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Old 03-12-2008, 10:51 PM   #10 (permalink)
Willis Fecon Bushhogging
Bronze Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 89
Default Re: new to the mulching world

Quote:
Originally Posted by elk land restoration
Hey board I am a first time poster on here.and just looking for a little direction.I live in virginia about 30 min west of richmond.Their are not many here in the business so the market is right. hopefully. I have driven a t300 with the bob cat mulcher and seems to be a great unit. I have also worked with the rc100.and looked at the fecon mulcher.Any advice would be great.Both are used units with new mulchers. Just not sure which one to get.
I can only tell you my story, I will try to make it short, heres goes. I did my research about 5 months ago and this is what I did. I bought a Fecon FTX90L, it has the Fecon head, whick I think is the best (for my work) This machine has the extra cooling and forestry package, steel tracks, winch, pressurized cab, much heavier duty unit built for forestry work. I talked to several people with other brands and found out their problems, overheating, track problems. undercarriage problems, no forestry package, non-pressurized cabs. The Duetz engine, did have a problem, but I think that was a problem, with just a certain series and the factory has replaced all them, including mine. 2008 they are built with Yanmar (I think, more hp FTX100L) they sell new for about $95,000-$100,000. I wouldnt recommend buying a new machine right now, things are real slow everywhere. Lots of people selling out, you can pick up a used machine at a good price. Im not trying to bad mouth any other brands, there are a bunch of RC100 in our area, One of the reason is, they are cheaper. There are also quite a few in the salvage yard, they have a history of catching fire, too many areas for the debris to collect and get close to hot areas, most of them use Fecon heads. Cat's I heard the new ones was a lot better, but stay away from the older models. My 2 cents, for the money is Fecon/Rayco, then RC100, I dont like the other brands, some of them have just come on the market and I dont think they have their act together yet. Do your research, call up a few contractors and ask them if they are using this mulching machine to clear their land, its good to have some customers in advance.
I do recommend leasing the machine, even if you have the money to pay for it, its a tax write off. If you need a good Leasing Co. send me a PM and I will pass it on, they are great.
Do your homework, what you going to pull it with? Lots of info about this on different sites. In my opinion, a Ford F350 is not rated to pull my machine and trailer. I bought a International 4700 hauler,($15,000) new 10 ton tilt trailer ( $11,000, I didnt need a 10 ton, but it was only $200 more) 2006 Fecon $80,000 In most cases a single axle dump truck will pull the mulcher.
Type in mulching, in the search box and read all the good information, thats what I did. I think the reason you dont see a lot of Fecon/Rayco machines, is they cost quite a bit more. For general mulching the RC100 and FTX90L is big enough, for the small lots and small acreage, of course I would love to have the FTX140L, what a machine, but it would be too big for me to do selective thinning, of course bigger truck and trailer
Thats all, do your homework and goodluck
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