Deere Specifications

John Deere's history goes back to a blacksmith shop in Grand Detour, Illinois, but their forestry equipment business really started when they acquired Timberjack in 2000. That purchase gave Deere a complete line of purpose-built forestry machines and a global dealer network to support them.

The 600 series skidders — the 648L and 648H in particular — are everywhere in logging country. They're known for good power, decent fuel economy, and Deere's electronics, which some operators love and others tolerate. The 640 series wheeled feller bunchers compete directly with CAT's 500 series, and the 800 series track feller bunchers are popular in the Pacific Northwest and Appalachian operations.

Deere also makes harvesters and forwarders for cut-to-length operations, which sets them apart from some of the other forestry OEMs that focus exclusively on whole-tree harvesting.

One thing that keeps coming up with Deere equipment: the technology. Their JDLink telematics, TimberMatic controls, and intelligent boom control are more advanced than most competitors. Whether that's a selling point or a headache depends on who you ask.