LGP Eddie

I really think your starting point is transport? The 2.6 class is just a compromise brought about by our towing legislation and you have to be ultra careful with a 2.6 tonne to come inside the weight? I doubt the one pictured would scrape under 3.5 on the stripped down Ifor Tipper? Then there's the 3 tonne class, as is rightly pointed out has so many variables from manufacturers it's crazy? Again this is all about the need to stay under the 7.5 tonne weight, and just using Kubota's example, the 71,91 and 101 could all loosely be termed 3 tonne but totally different animals? Once you're over this and into a dedicated haulier then the sky is the limit obviously, but you'd be amazed just how quickly an 8 tonner can appear big in woodland with a 13 tonne impossible? In the same terrain a 5 tonner could be so much more agile, it's really a case of horses for courses? The other factor is who's local to back you up? Plenty of choice of manufacturers, but no use if it's half a day to get a diesel filter? It's normally not hard to see what everyone else is running, which is a reasonable pointer of decent backup? I'd say if you can tow it with what you have just dip a toe in with a Takeuchi TB016? This will be a revelation from having nothing and I'd bet it'll never leave you anyway? You can then add a 3 or probably 5 tonner depending how it all goes to fit your workload exactly? It should be perfectly possible to add a TB016 for a reasonable timescale for almost zero in depreciation terms, and should cost very little to run? A quick hitch and grapple will get you going and you'll be stunned by what it will achieve? Eddie.

A fair old project really, that turned into a tacklefest!! A few more, but I'm waiting for the best pics and video. It's a long way down when you look out the side window from that cab! Hijack over, what size of machine can you realistically transport taking into account a few attachments/buckets will be going with you? Eddie.

Did you say 30 Tonne?? I had this for a very special project recently and it had the job covered nicely!

We use a direct cut side mounted forager for this type of work and worse! It'll be needing a fair bit more than 35hp to do the job, we find 90-110 ideal but it would make a very tidy job of it. I'd honestly have thought Sheep the answer to this site, plenty of them will have that gone in no time? A flail mower will be ideal for the other work you describe I'm certain? Eddie.

They get great reviews and every time I walk past one I think to myself why don't they make a van version? Surely it would make a brilliant all round small 4x4 van with pretty decent off road ability, that is currently just not available in any form at present? Eddie.

One massive vote for the Freelander2, the worst thing Landrover did was saddle it with the name of the previous model and all it's issues! I had one from new for my wife and in all honesty it never had a single problem in 5 years? It was main dealer serviced every year, and apart from one set of tyres at approx 28,000 miles that was it. A really nice vehicle and it would leave my Defender for dead on simple snowy/icy surfaces. Eddie.

I'd disagree on there being little difference between 1.5 tonners? There are so many specs and variants now from each manufacturer that you can have a situation of a 1.4 tonne machine with standard tracks going up against a 1.9 tonne with expanding undercarriage? Add in the engine variants, pump setups, arm lengths, etc etc and they really can be night and day? All will get the job done of a fashion, some with more finesse but the popular ones have risen to the top of a very competitive market on their merit with residual values to match? I'd disagree that Utilities prefer Kubota in this class, I'd put Takeuchi in front, but JCB's current large fleet order push is seeing them with some big orders. Kubota will stand a good amount of punishment no doubt, the simple fact is the Takeuchi you can take it off and knock it straight again, but a plastic panel from Kubota will bring tears to your eyes! No problem when it's charged out again to the Hirer, but if you own it, then it can be a big factor. Eddie.

Many congratulations I'm certain it'll be more than up to the job, very few can ever match the Takeuchi hydraulic smoothness and the build is always bombproof! The interesting point is how the 219 will hold in value terms over the TB016? I suspect vey well once they get a loyal following of their own. Eddie.

Just thought I'd bump this back up as there's the first couple of the seemingly perfect spec Takeuchi tb219's come up secondhand I've seen and they look really tidy examples? I've yet to try one out, but if they can beat the TB016 they'll be going some? JMS Equipment Eddie.

What a great setup you have there, I'm really liking that! I don't mind admitting I used to scoff at the Horse Logging concept until I witnessed one in true action. I wouldn't hesitate to get one in now if a project demanded it, probably in something like tight going where a short skid could bring timber to a more suitable point for the Tracked Dumper to forward it out. In regard to the original question, I just wonder what method you currently have that you are struggling with? Eddie.

Sad to see machine Operators getting a hard time, when there should be healthy respect for anyone who is proficient at their chosen work. Purely from a Machine Operating perspective, usually if you can't do the basics from scratch with minimal tuition on something like a Mini Digger in 4hrs then it won't be for you? I'd expect you to be scratching about, loading dumpers safely and the like by then? From then on my perspective has always been it's only approx 30% of how you actually 'Drive' the machine the rest is knowing the work to get the best from that machine in the task given that you then become an Operator? The simple fact there are so many variables makes it something that you should still be learning every day, and if you think you know it all that's time to hang your boots up you'll start to be a danger to everyone? The Arb world must have it's challenges and things you guys look/aspire towards, and there was a very good point raised that sometimes you have to change your surroundings to get outside the limited circle of skills you're perhaps in at present to gain more? I've had to do this several times on machines, I wanted to move onto other machines and gain more skills with perhaps bigger challenges and it's helped build me into what I'd consider an Experienced Operator? Please don't just judge machine operating by jumping on that Mini Digger and doing a bit? Just as you have your challenges, I doubt you'd be ready to use a 20 tonne Rubber Duck on a 6 metre deep sewer cut down a high street just yet? My own view is age is no demonstration? I've seen fantastic young machine operators and plenty of old guys who just want to fill the seat and went past any interest in learning years ago. I'll take someone with more than just the basics, probably a couple of years? But what I want to see is that willingness to learn and the standard they want to achieve? You will always be a reflection of what you surround yourself with? Look around your firm and ask yourself when was the last time we looked at doing something different, do you all attend Industry shows, when was a new piece of kit last tried out, who's just gained a higher qualification etc etc? If it's same old, same old you may want to start to broaden your horizons? Respect to all you guys I certainly can't climb a tree from a Lever Puller!! Eddie.

My suggestion for Mesh is based on the images supplied and the simple fact there could be any amount off fill under that bit of sub base? For the extra cost it'll be there forever. 4" would do the job and an accurate 5" would be very nice, but for someone who's not particularly experienced, then aiming for a 6" pour will allow plenty of tolerance. I'd agree you'll be surprised just where you an get one of the smaller 4 wheel mixers, but 1/2 mile isn't the end of the world and just get a Volumetric mixer in? He'll wait no problem, mix it as exactly as you like, conveyor it up into a dumper and you can judge the last bit pretty accurately with no waste. Eddie.

Always a bit more awkward when there are walls surrounding the pour with no shutters to tamp off. The way I'd normally tackle something like this is with a laser level and make up a staff from a square of 1/4 ply and a 2x2 upright so it actually floats on top of the concrete. It just means you can get your level anywhere you like and keep working your way out. I'm lucky to have a single grade laser so can actually put a fall from back to front if required? However easy options for you are? Agilia Concrete, simply brilliant but more expensive? In such an application you would simply tip it in and go over it with a hand tamp job done! It will truly self level and hey presto next morning the finish will be approaching a powerfloat finish? It is such a labour saving method it's untrue (you can easily do that on your own), and I've seen some stunning results from it. You could put boards down each side, but obviously these are a nightmare to tamp off being so narrow, and you don't really want a couple of inches of board down each side? The solution I have used with great success is to actually fix some 2x2 angle iron down the walls each side at the desired height. This is easy to tamp off (you can even set a fall to the front) and will make no difference to the integrity of the floor at the edges. I would suggest a brush finish if you can too? An easy float after you have tamped and then install the brush onto it when it's good and ready ready will have that done in seconds with no hassle plus not expensive to hire. If you are happy with the easy float finish, and you'll amaze yourself how easy it is, you can just leave it and forget brushing anyway. I would suggest going with 6" unless you are prepared to spend the time to ensure your sub base is absolutely spot on to achieve a true 5", and the 6" will more likely give you 4" to 7" here and there? I absolutely detest fibres, and in my opinion you can't beat a layer of mesh. It will be simple enough here to install in sections as you bring the Dumper in and tip onto it. I would suggest some plastic underneath if possible, allow for the fact the concrete isn't going to like the dumper trip much and will separate out somewhat, lastly get plenty of assistance if you can. Best of luck. Eddie.

KX161 is one of my all time favourite machines and really can punch well above their weight. Just my opinion, but there many hitch options available for a 161 and my advice would be to swap your current unit for one with better geometry? It shouldn't be too costly, they are about used and a brief appeal usually turns something up? Interestingly 5 tonne is pretty much the crossover point at which anything below I consider better off with the more simple semi quick hitch? Many overlook these, but they are simply the best method for smaller machines and can keep a low build height. Semi quick hitches don't get the wear in them you associate with many of the small quick hitches, and if they do you can simply replace the pin or bushes. One huge thing in their favour is the single pin you have to put in manually is in reality the safety pin also? You have to put it in or you can't work, hence safer than a manual hitch and safety pin setup? A different hitch may not fully cure the grapple, but a curved arm shouldn't be difficult to fabricate. Eddie.

The steel tracks made a bit of a mess on the alloy floor and it was hanging over a bit, but once loaded the Defender took it in it's stride!!

Plenty here would like to see that!!

A beast of a grapple! Eddie.

Tommy is spot on with his mounting procedure, and to be perfectly honest the first thing you really need to be taking a look at is the quick hitch? That is far from ideal on the geometry front and losing you a lot of power? Hard to tell the hitch manufacturer from the photo? What is the carrier machine? Eddie.

Yes Craig, I know the exact model and looked into this pretty much just after the 8 tonne machine arrived. I think the principle is pretty inspired, using the cables to spin the rollers which in turn speeds up the feed process. In tough going the cables are simply disconnected to provide full power, but obviously trading off against speed. The fact there it's a shear head and no measuring devices should ensure pretty hassle free running I'd have though, but the 25cm max felling diameter does limit applications? Interestingly this would have run ok through my existing controls, obviously the trade off is not having continuous 360 rotation, but I can live with that. They did do a radio remote system that removed the need for hard wiring down to the head to allow continuous rotation, but again it just adds another layer to go wrong with additional cost. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaF6yW5oy7s]Naarva Steg Master RS25 - YouTube[/ame] Eddie.

Couldn't agree more, the prices quoted are staggering, but I've hopefully located something in my range and have a plan that involves doing away with all the computer and controls for it? I'm hoping it can simply be run through the SVAB control system that controls the Engcon Tiltrotator? It will possibly require different joysticks, but if I can get it setup how I want it, I have no need for any form of measuring device or complications in my applications. As the thread title really, we're just after a bit of middle ground with what we've currently got and if things go ok or a suitable project comes in look to something more dedicated to the task? I think it's a bit of a product area that's going ignored at present? Eddie.

Hopefully it'll be replaced by a Stroke head on the 8 tonner to obviously give more flexibility and be able to go where the LGP 8 tonner can, if I get a Walking leg setup to help me on my way? I'd love a roller head, but you need to go up in the carrier machine size to get sensible balance between oil flow and head capacity with another set of issues that would bring? The Processor is made for a Tractor based setup and it's strength is in it's total simplicity. Eddie.

I'm quite fascinated with all this now, as I usually get to watch different styles from the comfort of the cab. I must say that most I've come across do put the angle cut in first? But some don't and they're probably the most experienced? I have noticed how small the angles are now from a couple of Cutters, seemingly hardly anything, but they all put the felling cut above the Gob and I've never seen anything else? I do really appreciate watching a skilled man with a saw, and it really is amazing just how differently they all tackle the same thing when you're just a close observer? I should video a few sometime for comparison. Eddie.

Something like the 4610/5610 would be perfect and I wish I owned the example pictured as it's a really nice unit. Zetor would certainly be a cost effective solution also. Eddie.

We did a big Rhodie clearance job in a wood with a footpath straight through the centre. This is in the middle of nowhere, but does attract the larger groups of Ramblers at times, so we put the provision of a banksman either end of the work as we progressed to cut a new track through. Plenty of signs, all Hi Viz, Two ways etc You wouldn't believe it if you witnessed it! I'd have needed a Rugby team at either end to try and tackle them! Groups would come in, totally ignore any instruction to pause whilst everything was made safe for them to be escorted through and proceed to walk between all the machines muttering we've every right to go through here etc etc etc. We ended up stopping the job and going back with a full Footpath Closure. This was well signposted and the site properly fenced off with warning notices everywhere. I was using the Excavator and Mulcher, which is lethal, and had a banksman on constant lookout. What a nightmare!!! The banksman even tried to stop 3 Ramblers breaking down the fence to enter, and they simply refused to go back. I had to stop work and the resulting aggro cost easily half an hours work, but ended when I threatened to call the Police and have the arrested for preventing essential works? We lost hours on this job trying to argue with idiots who come out with statements like "I've worked around heavy machinery all my life??" I replied, is that what you'll say in court when a lump of wood out of that Mulcher has just nearly gone straight through you? They will drive you to despair and I'd fully agree with others, you'll always come off worst.

I fully understand putting a head on the 8 tonne machine and the only thing I'd really consider is a Kesla Stroke head with hopefully all the computer removed running through my current Engcon control system. Just basic and simple with a pretty decent capacity, but the quotes for a new one were eye watering! I wish it were as simple as just going through the wood, the sort of places we end up in, and a forwarding trailer on a Valtra would be of little use unfortunately. The Kubota and Engcon setup combined with the Tracked Dumper forwarder really do work well together on sites where true low impact is a factor, compared to traditional equipment. Just trying things out and I'd say the Patu delimber may be best suited to someone already running a Roofmount and Forwarding trailer, where it'll possibly fit better into that system. Eddie.