I take delivery of an Avant 528 tomorrow

[BX tent guy]

After a bunch of thought put into converting my BX into something useful for my business I've decided to just spend the money and buy an Avant mini (micro?) wheel loader. I'm in the tent rental business and I need something to drive stakes, pull stakes push center poles and carry materials to and from the jobsite from the truck. The most important factor is that the machine can NOT damage the lawns of the customers. I brought my BX with front and rear forks on a few jobs. It did ok but the limited lifting capacity and small front tires didn't leave the lawns unscathed. I had toyed with the idea of a hydraulic stake puller and breaking hammer to drive stakes. The problem was it would be a from scratch build with questionable results.
Then a new machine became available and someone has built the attachments specific to tenting. Tentox.com is that company. After prolonged negotiations I bought the Avant 528, driver, puller, forks, a snow bucket, etc etc. The big bonus to this machine will be that, though it weighs about 3000# it will lift a ton of pellets. More than double the lift capacity of the BX, and it lifts several feet higher. If I find any problems with it I'll post them here. THese things are pretty new and there are not many out in the real world.

 

[dave1949]

Interesting that a machine would be designed around commercial tents. I hope your new machine does well for you.

 

[BX tent guy]

Interesting that a machine would be designed around commercial tents. I hope your new machine does well for you.

The machine isn't designed around tents but an enterprising group of folks have adapted implements for it to use with tents. The machine is an agricultural/construction machine in general but there are over 300 attachments for it that cover almost anything you'd want to do.
A couple of people have made tent industry specific machines, they never worked out.

 

[dave1949]

The machine isn't designed around tents but an enterprising group of folks have adapted implements for it to use with tents. The machine is an agricultural/construction machine in general but there are over 300 attachments for it that cover almost anything you'd want to do.
A couple of people have made tent industry specific machines, they never worked out.

Oh, I see. I should have read your post more carefully.

Those huge commercial event tents have sure changed things by allowing the creation of a temporary venue just about anywhere. They have gotten so popular for weddings and other personal events too. I can see how the put up and take down speed and ease matters for the tent business.

 

[BX tent guy]

Oh, I see. I should have read your post more carefully.

Those huge commercial event tents have sure changed things by allowing the creation of a temporary venue just about anywhere. They have gotten so popular for weddings and other personal events too. I can see how the put up and take down speed and ease matters for the tent business.

To your point, we have 6 hours to set this up. Speed matters and this thing puts 240 stakes/hr in the ground with one operator.

 

[GManBart]

Pretty cool little machine! It seems that small wheel loaders might be gaining some traction here in the U.S. based on a few recent threads. I can see a number of tasks where they would do a great job. If you think of it, some pictures of the attachments would be cool!

 

[dave1949]

View attachment 417785 To your point, we have 6 hours to set this up. Speed matters and this thing puts 240 stakes/hr in the ground with one operator.

Yikes! Six hours would be humping it for sure.

 

[ddbackhoe]

After a bunch of thought put into converting my BX into something useful for my business I've decided to just spend the money and buy an Avant mini (micro?) wheel loader. I'm in the tent rental business and I need something to drive stakes, pull stakes push center poles and carry materials to and from the jobsite from the truck. The most important factor is that the machine can NOT damage the lawns of the customers. I brought my BX with front and rear forks on a few jobs. It did ok but the limited lifting capacity and small front tires didn't leave the lawns unscathed. I had toyed with the idea of a hydraulic stake puller and breaking hammer to drive stakes. The problem was it would be a from scratch build with questionable results.
Then a new machine became available and someone has built the attachments specific to tenting. Tentox.com is that company. After prolonged negotiations I bought the Avant 528, driver, puller, forks, a snow bucket, etc etc. The big bonus to this machine will be that, though it weighs about 3000# it will lift a ton of pellets. More than double the lift capacity of the BX, and it lifts several feet higher. If I find any problems with it I'll post them here. THese things are pretty new and there are not many out in the real world.View attachment 417640

IMO, great choice. too cool. That is what I've been daydreaming about changing to. They Avant website leaves some things lacking and the closest dealer is hours away. What is the actual height to the bottom pins with the lift arms extended? Is lift calculated with the arms extended or retracted? Does it feel super bouncy/tippy lifting a full load?

 

[BX tent guy]

IMO, great choice. too cool. That is what I've been daydreaming about changing to. They Avant website leaves some things lacking and the closest dealer is hours away. What is the actual height to the bottom pins with the lift arms extended? Is lift calculated with the arms extended or retracted? Does it feel super bouncy/tippy lifting a full load?

I agree about their website. More info is available on the UK version of the site as the machine is more popular over there. I'll take some measurement once it gets in. Regarding lifting capability I believe the figure is retracted but I don't see why that would matter in the fully raised position. As in, if you pick up 2100# (the machine rating) and try to extend it straight out that might be a problem. However, if you lift it all the way up and then extend it should be ok as it's going more "up" and less "out". I have a few tons of pellets around to experiment with. Regarding the bouncy factor, there are counter balance weights for the machine, I plan to adjust those to suit the job. For tenting I'll need no weights, for pellets the 400# side weights and maybe a 70# rear weight or loaded tires.

 

[BX tent guy]

If this thing has one advantage to anything I'm familiar with it's how the implement hydraulics connect. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-a...a-_6wryT9K3Fjl2vh7&index=1&feature=plpp_video

 

[ddbackhoe]

I agree about their website. More info is available on the UK version of the site as the machine is more popular over there. I'll take some measurement once it gets in. Regarding lifting capability I believe the figure is retracted but I don't see why that would matter in the fully raised position. As in, if you pick up 2100# (the machine rating) and try to extend it straight out that might be a problem. However, if you lift it all the way up and then extend it should be ok as it's going more "up" and less "out". I have a few tons of pellets around to experiment with. Regarding the bouncy factor, there are counter balance weights for the machine, I plan to adjust those to suit the job. For tenting I'll need no weights, for pellets the 400# side weights and maybe a 70# rear weight or loaded tires.

Oh. :duh: I jumped the gun and thought you already had yours. Some of the youtubes I watched makes it look light in the rear. but the one that has me in the 85% sold category is here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kWseMKRKmY

 

[BX tent guy]

Oh. :duh: I jumped the gun and thought you already had yours. Some of the youtubes I watched makes it look light in the rear. but the one that has me in the 85% sold category is here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kWseMKRKmY

Unloaded they are very light in the front. The motor is behind the back tires as is a 375# built in counter weight. If it does start lifting the back tires there is an alarm that sounds. Mine was supposed to arrive by now, Apparently it will be tomorrow. In that video the machine has one suitcase weight on the back, 70#, but it does not have the 400# side weights.

 

[BX tent guy]

I took delivery of this machine and immediately put it to work. A ton of pellets is right at the limits of it's operating range. It was able to pick up and transport a 1 ton pallet of pellets, that is pretty impressive for a machine that weighs 3500#. There are some tricks to getting it off the ground due to the geometry of the boom. Once in the air about 6" me and a friend bounced on the forks in an effort to tip it. With the ton plus 400# of human at the fork tips we couldn't get it to fall forward. It's a very odd thing to drive, foreign to anything I've experienced. The operator sits on the front and when turning the rear pivots dramatically. In a left turn you look over and the rear of the thing is beside you, it almost folds in half, the tires come within 4" of each other.

 

[SweBota]

The Avant is invented and made in Finland, and has a very good reputation here.

It turns just like the Husqvarna Front Deck Riders. It takes a while to get used to but its much better than conventional steering in most situations.

There is an R28 model if you prefer to sit on the back part of the machine and have the front part turn.

/Marcus

 

[woodchipper]

Congratulations on the purchase of your new articulated mini loader! Seems like a small skidsteer with central articulation. Definitely a machine that could favor many in situations where confinement and ease of mobility are part of day to day work environment. It will definitely boost you tent business.
Maybe you could post pics of your machine, with the attachments, so we can all benefit from your teachings!

 

[ddbackhoe]

I took delivery of this machine and immediately put it to work. A ton of pellets is right at the limits of it's operating range. It was able to pick up and transport a 1 ton pallet of pellets, that is pretty impressive for a machine that weighs 3500#. There are some tricks to getting it off the ground due to the geometry of the boom. Once in the air about 6" me and a friend bounced on the forks in an effort to tip it. With the ton plus 400# of human at the fork tips we couldn't get it to fall forward. It's a very odd thing to drive, foreign to anything I've experienced. The operator sits on the front and when turning the rear pivots dramatically. In a left turn you look over and the rear of the thing is beside you, it almost folds in half, the tires come within 4" of each other.

What are your impressions about it now?

 

[JJZ 109]

I'd consider something like that if the hydraulics could run a snow blower and there was a heated cab option. But the Bobcat S185 is serving me well so far. And it's paid for.

 

[Tor Arne]

I'd consider something like that if the hydraulics could run a snow blower and there was a heated cab option. But the Bobcat S185 is serving me well so far. And it's paid for.

They can be supplied with heated cabin, Snowblower is no problem.

 

[JJZ 109]

They can be supplied with heated cabin, Snowblower is no problem.

I like it.

 

[Dadnatron]

BX tentguy...

How are you liking the machine?

I've been thinking about getting something smaller, (tractor) but as I've thought about it, one of these would likely fit my needs and utility much better. I've looked at the PowerTracs as well, but this one seems to have more history/activity concerning attachments et al.

I'd be using it on 85ac horse farm. I'd also use it as a mower... if it would work in that regard. It appears to... but I don't know whether anyone is using it as a general mower for along fences etc. I have a batwing for big stuff... but given I was looking at getting a Ferris 3200IS for $12K, I thought this might add more utility than a purpose built mower.