How to Choose the Right Base Machine for Your Falcon Winch Assist

When it comes to investing in a Falcon Winch Assist system, the base machine you choose plays a crucial role in how effectively the system performs on the slope. But with so many options available, how do you decide which one is right for your operation?

The answer starts with understanding your priorities. Are you aiming to keep capital expenditure low? Do you place a high value on local service support and parts availability? Or is pure on-site performance your top concern?

Every operation is different—and your choice of base machine should reflect what matters most to you and we help you identify what that is below.

Section One: The Four Considerations

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Capital Outlay – Getting the Most from Your Budget

For many contractors, the upfront investment is a major factor when choosing a base machine. A Falcon Winch Assist system can be fitted to a wide range of machines—from used older models with thousands of hours on the clock to late-model used excavators to brand-new, purpose-built carriers.

If managing capital outlay is your top priority, here are a few things to consider:

Used Machines: Retrofitting a well-maintained, late-model machine can be a cost-effective way to get started. Look for units with solid undercarriages and low hours on critical components.

Machine Compatibility: Some models require additional modification for the Winch Assist system, which increases time for the build process.

Finance and ROI: Consider total cost of ownership, not just the purchase price. Sometimes spending a bit more upfront on a more robust machine pays off long-term in reduced downtime and maintenance.

Personal considerations: If you’re a well-established contractor with a strong workflow and confidence in future work, a larger capital outlay may be a strategic long-term investment—often rewarded by increased reliability, lower maintenance, and better resale value.

For newer businesses or smaller outfits, finance is often a central part of the solution. In these cases, choosing a reliable used base machine that balances cost and condition can help keep monthly overheads manageable without compromising too much on performance.

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Serviceability – Staying Up and Running

Forestry is a tough environment, and uptime is everything. If quick servicing, parts availability, and local support are top priorities for your crew, your base machine choice should reflect that.

Dealer Network: Machines backed by strong dealer and parts support in your region can mean faster turnaround on repairs and servicing.

Familiar Bases: Choosing a base machine brand and model that your mechanics already know can reduce downtime and training requirements.

Diagnostic Tools: Newer machines often have advanced diagnostic systems that make it easier to troubleshoot and fix issues on the spot.

Personal considerations: Servicing support can vary widely by region. In areas where forestry, roading, and earthworks are more common, dealers often have stronger networks, better-trained technicians, and quicker access to parts.

If you’re operating in a more remote location, choosing a base machine that your local dealer already supports can save significant time and hassle.

Being able to access servicing, parts, or even loan machines through a local connection can make all the difference when breakdowns happen far from town.

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Performance – Power, Stability, and Versatility

If your number one priority is on-slope performance—especially in steep, demanding terrain—then base machine performance should lead your decision.

Hydraulic Power: Sufficient hydraulic flow and power is essential for smooth, responsive operation of the Winch Assist system.

Personal considerations: Your choice should also reflect the nature of your work. If your operation is focused purely on cable-logging or steep slope extraction, then weight and anchoring capacity are king.

But if you run a more diverse operation—mixing ground-based logging, cable yarding, or switching between tracked and wheeled winch assist setups—then agility, speed, and hydraulic flexibility become more important.

In these cases, a mid-weight, high-performance base machine with responsive controls may offer the best all-round solution.

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Section Two: OEM Base Machines at a Glance

Choosing the right base machine is critical to getting the best performance from your Falcon Winch Assist system. While many excavator brands can be adapted for steep slope work, some stand out for their proven reliability, service support, and suitability for forestry applications.

Below is a quick summary of leading OEMs and what type of contractor or operation each is best suited for—helping you make a more informed decision when selecting your next machine.

Komatsu

Best suited for contractors who consider the following:

• Larger, powerful machine in relation to its operating size
• Fuel-efficient engines and meeting stringent Tier 4 Final (or equivalent) is important
• Are a well-known reputable brand which has invested in their machines through many model generations to improve durability, ergonomics and general build quality.
• encorperate finance and often attractive rates as part of new purchases
• Operate a hybrid model of both approved service agents and in-house branches in New Zealand.

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Sumitomo

Best suited for contractors who consider the following:

• A dealer servicing model which often has a forestry presence.
• A hydraulic system is powerful, responsive, and not overly complicated or proprietary
• Wide-used base machine for steep-slope specific applications
• Reliable resale value for used machines

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John Deere / Deere

Best suited for contractors looking for:

• A highly reputable brand with forestry-specific presence via their Deere brand
• Under ‘Deere’ forestry cabs, reinforced booms, and stronger undercarriage can be factory
• A strong global dealer network, especially for forestry equipment. However, ensure your region has active support before committing.
• A software and technology invested solution including system and data driven approaches
• Mid-tier pricing

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Develon / Doosan

Best suited for contractors looking for:

• Build quality that has improved dramatically and is now recognised as a good value-option due to their lower price point.
• A dealer servicing model which often has a forestry presence
• A variety of models and options allowing customisation with different forestry attachments such as grapples, mulchers, and felling heads if versatility is important.

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Volvo

Best suited for contractors looking for:

• Exceptional fuel efficiency with ECO mode and hybrid technology options
• Good flow rate for performance-based winch assisting
• Purpose built options from factory and design and manufactured with forestry application in mind.
• Dealers who have a large presence around locations with larger use application
• Dealers who often have finance as an option and various promotions tied to machine finance

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Hitachi

Best suited for contractors looking for:

• Proven and reliable options for winch Assist conversions, especially second hand base machines.
• Flexibility with a selection of at least three options of base machine models depending on needs
• Added features – which are offered through their forestry-specific ZAXIS range.
• A strong history of reliability and product development. e.g Stage V emission compliant

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Sany

Best suited for contractors looking for:

• A rapidly growing dealer network, strong presence in New Zealand via Shaws
• Excellent value for power output
• A selection of at least two options of base machine models depending on needs
• Forestry-specific features from factory

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Cat (Caterpillar)

Best suited for contractors looking for:

• CAT (Caterpillar) is globally renowned for its robust build quality.
• Strong value retention (lower depreciation than other brands)
• All-in-one solution with finance, innovative products and servicing in one
• Less price-sensitive solutions for longer term business operations

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Hyundai

Best suited for contractors looking for:

• A cost-effective solution that is supported by wider distributorship
• Solutions can encorporate finance, servicing, and warranty at a dealer level
• Balances value for money and investment of new technology giving the best of both worlds.
• A brand gaining traction as a solid mid-tier choice in the 30t excavator category

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Section Three: Base Machine Trends for Falcon Winch Assists

Choosing the right base machine for your Falcon Winch Assist is becoming more strategic as the forestry industry continues to evolve. Here's the top 4 common trends we’re seeing.

Proven Longevity with Lower-Cost Base Machines

The winch assist application—especially with the Falcon system—is not inherently high-wear for the base excavator. Unlike harvesting or processing, the role of the base machine is more controlled, with fewer shocks and less continuous high-load demand. This has been seen over the last decade with the First Falcon Winch Assist attachments still working well on bases with tens of thousands of hours on them.

This means that lower capital outlay base machines, even from more budget-conscious OEMs, can offer exceptional long-term value. Contractors are increasingly seeing solid longevity and reliability from brands that offer more competitive price points—making these base machines a viable option without sacrificing performance in this specific application.

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Finance-Driven Choices in a Higher-Interest Economy

With interest rates still higher than the long-term average, financing large capital equipment has become more costly. As a result, many contractors are turning toward finance-inclusive solutions and looking for machines that strike the right balance between upfront cost, monthly repayments, and return on investment.

This has seen a shift toward machines that are either already on-fleet, readily available on the used market, or offered through OEMs and dealers with attractive finance packages tailored for forestry contractors.

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Purpose-Built Forestry-Ready Machines

The growing availability of forestry-ready machines—excavators that come from the factory or dealer pre-fitted with full guarding, reinforced structures, and climate-suited cabs—has made outfitting a winch assist setup more efficient.

Not only do these machines reduce the need for aftermarket guarding work, but they also appeal to logging contractors who want to minimise downtime and simplify compliance with forestry safety standards. Purpose-built options are becoming a popular, time-saving choice, especially among larger or multi-crew contractors.

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Brand Continuity Within the Operation

A practical but often overlooked trend is maintaining brand consistency across a contractor's existing fleet. Many operators choose to base their winch assist machines on the same OEM brands they already use for harvesters, processors, or loaders helping to consolidate servicing costs.

The benefits are tangible: shared parts inventories, familiar diagnostics systems, mechanic knowledge, and streamlined servicing all lead to reduced operating costs and less disruption in the field. For businesses already invested in a particular brand’s ecosystem, it often makes the most sense to keep it that way—especially when parts availability and dealer support are key considerations.