Feller Bunchers 101

A feller buncher is a useful piece of forestry equipment. Models come in a range of sizes, types, and feature offerings - and not all will suit a given company's needs. Read on to discover the essential information about feller bunchers, then visit Cascade Trader to shop feller bunchers for sale.

What Does a Feller Buncher Do?

Feller bunchers can grab hold of tree trunks, cut the stems off near the ground, and lower the stems to the ground. They can hold multiple harvested trees at one time and place them into neat stacks so that the trees are easily accessible for further processing. 

Feller bunchers are used for clear-cuts and thinning. They are not equipped to handle other types of forestry tasks, such as delimbing or cutting the wood into segments.

What are the Types of Feller Bunchers?

Feller bunchers come in two main types: wheeled machines or tracked machines. The right fit for your company largely depends on the work sites you frequent.

Wheeled feller bunchers are best for relatively even and smooth terrains. The wheels can quickly move over the land and reach destinations in no time. The wheels are also relatively easy to maneuver and handle as long as the terrain is mostly flat.

Tracked feller bunchers are ideal for terrain that is sloped and less stable. The tracks provide better stability, which is great for areas that require more traction. 

What are the Possible Attachments for Feller Bunchers?

Feller bunchers can pair with three main categories of attachments.

First, there are bunching heads. These can handle multiple stems efficiently, but are not equipped to handle processing tasks.

Second, there are processing heads. They can fell and process trees.

Third, there are felling heads. These can cut and fell single stems. They do not have processing abilities.

What Size Trees Can Feller Bunchers Handle?

Different feller bunchers can handle different tree sizes. The size of the tree that the feller buncher can tackle is determined by two things: the cutting head capacity and the feller weight limit. 

Attempting to cut trees beyond the equipment's capacity can pose safety threats to the operator and those in the area. Operating at the equipment's limit can be done, but keep in mind that it can decrease the machine's ability to bunch trees and could result in needing to fell one tree at a time. This can decrease overall productivity and increase the cost of operation. It's important to get a feller buncher that delivers the output potential needed without sacrificing efficiency.

Ready to shop feller bunchers for sale? Check out the selection at Cascade Trader. Explore the available models online or stop by our dealership in Chehalis, Washington. We also proudly serve Olympia, Washington.