Small Tree Harvesting with a Farm Tractor and Crane Attached to the Front

A farm tractor was modified to become a single-grip harvester. A forest crane was attached to the front. Time studies on 695 trees in a clear cut stand and 793 in a thinned stand indicated that productivity was similar that of Nordic specialized harvesters and of farm tractors with a rear-mounted crane. The ability to operate was good where terrain was easy and ground surface was first class. Rough terrain slowed down moving speeds considerably because of the rigid frame. Ergonomic assessment according to a 13-point checklist appeared to be not at the same level as that of specialized Nordic forest machines, but some of the ergonomic factors could be improved rather easily and at low cost. This machine can also be used for other types of work such as cleaning verges from bushes and in conventional farming operations, which have different ergonomic demands. The relatively low investment cost compared with that of specialized Nordic machines should contribute to reduced ownership costs