monkeybusiness

There's only one size option now - 2.3l. Mine is the twin turbo (I think it's 190hp). The upcoming Merc pickup is based on the Navara and will apparently have a 3l V6 - that will be a good tool (but undoubtedly be horrendously expensive). If Nissan fit that to the Nav I'd seriously consider it.

I know this place is full of haters, but my new Navara tows very well. I wasn't sure about going down in engine size but it is very very good - loads of grunt.

Yeah - it's too slow for most stuff in creep (and a faff to change between ranges unfortunately) and a little bit 'keen' for the bigger trees in 1st low as it is running at full revs for the mulcher. This particular site was mostly cab-height stuff though, and it was largely happy at it's own speed in 1st. It's 150hp and manages the mulcher well to be honest - you definitely wouldn't want any less power though (I think you could always use more than you've got with these machines to be fair!). The mulcher is a Berti/Teagle DT ECF250, and does a great job for a swinging flail machine. I hear/agree with you TCD regards the risk zone - the guys were well to the side (it's a bit deceiving in the video) and the machine only sends stuff 'at pace' straight forwards and backwards, but they have strayed a bit too close really.

A little vid of my Deutz Agrotron having a workout on the mulcher. [ame] [/ame]

They arr a great idea but the ones I've seen appear to have deformed a bit (possibly due to the sun on a hot day?). The toolbox doors don't look amazingly secure.

I run older out-of-warranty Greenmechs and know them pretty well (with a massive amount of my knowledge gained hands-on with direction over the phone from their very helpful technical support). Two of my machines cost less than one new equivalent (whatever the manufacturer), but they do require good maintenance (but so does a new one). I certainly wouldn't consider them worthless/unreliable after 3 years (with the exception of cheap Chinese crap, I don't think there are any manufacturers who supply woodchippers into our marketplace that are as poor as you suggest). When looked after properly chippers are not unreliable - we've got a 1928 Safetrac with over 3000 hours on it - it isn't pretty but it turns wood into chip. My thought process for operating this way is that if/when I suffer a breakdown, I'm not totally reliant on that single machine. It gives a bit of breathing space in the event of a serious failure. Big expensive failures are pretty infrequent in reality if you are handy with the grease gun and keep an ear out for strange noises. It becomes harder if you are sending lads out operating older machines - the maintenance regime needs to be top notch then, with potential issues picked up in the workshop before they aren't noticed out on site... And a brand new machine can become unusable just as quickly as a second hand one if abused/not maintained. As for the subject of this thread, I take my hat off to Forst. They stepped straight into the marketplace with a viable product and appear to stand behind it/support it wholeheartedly. If I'm honest I think their appearance forced other manufacturers to up their respective games, bringing new machines out with further advances in design that we perhaps wouldn't have seen so quickly. I have read/heard about various issues with Forst machines, but have seen/experienced issues with all of their competitors at one point or another. It has been said before many times but is worth reinforcing - parts availability and dealer/manufacturer backup is worth far more than the badge/colour of the machine you end up operating. That is what will get you back up and running WHEN you experience issues.

Hi - we've got a small site clearance in Llangefni next Wednesday/Thursday and I could do with a home for the logs and chip somewhere on Anglesey, or close to Bangor. If anyone can help please give me a ring/text on 07970188050. Cheers, Dan.

Simon - take a day off and attend one of the AA workshops. They are free and will give you all the info you need. Whether you end up going through the Arb Approved process afterwards is up to you - however I can guarantee that you will come away from the day benefitting. They explain exactly what they are looking for in an extremely friendly and professional way and you will definitely look at aspects of your operations in a different way afterwards. It'll help you be honest with yourself in terms of any weaknesses in your business model - speak to Paul and get yourself along. (For the record, I have historically sat on the fence with regards AA Approved Contractor status. The workshop made me realise the real benefits of the scheme, but I have yet to enrol. I definitely benefitted from attending from a business point of view and will undoubtedly go for Arb Approved status at some point in the future. There is no hard sell - I found it a really useful day).

Speak to Prees Heath Forest Nursery - 01948841353

Policed/enforced by whom? What are the possible consequences if not adhered to by the new house owner? The developer is no longer involved, so can't be chased/penalised.

If it's not TPO'd/conservation area I'm pretty sure you can do what you want once building works are finished/signed off. It's a bit of a joke really.

There's a fella selling a tidy looking JS130 for 10k - it's an old sumitomo machine but looks good for the money IMO. Haulage might ruin the job for you though.

Where it could be good would be for running a heavy attachment on a small machine (grinder with own engine etc).

I'd check the spec of the in-tank filter before dropping all the oil to swap it - a lot of the time they are pretty course open mesh, designed to catch large bits of swarf etc that can end up in the system during machine assembly. The majority of important filtration is performed by the easier to access main filter, that should definitely be replaced as stipulated by the manufacturer.

I think a tractor's legal gross train weight is 24 tonnes - if the mog is registered as an agricultural vehicle then it I believe it can legally tow 24 tonnes minus the loaded weight of itself. If it's a commercial vehicle then it will depend on how it is plated.

Extremely niche, extremely tatty lump of scrap a million miles from anywhere. There might be 2 people in the U.K. who could make use of that, both of them on this thread! I'd offer £500 and keep my eye out for something else if it comes to nothing. Stick 'Unimog' in the description and all of a sudden you are dealing with the Crown Jewels apparently!

Give it a couple of pumps of the primer before hot starting.

If you want to use it for hedge cutting then you will have a much better view if front mounted - on the back of a mog you won't be able to see anything. The rear mounted pump off the existing pto is a great idea, but allow a lot of money on hoses and fittings if you have to plumb it upto the front. If the mog is just for hedge work then why not look at direct mounting the machine - don't get too worked up over 3pl and DIN mounts. For less money you can most likely get something fabricated that will mount whatever you end up sourcing much closer to the front (or back if you do choose) of your new toy and will subsequently not stress the overall machine as much.

Just checked, mine are Alliance A360 Forestry, 600 on the back 480 on the front. The bar grips are wearing fast on the road but they are running at 50k usually loaded. The flat spotting when cold is strange - the tractor shakes around until they warm up a bit but then is fine at all speeds. They weren't cheap, but are incredibly tough. I've had no punctures or damage at all, even when mulching. Bits of wire etc still sticks in them if you mulch old fences but they just seem to shrug it off. They were a bitch to fit - had to have tubes to stretch them onto the rims (they aren't particularly wide rims either).

I was offered 'new take off' Agribibs pretty cheap but was told by a couple of people that they have really thin sidewalls. I ended up spending a world of money on some wide (620 I think) crossplys but they are a nightmare for flat spotting (even overnight) and road work is eating them really fast.

That would be ace, cheers Pete! I could really do with not sending a couple of lads with hedge cutters, we are pulled out of the place here and I need all hands on deck...

Nowhere near as much as I thought from the first pic - I thought it was about a foot over! It definitely looks the part! How big is that in comparison to the big yellow GC one that was on your stand at the APF?

Ha ha! This one is really sparse and doesn't need a huge amount off so should be ok, but definitely wants doing ASAP. It's on a building site and needs one side knocking back a bit to get the HERAS fencing in - standard lastminute.com builder's organisational skills kicking in...

The new emissions regs make engine packaging a bit more cumbersome! Is that sticking out past the edge of the trailer or is it an optical illusion Dean?

Contact details might help.... My number is 07970188050. Cheers all!