Forest Operations > Conduct Skidder Operations > Skidder Operation

Forest terrain

When snigging a full grapple load of trees in forest areas, it is important to visually check the forest terrain.

When you are moving, feel the motion of the machine as it is climbing over rocks, stumps, hardwood, tree tops, dropping into holes and / or angle changes.

What happens to the front of the machine will happen to the back, so you should make allowances when snigging large loads to keep the machine upright.

You must be aware of the cost of rollover damage to the machine, the loss of production, and sometimes personal injuries.

Your reputation as an operator can be affected. Keep the speed slow to avoid rollovers.

When snigging trees off side slopes, always engage the diff-locks, and use minimum power while moving.

Failure to do this could result in the machine slipping sideways and pinning it against standing trees.

Driving over blackberry bushes and tree tops on the side slopes should be carried out with care, as the machine can slip sideways, the tyres grip suddenly and the machine may rollover.

Refer to local forest practise manuals for allowable degrees that the machine can work at safely.

Fig 2