Which Skidder Rental Should You Get?

Which Skidder Rental Should You Get?

Cat® skidder rentals make it easy to quickly remove fresh-cut trees from a wooded area. With so many affordable and reliable skidder options available, it's easy to find the perfect equipment to meet the needs of any application. 

Read on to learn more about the different types and configurations of skidder rentals you can find at your nearest Cat dealer and which one might be best to help you get the job done.

Types of Skidders for Rent

At The Cat Rental Store, we offer several different skidder models designed to take on the toughest challenges, each providing special features to handle unique tasks. The type of rental you need will depend on a number of mechanical and operational factors specific to your work site. 

Cable Skidders

A cable skidder hauls logs using metal cables and strong winches attached to the back of the machine. An operator outside the cab manually fastens the cable to the timber, and the winch works to pull it along behind the machine. A fixed arch below the cable gives lift to the ends of the timber, minimizing the amount of friction generated by the skid. 

While this type of machine does require more manual labor, one distinct advantage of using a cable skidder to move lumber is that the long cable can reach trees in areas that may not be accessible to other equipment. You should rent a cable skidder if you anticipate many of your cut trees will be difficult to reach.

Grapple Skidders

Unlike cable skidders, grapple skidders do not require an operator to connect to the timber manually. Instead, these skidders feature a boom arm and a hydraulic grapple bucket that can be maneuvered to grasp logs and drag them to their destination.

Grapple skidders have three typical boom arm configurations:

  • Single boom: These arms have two hydraulic cylinders, allowing you to raise and lower the grapple in one position.
  • Dual boom: Featuring four cylinders, these booms allow operators to control grapple movement at two points, both vertically and horizontally.
  • Swing boom: These booms resemble the arm of a backhoe and can swivel to grab spread-out logs without moving the machine.

Many rental grapple skidders from the Cat dealer network also feature secondary cable and winch setups, allowing you to get the best of both functionalities.

Tracked vs. Wheeled Skidders

The selection of rental skidders available through The Cat Rental Store features both tracked and wheeled skidders designed to navigate any terrain. Tracked skidders are ideal for softer surfaces and steeper slopes commonly found in mountainous forest areas. Their high traction and pulling force allow them to move large trees easily.

Wheeled skidders offer faster travel speeds than their tracked counterparts, allowing you the potential to accomplish more in less time. You'll want to consider the size of your trees, your terrain and how far you need to skid your timber before you select which skidder system is best for your project.

Find Rental Skidders at The Cat® Rental Store

When you locate your nearest dealer through The Cat Rental Store, you gain access to a team available around the clock to help you rent whatever you need from the people who do whatever it takes. Browse our dealers' available equipment online or give us a call at 1-800-RENT-CAT to request a free rental quote.  

Find The Cat Rental Store Near You