Ranger Out-Works the Competition in Chile

Down in Chile it is winter in July, and the weather is cool. Like the US Pacific Northwest, this is ideal timber country, with plenty of moisture arriving from the Pacific Ocean, and mountains rising steeply from the coastal plain. It's no surprise that timber is a main industry here. A large population of Ranger skidders is hard at work pulling the plantation pine up the steep mountains and rugged topography of Chile's coast mountains.

Near Concepcion, Chile's forestry capital, Allied's Senior Vice President Bill Chan and Territory Manager Dan Embry recently spent time talking to loggers and forestry companies, getting a "feel for the local market." Vice President Juan Carlos and Branch Manager Hernan Cumsille from Ranger dealer CLEMSA provided a guided tour of several forestry concessions in the area. This is definitely cable skidder country and the Ranger Cable Skidder excels in this rugged terrain.

The steep mountains are a real test of a skidder in all areas. To work on such steep slopes, the skidder needs to have the stability to keep all the wheels on the ground and to provide balance.

The Ranger H67C pictured here clings to the slope like a mountain goat, allowing the loggers to operate in the most difficult terrain. Once they've grabbed a hitch of logs, the Allied winch delivers the pulling power to bring up a load quickly, to help maintain high rates of production. With 185HP, the H67C has all the muscle needed to climb the hills and to power the winch.

"Forestal Sur" is a logging company contracted to a major forestry company in this area and is owned and operated by brothers Sergio and Luiz Gomez. Sergio is a long-time fan of Ranger skidders, having taken delivery of his first Ranger skidder, a 664B, in 1981. According to the Gomez brothers, the Ranger skidders are way ahead of the competition. "We've tried out many types of skidders—the others do not come close to delivering the stability, the power, or the agility of the Ranger. Optimal power to weight ratio and machine balance are both critical for safety and production. Also, the speed and reliability of the Allied winch are second to none."

No matter where you look, the rugged Ranger skidder is a top performer under the most difficult conditions imaginable.