Deere. Caterpillar 535C would change ya haha. Trust me, things pull wood like you would not believe. I was used to a Deere, after running the 535 for 2 years. Never look at a 648 the same

[@daniele.woodhead3542]

Myself I would say tigercat and Cat skidding are some thing to get use to but did either of them have a cable on them?

[@jjfielding129]

We've had two tigercat 630's a B and currently a C model and you can't fault them, working in both plantation and hardwood regrowth / old-growth logging, can't fault them at all really. The travel speed is slower than others but if your going fast all the time ya only gunna stuff the machine the more you can pull in a single drag is way more important than how fast you drive empty. we have 4 tigercat machines 3 harvesters and the skidded and I'd go tigercat over anything any day.

[@LoggerWade]

What brand do you run

[@LoggerWade]

Thanks for the comment.... I could see exactly what your getting at. The new stuff is alot more expensive, it is also a bit more productive, but if a guy couldn't keep the high tech version running than all it would be is a big waste of money... Nice to hear from the sounthern Hemisphere, and i don't have a clue what a purple heart is... Sounds big though, have a good one!!!

[@Pa-Logging-instructor]

Hey wade did you take the video at the PA timber show in rock springs pa. If so thats near where we are from. Let me know if it is and your going back this year. Again great job on the videos

[@Parikasawmills]

We are running Clark Ranger the newer ones 1998.. Mazaharally was runnin the ones build in late 70's early 90's...ours run on cummins CTA8.3..all the best..

[@FaZeredemption3]

you need to try a 635e/d. they are the hoss of tigercat. i dont think any other skidder comes close to the 635.

[@larrywilliamsii7533]

here in wv a good skidder operator told me that a 620 tigercat was burning 11-13 gallons of fuel an hour. a crew down the road had an old 380 timberjack and the produced more wood then the tigercat. I saw the 620 work and I thought it was really slow. as for cat skidders most here pulling mountains said the torq converters wouldn't last.

[@LoggerWade]

Read other one first!! So what i was getting at is i think they make the best one but till they give it more of a range they arn't gonna domanate the market like they should with there good engineering.

[@francesstratton695]

I didn’t know you had a Channel so long ago. But I sure enjoy watching!! 👍👍😎🇺🇸

[@johnpaulk994]

Can someone link me the video from the intro I’ve watched a lot of videos but have not found the video

[@keithwatson7658]

was the tigercat skidder joystick drive?

[@LoggerWade]

Uwe i know what your getting at and i agree, but we in select cut hardwood we can't run a skidder that big. I'll bet a company that can sure would enjoy a 635 they look like they would be awsome!

[@kyleharmon4245]

we ran a timberjack 460 for years, then when it was gettin worked on the deere they rented us sucked. had to pull less wood in a drag and always spun with the stupid direct drive. just this lat year we got a 2008 525c and itll outpull anythin else weve run and we love it. weve never had any problem with the grapple shape either

[@LoggerWade]

Kyle I figure it must have just been operator error we got a guy around here using a 525C he loves it too

[@khalilsimmons6277]

kyle harmon

[@CMDSR]

I see ya Wade playing with them new toys.

[@LoggerWade]

Thanks for the comment jeff!

[@LoggerWade]

Thanks for commenting jake!!

[@josephwatson519]

I would like to see the pro's and con's of grapple vs cable skidders

[@LoggerWade]

joseph watson I could do that sometime Joseph

[@josephwatson519]

Ok wade thanks

[@nellsonstout7001]

joseph watson I can tell you that in really steep ground it's nice to have a cable skidder

[@garybaker730]

Where were you at doing these demos

[@jeffmason7965]

My thoughts on the two skidders are just as yours....I really like the Cat...I Agree that they are almost to big,,You need to be pulling Alot of wood to make up for the fuel your burning..I run a 535B pulling pine down south for a little while..never could over load it. Couldnt Keep fuel in it either.You really have to be watching ahead of your skidder for the hood.Didnt like the air filter location..Between the 2..Cat wins out

[@Hennes003]

The 620D has 40hp less then the 630D and is a bit shorter. 630D is a better Skidder and probebly closer in size of the 525 Cat I think. The 40 extra hoses make quite a difference but you can chip the 620 to give it more oompf.

[@ralphy1989]

Do they have this every year and where?

[@LoggerWade]

Yes its at state collage Pennsylvania

[@ralphy1989]

@@LoggerWade what is the name of the event so i can look it up?

[@whatgoseshere]

Great video wade so did you end up getting one of the skidders or just demo them. keep up the good work.

[@garybaker730]

Have you used any timberjack skidders?

[@mainelogger753G]

John Deere bought what and painted green?

[@nellsonstout7001]

mainelogger753G Timberjack

[@wspycher100]

What kind of small drags do you call that. The tiger cat will pull double to triple that and will out pull the cat or Deere. The tiger cat is meant for power not speed. My boss has tiger cat and Deere he will be switching to tiger cat. He has nothing but problems with his 848H but not much with the GIII's

[@LoggerWade]

Actually to the best of my knowledge you compare (648,610,525) then (748,620,535) then (848,630,545). Lts face it all modern skidders are nice. But tigercat needs longer legs baddd!!!

[@sheikhabrahim3463]

Timberjack 550 and 550B were the best skidders from that company.John Deere bought it over and painted them green.So just imagine the rainforest foliage and the skidder are the same!What can happen there?I love that sound of a Detroit Diesel 6V-53 motor.Oh it barks and gets the attention of everyone.The only substantial problem with the 550 is its winch-the Gearmatic190.The 550 B had an improved winch.I think Clark.Its a trgedy they don't build them anymore.

[@masonh2538]

where are you from? im from maine and we call it a twitch

[@LoggerWade]

call what a twitch my accent

[@masonh2538]

Wade Etienne hahaha no not your accent we call the "load" a twitch

[@LoggerWade]

Oh I thought he meant I had turets

[@masonh2538]

Wade Etienne hahaha no

[@kevincallender9449]

The cats are faster on the ground but the functions don't work as fast as a Tigercat. The 545 is no where near the work horse a 630 is. We have one of each and I have run them both. The cat pulls the front wheels off the ground to easy and when it does it won't pull straight like the Tigercat will. I promise the Tigercat is much more operator friendly and way more comfortable. If I have to run one it will the the Tigercat.

[@LoggerWade]

Kevin we always in select cut timber. A big slow skidder don't look impressive in a select cut... But I know exactly what your getting at so no arguments here

[@mgroskla]

Do you own that rig ?

[@LoggerWade]

mgroskla no I was testing them, nice machines though

[@lowellmiller6663]

Power shift not torque converter. Makes a big difference.

[@stevehorne10000]

In the early 70's when cat first got into logging equipment there were at least 10 machines in their yard that mysteriously caught fire working for different companies.

[@LoggerWade]

Stephen Horne interesting...

[@LoggerWade]

Naw just playing and learning was fun though

[@Harry22sanders]

Really enjoyed the video. I have the same opinion as you, i believe are far as pulling wood Cat is the way to go. As far as cutting and loading we use Tigercat.

[@LoggerWade]

Intresting, thanks for the comment.

[@blacksmoke5009]

Maybe some day the engineers will get together with us mechanics and the operators and get the shit right lol! Great video wade thankyou

[@no1wrench]

Black Smoke Yager cat is the only company that Does listen to mechanics and opperators. Ever worked on one?

[@kevinshaiebly2664]

Its like that in farming also. Engineers need to come work in the stuff they design!

[@LoggerWade]

Tigercat has to make good cutter thats what that company was built on.

[@LoggerWade]

Aww man i hate it that i missed you. Would have loved to got it in the vid too, i tried to announce on the channel that i was gonna go hopeing that i could meet up with a tuber their. Hell we coulda shot the vid together. I'll gome back someday, love you guys country there

[@6911redneck]

Nice logging clips, i like to watch. Thanks...

[@larrywilliamsii7533]

yeah I think it was heat build up. but timberjack never seemed to have that problem

[@sheikhabrahim3463]

what an honest comment.You do know your machine.Cheers

[@LoggerWade]

Haha thanks joe, will do bud!!

[@MetalThrasherX]

You are not alone on the cat grapple shaped odd, i run a 535c and i hate everything on it including the grapple. I ran a jd 848h for 2 days vs a month on the 535c and i like the jd better. Ive never had an issue grabbing drags with the jd, the cat is a different story... It has too much curve and its hard to grab wood. Also i hate the steering system and the fact the seat doesnt turn around, at least the jd i was more sideways

[@LoggerWade]

Cool beans, thanks for all the good input

[@brew4173]

Wade what do you lime Wade what do you like about your 648h over your g3

[@LoggerWade]

brew not a lot better balance but the EGR is the downfall, it can pull a good load and the components are layed out better for hose failures other than that overpriced...

[@khalilsimmons6277]

Logger Wade

[@shawnevans58]

To be honest Wade, its not enough HP for your kind of logging

[@thomasbullock1923]

Doing a good job. I once work in logging

[@tobar9561]

Always like the cat skidders

[@LoggerWade]

***** well built and im not biased

[@bill605able]

must be logging in area 51 to have to kill the cam that much

[@ThatChipperGuy]

Both look like nice MACHINES!!

[@LoggerWade]

Hey they both nice, ain't no doubt

[@viseshseernam6103]

tigercat is the original one

[@sunillouis81]

Nothing beat a cat

[@MMikeHD3904]

EVERYTHING beats cat!

[@LoggerWade]

Ohh interesting heat build up?

[@LoggerWade]

Yeah i know the kinda setup you talking about, hopefully some day little rich for our blood now though.

[@LoggerWade]

Ok bud, will do!!

[@larryjennings9937]

Is that CAT still holding up? Just curious.

[@LoggerWade]

I don't know was new and way to expensive for my blood. I'm a dumpster diver

[@Hennes003]

You are probebly right. I am a Buncher guy lol. Ever try a 630 or 635. Everybody I know that runs them surely brags them up.

[@pbunyon2002]

Cat is definitely better. I have run them all and even some you probably never heard of like...Garret. The best skidders I have ever owned were the Rangers (68 series). They pull like crazy and are good on fuel. I had one for ten years before it burned in January. It was very easy and affordable to work on. Also you could easily boost the power to the point no other skidder on four wheels could compare. The skidder I have now is a joke..

[@MMikeHD3904]

Cat should stick to dozers!! Skidders are no comparison to tigercat!!

[@LoggerWade]

Thanks bud

[@LoggerWade]

Haha, steveyy! You keep your eyes on the road

[@stevebillow395]

I told u our fatcat flat out down hill on the road is only 10mph u all need a 848 an let me know when u get it I want to try it for u

[@buckmaster9923]

i run the 748Land i could put 3 of them drags together n pull 40 degrees no problem.

[@patreekiller]

Thats our new 648 at that show, should have played with that too. It would have been better to have one of the other three of our 648 there we have ecos on the front and rear of them.

[@timberbeastnz]

nothing pulls like a tigercat,damm incredible!!

[@dylanruppert4547]

you know i was always thinking of getting my cdl but now seeing you do this it looks so fun lol

[@Jd540lozere]

Dommage que le john deere 648 ne face pas le test

[@damiensmith7304]

nice skidders, john deer, timberjack are better but cat and tigercat are still really nice skidders

[@nellsonstout7001]

LilacWarrior4 I'll take Cat, Timberjack, Tiger at and Deere in that order. I'm new to it all but I Love the cat 518 that we use

[@LUNITICWILL]

john deere for farming, cat for road construction, and tigercat for forestry.

[@tommystewart9182]

I think caterpillar Skidders are the best ones made

[@MMikeHD3904]

That's what u get for thinking.. cuz its not!

[@bushwhacker5703]

In my opinion i would take the cat. The tigercat is too big and slow. I do like cat because its what i grew up with but im not saying tht john deere is not a good skidder. I honestly think the new ones r really good skidders. One improvement i like is the bump shift. All im saying is tht i think cat and john deere r about the same overall and even tho i grew up with cat i wouldnt mind at all to run a john deere. Thanks for the video wade!!!!!!!!

[@davidthurmond6735]

Nothing runs like a deere with a cat on its ass lol

[@austinebert286]

quarter million dollar skidders right there. Our 440c john deere is big. But not near close to this

[@jeremysullivan3328]

John Deere for the win !!

[@mainelogger753G]

Didnt know anyone still used a D model. I have three of them out in the graveyard. 848H is the way to roll.

[@LoggerWade]

Thanks bud!!!

[@deannegreenway4012]

I'm a tigercat and a cat guy both are good running skidders

[@LoggerWade]

yeah buddy hell they all good anymore and overpriced to boot...lol

[@terryburgett2241]

not enough curve in the grapples to let the logs roll when u clamped

[@LoggerWade]

that's what I thought

[@terryburgett2241]

what size was that h series john deere that was there

[@LoggerWade]

It was a 648H... Sitting on 24.5 32s, that's why it looks different. Sitting on narrower tires for steeper ground

[@terryburgett2241]

i hate that they changed color with the h series the yellow has been around for a long time did you try the 648 out?

[@LoggerWade]

No I figured it was just more of what I have been used to.. There's a guy that helps us from time to time, and he says that the Hs won't out pull our juiced up skidders. But I do like the torque converter, would help out on driveline wear

[@nellsonstout7001]

When I first saw this vidja and didn't know you as well, I thought "I'm gonna keep it casual." Now that I know ya better I can say "WHAT THE HELL DID THAT POOR KITTER DO TO DESERVE THAT? DAMNIT TATER YOU LEARNED THAT DAY TATER"

[@nellsonstout7001]

Also damnit tater where did them vidjas go!

[@qslogging]

After what you said and watching them im still a john deere man.... good video!

[@linhnguyenvan998]

Most people would sooner die than think; in fact, they do so

[@TheRukkis03]

Do u even skid bro?

[@LoggerWade]

TheRukkis03 not every day but yeah quite a bit,

[@LoggerWade]

TheRukkis03 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKCaioaAg6qMZsk here check this vid out

[@LoggerWade]

TheRukkis03 kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5myh5KYgap3iKs

[@steves9557]

Good job Wade

[@khalilsimmons6277]

Steve S