Buying Advice I need a versatile machine that can lift 3500lbs and is awsome with a fork attachment

[rsewill]

I would look into a Cat 908H wheel loader, should do everything you need.

Nice comparison tool on Cat's page.

 

[leonz]

I unload B-trains 6 times a year with drilling rods etc. and each weigh upto 1700lbs. I need to lift two at a time - so lifting 3400lbs. I then have to load these onto smaller trailers etc or store under a shelter untill such time. I am looking for a machine that has a good record and waranty and is not a zoom boom or forklift but is versatile and can articulate. I need a machine that can do other things. Is there an appropriate machine out there I should look at that would be less expensive? Finally the machine should be worthy of operating in the Yukon/Alaska climate.

Is there any deals out there I should consider?

Assuming you are lifting and moving thirty foot A.P.I., 5 inch I.D., drill rods the only serious option for you that allows multiple tool use is a Mercedes Unimog U-300 with a Hiab Knuckle boom crane.

The Merceded Unimog is fully capable of operating in your climate, they are used in the Alps the year round for all sorts of jobs like mowing and snow plowing to name just two uses.



A Hiab Knuckle boom crane would allow you to hook 2 or more pairs of thrty foot A.P.I., rods using a 4-6-8 way chain with a loop in the center and 8-16 pieces of L shaped steel weldments attached to the end of the chain(s) which slip into both ends of each drill rod and you can lift four plus rods at once provided the Unimog is balanced with the 4 hydraulic stabiliser foot pads on the ground which will allow you to unload the flat or well car from one position with a helper to stick the L shaped irons in both ends of the drill rods.

The centered lifting chains with the eye link gives you complete control of the thirty foot drill rods at all times and lets you control the loads completely even under windy conditions.


You can run all sorts of attachments including pallet forks on a Hiab knuckle boom crane on a Mercedes Unimog which is actually a Universal machine/farm tractor capable of highway speeds.

"Unimog" is German for "Universal Machine"


EDIT:

Adding to what I mentioned previously, if you have a dedicated siding with space to work installing an 8 ton jib crane on a concrete pad properly built for the Jib crane foundation at the siding wil be less work and would allow you to use smaller implement carriers and using a pipe lifting chain set as I described earlier will allow you to lift 2 bundles of 2 30-foot drill rods safely and then set them doen to be moved later by a standard 4 wheel drive fork lift of very small loader with a clamp bucket attachment which will be much safer to use.

You would be able to use a small portable generator that can be brought to the concrete pad and plug the electric hoist and trolley motors in to the generator to use it to unload the flat car or TTX well car used to transport the drill rods.

You would be able to use the same lifting chain set for unloading well casing also with no issues.

 

[flusher]

Versatile? Need more details--do you need 3pt hitch and rear pto?

For loads that size, I'd go with a wheel loader. FELs on compact utility tractors are generally rated under 3000 lb. The ML250 FEL on my Mahindra 5525 is rated at 2950 lb to 10.5 ft height at the pins on the ends of the FEL arms.

My neighbor has an old Allis Chalmers 545 that sits around most of the time but fires up OK when he needs to move stuff around his place. It would handle loads like yours no problem. You could chain your pipe to the bucket or replace the bucket with forks. YOu could pick up something like this pretty cheap.



Good luck

 

[jenkinsph]

I suggested the wheel loader which you can get setup for handling pipe with forks and a top hydraulic clamp to hold it in place.

You eliminated the best machine for this work which would be a good cherry picker ( telescopic hydraulic crane ). for moving pipe I would much prefer to have some height above with spreader bars. Atleast that is how I have always done it.

 

[D7E]

An old wheel loader from the 70's sounds right as if your only using it 6 times a year it will have to be cheap . Otherwise a telescopic would be perfect .
If you want artic without telescoping a later model Versatile bi-di would be the one as it has 3pt and PTO as well .
http://www.tractorhouse.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=6432503&

 

[BethesdaEC]

Do you have to do 2 pipes at a time? A larger CUT will comfortably handle one pipe at a time but when you get up into the 2 ton range you are getting into much bigger and more expensive machines. It is only 6 times a year, handling twice as many pipes at half the weight hopefully won't be too bad.

 

[houstonscott]

LS P7030

HS

 

[Martian]

LS P7030

HS

I looked up the P7030, only 3500 pounds at the pins. That puts it right on the edge and you'd have to handle with extreme care. I think any Compact/Utility tractor is out of the question if it were me.

I'd look at a mini wheel loader (as I suggested earlier). You've pretty well eliminated all other viable options. "No, zoom boom or forklift but is versatile and can articulate." That leaves you only with a compact wheel loader. I do think you should reconsider about an older telehandler though. Can pick up an older, very reliable sky track for rather cheap. Below is an old skytrack and below it is how much it can lift. Maxes out at 6000, I think you should reconsider something like this. They cost a lot less than a new loader on a large utility to lift the type of material you talk about, and do it better.

SKY TRAK 6036 Forklifts - Telescopic For Sale At MachineryTrader.com

http://www.skytrak.com/models/6036chart.htm

 

[AKfish]

There's a whole lotta oil and gas development from North Dakota to the north slope of Alaska - right through the belly of Alberta and British Columbia to the Yukon.

Seems like everytime I roll through Grand Prairie or Fort St. John there's a Ritchie Brothers auction goin' on! Lot's of used equipment from the oil-patch.

Should be a wheel loader with pipe forks somewhere in the mix. Likely be able to off-load some more pipe a few times a year.

AKfish