ALW:dl A3 3/24/81 24175 SLASH GATHERING VEHICLE A vehicle for removing slash from steep logging slopes includes an anti-skid propulsion system characterized by a power winch for reeling in an uphill-anchored cable and a pair of crawler tracks driven in synchronization with the winch. The vehicle has an articulating tail boom for working against the cable to assist in maneuvering the vehicle along the slope and stabilizing the vehicle during slash gathering operations. A knuckle boom which is extendable from the vehicle for gathering slash within a relatively large area around the vehicle and preparing the soil for planting. A slide mechanism is disposed at the end of the knuckle boom for selectively varying the overall length of the boom. The slide mechanism includes a pair of claws which can be operated as a grapple for gathering slash or as a rake for scarifying the forest soil. The slide mechanism can be tilted for optimum orientation of the claws during raking.
