SFWDA donates heavy equipment to Friends of Uwharrie

trailhugger

trailhugger

Human Resources
Administrator
Joined
Mar 19, 2005
Location
Raleigh
A message was received from SFWDA:

The Southern Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA) owns a Fiat-Kobelco FB 200 that was used in the maintenance of the Upper Tellico OHV Area. This is a machine that is exactly like the one used to develop most of the Black Mountain OHV trails in Harlan County, KY. It is an extremely off road friendly 4wd, 4 wheel steer, 4 wheel crab loader/backhoe. With the closure of the Upper Tellico trail system, the machine not been used for several years.

SFWDA would like to donate the machine for use at the Uwharrie OHV trail system. As it has been sitting idle, in the woods, the machine is in need of some repair. SFWDA will deliver the machine to FOU storage in Uwharrie National Forest at no cost to Friends of Uwharrie.

SFWDA remains committed to supporting and maintaining the Uwharrie OHV trail system as a part of their continuing effort to provide 4wd enthusiasts with a voice in conservation, education and recreation in regards to public use of public lands.

NC4x4/FOU/SFWDA membership will be responsible for repair and continuing maintenance for the use of this machine in the course of work days and trail repair/maintenance. We may find that, upon receipt of the machine, that repair costs exceed our current funding or the machine's usefulness. At that time we can make a determination regarding what to do with it. Even with some repair and maintenance required, this is a generous donation, as the machine would cost $20-30K to buy.

I hope this says to others, as it does to me personally, that the hard work of Friends of Uwharrie and NC4x4 members to maintain the trails and our, collective, continued efforts to ensure and expand OHV access in the Forest has not gone unnoticed!
 
I might know a mechanic accidentally. Granted i am more at home with Land Cruisers but hey, i will help with getting / keeping it running .

And a HUGE thanks to them for helping us.
 
I have a shop we can service and do repairs at if needed. Its about an hour out...
 
If the motor, trans,and hydraulic pumps are good then the rest is fairly easy to repair. We have plenty of competent people with great mechanical skills and tools to keep this machine up.
Although everyone thinks they can jump on a machine and start pulling levers and call themselves an operator, we will need to be selective of who uses it.
This is the best news I've heard out of SFWDA in years
 
R Q said:
If the motor, trans,and hydraulic pumps are good then the rest is fairly easy to repair. We have plenty of competent people with great mechanical skills and tools to keep this machine up.
Although everyone thinks they can jump on a machine and start pulling levers and call themselves an operator, we will need to be selective of who uses it.
This is the best news I've heard out of SFWDA in years
Click to expand...

I think this should be a goal of FOU to get more people trained on the equipment at hand. It will definately help us in the long run as the equipment will last longer and then be easier to service.
 
Great news, Cydney! And thanks, Darin, for firing in there with your offer of mechanical help! I will make a donation toward the repair costs! RQ is right, you can't just jump on and go, I've tried it :) Nick, Witchdoctor on this forum, has 30 years experience operating these types of machines. I'm sure he would be glad to help operate or teach necessary skills. Surely there are others on the forum in this business also.
 
I have been building heavy equipment for 17 years. Somebody pm me when it's time to work on this. I will donate some of my knowledge & time. I also have contacts to get parts (pumps/cylinders) much cheaper..
 
And there we go. I think we can get / keep this thing running with everyone on here.

I think this needs to be brought up in a couple days as to a good spot to keep it, unless i am braindead right now and we already got a good spot.
 
I think Scott Fields is going to let FOU store it in the UORTC barn.
 
Can we work on it there?
 
There is at least generator power, so I think so.
 
ok, transport to this barn?
 
I think we could talk Chris into some power assistance when we need it maybe.
 
There is power at the barn no generator needed.
 
JC said:
Great news, Cydney! And thanks, Darin, for firing in there with your offer of mechanical help! I will make a donation toward the repair costs! RQ is right, you can't just jump on and go, I've tried it :) Nick, Witchdoctor on this forum, has 30 years experience operating these types of machines. I'm sure he would be glad to help operate or teach necessary skills. Surely there are others on the forum in this business also.
Click to expand...
FYI I'm an "operator" not a lever puller! :) I've been running construction and farm equipment my whole life.
 
I too can donate time, I can also make up some new hoses if they are needed for hydro functions, it probably needs a good grease gun run, all filters and oil changed.
 
It's double joy sticked
 
Do these operators need to attend any type of safety course to work on the forest service properties? I'm thinking of the crushed thumb last year. Is there a requirement from the fores service like being a sawyer?
 
Do not quote me on this but i think this is also one of the things FOU is going to do. Setting up the teaching / classes / getting people qualified on stuff.
 
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