A wheel feller buncher is a self-propelled harvesting machine that drives to each tree, grabs it with the
cutting head, severs the stem, and places it in a pile for a
skidder to pick up. The drive-to-tree design gives them a speed advantage over
tracked models.
Where They Work Best
Wheel feller bunchers excel on flat to moderately sloped ground with firm footing. They struggle in soft, swampy conditions where tracks would keep the machine from sinking. Most operators in the southeastern US prefer wheeled machines because the terrain allows it and the production rates are hard to beat.
Cutting Heads
The
cutting head is what makes or breaks a feller buncher. Options include disc saws, bar saws, and shear heads. Disc saws are the most common — they cut fast and handle a range of tree sizes.
Common Manufacturers
Caterpillar (500 series), John Deere (640 series), and Tigercat (700 series) dominate the wheeled feller buncher market. The CAT 563D and Deere 643L are two of the most popular models on the used market.
Browse used feller bunchers - wheel for sale from Forestry First.
