I got me one too...finally

[QwikDraw]

No forestry package but I do plan on manufacturing something in the near future. I have a road and 10 lots to clear starting next week. Probably will "rent to own" a head. 99% sure going with the Bradco. We finally got some snow...late but it seems to keep coming this month.

Ted

 

[Kendall69]

Man what a beauty. How much?
Also, I have narrowed it down to two units a Cat and a ASV. For the same price I can go up in HP to the 80 with the ASV over the CAT.

Any of your thought would be helpful, and what moved you towards the ASV?
Thanks

 

[QwikDraw]

I plan on using it with a mulch head so the choice was easy for me, more hydraulic horsepower, better cooling and more clearance. ASV is one of the only stock machines with 100HP that can run those heads. Read through the other post here and you will find many other reasons....

Price...cheaper then I would have thought.... under 50K. ASV really doesn't take care of their dealers, there were two other dealers that had prices over 5K more but with out set territories I found a third dealer happy to move machines with almost no profit. If I were the other dealers I would be angry but it was good for me.

Definitely an issue ASV needs to deal with.


Ted

 

[Thomas]

Nice looking unit Ted.
Even when the mud arrives you should be able to continue roughing out...not sure what part of the North East your from,but more snow heading this way...1 to 3 inches here.

 

[John Ryan]

Quick Draw,

I just posted on "Business Plan" a request for a dealer that's giving these deals. The Texas Timber Jack dealership in Lufkin has been quoating me $110K for the RC 100, Tush Hog head, forestry package, AC and cab over pressure.

If your dealer can beat that, I will drive from Texas to your area to get one. A $50k+ saving is a big deal.

John

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

John. Please, please, please shop around. That price is not even in the same continent. First i think tushogg heads are the most expensive. See if you can get a price on just the head and let us know about that. Second let's rough this

RC-100 $60k maybe with pressurized cab, The forestry package usually 5-6K
Fecon head, Loftness, and FAE all are 22-25k max

So I would call 85-90k the absolute max. Maybe Paco will give a few numbers for his tractor has everything you can get and is nowhere close to 110k. A member on here, I believe Yellowdog lives in Texas and bought his from Crane works in Alabama.

Heck if none of the dealers will show you any love I put you in contact with my tractor place and for a fair price I'll haul it to texas and visit my parents in Lake Houston.

I'm glad you posted. These tractors are expensive enough without a salesman trying to retire on a single deal. Please keep us posted.
Fellow Mulcher. Robbie

 

[John Ryan]

Robbie,

Thanks for the speedy reply. That's why I was screaming for help on three strings here. When I was reading price ranges you guys were talking about, I just started flipping out.

There is no way in **** the Tush Hog head is running $60k. I think the dealer wanted me to pay the light bill for a year or so.

When I started my research on this, the first head I looked at was the Fecon. I saw one other one, I can't remember the name, but it looked like a maintainance nightmare, X'd it off the list. Then I heard about the Tush Hog and I really do like it, but I'm not married to it.

I am so glad my friend got me on this site. There's a ton of experience that I couldn't buy if I had to money to burn.

The guys that sell the Fecon use Mustang skid steers (with a trac belt over the wheels). Wasn't to impressed with that machine. I wouldn't mind being married to the ASV. All the research I've done thus far tells me ASV is the machine to use.

Maybe you've read my other two posts. Says about the same, for $50k+ saving, I could afford to pay you to deliver it here. But I'd like to see your country, I've only been to the Georgia area one other time in my life, time to visit again.

John

PS: The dealer here wants to show me some "love," with sandpaper!

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Okay, it sounds like your close to the big one, The purchase. You need to run a few different heads to get a feel for them. I personally do not like a tushogg and I think if you run a few other heads you'll like it even less. There are better priced alternatives even if it is 50k. But we both know its not. The best and fastest cutting head out the gyro tracs for skid steers is only 32-34k. But they are costly to run. There are several good heads in the 20-25k range. If i were looking for the best and most knowlegdable dealer I would PM Paco. His dealer sounds like they have a good understanding of mulching tractors and what they require. Plus I know it was a vermeer dealer so see if there's a vermeer near you. And some on here will argue this point but for the money an ASV is very hard to beat.
I would not even talk to the tushogg dealer again. I'm glad you found this sight also. Spending any amount more than you had to would Suck.

Buy a equipment trader and see if there are any ads for mulchers in there. There are dealers around you you'll just have to hunt them down.

Anyway, see where this info leads you and check back with what you find.
Robbie

 

[John Ryan]

Just read the string about the Tush Hog and one guy there called and was quoated $24k. So, if we look at what Paco paid, under $50k, then add retail of $24k, round numbers tell me $74k "go to work" price. So where the heck did he come up with the $36k? Not his good looks I can assure you.

Oh yeah, I'll see him one more time; when I drive up to the dealership with a machine and head that I bought somewhere else.

I have demoed the Tush Hog and Fecon. Both do leave large pieces around. I'm wide open on the cutting heads. Looking for the best head at the best price. It's all about keeping the customer happy with the product that he's paid for. And the experience here tells me you guys have a good hand on it.

The Timber Jack dealer told me that the Tush Hog head and machine weighed in a 14,000#. With that weight, then I started looking at trailer weight, fuel etc etc and which then drove the size of truck I needed and that drove me the DL requirements.

Glad you guys are responding. This helps a lot. Much appreciated.

John Ryan, Bryan/College Station, Texas

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Just for the record Paco's machine is the one that is loaded. Pressurized cab, forestry package and added cooling. Quickdraws is a 100 but with no forestry package and I'm not sure about the pressurized cab or not. For the price I'd say not. Mine is closer to quickdraws but with the rear brush guard. But this will give you the least price of ours verses the loaded price of Paco's. My .02 cents, get everything up front and finance one price. If you decide on a forestry package later that's 5-6k out of pocket. They came out with all the forestry packages 2 months after i purchased mine. Oh well. Building guardes as I go.

And yes the weight gets out of hand in a hurry. Robbie

 

[John Ryan]

I just got on both of Paco's strings, hopefully he'll see it and reply. Maybe we can set it up so I can call him. Yeah, one look at Paco's and I knew it was loaded, I saw all the tale tale signs of fine machine. He might be so busy now that he can't slow down to contact me.

The machine that I demod had everything on it. It was sweet. Having not run that machine much, it was kinda rough at first. But I'm betting that I can have it down in a very short time.

Looking at the jobs to do around here, I can't think of any machine that'll beat the ASV. Power, depenability, maintainance, fuel usgae, etc. The ASV had them all beat with the numbers.

Should the business plan work out and all the contacts come through, (signed non-binding contracts), the ASV is just the start. What I did was think way outside the box. What goes from here state wide is getting into the bigger 250 hp machines. Of course more hp means more head aches. But it's turning dollars and that's what business is all about.

Any word on the ASV section that you know of. Keep talking to me, I'm intrested in everything you have to say. Cutting heads, everything.

John Ryan

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

There is a function on here to PM someone. I PMed paco so hopefully he'll see it and get back to ya soon.

Oh ya, your just scratching the surface. I've demoed some big boys and they are cool, pricey, but cool. Cutting capacity is directly related to HP and you will will run out of both sooner than you think. But 100's are good to learn on and a must for a "fleet" for sensitive areas.

But back to the 100, call your vermeer dealer and inquire about a 100 with a mulcher. The only think extra is the Aux. Hyd cooler they installed. The other items are from ASV and you would just have to make sure they ordered it correctly. I can't imagine them not having one with as many mulchers running in Texas as there are.

 

[John Ryan]

Robbie,

I've been all over the Vermeer web site looking at stump grinders and tub grinders and never once saw anything about the ASV's with mulchers. Never the less I've got their 800 number and will call them this week.

Lots of mulchers in Texas? I only know of 6. One is close to Houston, one in the Kerrville area, one in Burnet, one in Lufkin and a couple around Texarcanna. But, let me be clear, these are ones with web sites.

There very well could be others out there, just don't know about them. I do know for a fact that within 6-8 counties around me, nada. I've got privite foresters in east Texas that are screaming at me daily to come over with 250hp machines to do work. Some of it is still cleaning up from Huricane Rita.

South Texas is another hot spot. West Texas is yet another. No one has even dared venture there with these types of machines. TxDOT and their sub's want this equipment. Ever feel like your pot of gold is just right there and some SOB has you hog tied? That's how I feel.

The one in Burnet is running a 250hp Barko with a Seppi head (flail type). He only charges $150/hr, everything included. Unless a "dutch uncle" gave him the Barko, I don't know how he's making it.

My e-mail address is jp.ryan@suddenlink.net

John Ryan

 

[paco]

I paid 60k for my machine with every available option to my knowledge. Fecon head not included. A man around Nashville has the same head Robbie has for sale and is asking 12k obo. That would be a good buy if it checks out ok.

 

[John Ryan]

Thanks for the reply Paco. I'm going to contact Vermeer and see what they have. Then I'm coming back to you & Robbie and we'll talk some more.

Robbie, just had a flash back. The Fecon dealer, Lynn Hyndrex, installs hydralics on the Fecon push bar. Then he fastens as many hooks on top of it. That way when you need to back drag material, just a push of the button from inside the cab. Cuts down on wasted time from what I can see.

You guys are super. If I come that way to buy from your dealers, beers on me. Count me in as one of the ASVers on this board. I'll figure out the PM thing one way or the other.

John Ryan

 

[QwikDraw]

Hello John,

I just finished up the day, one of my first few jobs mulching. I have not purchased the head yet, today I rented a Bradco Magnum for the rest of the week to check it out. I have only run a Fecon on a Bobcat T300 before this. I would liketo try the Fecon on my ASV before I purchase one. The only observation I have negative of the Bradco is this unit was only rented a few times and it looks like it is 2 years old. One bolt on the top is sheared off, the door is slightly bent and the hoses are to short to short to roll the head more then half way forward. I am not sure if the first few renters were that rough or this thing just doean't hold up.

And one day in the woods and the girl has some scratches, really need to make a gaurd for the rear "hood"...and I need a radio.

Ted

PS I like Sam Adams White Ale....

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Hey Ted. Congrates on your first mulching job. It feels good doesn't it? First thing first, you have to get some guards on that girl soon. That hood will not handle any hitting at all. I pushed my guard into the hood last week and I thought I was being careful. More guards soon and more counterweights.

Second. Most people renting equipment "drive it like they stole it" anyway. Probably holds true for rental equipment also. Will the dealer get you a head just for you to rent if you rent it often?

Also, finally caught up with the Vermeer salesman and he brought out a Magnum head today for me to run. Had the wrong case drain fitting on it so no go. Will reschedule, no big deal. The guy was pretty cool and we hit it off good even though we had some communication problems in the beginning. But my point, it also looked a little rough and I can't recall seeing a head that had a door that WASN'T bent. I think its just to close to the "action". The head was fairly new for it had double sided teeth and they hadn't been flipped yet. But just my intial take on the head I think it has potential. It was a good size and weight.

Okay, come on a radio??? You will learn the sound your pumps make and that will help you run your tractor.

Later Robbie

 

[John Ryan]

You got it Ted. But you'll have to remember it when I get up there, I'll forget by then. Congrats on the job, I'm insanely jelous (sp) right now.

John

 

[QwikDraw]

Robbie,

It'll be good to hear your opinion on the Bradco. The area I was working in to today had ledge sticking out of the ground everywhere and plenty of rocks. I must of hit 10 an hour, being as careful as I could but too many were hidden under the leaves. None of the teeth were broken so I guess it can take some abuse.

Ted

Thanks John!

 

[QwikDraw]

I'll tell you one thing, I'm going to buy that head soon....$400 a day rental for the head adds up quick!