LGP Eddie

Some interesting points here, and the Geotextile one is really worth some consideration. I'd firstly assume that as Stone is being dug from a borrow pit, you will either utilise some form of grading device, even it's as simple as a riddle bucket to get you some basic grades of stone? You may be lucky and have something that produces a nice material straight out of the ground, but sometimes it will pay to separate some to get a larger/cleaner grade for any problem areas. With regard to Geotextile, it must be said that is some total crap stuff now available out there! You can get both the woven and non woven versions now for not much over £100 per roll, and in some basic applications it's fine, but some is only ok for putting under mulch in a landscaping application. It's always a balance between cost and the actual application and I'm a firm believer in Geotextile, but it's no substitute for getting the actual formation right and getting some decent size stone in where required. Many make the mistake of putting cheap thin Geotextile down and then place large clean angular material straight on top that will punch straight through it. I've done temporary roads across grass with a decent thickness genuine Terram and a well graded stone, and you can literally grade the stone back off, then roll the Terram back up off the grass. Try that with the £100 a roll stuff and it will be punched through all over. There is no substitutes for getting anything soft dug out of a road (I'm not talking roads over a peat bog here, that can be done but different techniques entirely!) the general rule is, if it's soft at the bottom it will carry on being so all the way to the finished surface. If it's obviously not the best ground you've simply got to get some depth into it and get some of the biggest gear possible in there. There is no substitute for getting some body into a soft spot, and some big clean stone can really transform a problem area. If you are lucky and have a nice firm ground that can simply take 150mm of well graded material as in the spec, then it really should be a good enough formation not to require any Geotextile? There should be no mixing with soil, as there simply shouldn't be any present if properly prepared? However it will certainly do no harm at this point to add the cheaper £100 a roll stuff as belt and braces. If stone was readily available in quantity that could be cheaply riddled to separate grades, then I'd be looking at putting between 200 and 300mm of the larger clean material first, toped off with 100mm of the finer grade. This would produce a much better result assuming the formation is good in the first place, and any soft spots have been fully removed and filled. As for pricing per metre, it's only a guide? Until that soil starts coming off you have absolutely no idea what you're up against. Simply doing the job 'to spec' will almost certainly produce a 6" deep 4 metre wide track for the client, but will it ever be any good? To do the job properly will require a certain amount of flexibility to deal will problem areas as they arise in the best way possible, before adding the final surface layer. I've recently been doing a job on a Moorland site where using Limestone is not allowed. It was fairly obvious that it was going to be tricky, so we simply opted for some large waste material from a sandstone quarry to get some body into the road. Right or wrong the spec includes Geotextile, so we simply utilised a reasonable grade under this larger material, but my own take would be it wasn't strictly necessary? It certainly won't do any harm though. Once down the large material transformed this piece of road, and I'll have to post a pic up of it now topped off with crushed Gritstone. We've taken nearly 400 tonne of material over this section now without a mark on it. Eddie.

What a machine! That'll not be cheap!

Here you go Stephen how about scaling up the digger a little? You get the work and I'll Operate it for you! [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtU-Cy3Ehg0]Liebherr 924 mit WESTTECH Woodcracker C550 - YouTube[/ame] Eddie.

Very interesting thread here, and I've got a friend who's just gone this way with a reasonable size Mus-Max to hopefully compete on higher chip quality plus the ability to sneak just under the big guys. He's fitted a Kesla Crane to his chipper and runs her behind a 7810 John Deere that's otherwise utilised in his business. I have always wondered how a Tracked Bandit 18svc would stack up in a site clearance/biomass crossover, bearing in mind it can be loaded by pretty much anything, plus access difficult sites. Eddie.

What would be the price difference between similar models though?, Like I say in reality some consider what is a bit of heavy flail work to be mulching, when those who are mulching doing it day in day out in real conditions can kill even the very best machinery fairly rapidly. Eddie.

Gregor Mc Arthur knows his stuff and the FAE is a good product. I did look over the Seppi from Lambhurst Engineering, and would certainly demo one myself. A lot comes down to budget and ultimately the severity of the application. People have different perceptions of mulching, one could see it as mulching, the other nothing more than heavy flail mowing. Certainly the equipment required to mulch professionally on a daily basis is far removed from what could be considered more occasional scrub removal or site cleanup. I fully agree the Denis Cimaf has always been top of my wish list, with the big bonus in us now having a UK distributor, Total Plant Solutions Exc@v8. Fantastic Avatar TCD Eddie.

Do you need a full 15 tonne machine, and do you require it operated? What's the application? Eddie.

This has come up before about getting the lightest possible trailer, and this guy who is very local to me claims to have the solutions? I'd really like to have a look over one sometime to make my own mind up, but he certainly seems to be very confident he's using materials that make them up to the job. One thing is for certain they are very light, and he can make you pretty much any solution you want which is a real bonus. 500kg for a full size plant trailer is seriously light? Plant / Excavator Trailers With regard to the actual Tractor purchase on Thread, I'd just like to add my own experience. Basically I would have rushed headlong into a Valtra N163 with Direct CVT box and all the trimmings, but basically couldn't afford at the time. I took the opportunity to hire from my local Valtra Dealer for two reasons, the first was obviously to try different models, but secondly to see how they performed plus more importantly how it was backed up? The outcome was I found the Dealer to be nothing short of brilliant, and the actual Tractor poles apart from what I actually required on a daily basis. I needed more HP, the CVT gearbox wasn't for me, plus I found the 'T' series much better for my needs. I know to every last option now exactly what I need, and the whole exercise done in the winter months has provided me with top notch tractors at realistic hire rates, with full backup to do my learning on. I suggest you find a local dealer of your favoured brands and try a few different ones out on hire to see what fits your needs? At this time of year there should be a good choice of new/used in their yards that could be hired at reasonable rates. Eddie.

You can get a 3.5 tonne trailer to carry that Telehandler at approx 500kg unladen. More an ideal tool for a 7.5 tonne Hookloader or the like, and as the Alpines do ok with a CAT1 linkage, I'd think a winch or small chipper would be ok? It wasn't really on thread so to speak, but I did think it could have a place in someones fleet? Eddie.

How about one of these Baby's! [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n816GZsk04o]Kramer Allrad 1245 Mini Telehandler - YouTube[/ame] Ridiculously compact, impressive lift capacity and reach, plus at 2.7 tonne just about trailer legal? There is a 40hp version with the 3 point linkage and PTO that will do your log splitting, and probably a small chipper? They are available on 31x15.5x15 flotations too! Eddie.

Plenty in the press about the soon to be launched 'T' series Valtra. I had a quick look and it looks like it may be a completely different proposition to take into the woods, with a lot of expensive curved glass and pretty much every detail screaming if you break me I'm going to cost a lot! It will be interesting how quickly Wilsons can come up with a new frame for a Botex roof mounting and guarding to protect this new style cab. It does look fantastic, I wonder there will be a deal or two on the current model as they run out? Valtra - New T Series Eddie.

A nice base for a project! https://customer.jcb-finance.co.uk/assets/asset_details.jhtm?q=226165 Eddie.

Loving the TB016, they really are a classic machine, and I'm on one myself at present doing drainage around a house. Is it really possible to get so much work from so little diesel? Just a video of the Menzi Muck Walking Excavator I had hire in from Sean Hughes of All Terrain Manx, on an awkward Rhodie Clearance job. Sadly Giles who does the Video's was let down with his purchase of a Drone, so he missed the best action of the week, and was only able to film what was the final fairly flattish section for the Menzi as it finished off. It had been an interesting one, as we had the Menzi safety winch tethered to a 24 tonne Komatsu for safety, but it also greatly assisted the Menzi getting about on what could be really soft in places slopes. I must say Giles really has got some stunning camera/video kit, and puts together some great video, plus he finally took delivery of a really trick drone that should be ideal for some of the big crane takedowns etc some of you guys get up to. The location was simply stunning to work in. Eddie.

If you can move it ok, Kubota KX161-3 would absolutely be my first choice, and would be within your budget. I have a mint, really trick Kinshoffer Nox Timber Grab and Rotator coming up for sale in a week or so that would suit it perfectly? Eddie.

I believe its 100km from base? Read into it more as there are plenty of restrictions still to keep you from being at the wheel 24/7, but they are far more sensible for someone like myself than the full driver hours rules that obviously apply to professional drivers earning their living at the wheel. Eddie.

Plenty of thoughts on here on this issue? I just hoped it may be a route to allow me to use a 7.5 tonner to take fuel, attachments, machines etc to site on a more suitable vehicle probably with a small Hiab, than a Defender Ifor setup. I don't want all the hassle involved in Tacho use, as basically you're just gathering evidence for someone to pick through and try to hang you with. I have friends running Trucks and they have more than enough hassle with it all, as even a tiny mistakes can prove costly. I also don't want to be told what time to have a break or what hours I can drive over what days etc. I'd have no issue keeping records of driving and other work done in a simple form. 100k from base would do me nicely and I'd be happy to get a decent truck and keep it properly maintained if I can simply use it in the way I wish with minimal hassle? I had considered a small Mog for the role, but that's another can of worms! Eddie.

What sort of weight class are you looking at? Do you have the ability to move it yourself? Also a realistic budget guide are key points to recommend on? Eddie.

I'm probably opposite in having no issues with the restricted operators licence or the maintenance etc, as I'd want to know all was ok with the truck anyway. I simply want to drive it to and from site with my kit basically when I like without all the associated hassle of a tacho and the restrictions they bring. I think that there is forming a straightforward path now for use up to 100k from base as long as it's not your main work, and that includes the cpc? I know exactly what you're saying and it's obviously business use, but if you simply go to/from site then professional driving is not your main line of work? I already keep a diary of my work, so if a simple log is all that's required of the driving plus other work it would be no hassle at all? I would get it all professionally checked out beforehand though, as I'm fully aware what a minefield it is and the cost of getting it wrong? Eddie.

Been advised a Daf can get on or very close to 4 tonne payload if you go the alloy body route? Plenty of decent machines available for such a payload? I'll certainly be finding out more as 100k radius is plenty for me most of the time, and I certainly don't want it for hire/reward haulage type work. Eddie.

You'll do just fine with the crane levers I think? I had just got to the point of playing with the Harvesting Head, as it's a used unit purchased through Wilsons that John simply did the controls etc for me, but the Kubota started giving me other hassle so I've got no further? I hope to try again shortly to see if I can master working it my way with the Engcon controls, and if I can I'll get the head fully checked over before putting it to work. Eddie.

Don't quote me, because I'm no Trucker, but I think some 7.5 toners can get up to around the 4 tonne payload? I assume the trade off is you need a certain strength in the body to carry the weight, plus the rams setup, and that all goes against you? I've never seen it done except on a 3.5 tonner, but I assume for max payload you could have a bare minimum skeletal body of 2 alloy channels for the tracks plus a little alloy platform for the attachments? I think something at 3 tonne with a healthy range of attachments would be well legal? Eddie.

He's got my Kesla Stroke Head to run through my Engcon Joysticks on the Kubota. Not only that, how he got it to run through the Ec Oil system so I can fit it from the cab and have it fully operational in around 15 seconds was a pretty fair achievement. I'd have thought a Joystick was easily possible, but the one I had was just a row of levers and Greg ended up getting pretty handy on it after a few days. Eddie.

Couldn't agree more on letting people get on with work. I suspect you're going to be very happy with the results, as I had a brief conversation with John about this, and he was completely in the zone with getting this all up and running. If John gets the bit between his teeth on a project, you can be assured, it will not only work, but it'll certainly last the distance. He really can turn out some stunning work. Eddie.

John been working his magic for you then? Sounds interesting? I'm really not up on the 7.5 tonner job now? I assume I'd still need a restricted Operators Licence, but not the driver CPC as it's not my main occupation? It would be to take attachments or at worst a Mini Excavator to and from site, and without all the Tacho hassle within 100k from base would work for me? Eddie.

Apologies if anyone has covered this, but it seems it could be positive news for once with regard to owning a 7.5 tonner? https://movingon.blog.gov.uk/changes-to-tachograph-rules-for-local-journeys/ I'd be interested in one myself if it meant being able to take tools/kit to site and ditch the Defender Ifor setup. Eddie.