Goodbye Kubota, hello EarthForce

[MChalkley]

Re: EarthForce EF-5

OK, time for another update on the attachments.

I've settled on D&E Manufacturing, http://www.demfg.com, for the custom stuff. After numerous discussions with Jim @ D&E, I've come to the conclusion that he's good folks. They're building a 78" wide 1.6 cu. yd. (struck) light material loader bucket, backhoe thumb, backhoe quick attach coupler, 18" and 24" backhoe buckets w/couplers, a coupler for the McMillen auger head, and a ripper tooth w/coupler, all to my specs and heavier duty than I've seen elsewhere, for less than I can buy off-the-shelf stuff for. And as if that wasn't good enough, their factory is less than 10 miles from the Summerville, SC EarthForce N.A. distribution center, and he'll have it all built in time for me to pick it up when I drive down to pick up the EF-5 and save the shipping charges.

I decided early on that I was going to need to have the light material bucket custom built, but the couplers and the rest of the stuff just worked out that way. The theory is that when I'm transporting all this stuff to and from the job site, I can put the auger on the backhoe, the two backhoe buckets in the 4-in-1 bucket, and the 4-in-1 bucket chained nose-in into the light material bucket, which will be mounted on the EF-5. That way, the whole bundle doesn't take up any more space than the light material bucket by itself would. Then, I should still have room for the soil pulverizer, pallet forks, Switch Hitch, and grader rake on the front of the trailer, if I build a little framework to mount the pieces to.

Sometimes things just seem to work out so well that it makes up for the rest of the time. I must've called a dozen different manufacturers and didn't get anybody that came even close to being able to put the whole package together. I found some items for less money (and less quality), but nobody that could do it all, not even counting the shipping savings. And then, to find out, after we'd come to a tentative agreement on the terms, that they were in the same neighborhood as the EarthForce distribution facility, well that was just plain weird.

But, as I said, D&E seems to be a really class act. If anybody needs anything built to spec, give 'em a chance to quote it. They really seem to know their stuff.

MarkC

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: EarthForce EF-5

Mark, I've been following your posts with interest. The Earthforce seems to have a lot going for it. I was wondering though about the Ambusher mower. The information I can find on it comes from the New Holland skid steer web site, and it looks like the maximum cutting height is only three inches. The would be fine for a previously worked field, but not so good on rough terrain or in the woods. Also I was wondering, in general, how you think the Earthforce machines would fair in rough terrain. I'm considering the EF-2, which has 15" rims.
Dave

 

[MChalkley]

Re: EarthForce EF-5

Dave - The 3" spec is the diameter it's rated to cut, not the height. It's height is limited to the lift height of the loader, technically speaking, and by your common sense, practically speaking. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif The Ammbusher can be had with or without a gauge wheel - I ordered mine with it. I'm not sure what adjustment heights are available for it yet, though - I haven't gotten my hands on it yet.

As for the rough terrain issue, I can't say for sure. Traction-wise, it will be superior to any CUT. From a stability standpoint, I suspect it will be about the same as a typical CUT. The backhoe raises the CG, but the smaller tires and other physical characteristics lowers it. I'm guessing the the two will about cancel each other out, and my local engineer friend agrees. Only usage will tell for sure, though.

MarkC

 

[MChalkley]

Re: EarthForce EF-5

Dave - Check out http://www.ammbusher.com. It doesn't have much information, but it's probably more than you've got so far.

One other point regarding stability: with a backhoe, you can always move the boom to the uphill side when you're on slopes to move the CG more to that side to increase stability. In fact, the EarthForce machines have a boom "transport" lock that will hold it in the left, right, or center positon. Most backhoes lock only in the center position.

MarkC

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: EarthForce EF-5

Thanks Mark. The Ammbusher looks great for the trail work I have in mind, and I'll be very interested in your experiences with it. I'm trying to get more info on the EF-2 and 3 machines, but there appear to be no dealers in the upper Midwest. I hear that some Bobcat dealers may start carrying them next year, which, if true, would be great.

 

[MChalkley]

Re: EarthForce EF-5

Dave - Why don't you give Jason @ Folcomer Equipment a call? The number is in this thread somewhere. He's as knowledgeable when it comes to the EarthForce line as anyone. He not only sells quite a few of them, but they rent them, too. Not only that, but his pricing was the best of several dealers I talked to. Besides, no matter where you buy it, you're going to have to pay shipping to where you live.

I went to Folcomer's today. I didn't pick up the Ammbusher - until I get the EF-5, I wouldn't have a way to unload it - but I looked it over pretty carefully. It's extremely heavy duty - very well designed, good materials, excellent workmanship. It's a very impressive piece of equipment. If I had to compare it to a mechanical-PTO-style machine, I'd have to say it's most similar in construction to the heavy duty Alamo units you see DOT crews using. It's actually rated to cut up to 4" material, not 3", according to the most recent spec sheet on it.

MarkC

 

[JATO_RaT]

Re: What a long, strange trip it\'s been...

Sorry I replied so late Mark, never saw this post of yours. The dealer finally emailed me after his phone number turned out to be bad. Told me to give him a call anytime to discuss the products. As far as a 3 pt hitch, I need one primarily for all the mowing I do here at my place. I have a 84" mower that gets alot of use. I will miss my International for its stability on the slopes. It does not have a roll bar, but rather then wanting to roll, it slides down the hills. Some places I have to go to the top and go straight down the hill in 1st or 2nd and skid down because I just can't get the tractor to stick on the 45 deg slopes very well. The Earth Force looks like a dynamite tractor, especially for landscape folks that need alot of mobility.

 

[ljh2]

Re: What a long, strange trip it\'s been...

Mark,

Do you know a ballpark price of the other units, specifically the EF-3 or the SSK? I'm not really ready to start talking with a salesman, but these machines sound very interesting.

Thanks,
Larry

 

[MChalkley]

Re: What a long, strange trip it\'s been...

Larry,

The only unit I priced that was smaller than the EF-5 was the EF-4, and it's about $37k. Jason @ Folcomer Equipment in Baltimore (410-247-7454) would be glad to send you some info and pricing, I'm sure. He's not your typical sales type - I'm pretty picky, and even I haven't found anything about him I can complain about yet. Now, the slipping of the delivery date for my EF-5, that irks me, but it wasn't his fault.

MarkC

 

[MChalkley]

Re: What a long, strange trip it\'s been...

Another bit of info for those of you who have responded to me via this thread or via private e-mail and told me you're interested in getting more info: (At least, I don't think I've posted this already...) The new models are going to be EF-100 thru EF-600 to better fit in with Bobcat's model number scheme. The SSK, which stood for Skid Steer Killer, will also be renamed by Bobcat, I'm sure, for what should be, ahem, obvious, reasons. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif I asked a factory rep if the new models would be 100 times better or 100 times more expensive than the old ones, but he said "neither". Also, the paint scheme will go from silver and black to white and black for, again, obvious reasons.

MarkC