Looking for input on buying Farmi or Uniforest winch.

[Gordon Gould]

Thanks for the links and confusing me further! :laughing:

Part of the problem I'm having is finding people that own these things for advice. The second aspect is other than a importer/distributer nobody carries them in stock. Farmi won't have any in the country in the size I need for 4-5 weeks and there has been an "update" to the new version in that it uses bands. The regional rep said he wasn't sure if he liked this update and I'm so clueless I don't even know what "bands" he's talking about!

I have been unable to find the "Five winch shootout" article where somebody compares Farmi, Uniforest, Fransgard, Tajfun and Norse skidding winches. The pluses and minuses of each and oh yeah, the benefits of hydraulic versus manual winches in the size I want to buy. Can somebody point me to that article?!

I think I'm going with the Uniforest because I have been to the Importer and they seemed like they were knowledgeable, they have them in stock and a full array of parts, should I need them.

You may be worrying to much. I can understand though. They are expensive and they are not a commonly used impliment like a box blade. While there are some minor differences a "shootout article" would be very boring because all the standard units are all so similar in functionality and quality.

You can rest assured that all of the major winch manufacturers make a product that is well up to the task at hand and they will all last a long long time. They are very simple brute force devices. I have had mine for 15 years. It has outlasted the dealer I bought it from and never had a problem. And I use it a lot.

I would especially not worry about a Farmi design change. Farmi has a very long track record of setting the standard for winch quality.

I would welcome you or anyone else interested to come try mine. I am in the St. Johnsbury, VT area.

 

[CalG]

Gordon, Have you any thoughts on the band brakes fitted to the uni Forest?

Lots of additional parts compared to a pawl.

 

[motownbrowne]

How do you adjust the clutch on the hydraulic unit? The manual clutch on my farmi is super simple. I ask because you're using a winch with a lot of pull likely enough pull to move your tractor pretty easily. If that clutch is set to slip at the wrong tension, things could get ugly fast.

I think the bands you're talking about is the braking system. Band brakes are considered an advantage, but as pointed out, are more complicated. If I were you, and about to drop that kinda cash, I'd be pretty insistent on running both kinds the dealer has, manual and hydraulic. Personally, I think manual works great for me, and it's super simple to work on and understand. If you're using it a lot, and doing lots of long pulls, and not afraid of the electronics, hydraulic might be better, but I'd want to be sure before I bought it

Good luck.

 

[UpNorth1]

Yeah, I don't think you are going to find a lot of differences, I don't think you can go wrong with any of them really...Here's some reading from the forestry forum on this: http://www.forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=70820.0
The hinged butt plate on the Norse is one feature I don't think any others have. If I ever have the extra $ for one of these it will probably be the Norse simply because Labonville's is the closest to me compared to other dealers...

 

[Gordon Gould]

Gordon, Have you any thoughts on the band brakes fitted to the uni Forest?

Lots of additional parts compared to a pawl.

I am not familiar with how they did it so I can't say much. If it is just on/off like the pawl brake it might be a little more positive than the pawl brake when there is no load on the cable. The pawl can unlatch when there is no tension on the cable. The pawl needs tension to lock in. The pawl is fine with some tension on the cable. The anti lash-back friction brake will hold the cable from playing out on it's own if the pawl comes unlatched with a free cable. But if they made the band brake so that you can control the let down of a load with variable braking action that would be a definite plus in my mind. It would make things like loading a trailer with a boom pole much safer and easier.

There must be a reason they changed to the band brake. I you find out what it is let us know.

 

[GMIslander]

TR80H | Les distributions Payeur
In Quebec right next to VT and NH

 

[exiled cheesehead]

Hi Deerherd.

I don't see in the above thread if you bought a winch or not? I can tell you that if you get the Uniforest 65H, you won't be disappointed. I have had one for a number of years and it is a very low maintenance piece of equipment and as one of my relatives said "when it pulls, the whole woods appears to be moved". It is a beast for pulling trees. Most of the time I pull trees of all sizes just with my 91 hp JD idling very quietly. I have not come across a tree of any size on our farm that it wouldn't get out of the woods. You definitely want to go with the hydraulic option. I have the tethered hydraulic (no remote) and it is great to run from the tractor seat or just off to the side. Good luck with your purchase.

 

[1026mrg]

Thanks for the links and confusing me further! :laughing:

Part of the problem I'm having is finding people that own these things for advice. The second aspect is other than a importer/distributer nobody carries them in stock. Farmi won't have any in the country in the size I need for 4-5 weeks and there has been an "update" to the new version in that it uses bands. The regional rep said he wasn't sure if he liked this update and I'm so clueless I don't even know what "bands" he's talking about!

I have been unable to find the "Five winch shootout" article where somebody compares Farmi, Uniforest, Fransgard, Tajfun and Norse skidding winches. The pluses and minuses of each and oh yeah, the benefits of hydraulic versus manual winches in the size I want to buy. Can somebody point me to that article?!

And my local "dealers" are more than willing to order up what I want but I know more than they do, which isn't very much. And no, they don 't actually stock anything to gaze at prior to purchase.

I think I'm going with the Uniforest because I have been to the Importer and they seemed like they were knowledgeable, they have them in stock and a full array of parts, should I need them.

It may be worth checking out Wallenstein as well. Good winches. Made just north in Canada. There is at least one dealer in the 315 area code, likely more. Even if they have to have one shipped in, will likely be shorter from Canada than across the pond.

We have an FX90. Has done great for us so far... just over 4 years old. If I am not mistaken the Wallensteins may be less expensive than some of the others. Pretty sure that they are less $$ than the Uniforest. At the same time, they are very solid units.

 

[Coyote machine]

I have an Igland model #4001, made in Norway. It is an AWESOME winch, and with a clamshell snatch-block will pull 8000#s. No hydraulics, no remote; though one is available.
The line cord to set the brake and activate the clutch is easy to use and one can apply the amount of pressure needed on the clutch very easily. I usually work with a man to hook up multiple logs at once and I operate the winch from near the tractor. I use my winch a lot, and it has performed flawlessly. I also have one of their log grapples and it amazing too. With the two of them I can move any tree on planet Earth!
I bought both here in VT. Here's Igland's site:Igland AS