Small loader - any views?

[Marko]

Have been considering a skid steer for loading trailers and general handling around the yard but have been asked to consider a JCB 403 loader. It would not chew up the yard, will fit in a container etc etc.

 

Your thoughts very welcome on both the skid steer options and the 403

[Mr Ed]

Have you looked at something like this? - I've had really good succes with them.

http://www.multione.com/html/gt_series.html

[woodplans]

I like the Multione loaders, handy to have the telescopic reach.

Personally speaking i would stay away from skid steers, pain to get in and out of, bad visability and chew up the ground really easily. I used to have one and definetly do not miss it.

We now run a Weidemann 1240 on floatation tyres, works really well compact size 1.5 t lift, light enough to tow at 2.0 t and easily fits in a container.

 

http://www.weidemann.de/english/mod-intro.php4?id=000029

 

Others worth a mention are Kramer/Allrad

Atlas

Schaffer

 

There is the Avant range also, but i really did not get on with the one we had on demo, really fiddly controls and difficult to get on and off.

[Marko]

I hadn't realised there was now so much choice of compact loaders!

 

I have had a quick look at the two mentioned above and they would seem to be more adaptable than the JCB although I can't find in the tech spec if there is a constant pump aux hydraulic circuit although think there must be for brush attachments ect. Has anyone used them to power a splitter?

 

Also if anyone has already done their homework, how did they all stack up on price, aftersales support, resale value etc.

[Mr Ed]

I have an s20 Multione, I've developed quite a few attachements for CSF and been to the factory. I know the dealers / importers in the UK, so can put you in touch to get an excellent deal.

Look here for full specs- http://www.multione.it

 

Any of them have more than enough oil to whizz your splitter up and down, and the CSF machines can be fitted with 3 point lincage and PTO output shaft.

[Arbocop]

the AVANT is similar to the other two suggestions, have mainly used it on jobs for moving materials and wood arround, minimising man handling, but does get used in the yard a bit.

 

no one machine will do all, and consider how good and close your dealership is.

 

but the avant is good.

 

o yeh at last years aa trade fair there were a couple of that sort of machine around and june is not that far off??

 

kev

[Stephen Blair]

i was going to spend a lot of money on a yard machine, i demod a new tracked bobcat must have been about 3 ton. amazing piece of kit, my 6 months of summer crap was tidied in about 2 hrs. if you are loading and making money with it then fair enough but just for general tidying its money sitting about in the yard. Borrow a tractor and loader for a day or get a jcb in.

as for taking them out on site to make life easier it was more hassle than it was worth most of the time because of access and our ground conditions.

it was just another piece of kit to break down and give you hassle.

I cant recomend roofmounts enough if you are working within a small distance from the yard and are excellent for loading vehicles and tidying yard.

 

the tracked skidsteer was head and shoulders above a normal skidsteer and hardly left a mark if you took it easy, manouverability was amazing.but there was a 23k price tag

[Marko]

Woodplans - could you say where you got it from? According to the Weidemann website the nearest dealer is in Ireland.

[wills-mill]

There's a firm called 'PLG loaders' that are based out East, either Lincolnshire or Norfolk I think. Weidemann's seem to be the weapon of choice for Bernard Matthews and the other turkey barons.....

[woodplans]

Marko,

 

PLG loaders in Norfolk are the uk Agents:

 

http://www.plgloaders.com/

 

They sometimes have second hand trades, from memory ours was £14K about 18 months ago, new. ( + VAT )

 

Occasionally see them on ebay.

 

A mate of mine has a groundworks company he runs 4 of them, oldest is over 12 years, no major issues with any of them. It was this that prompted me to go with weidemann. To be fair there is not alot between the different brands as far as performance goes, so reliability and price should be the deciding factor.