SMALL BUT MIGHTY
BRYCE Suma may be best known for its award winning post knockers, but the founder of the Kelso-based family firm, Jock Bryce, has added a new string to his bow and it’s turning heads in woodlands and beyond.
He has now retired from the Bryce Suma Company, which is run by his sons Andrew and Stuart.
The newest arrival at Jock’s Kelso base is the compact but highly capable Avestavagnen Ranger Pro micro forwarder, a Swedish-made machine designed to revolutionise work in private forestry and woodland, primarily for use behind ATVs.
Nicknamed ‘small but mighty’ by Jock, the Ranger Pro is his latest investment and Avestavagnen has granted him the sole UK distribution rights.
It’s Jock’s eye for quality and ingenuity that drew him to the Swedish made Ranger Pro, produced by Avestavagnen, pioneers of the ATV forwarder concept, with nearly three decades of experience behind them.
Jock explains: “Seventy percent of Sweden is covered by forests, with 87 billion trees and 320,000 forest owners, and all this has helped create the demand over the last three decades for small but highly capable forwarders.
“Everyone that sees the Ranger Pro in action is very impressed. Typical comments have been, ‘It’s an incredible piece of kit’ and ‘I cannot get over the power that it has.’’
Jock adds: “I had a use for an outfit like this for moving windblow, and after seeing something similar at APF 2024, I did extensive market research and Avestavagnen ticked all the boxes. I’ve moved a fair bit of timber with this outfit myself, and what it can do is quite remarkable. It punches well above its weight.”
It is an extremely clever and well engineered design and despite weighing just 790kg, crane included, the micro forwarder can carry up to two tonnes. Its reach extends to 5.45 metres, with a 1m telescopic jib extension and 240-degree crane rotation and a maximum lift capacity of 420kg. The bogie axle system offers impressive ground clearance, contact, and control – effectively creating an eight-wheel-drive setup when combined with a quad bike.
Built for rugged work, the Ranger Pro features a steerable chassis and a sliding twin bogie axle system that can also be moved forwards and backwards by 60cm, allowing for even weight distribution when transporting long or short timber.
With the 14hp Honda Power Pack located up front, this added ballast results in an 8-wheel drive well-balanced unit for excellent traction and stability.
While it’s been designed primarily for private estate and woodland management, Jock sees possible potential for fencing contractors looking to diversify or offer additional services.
Prices start at around £17,900 for the Ranger Pro, including electro-hydraulic dual controls and Power Pack. With easy-to-operate button controls mounted on the quad bike’s handlebars and minimal maintenance requirements – mainly regular greasing – the system is built for simplicity and durability.
Lower-cost ATV forwarders are available.
There’s also a wide array of optional extras, including:
• Tipping body and clamshell bucket for soil, gravel or manure handling
• Demountable body with optional high-sided forest brash insert
• 100mm or 150mm scissor grapple
• 25m radio-controlled winch
• Chainsaw and tool holders
• LED lighting kits etc
• ATV rear suspension lock-out kit
Contact Details:
Jock Bryce
Tel: 07970 730567
Email: jockbryce@icloud.com
