Matthew Storrs

This lot fell within more or less 2-3hours still coming down too!

Haven’t given it a moments thought if I’m honest, if the implement is 1000kg plus, then I keep 200kg of weights on the front. Feels safe and stable. think of the leverage of a loader with 300kg bucket etc, keeping 320kg of weights on the front is considerably less stress on front axle- I assume that’s what your worried about?

Jurassic park- favourite film as a youngster. Sixth sense- fave film when I got a little older. Most films with Leonardo dicaprio I think are good- Titanic, blood diamond, the departed etc

Almost exactly how I did the spacing on my fire wood shed- rain still drives in on wood that is up against the slats, I have it so that the hit and miss boards alternate on either side of the timber uprights, so that there is a 100mm void between the loga and the outside. I also added a fine mesh on the inside of the shed which helps dampen the real horizontal rain from blowing in.

Yeah, some do seem better than others, perhaps with anything hand assembled in the factory the quality control isn’t consistent, the worse thing for any vehicle IMO is either little use or short trips, defenders usually do the latter so that might be a factor too. Any way, Seems like quite a few 3.5t tow vehicles to be had for not much, Jeep grand Cherokee, VW Toureg and Range Rover- can’t think the OP would go far wrong with any of them...

It does slightly surprise me how much defender knocking goes on, because I’ve had my 300tdi hi cap for 10 years now pulling a 3 ton digger on a nearly daily basis. Original engine,gearbox and axles etc and really when things go wrong it’s usually A) a cheap aftermarket part fitted or B) usual wear items like brakes. I think there’s drivers and drivers, some are sympathetic and others aren’t. Not many vehicles will do 10 years work and still be worth what you paid for it either! They’re just not a vehicle for long journeys!

I though of putting a switch in, but think Stephen has a proportional switch as opposed to just on and off like in the Takeuchi, might throw up a problem as just switching it on might not engage whatever is required in the proportional switch to engage full flow. Not sure though...

Or even better an elastic band a nice thick one?

As crass as a cable tie!

Exactly. You just can’t lose on a machine like that. For 8k plus a few K on basic attachments to make it more useful, grab,rake etc. Put 1500 hrs on it and sell it for £6k works out around a few quid an hour, Let’s round up to £5 an hour running cost including diesel and servicing. Try and find a labourer willing to work for that!

https://www.mascus.co.uk/construction/used-mini-diggers-excavators-7/case-cx-23/ncmcmeoi.html this would do someone very nicely for someone venturing into the digger world but not wanting to spend a fortune. Easily towable with attachments, stable as you like, everything you need, nothing you don’t! More like a (slightly) scaled down 3 tonner than an inflated 1.8t.

How about trying to find a Case CX23. I think this is a superb model. Undercarriage is very similar to a 3 tonner but the machine is only 2.3 ton so easily towable. Far more capable in lift capacity over a TB016 My Dad has one and I think for an older machine it’s superb. they can be found for around 7-8k.

Agree, I’m on my forth Takeuchi. First was a TB016- belter, 2x TB125s both faultless and barely had a spanner to them in 5000 hrs. Recently got the new TB216 (new version of the TB016) it’s good but would prefer the TB016 again if they still made them. I think they lack a little in lifting capacity compared with some others but for their reach, bucket-blade cleanup, heavier duty dozer blade and general robust steel bodywork they do take some beating- smooth as anything to operate.

This is why I have cabs on my machines! But get your points.

Much as above really- if I think the battery saw can handle it I would take that all day long over the petrol. I love the cleaness of it- no mucking around with petrol and two stoke, no fumes, can have the saw in the passenger seat and it doesn’t stink the truck out. Will handle most brash and timber up to 8” pretty well. Anything bigger I’d begrudgingly get the petrol saw out!

Fairly sure that’s exactly the same tractor that Woodworks posted above.

Hurlimann is also part of the SDF line- along with the 3 you mention. There’s Hurlimann models exactly the same as my Same in every way except the paint job. DiffLock- well worth considering- good well engineered tractors in my opinion...

Given how cheap it is to rent larger machines and throw in the transport hassles on top, it’s a wonder anyone bothers owning anything bigger than 2.8t! Unless of course its specialist. I think if I go down the route of getting a 5-8 tonner I might find it best just to use a local beaver tail guy to move it around, generally not too bad if it’s on a job for a while.

Yeah that’s fair enough- I wasn’t really thinking about lawns and more manicured environments though. Just saying that for those considering a machine with expanding tracks generally sub 2 to they have their downsides in a woodland/countryside setting. This picture is a pretty standard ground condition for me- soft and deep peat and I know a digger with expanding tracks and the low undercarriage is a pain in the arse here.

It’s a shame you can’t get the Case cx23 new anymore. That was a 2.3t digger which basically had the undercarriage and counterweight of a 3 tonner. My Dad has one and I always think Case missed a trick by not keeping that going with a few modernisations. https://www.ironandearth.co.uk/product/case-cx23/ would make someone a great towable machine for not much money- getting a bit long in the tooth now though.

I think 3 tonners (or 2.8t ) are a fantastic size. The difference between a 2.8t and a sub 2ton is night and day. I always feel my 1.8t is a bit of a toy really- useful for the odd jobs and narrow access stuff whereas 3tonner is far more capable of ‘proper’ work. For me the 3t size is a real money earner- it uses minimal diesel, can be towed behind truck to jobs, can get in through a 5ft gate (just!) and I’ve yet to find terrain I haven’t been able to take it on. The expanding undercarriage of the smaller 2 ton machines are ok- but if your on soft bogey ground- there isn’t much sinking to be had before it’s sitting on its belly- best way is to lift the machine at the front as you travel to keep on top of the soft stuff rather than just trying to push through it- makes far less mess, there’s also the hoses that go to the expanding tracks that you have to be mindful of when travelling on brash- the 3t undercarriage is far more robust in that sense.

I’d agree for the most part, I always said to myself if Tak brought out a model weighing 2.3t I’d get it. Reasons being mainly for transportation ease with attachments etc and less stress on tow vehicle. Personally I think the expanding tracks on the TB225 is going to be too much of a Niche. When I think about all the jobs where access is an issue for my 3 tonner it’s generally a garden gate or an alleyway, usually both would be under 1 meter meaning an TB016 would get in there but not the tb225. Even a 4ft gate would be unlikely for it as usually the posts are a bit closer than 4ft in reality. So then I start thinking that the expanding undercarriage only really is going to get to very few places that the 2.8tonners won’t get to? Also it only has an extra 1ft of reach over the TB216/016 which hardly seems worth it for the extra £7k it costs... Time will tell I suppose.

Not sure how keen you are to get one- I may possibly be selling my Takeuchi tb125 in early spring. It sounds like it would suit you fine. Almost immaculate condition and only 1800hrs 2007 model. I’ve put 800hrs on it in the last year and it was sat in a barn for the first 10 years of its life only doing 100hrs a year- I’m hesitant to get rid as I know I’d never find a used machine in that condition again but could really use a bigger machine (5ton) to run alongside my 1.8tonner. here she is (the nearer one) when I first got it last year. original paint work- not bad for 10 years.

The Takeuchi tb225 looks good but a few things put me off it. The ground clearance is pretty poor to accommodate the expanding tracks. Lack of proper track pedals too. Personally I live with my feet on the pedals and find work so much more productive and flowing- when I get in my smaller machine which has no pedals i feel a bit disabled. lastly- price. I was quoted £24k+vat. You can buy a Yanmar sv26 for this which is still towable has great ground clearance and ultra stable being 1550mm wide with proportional rollers for attachments. Guess it depends how much you’d benefit from the expanding tracks of the tb225?

Also avoid bonfires if you can. Sometimes find I get sore throats after a session of burn ups. Can’t really be doing the respiratory system much good.