Idaho Loader 3g

[Anonymous Poster]

I'm looking for loaders for a future Yanmar 18+ PTO HP 4wd tractor. I see that a company in Idaho builds and sells the Idaho Loader 3G. This sounds pretty good. Has anyone had experience with it? Maybe other recommendations? What interested me was the dual hydraulics for the bucket. Is this really even important? The local dealer I've found will place a loader on it for me. He gets them from Washington for $1800.00. Single bucket cylinder. As you can tell, I'm trying to get the most for my dollar.

Thank you
Mitch

 

[trentay]

Frog,

I have had 3 tractors all with the loaders you are mentioning out of Washington and have absolutely no complaints. Call Buck at EFC direct and he will set you up for probably less than the price that you mention here. These loaders work really well, all the hype about their design flaws is B.S. they will work and work! You could spend more money and get a prettier loader but I don't think it would any more functional, except for the QD, which for some might not be necessary, I know now that I would never need it for what I am using tractors for!

 

[jimstractors]

I also have a loader with a single ram on the bucket. I have had no problems with it at all. I use it 3 times a week to load manure. This weekend I used it to excavate a driveway for a 25 yard concrete pour. I have put 120 hours on it with no problems. In the last 3 months I have sold 10 Yanmars with single ram buckets, and no complaints.
Jim

 

[YanmarFever]

I too, have had quite a few of the washington cold water loaders.
no complaints here!
They are built heavy duty all 1/4" steel.
I think they are built for long life use.
And most of all the price is SWEEET!!

 

[tractorlet]

The Face Behind The Tag

I believe the time has come (perhaps this same suggestion pre-dates my participation) for the posters to state their interest to the subject when posting support, suggestions, or opposition. By interest I mean their relationship to the person, the product, or the business such as creates a bias and subjects them to accusations of conflict with objectivity if their relationship is known. The flip side is, absent these, there is no need for anyone to do differently than now is done. This subject is brought about by recent postings which I will address momentarily.

When I registered several months ago I tried to use my business name but it was rejected and I chose a hybrid of my business name. I have requested, a short while ago, to ammend my name to truly reflect my bias and that will be to include in my name tag the word seller or dealer or something similar. Now, a view to profiles will often give that (and I will update my profile for full disclosure in a short while) but often visitors never see profiles.

Here is a short disclosure/profile info. I am a retired LAPD captain; have owned, bought, sold tractors for over 20 years. Started the Idaho tractor business in 1999 and been expanding sales and manufacturing since. If there are questions I'll be happy to address them and if I make a post on some specific topic like my 3G loader I will identify my involvement.

Of course, it is only the specific disclosure and not career that I believe is needed for fairness and balance.

Now for the Idaho 3G thread that triggered this post.

The Idaho 3G is sold exclusively by me or through me and I think it is the best that can be bought and has an exceptional price. I am biased.

There are three responses to the post and questions by Frogeye. The first was if anyone has any experience with the 3G. Out of three responses none indicated experience. The second question was regarding dual bucket dump cylinders and a statement was made about a loader made in Washington . The post was great but let me quickly address the responses and responders.

(Trent) trentay has had many communications with me. He has told me about the loader made in Washington , who makes it, who claims to make it and about dealers who handle. He specifically identified one as "Ernie in Mollala, OR". I don't know if it is the Ernie in the third response because Ernie only gives his location as Oregon. (Trent) trentay certainly gives vastly, vastly different statements here than in his emails (the last on 19 April 02).

(Trent) trentay stated he wanted to buy tractors from me and be a dealer. (I won't post his emails unless Trent denies or gives permission but it was my business decision.) He then advised me he had bought from Buck and that he has had three tractors with a loader from Washington (This has all been in the last four months). Is he a small dealer selling the product he is touting and bad mouthing the competition? Could be. I don't have a problem with that as long as he discloses his relationship. Oh, I hope his "B.S." descriptor means bad script.

As for jwjimbo, I think his response is fine. If someone can't figure that he sells the single 3 cylinder loader (10 in 3 months) then additional disclosure wouldn't help.

The same goes for Ernie as for jwjimbo, notwithstanding trentay statements. Ernie stated clearly his position.

I am sorry to have to bring individuals into the light but this, as my last 3 posts, were first posts from others which involved me.

I support constructive posts. The forum can be, and usually is, a valuable place to seek assistance and exchange ideas. I
have found the vast majority of people who post are constructive and that the slanted ones are very few.

Here is a biased evaluation of the "other" loader. It is cheap in construction, has had a to be expected failure, and has design flaws recognized by virtually all engineers. It can be compared to the venerable YUGO automobile; cheap and there are many which are still hanging around.

Now Frogeye, choose whichever loader meets your needs. At least you have more than one view point. Thats how it should be.

One last item; I appear to be the only one who has posted who has owned both the loader from Washington and the Idaho Loader Silver Lode 3G(tm).

 

[EFC]

Mitch, Isn’t it great to have choices. I am absolutely certain if you buy bob’s loader you will be happy with it. I would also say the same about a Koyker, Allied, Bushhog, Hardy or even a Coldwater loader. They all perform the basic tasks that the majority of people are looking for. Have fun with your search, and if you go up to Idaho give bob a hug for me /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

Buck

 

[tractorlet]

Choices are great. In fact you can choose from over thirty loader manufacturers if you want a turn key FEL. You can also purchase loaders at various stages of completion so that you can do for yourself what you feel you can handle and save money.

You can also buy kits or plans and do the entire construction yourself.

You can have hydraulic lift and gravity down western made or
you can have the same from a factory made Japanese FEL.

You can even still buy cable lift with gravity drop.

You can have a whole range of prices, of options, of configurations, and quality.

This posting of yours should just be a start for you like leaving the starting blocks in a race. The loader is a sizeable investment that most use for a long time. It can be an enjoyable experience or an every use drudgery.

Ultimately its doing your homework and making your choice so you are not disappointed with what you get.

 

[Inspector507]

Right now, I'd take a "back yard bucket", but can't afford much more than a muck bucket from TSC/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif.

 

[hosejockey2002]

I have not seen or used the Idaho Loader 3g. I have an older generation Idaho Loader on my 1401D. Actually, it's my second one. My first one was so poorly designed it didn't even function as a loader because the bucket didn't roll forward far enough to dump. To the dealer's credit, he made it right by delivering me another 1401D with a loader that functioned much better than the first. There was a design flaw in that the attachment points for the bucket cylinders were welded directly to the 3/16"thick bucket. Those welds soon failed, which I remedied by welding a 1/2" thick backing plate between the attachment points and the bucket. I have had no problems since. The bucket on the second tractor was made of 3/16" steel at my request because I felt the 1/4" was too heavy for my little 1401D. The 3/16" steel has been more than adequate. As far as a single cylinder on the bucket, I operated a 5 yard loader that only had one bucket cylinder. Many of John Deere's industrial loaders on bigger machines only have one cylinder on the bucket, so obviously there is nothing wrong with using one cylinder if it is properly designed. When I buy my next tractor, whenever that may be, I will drive to the dealer I am considering and spend some time moving dirt around and trying every function on the machine. If the dealer is sqeamish about letting you demo a machine, move on to the next dealer. I would definitely consider the Idaho 3g, but try it before you buy it, and compare it with other loaders, even the "big guys", like Allied. Do your homework, and take anything you hear with a grain of salt. Good luck.

 

[tractorlet]

Hosejockey2002. is right on target. The single cylinder is not the issue in a commercial or industrial loader which is designed and built correctly. Correctly means both ends of the single cylinder need to be anchored heavily because all the force working area is small surface centered.

If the force application is over a broad strong surface sufficient to keep the implement from punching and tweeking then the major problem is overcome.

The next problem is that using heavier material, particularly in compact tractors, (not a problem in a five yard loader) brings other problems such as tractor balance and front axle, tire, and seal considerations.

All this simply points to the fact small loader engineering is a lot more than it might seem and thus the need to educate ones self and be careful.