ASV RC100 Pros Cons

[Sebastian]

I'm new to this site, just joined tonight but I've been reading the post for sometime. I'm wanting to expand the services I offer and am considering a RC100 with a brush cutter and a mulching head. After reading some of the comments about problems some of y'all have with this machine and the mention of other machines I wanted to hear some thoughts about differant machines. (needs to have tracks)
Also I haven't heard of another machine the size of the RC100 with as much hyd hp that keeps the versitility of a skid-steer. A business my size needs to keep as much versitility as I can. I don't think a deticated machine would work for me.
QwikDraw, Eric H, Ax Man, palmettobrush, & Robbie Hegwood I've seen some of your comments and would like to hear your opinions. All other welcome also, don't want to leave anyone out. Need all the info I can get.

 

[tuckinlugz]

You can pretty much find all the answers to your questions on here already. Just do a search for ASV and read up. I think the PT100 and the TAK TL150 high flow are the best non dedicated right out of the box machines. The RC100 is a place to start if you don't have the funds for those. Just take a note of all the problems that you read about on here for the RC100 and use them as preventatives, to help find the small problems before they get bigger. That's what I do anyway. Good luck. Mike

 

[QwikDraw]

Yes, you can purchase the ASV and be mulching the next day with a decent machine but in the long run it will not make money. The machine will not last in the mulching environment. I recently priced out a Takeuchi TL250 and am considering purchasing one. The only issue I see is price for the Takeuchi, they offer a forestry type package for the TL250 that is made by Supertrac, it has a hyd cooler, reversing fan, extra hyd couplers and thicker front glass and adds around 9-10k. The list price I was given was 85K...I feel too much for a skid steer, add a mulch head for 23K and it's 108K (basicly a Supertrac TL150). If I'm going to spend that much I'm going bigger with a custom mulcher, it's almost double the cost but should out work the skid steer 2-1 and hold up for the long run and in turn make more money. You just need the work to pay for it.

And don't get me started on down time when you have the work but your machine is in the shop.

Good luck.

 

[Heavyduty]

I'm new to this site, just joined tonight but I've been reading the post for sometime. I'm wanting to expand the services I offer and am considering a RC100 with a brush cutter and a mulching head. After reading some of the comments about problems some of y'all have with this machine and the mention of other machines I wanted to hear some thoughts about differant machines. (needs to have tracks)
Also I haven't heard of another machine the size of the RC100 with as much hyd hp that keeps the versitility of a skid-steer. A business my size needs to keep as much versitility as I can. I don't think a deticated machine would work for me.
QwikDraw, Eric H, Ax Man, palmettobrush, & Robbie Hegwood I've seen some of your comments and would like to hear your opinions. All other welcome also, don't want to leave anyone out. Need all the info I can get.

Make sure you have a real big need for this type of equip. because just as soon as you buy it it will drop in value real quick.

I know three guys in my area who bought new and now they just sit. Having to make payments on a machine that your upside down in would suck.

Now if you have the money to pay cash then you already know.

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Okay yes you can go back thru the threads and see what items are giving the most trouble. Tuck put it well about preventitive maint. That is the real key.
But now is the time to let the system work for you. Lease the RC-100, it is a rightoff anyway and let the dealership worry about working on it. Buy the head and that gives you the most leverage. If it's slow and you can work the lease in your favor turn it in and wait till you need it. You can also buy the head and rent the RC-100. Now some don't realize your clmate allows muclhing year round.

 

[Sebastian]

Thanks for the replys and info I will do a search for the ASV items as Tuckerlugz suggested and I am going to do some research on the TAK TL150 And TL250.
QwikDraw you may be right about the larger machine but I just don't think I am ready for a piece of equipment that is so deticated plus my pocket book couldn't stand it.
Heavyduty thanks for the info about the two machines since I didn't know anyothe machines were stacking up to the ASVs.
Robbie I really hadn't thought about a lease to much but I can see where that would have some real possibilities and hoe owing just the head would put me in a good position.

Thanks Good Info.

 

[cann mulching]

and I have a set up you can buy to start off with '05 ASV rc-100, mulcher head, grapple & dirt bucket all just let me know!!! I'm in MS & will deliver to TX.

 

[palmettobrush]

I have a pt 100 you can get with a gyrotrac head machine has 1050 hours on it and can be bought for 60000 today been wanting to get an excavator with a mulcher on it and this is the only way i can get it is to unload one of my machines

 

[QwikDraw]

Well, I feel left out.

You can get my RC100 with 1800 hrs plus Fecon head for....$38,000

 

[SSP&M]

We have a supertrak sk120 with fecon head will let go!!! 3000hours

 

[palmettobrush]

Those other machines dont have the positive pressure cab which is worth a lot of money itself its really nice not having to wear a resperator just to mulch brush anymore and the newer machine comes standard with the reversing fan

 

[HeyUvaVT]

RC100 with forestry kit 700 hours $35k

With Timberax $45k
With 200 hour Cimaf head $50k
With 25 Hour Cimaf head $63k

Just to add my penny's worth!

 

[Eagleview]

Are any of this type of machine any good ? Can ANY of them make any real money ? I first wanted an RC100 a few years ago , then came the PT100F , both had a fair bit of negative feed back on here . Then I priced an FTX148 because it was said they were the bee's knee's . But then I see a photo of one beside what was said to be a HUGE tree , if that is a HUGE tree for one of these machines which I would call a bush , I'm not interested . Then I see a video of it working , I was actually embarrassed . If I turned up at a job here at $200 per hour and worked that slow i'd be told to take it home before smoko . No wonder their all for sale .

 

[Diamond Ridge]

The RC100's do have their place. An RC100 is what I own and have had decent success with it so far. They are still getting used around my neck of the woods for seismic line cutting in the winter but are slowly getting replaced by the 125 HP Lamtrac and CMI Twister with their really low ground pressure. I bought mine for the versatility (put other attachments on) but can still go out and do some mulching. People around here really like it for fence line clearing. Another thing you can do with the RC100 is in some applications you can rent a tiller after you mulch a place if the client really wants that "garden like" look. Around here machines this size equiped with a mulching head get between $200-$250/hr. depending on how it is rigged up.

 

[Sebastian]

You guys are all heart I didn't realize asking a few questions would cause a fire sale. LOL
On the other hand if these are really good machines why are so many of you ready to part with yours? Only one of you mentiopned getting a new or differant machine.

 

[tlbuser]

Are any of this type of machine any good ? Can ANY of them make any real money ? I first wanted an RC100 a few years ago , then came the PT100F , both had a fair bit of negative feed back on here .

Yes, in my experience, one RC-60 and now a RC-100 they are very good multi purpose dirt mover/tool carriers. I wouldn't trade my -100 for a Cat 939c. I must be luckier than most. I haven't had severe breakdowns, fire, track, axle or under-carriage issues. Therefore, the only conclusion I can reach is that these don't make good mulcher platforms. I'm not even sure if I have a "local" dealer.

 

[tlbuser]

On the other hand if these are really good machines why are so many of you ready to part with yours? Only one of you mentiopned getting a new or differant machine.

Now there's a good question.

I noticed you have one of those ancient, no good ASV machines in your line-up . How's yours been holding up for what you use it for?

 

[C.G.S.]

Read the past posts on RC 100 AND any other machine. They all have issues and those weakeness are compounded by some of their operators. Perventive maintenance and using the machine within it production range is the key. I would not recommend buying some one eles mulching tractor unless you are sure what to look for in the way of in problems. We shear and chip the trees over 6" stump grind or up root trees bigger then the shear can handle. We sell or saw the lumber from merchantable logs bio fuel the chips and wood.In other words you can't do it all with one machine and expect that you are not going to have to sacrifice production, durability, mobility,operator comfort/safety and profitablity. An ASV RC 100 with proper modifcation or a PT -100 can fit in to buisness model and make money I know because I have one AND NO I DO NOT WANT SELL IT because I tore it up, because I needed a bigger machine,because I did not know how to work on it and did not know how to run it. In other words alot problems are the operator not the machine.

 

[Sebastian]

Now there's a good question.

I noticed you have one of those ancient, no good ASV machines in your line-up . How's yours been holding up for what you use it for?

Yes my machine is rather old and I had to do quite a bit of repair to the tracks after I purchased it. Not complaining I knew it going in. I bought this machine mainly for the ground pressure. I got into mowing some retention ponds in the area and needed something with a big foot print and L.G.P.
Even though it is old and only 70hp I am still amazed how much work I can do and how fast it get it done.

"C.G.S."
I think you make a good point that a lot and I won't say all problems can come from how hard you push your equipment or who you have operating it. No one will take care of it like the person making the payments.

I understand what you are saying purchasing a machine that's been in hard service but I really don't want to take that sticker shock hit you get as soon as you haul that equipment off the lot.

 

[C.G.S.]

I would agree about a good used machine but consider that any mulching tractor could have been run way to hot(lack of proper and timely cleaning). Air filter as been plugged up most of the time.( again maintenance) Tracks and undercarriage do not last as long as a dirt machines, steel or rubber both seem to have faster wear(pins and bushings on steel tracks).Also a mulching tractor is carrying heavy mulching head all the time not just a bucket full of dirt half the time. Now if it an ASV someones been driving over tree stumps with that +2200LB head stuck on the front as fast as there back can stand weather on not the machine can take it. At least a steel undercariage will punish that behavior.All that said there are a good machines that you could find at a good price. If you want a tractor that can do other jobs then just mulch then ASV may work for you. If I was just looking for mulching machine I would go with a dedicated machine.Only it might do a lot of sitting around killing the grass.