Steep Country & ASV PT100

[Cedar Buster]

Hi,

I have an opportunity to run an ASV PT100 in South Dakota this spring. This is Missouri River break country and it's pretty steep in places with no roads at the bottom. How will a tracked vehicle do in this kind of situation?

The ground is pasture (sod) with a lot of white sand underneath. Trees will be cedars (mostly stunted, doghair stuff, but a few pushing 8 inches in diameter. They are really bushy (heavily limbed). Will they slow me down badly?

I expect to have to climb off the machine and chainsaw trees on steeper slopes. I'll drag them up (or down) to where the mulcher can chomp them. Sound viable?

It's not going to be a picnic that's why I'm asking. Anyone suggest a better way?

Thanks!
Cedar

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

One word. Excavator. Or a machine with a steel track. From my experience between the danger of looseing control I bet the lugs on the tracks would jump the drive rollers and cause damage. Knowing what you know going into the job I would look for a better siuted machine.

 

[Cedar Buster]

Hi Robbie,

Thank you for responding. I've seen the pictures of your nosedive, so I'm fully aware that you know all about losing control.

Can you (or anyone) give me some direction on what I should be looking for in an excavator? I need something within reason... a $200,000-plus machine might be beyond my means.

Thanks again, guys.

Cedar

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

A few things to consider that will guide you to your answer.

1. How will you move it? What size truck and trailer do you have?

2. You want the most hp and reach you can afford within the size machine from answer number 1.

3. What is your target customer after this one job. Smaller jobs will lean toward a smaller excavator. Larger tracts of land will benefit from a larger unit.

4. There is a member here selling a Daewoo 175 with one of our DAH-125D cutters for 110k I think that is ready to go to work for you tomorrow. Good machine.

5. A few benefits from an excavator. There is no debri being thrown at the tractor, the head cuts side to side. You can cut in a roughly 50' circle with one track in then move over and track out cutting another 50" swath. Plus you can cut where you shouldn't and can not go with a skid steer. Like my accident pictures!

6. Excavators are hands down the best platforms for mulching with the least abuse. It takes roughly a 140 class excavator running the head off the excavator to equal what a skid steer can cut on flat ground. You can go to a smaller excavator with powerpack to get a high production unit in a small package if size is a driving factor.

7. So shop around for a good, well maintained used excavator and see what sizes are the better deal in you area and the answer from question 1.

Any questions just ask. I am pleased to see customers doing better research and really looking at all the possibilities before they make a purchase.

 

[WestshoreConstruction]

There's a 210 class machine with a DAH150 for sale here too, $190k ish 08 with 450 hrs on it. Espar, 32" pads, a/c loaded, progressive link thumb, cat walks etc

 

[Cedar Buster]

Thanks guys.

I searched the forum and learned a lot more, too. I was looking totally in the wrong direction when I was wanting the PT100. Sure glad I didn't bite. Now, I have to start over on the research... but that's sure better than the alternative!

I'll be looking at 9- to 12-ton excavators and trying to learn more about them. The Kubota KX080 is intriguing. I read that Cimax's DAH-080C has been a good match for it. There seemed to be some mounting troubles with mulchers on the Takeuchi's (or that was just one guy's experience).

I'll be mulching in some tight places and trying to selectively cut cedars among hardwoods without trying to level the place at times. So I need to stay nimble i.e. relatively small.

I have a 1-ton diesel Chevy, but can upgrade if necessary to pull the right machine.

Please keep me on track!

Cedar

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Then you are thinking in the right direction with the 18k class excavators. We have had great results with the Kubota KX080 and the Taleuchi TB-175, Ryan our Mid-Atlantic rep has one and it runs even with the Kubota. We have also mounted one on a Yanmar SV-100 that is right along with the other two. I keep a demo DAH-080C mounted on a Kubota KX080 here in Atlanta, Ryan has his and there will be one in Tx. soon on the Yanmar.

 

[QwikDraw]

Here's what you need! ( the one Robbie mentioned above)

Check this out.

Of course that Kubota would be nice too.

 

[Cedar Buster]

Okay. Looking good. I searched for Kubotas and Takeuchis in my area and they are surprisingly rare. Might be I'm looking in the wrong places. I've got a couple of months to put this together yet.

Good heavens, Quikdraw, that Daewoo is a monster. I read the thread on your setup. Pretty awesome. More fun than a "monster truck!."

My one-ton pickup should handle the tow job on a Kubota or Takeuchi with a gooseneck trailer, don't cha think?

Cedar

 

[QwikDraw]

I don't have a truck to move it either..but one call and $95 per hour and it goes where ever I need it! If the jobs are 2 weeks or more then the move is not a big deal. Over the past 4 weeks I have had it moved 3 times for about $1150 total and tomorrow It's getting moved 90 miutes away....