2007 ASV pricing?

[QwikDraw]

I have two dealers here to choose from, one has RC100s (2006s) instock and one is waiting on 2007 models. Anybody know if the 2007s price is increasing? It might make choosing the dealer easier, I don't want to waste anyones time and if the new models are 5k more it's an easy choice for me.

Thanks,
Ted

 

[Maka]

I don't know of a price change. The 06 and 07 machines should have no change.

Maka

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Maka, Do you know of any changes to the machine's themselves from 06-07? When I bought mine they had 05's and 06's, I prefered and my dealer seconded an 06 because of the switch to perkins engine verses cat.They are an perkins dealer and had been having servicable issues with the cats. I also think they moved the condensor to the roof on 06's, but not sure. Robbie

 

[burnetma]

The roof mounted AC condensor is important to prevent overheating when mulching.

I have not heard about a price increase for 2007. I also asked about ASV moving to the SR platform for the 100 HP model, but ASV denies plans to do so in the near future.

 

[QwikDraw]

Thank you for the replies. I will have numbers from dealer #1 tomorrow and the other will be out next Wed...

Man, I'm chomping at the bit...I was at the orchard today checking out the areas to be cleared (after pruning 105 apple trees) and it couldn't be better for a Timber Ax or Carbide Grinder. I have a solid 4 weeks of pruning before the claring part, I should have everything in order by then.

Ted

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Hey Ted, Your orchard project sounds golden. You get your toy and a good place to learn with it. Have you narrowed down your choice between the timberax and a carbide cutter? I saw a FECON tracked machine today, over 400 H.P. A friend of mine is overseeing a sewer line install and they are using a excavator mounted head and the fecon. What a monster, He's going to take me by to talk to the guy next week and let me druel on his machine. Robbie

 

[QwikDraw]

I am still leaning toward the Timber AX but do plan on trying a few before I make the purchase. It just seems to produce a better finished job. A local Bobcat dealer does rent/sell the Fecon Bull Hogs, I will rent or demo one. ASV dealer has a Bradco Magnum grinder in stock but they seem to be higher priced. I have already been on a Loftness Carbide grinder demo, the rep is bringing down a Timbr Ax in the next few weeks. Of course, I am just watching right now but I can get a feel for what the attachment can do. I may not purchase right away, just rent until I have a steady flow of clearing work, I can fill in with other grading or hardscapes jobs.

The price of the replacement carbides, kind of scares me....I like the Timber Ax replacement cost.

I may pile all the apple tree clippings and just TIMBER AX em'..

That excavator mounted Fecon must chew up some trees!

Ted

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

The excavator is one machine, the tracked machine is another. Both are unbelievable. You will not be dissapointed with the timberax. Yes the carbide teeth are out of sight. I will go to my local metal shop and see what they can do about blades before I purchase anymore from loftness, if nothing else save on shipping. If you get one I'll let you know if that works. The renting is a safe and smart route. You could even buy the head and lease a machine. Just a thought. Robbie

 

[rutwad]

I am not sure of the '07's are due for a price increase or not. But this past summer when I was looking at truck flatbeds and trailers, the price gradually crept up with each new shipment the dealer received mostly due to increased steel and fuel prices. This may hold true for new machines as well.

 

[QwikDraw]

With updated pricing I was quoted $54,900 for an 2007 RC100. Does this sound correct? After tax and dealer fees, out the door price was $58,444. His price on my trade in was lower than #2 dealer quoted over the phone ($3000 lower) so I'll see what happens next week. I will put my skid steer back in the local Heavy Equip Trader mag and see if I can sell it myself since I have a month before I will be ready to make the purchase.

Ted

 

[paco]

Quikdraw,does the 54,900 include the forrestry package?

 

[QwikDraw]

NO, that's just the RC100, cab, heat and a/c.

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Your prices sound good. Close to what I paid. One more thing you need to look into is here in Georgia mulchers are labeled agriculteral and you have to have tractor to run the head. Therefore both are tax exempt, saved me 6k on the purchase. That would easily cover the forestry package upgrade. Heck I'm getting excited for ya. Robbie

 

[QwikDraw]

Thanks Robbie,

I have to go to my tax guy soon, I will ask him about the tax exempt possibilities. Actually after looking at the $3300 worth of tax I thought about going to see a New Hampshire dealer...where there is NO sales tax...I'd rather buy close and support my local dealer where I will be getting service but...$3300 is a lot of money.
Better yet, we (finally) get some snow and I'll have some more money coming in then just from pruning. I figure I only need 22 storms over 12" and I'll have the ASV paid for before spring.....it could happen (yea, right)

Ted

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Hey Ted, I think I mentioned this earlier but I say it again. You really need some form of forestry package. I know the guard over the roof a/c looks tough but it will not handle a direct hit from a limb of decent size. I've seen one smashed in the shop from a guy hitting a dead tree and a piece hitting his tractor. Also add the tax on the head to the 3300$ and your really talking some savings. There is a form to sign but its a standard form and my tractor dealer had it.

 

[QwikDraw]

OK, now were talking....dealer #2 offered me 4k more for my trade...we have a winner. He was slightly more on the machine price (less than 1k) but overall I like the dealer and he even offered to buy the attachment I want and "rent to own" it for me. A great guy! I'm gonna pull the trigger in the next few days.

I'm pumped!
Ted

I also talked to the guys at Gyrotrac today. I was taking a closer look at the Toma Ax 500F and was impressed with the cutting teeth. He said it would leave the smallest chips of all the heads and out work them all by 1.5 - 2 times the production. The down side, $34,000 price tag and the teeth cost $40 a piece (for 23 = 920+shipping) and they only last 120 hours - ouch.

 

[Diesel24]

120 hrs.... (if your lucky) typically the Gyro- Track blades last only 50 hours and must be sharpend every day! Between the high price and the maintence, there is no doubt that a carbide tooth cutter is the way to go.
Think of it this way, say you charge $165 hour to run the head. Why pay $10k+ for a mulcher head that requires tons of maintence and low blade life, when you could still be making the same ($165) with a carbide tooth cutter (300-500 hours tooth life, with no maintence)?

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Hey Quickdraw, I glad the trade-in is working out and I'm glad your getting close.
Two things to go over quickly. I have demoed a gyro head on my ASV and the cons outweighted the pros. ASV's and the TOMax are not good matches. I was constantly waiting on the head to recover (recover to full rpm). This was a big issue and severly cuts into your productivity. The head is extremely compact which is good for weight balancing but puts the teeth and debri from it right at the window. Now it was a very capable head able to cut a bigger tree than any other head but again waiting on the head to recover it would take forever to process a larger tree.

Diesel24 is correct about teeth life. The salesman was extremely hard on the teeth during the demo (GT-25) and was upfront about the teeth life. A gyro head on a gyro tractor is an unbeatable setup for larger applications.

Most heads being equal it is really about price, replacement teeth price, and recovery time. Also the price on the gyro is correct, I can buy two heads for that price.

Now, my opinions are just that. I'm just trying to inform you the best I can so you can make money and be happy with your equipment. Also with the SR vs. the 100. Torque is what keeps the pump turning under a load and the 100 with almost double is the ticket. I am definitely a fan of the SR just not in this application.

Tell me again what heads you have run. Rutwad has an FAE head maybe he can comment on it. Also didn't you have a line on a Magnum head. I read on a thread in here they have a good recovery time.

Keep us posted. Robbie

 

[QwikDraw]

The dealer has a Bradco Magnum in stock,it was a demo unit and only used a few times. He said they cost $27k and would sell this one for $23, I am not sure of the width. I also priced a Fecon made ASV mulcher @ $22k but it is the 74 inch wide unit with only a 60 cut. I think you mentioned it, a 60 inch cut and a 69 inch wide machine...that's not good(right?). I will be trying the Timber Ax before any purchase but the rep is 4+ hours from here and I will have to set something up soon. I think the cost is close on that head too. I told the dealer, let's make sure I can get approved for the RC (I should) and then I want to start working on the head choice right away. Paper work gets dropped off on Monday, should know by the end of the week. Also, the dealer agreed to let me pay 3500 at p/u and another 3500 on Feb 1 and then what ever else I can scape up on March 1...then put the loan through so my official payment won't start untill April 1, kind of like a homebrewed rent to own on the machine too...he's really going out of his way for me and I appreciate it....

Do you think any of the carbide mulcher is much better than the others? I see some have different patterns for the teeth but does one out preform the others or hold up better? I've heard good things about these two. Looks like my choice will be made from:

Bradco Magnum
Fecon Bull Hog
Loftness Timber Ax

I still think the Timber Ax would do the best and cleanest job, I am just worried about all the rocks we have here, you should see the piles I have in my yard.

I'll keep you posted...
Ted

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Hey quickdraw. Any of the three are good but here's my thoughts.

I'll shoot just the facts. Only Timberax has the extra cutting widths over 60-63". No other carbide go bigger because of the horsepower needed to run blunt teeth carbides. So you'll have to get the biggest carbide you can which is about 60"-63". Out of what you listed I think the Fecon would be the most capable with less cloggs but you might have to reprocess to get finer chips, that doesn't take long to bachdrag.

I personally heard vibration problem with magnums, but never run one myself. Plus your deal price sound okay the full price doesn't.

For your application and terrain the carbides will be your best bet. Timberax's are bad machines but not for rocks and you have to like maint. them.

I don't know how the money would work but my dealer has a new model carbide cutter demo that he has already ballparked me a price of under 20k. Just giving you some options. The construction on loftness heads is top notch, I seen alot of heads and there is the beefest by far.

One more angle, ask your dealer to price a couple of heads, he being a dealer he might get better prices and pass some savings on to you.

Keep the post coming and we'll figure the best approach yet. Robbie