Here's a bit of history-still happening-FMC/KMC

[madill man]

nice model what is it built from

 

[firewwalker]

i work for soft track attack in yaak montana. i operate these fmc's and the two 560 skidgines we have. like us on facebook https://www.facebook.com/SoftTrackAttack

 

[Leebox525]

Acquired this old Dinosaur a few months ago. Sure is neat to run. Gotta figure out what to do for tracks and track tensioners. Also when I pull the lever to right it feels weak compared to the left. Very neat machine though. I knew what I was getting into when I bought it.

 

[JD955SC]

Nice Leebox! I wonder if M113 undercarriage will work for ya

 

[pamtnman]

End of an FMC

 

[Wildman Woody]

We just sold three FMC/KMC tracked skidders that we converted into forestry firefighting machines some time back. They're an interesting machine that might have had a future in logging if some of the early problems were fixed sooner.

They were originally built by FMC, and based off of one of their military tracked carrier designs. FMC made about 1100 of these things before selling the rights to KMC, based in Nelson, BC in about 1988. KMC is still around today but I'm not sure just how many new machines are sold nowadays.

They are basically a tracked carrier that can have pretty well anything you can imagine attached to it. diamond drills, augers, off-road manlifts (for power utilities), tracked dump trucks, welding machine carriers for pipeline work, and, in the case of forestry, log skidders.

We bought three units in about 1988 and used them for 4 or 5 years as grapple skidders. I believe they cost too much to operate so they were put out to pasture. They were very utilitarian--probably a leftover from their military beginnings--take a look at the photo of the cab interior. They were differential steer, and these ones were Detriot powered. However, they were a decent carrier and our management at the time decided to convert the machines to fire fighting water tankers with pumps and related equipment. I don't think they saw a whole lot of service but they sure look like they are ready for a serious fire!

I sure would like to hear some opinions and experiences from anyone who has used this equipment. Please correct me if I have any of the history wrong!

Jon.

Been operating an FMC 220 Soft Track T1 Skidgen and a M548 Soft Track T1 Skidgen for about the past 25 years. Great equipment, but like you said, super expensive to own. Here's a couple of pics of my equipment. Known far and wide as 'Montana Mountainmen With Heavy Metal'. Yaak MT is the current FMC capital of the world. Soft Track Attack owns and operates several. You can find us online at Wildfirefighters.com. Currently redoing our website for more info on this type of firefighting equipment.

 

[Coaldust]

Cool!
Welcome to the HEF.

 

[Wildman Woody]

Cool!
Welcome to the HEF.

My kinda Tribe, thanks!