Guess?

I think you pretty well have to be related to me or work in the logging industry to know what this machine is. I've spoke with insurance companies to Worker's Compensation and they all say "huh?" when I tell them the name. After a brief explanation of just what it does, they still say "huh?" :) It's not a bulldozer, not a caterpiller, and not a road builder thingy... I've heard plenty of 'em.
The next time you are fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of one, usually on the back of a lowbed, although you might find yourself in the forest one day and come across a logging show, you can pick it out on the landing and say "Hey that's a skidder!" and impress all your friends. (Especially if you work for an insurance company).

748E John Deere Grapple Skidder

What kind of a Logger's wife would I be if I didn't post pictures of our machine? This is what my hubby runs all day, usually around 12 to 15 hours or more, 6 to 7 days a week. Sometimes he's close to home but more than likely he's in a camp somewhere. Technically I own it, and he operates it :) The skidder is usually out in the bush. It has a grapple which is used to gather trees that have been cut down and need to be hauled onto the landing to be further processed.

Hubby is moving scrap wood in the backyard because next year I'd like to expand my garden. He's usually on some mountain hillside, pretty much straight up and down so this is a piece of cake for him.

We have some down-time right now due to the mill closing, and hopefully there's some jobs in the near future. While it's nice to have the machine home because everything is much easier to do, I don't want it home for too long, hubby can go back to work anytime! If you've stuck with me this far you must be related or a man, either way here's a video clip of the machine in action. Someday I'll take some video while in the bush, I don't go out very often, it's a whole different view and you must have a touch of crazy in your blood to run it! (Don't worry I have hubby insured).... and yes I have operated it too!