A John Deere 6120M has been transformed from a conventional mid-size agricultural tractor into a heavily protected forestry machine through a complete KOTSCHENREUTHER conversion that adds an integrated winch system, forestry guarding and a rear stabilizing blade designed for professional timber extraction.
The specialized 6120M UVV forestry tractor is currently being showcased at the John Deere Forum in Mannheim, Germany, where visitors can see the complete KOTSCHENREUTHER forestry package through early October.
The machine is significant less because of where it is being displayed and more because of how extensively the standard 6120M platform has been re-engineered for work in the woods.
6120M Forestry Conversion
At the center of the conversion is KOTSCHENREUTHER’s fixed-mount forestry configuration.
Instead of simply hanging a conventional three-point winch behind the tractor, the system integrates the winch closely into the rear structure. KOTSCHENREUTHER says this arrangement moves weight farther forward than a conventional three-point-mounted winch, improving weight distribution and allowing the tractor to develop greater pulling force before the front axle begins to unload.
That distinction matters in real forestry work. When skidding heavy timber, tractor stability depends not only on engine power or winch capacity but also on where the pulling forces are transmitted into the chassis.
The conversion can use an 8-ton or 10-ton double-drum winch. KOTSCHENREUTHER also offers hydraulic rope payout controlled through the radio remote system, while one side of the winch can optionally be limited to 6.5 tons for applications using lighter cable.
Behind the tractor is a removable Bergstütze, or forestry stabilizer blade. It serves several functions: stabilizing the tractor during winching, handling and stacking logs, and grading or clearing extraction trails.
Its location immediately behind the rear wheels also allows logs to be pulled close to the tractor, which improves load distribution while skidding.
Double-acting hydraulic cylinders allow the support to actively lift or stabilize the machine. KOTSCHENREUTHER designed the assembly to be removable within minutes, after which the tractor’s lower links can be reinstalled so the three-point hitch and rear PTO remain available for conventional implements.
Full Forestry Protection
Operating in timber places loads on a tractor that are very different from field work.
Branches, stumps, rocks and logs can damage steering components, cooling systems, fuel tanks, lights, hydraulic lines and the tractor’s underside. KOTSCHENREUTHER therefore surrounds the 6120M with a much more extensive protection package.
Available equipment includes engine and transmission skid plates, a steel fuel tank, side engine protection, steering linkage protection, headlight guards, branch deflectors and protective structures around the cab.
The company’s forestry specification also uses reinforced forestry wheels with valve protection and removable fenders. Removing the fenders during particularly demanding forest operations prevents them from being torn away by trees or debris while allowing them to be reinstalled for road use.
The result is considerably closer to a specialized skidder in concept than a standard farm tractor equipped with a forestry winch.
John Deere 6120M Power
Underneath the forestry hardware remains one of John Deere’s compact 6M platforms.
The 6120M uses a 4.5-liter four-cylinder John Deere PowerTech diesel engine. Forestry versions documented by KOTSCHENREUTHER are rated at 120 hp, with Intelligent Power Management allowing output to rise significantly under qualifying operating conditions.
One current KOTSCHENREUTHER forestry specification lists maximum output at approximately 145 hp, or 107 kW, while another fixed-winch configuration specifies 120 hp rated output, a 140 hp constant-power range and maximum torque of 562 Nm at 1,600 rpm.
The relatively compact four-cylinder layout is an advantage in forestry because it keeps the tractor shorter and more maneuverable than many six-cylinder machines offering comparable maximum power.
Wheelbase is approximately 2,400 mm, a dimension KOTSCHENREUTHER specifically highlights in its forestry tractor designs as an advantage on narrow, steep and winding forest trails.
Depending on specification, the 6120M can be equipped with transmissions including AutoQuad Plus or John Deere’s continuously variable AutoPowr system.
KOTSCHENREUTHER forestry examples have been configured for a 40 km/h maximum road speed, which gives the machine another advantage over a dedicated skidder: it can travel between nearby forestry sites under its own power rather than requiring transport for every move.
114 L/min Hydraulics
Hydraulic capacity is equally important once a tractor begins operating winches, stabilizers and forestry attachments.
Documented 6120M forestry configurations use a pressure-compensated hydraulic system with up to approximately 114 liters per minute of total flow. That provides the hydraulic capacity required for the conversion while still allowing the tractor to retain conventional agricultural and municipal implement capability.
The tractor’s full-frame architecture also provides a useful foundation for this type of conversion. John Deere has long used a structural steel frame on its Mannheim-built mid-size tractors, allowing loads from attachments and additional protective equipment to be carried through the frame rather than relying entirely on transmission and engine castings.
That architecture is particularly valuable when a machine is subjected to repeated winching loads and heavy forestry protection.
More Than a Farm Tractor With a Winch
KOTSCHENREUTHER has previously submitted John Deere 6120M forestry tractors for evaluation by Germany’s Kuratorium für Waldarbeit und Forsttechnik, or KWF.
One evaluated configuration used a double-drum winch rated at 80 kN per drum together with forestry equipment and a front-loader grapple. Another 6120M configuration evaluated by KWF was designed around lighter forestry equipment, a single-drum winch with constant-pull control and a front-loader log grapple.
That history helps explain the Mannheim machine. This is not an experimental one-off assembled purely for display. It represents an established approach to converting an agricultural tractor into a professional forestry tool while retaining much of the versatility, road capability and service infrastructure of the original machine.
For contractors who do not require a dedicated skidder working full time, that combination can be attractive. The tractor can perform timber extraction and winching work in the forest, then regain access to its PTO and three-point hitch for other jobs once the removable rear support is taken off.
On Display in Mannheim
The converted 6120M is being displayed at the John Deere Forum at John-Deere-Strasse 70 in Mannheim through early October.
The Forum is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Its location is particularly fitting because Mannheim is one of John Deere’s most important tractor manufacturing centers.
About John Deere
John Deere traces its history to 1837 and is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of agricultural, construction and forestry equipment.
Deere & Company reported $45.684 billion in worldwide net sales and revenues for fiscal 2025, with net income of $5.027 billion. The company employed approximately 73,100 people at the end of the fiscal year.
Mannheim is John Deere’s largest tractor manufacturing site in Europe. The German facility employs roughly 3,600 people and produces 27 basic tractor models in the approximately 90 to 250 hp range for markets around the world.
John Deere tractor production in Mannheim dates back to 1956. The factory has since produced more than two million tractors and has previously been reported to have annual production capacity of around 40,000 units.
About KOTSCHENREUTHER
Kotschenreuther Fahrzeugbau is a German specialist in vehicle construction and professional forestry equipment. The company traces its history to 1952 and is based in Bavaria.
Its forestry division specializes in converting conventional tractors into machines capable of demanding timber and woodland work. Equipment includes full forestry protection packages, fixed and detachable winch systems, stabilizer blades, reinforced components and reverse-drive conversions.
KOTSCHENREUTHER works extensively with John Deere platforms and offers forestry solutions for tractor families including the 6M, 6R, 7R, 8R and 9R series.
The converted 6120M shown in Mannheim demonstrates the company’s approach particularly well. Instead of turning the tractor into a single-purpose machine, KOTSCHENREUTHER adds the protection, pulling capacity and stability required for professional forestry while preserving much of the original tractor’s road mobility, PTO capability and implement versatility.
Source: www.kotschenreuther.eu
