Tigercat supplies the base carrier but that is only the beginning for Donald, who is challenged with the design and installation of the tanks and spraying equipment.
has always been concerned about weight and ground pressure. “We are very happy with the 35.5 tires and the stance of the tractor. It has been able to stand up well. The front and rear differential lock is really useful. We also added the EHS transmission to these two
new tractors which is phenomenal. When they start bogging in, the operators can feel the transmission cut in and it gives them a lot more power. Machine width was probably one of the biggest factors when Donald started dealing with Tigercat. To get to the required width, Tigercat designed an oscillating centre section to accommodate a fixed front axle in order to reduce the overall width of the machine. “So we are able to bring the tires closer in to the frame. And that fixed our problem,” explains Donald. Tigercat has incorporated the design into the 602 series skidders in a similar bid to reduce width for tight selective logging applications. Donald emphasizes the importance of closed cabins with proper climate control and operator protection, recognizing that open cab farm tractors are still used in the industry. The fatigue inducing effects of working in open air during humid summer weather conditions is physically draining and productivity reducing. A stick thrown up by a tire or a yellowjacket nest poses a real danger. “I am very concerned about our silviculture business,” says Donald earnestly. “We have the genetics, we have herbicides that target certain plants, we have
fertilization. We have all of this but still a lot of the equipment you see on other jobs is the same equipment that has been used for 30 years. So I really appreciate that Tigercat works with me. I have had their people in my shop. It’s a personal relationship. That is the only way I know how to say it. And Tidewater does a good job. Eight years ago, this was a new idea. And if Tigercat built one and it did not work, then that would have been a tremendous loss. They were willing to gamble with me and it means a lot to me. They’ve got more to sell than a piece of equipment. They’ve got people behind it. That’s the key.”
Robbins Forestry Inc.
This article originally appeared in Between the Branches, April 2019, the official publication of Tigercat Industries Inc.
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