2007 ASV pricing?

QwikDraw · Jan 6, 2007

Robbie,

The Magnum and Fecon both list a 72 inch cut on the biggest heads. The Loftness only lists 63 inch as the biggest.

And I thought the quoted list price of the Magnum seemed high...I do have a friend that is opening a Takeuchi dealership and he will be a Bradco dealer, my best price would come from him if he is up and running by the time I make the purchase.

When I demo the units my buddy is going to be taping for a website I have in the making, so I can post them or a link to them...

Ted

Robbie Hegwood · Jan 6, 2007

Ted,

I asked the loftness rep about that when I was demoing the New Holland TV-145 with a carbide cutter extreme and he said a 73" wide carbide would require more H.P. than even the RC-100 put out therefore thats why they didn't make it. That what he said know whether or not that's absolutly true I don't know. I aslo ran a 63" carbide cutter on my tractor and didn't really notice the width but you wouln't want to go any narrower. If I ever buy a second tractor it will have a carbide cutter to be versital.

If you can hold out for your buddy place to open that would be ideal. Money saved is money in the bank. You might can even let him demo one for a couple months and then buy that one.

Video is the greatest tool you have especially for a web site. You planning a site now is a good move. I am very proud of our site. You can talk about the tractor all day but watching it run is priceless. Our web site is Trinity Mulching - Atlanta Georgia Mulching Company if it gives you any ideas. One thing to put on your must shoot video is punching through a wall of brush of some sort, the bigger the better. It looks very dramatic on video.

If we keep on you'll have customers before you can even get the tractor, which is a good thing.

I have enjoyed talking with you about these tractors. Where else could I unload this much info about one tractor and a few heads?????

Robbie

av8or · Jan 7, 2007

Robbie,

New guy and reading your post with great interest as I'm about ready to pull the trigger. I was really focused on the RC-100 and gyrotrac then saw your post. So, that head really pulled the engine down? I've talked to several operators and they really liked the gyrotrac head on RC-100 for one and Supertrak for another. Does the TimberAx cut trees off even with the ground? I've heard the gyrotrac can go below surface. Understanding anytime you put the cutters in the dirt you are going to dull them. Will the TimberAx go below the surface if you wanted to?

Gibson

av8or · Jan 7, 2007

Robbie, forgot. What are the details on how to get tax exempt for this type of equipment?

Thanks

Robbie Hegwood · Jan 8, 2007

Hey av8or, welcome to the club.

I was really dissapointed when I ran the gyro head, I was expecting great things. It could take down a 12" tree on an ASV. It had a terrible vibration problem the salesman said it must have a bad bearing. The guy said it was not his personal demo head but one from another guy. As far as the recovery time I believe it was setup to run on a gyro machine which run 5000+psi vs. ASV 3300. That would explain the recovery time. All that aside you still have the price $34,000. I can buy two timberax's for that. It's a very capable head on a gyro machine,just not for me. But please demo one for yourself and see what you get. If I were going to spend that kind of money I would go with a much larger tractor for gas lines and R.O.W. jobs. Same thoughts on the Supertrak tractors. I'm sure there great and alot of guys around here use them. For my money I like other routes. I have several issues I would like addressed with a second tractor purchase. Also know the teeth life on gyro heads are as stated 50-70 hours at normal use!!! Straight from the salesman.

Now on to your next question. No a timberax will not go below grade. If you hit a dirt pile it will sling the dirt but they are not designed to engage dirt as carbides are. Now also remember all heads have skid plates on them and that is actually what determines the heighth of the teeth from the ground. My head will cut materail from flush to about 1" above the ground usually. I tried setting the head on the lowest setting with poor results. Blades went dull in an hour, hurts productivity. The customer wouldn't notice but I do. Not going below grade and using blades instead of teeth are the two biggest differences between the two. It's aslo a question of your soil conditions. Where are you located and what's the soil like?

Here it's labeled agricultural. I think forestry qualifies for the exemption also. Your tractor place should familiar with it.

Robbie

Diesel24 · Jan 9, 2007

Here is the low down on the balance of the Magnum mulcher.

Magnum has a pattened double sided hammer. Per side, the carbides see avg 300-500 hour life. You shouldn't wait 300 to 500 hours to flip the teeth to the un-used side. The teeth should be flipped at around 150 hours even though they are not worn slap out. This will allow the teeth to wear evenly and will keep you in balance. The teeth are easy to flip (impact wrench).
Statistics show that out of Magnums double sided hammer ($90 each total of 45 hammers) you can get 300-500 hours per side... Nearly 1000 hours out of each $90 hammer. Also, the newest Magnum heads have the Rexroth motor with the fastest recovery time of under 2.5 seconds

Robbie Hegwood · Jan 9, 2007

That tooth life your talking about sound great. I read on here a member running a magnum stated it had a good recovery time. If the new ones are faster there on to something big. I too have been seeing the Rexroth motor label more and more as I keep tabs on mulching heads. Can't get rid of the Timberax beast but for the next head!!! Good Info. Thanks

Robbie Hegwood · Jan 9, 2007

Got to thinking and running the numbers.

A set if teeth for the magnum, 4050.00 a set for between 800-1000 hrs.

A loftness carbide cutter, 2700.00 a set for between 300-500 hrs. Have heard reports of much more. But close enough for this post.

Not saving a whole bunch, maybe not having to purchase as often but stiill close to the same money.

Me on the other hand 1000.00 a set for 100 hrs. I chose my battle just comparing. They used to be 500.00 a set before loftness changed the metal they are made of. Should get more hrs out of new set, we'll see. Still running the out style.

QwikDraw · Jan 10, 2007

Update.

I got approved for the loan (I figured I would). I called my buddy at Bobcat to talk about a Fecon Bull Hog demo and now he wants to have lunch, we talked a little about the T300 but he even said the RC was the way to go with the 100 horses. I should be able to demo the Fecon as soon as I have the machine. I am waiting until I have more of the pruning done at the orchard I am working at before I make the purchase. A couple weeks or less, about 60(out of 110) trees to go, then to the clearing at same location. I also went to the lawyers and started the process of becoming a LLC.

Ted

Robbie Hegwood · Jan 10, 2007

Hey Ted

Congradulations, Soon to be knee deep in debt with the rest of us.. Just kidding!!!
Good plan on the fecon demo. You'll have to give a full report. I had a bobcat in my yard demoing from a friend when i made the choice to go with the ASV. Best business move I made.

Are you tired of pruning yet? Robbie