About · Komatsu 855Overview
The Komatsu 855 is a purpose-built cut-to-length forwarder designed to transport harvested timber from the felling site to the roadside landing. Sitting in the mid-to-large forwarder class, it is engineered for demanding Nordic and Central European forestry cycles where load capacity and ground-pressure management are primary operating requirements. The 855 designation places it within Komatsu Forest's numbered forwarder lineup, positioned above entry-level carriers and oriented toward contractors running high-volume extraction shifts.
Typical applicationsWhere this machine is used
The 855 is used primarily in final-felling and thinning operations where substantial timber volumes must be moved efficiently over soft, uneven, or sloped terrain. Its forwarder configuration makes it suitable for long-extraction-distance sites where repeated loading cycles and roadside sorting are standard practice. Contractors in plantation forestry, state forest concessions, and large private estates routinely deploy machines of this class to maintain pace with high-output harvesters.
Used-market inspectionWhat to check before buying
Inspection of a used forwarder in this class should prioritize the condition of the articulated frame joint and the slewing ring, as these components absorb cumulative stress across the machine's working life and are costly to address. The crane boom, rotator, and grapple should be checked for seal integrity and play in all pivot points. Drive axles, bogies, and differential locks warrant close examination, particularly on machines that have operated in rocky or abrasive terrain. Hydraulic system cleanliness is a reliable indicator of maintenance discipline, and oil sampling for metal particle content is recommended before purchase. Tire condition deserves specific attention given the unit cost of forestry tires at this machine size. Buyers should request full service records and, where possible, machine data logs from the onboard computer to validate hours and identify fault histories.
Current marketPrice position
Within the mid-to-large forwarder segment the Komatsu 855 is cross-shopped most directly against comparable machines from John Deere, Ponsse, and Logset, all of which compete on load capacity, crane reach, and drivetrain reliability in similar operating environments. Komatsu Forest's integrated engineering approach, combining the crane, bunk, and powertrain under a single manufacturer, is a differentiating factor relative to some competitors that source major subsystems externally. On the used market, the attributes that move a machine within its price band are accumulated engine and transmission hours, boom configuration and crane model fitted, the presence or absence of a weighing system, tire specification and remaining tread depth, service history documentation, and overall structural condition of the frame and bogie bogies. Machines with full dealer-stamped service records and matched tire sets command stronger positioning than those with gaps in documentation or mixed tire wear.