Track loader ASV CAT or Takeauchi

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Keep in mind that dealer support for major repairs (if ever needed) is important as well. If the local dealer for whatever brand you decide on has a bad rep, that would weigh quite heavily on my decision. Also availability of parts, aftermarket or OEM, should be considered as well. It seems that ASV and Cat parts are SLOWLY becoming available from non-OEM manufacturers.

I have a Cat and I love the way it operates BUT my local Cat dealer blows and offered very little support when it came to warrantee issues. Needless to say, I won't be buying a Cat again. As far as the tracks wearing out, I am the only one that operates my machine and currently have 900 hrs on it and the tracks have nicks and cuts but I would imagine they have at least 400 more hours left on em'. The Taks, Bobcats, and New Hollands undercarriages definitely hold up to abuse better than the ASV system, but any one of the undercarriages could be destroyed quite quickly if the operator is careless of how and where the machine is used.

 

[Landwise]

Let me add my two cents. I have owned several ASV's and now own my first Tak 150 (Modified by super tracks, but still the same base machine)

The Tak will push the ASV around... The traction force placed on the ground for the ASV is around 6000lbs, vs the Tak at 13,200 lbs. That's only a few hundred pounds shy of a CAT D3 dozer.

The Tak rides like a dozer, but I can deal with that. I would NOT recomend an ASV over a Tak.

If you are looking at a CAT, it is essentially the same ( I know some will disagree with me, but oh well..) as the ASV. Maybe a little more dependable. The joke is that my ASVs will work for 40 hours, then have to go to the shop. I now have over 400 hours on my Tak, and it has only been in the shop once.

 

[vegman]

My TAK/Supertrak TL150 has had a terrible childhood. She was subjected to physical abuse from the day she left the orphanage. The woods and a mulching head have to be the ultimate prooving grounds. She has given a very reliable 1500 hours. I also ran a TL130 for the first time today. That was also a sweet little machine. Very responsive.

 

[C.G.S.]

The RC 100 lacks tracktive effort and I do not think the tracks would hold up to the planetry drives of other machines. It dose have best out box cooling and flow ,oil cap. for a none dedicated machine. I use mine for mulching stump grinding some grading.I would not recommend it for heavy digging.I do my own repairs and I can tell you that a track motor is $1860.00 form ASV and $3000.00 plus for the same motor part number and all from CAT. Turn around the same as well. I hear a lot people complaining about ASV durability but I think the way people run any of these machine makes you wonder what would hold up. As other manufactors come up to speed in the mulching field there while be better out of the box choices time will tell. It depends on what you are going to use it for as well as how you are going to use it. None of these skidd loader machine will run with a 400HP dedicated mulcher they all have there place.

 

[jmfox]

Let me add my two cents. I have owned several ASV's and now own my first Tak 150

What model ASV's have you owned?

jmf

 

[cbturf]

He has an RC-100 in his avatar.

 

[Pfm1011]

I really appreciate everyones advice.

I picked up a 2006 Takeuchi TL150 ( low flow) I have a lot of grading required so the extra push of this unit should come in handy as Im grabbing a 84 or 96 inch dozer blade. Also the systems seem to use substantially less electronics then the ASV / CAT so "should" be more dependable especially with the long periods of sitting between jobs.

In regards to the ride, I found the ASV sort of "wobbly and bouncy". I liked the heavy feel of the Tak. Feels more "stable". Also the cost of the U/C parts and tracks were insane on the ASV/CAT. Looks like you can spend $8 to $10 an operating hour just on the U/C. ASV has way too much fiberglass for my liking. Even 3 or 400 hour machines had damage to the engine covers.

It should be noted that I was looking at a CAT 277B and tried to get some info from CAT in regards to history and build sheet of a units I was looking at . Cat was absolutely useless and very arrogant. All the company would do is send me to the dealers. Couldnt understand that I was buying private and the dealers would not help me out. They literally made it impossible to get any info.

Before buying a CAT keep in mind that they will do everything possible to ensure you cant sell your unit privately and you can forget factory support. With this experience, I will never buy a CAT product as they have no use for end users and are clueless idiots that dont understand that if a owner cant sell his used unit, he wont buy a new unit. Essentially CATs attitude was buy from one of our dealers at rediculous prices or bugger off.

Phoned both Mustang and Takeuchi. Both were amazing and provided tons of info and assistance and they both knew I was buying used privately.

In my shopping frenzy I also just grabbed a FC-200 Hammer Flail.

Again, thanks for the advice, I would have been completely lost without this site and your assistance

 

[Johndeere3720]

Try a johndeere CT332 track skidsteer. It may have a little less horsepower but it out works the compeditor. Go to johndeere.com and into the construction section. Watch the skidsteer smackdown and witness how much stronger the Deere is compared to Cat and Bobcat. I showed this to my dad and step mom when they were looking for a skidsteer and they went Deere. We looked at the Bobcat T190, a Newholland, and the Deere CT322 and Deere was the best machine. Pape machinery gave them a great deal on a slightly used CT322 and we hauled it home. We had to drive down to California to get it but it was worth it. Ive seen a few CT332's on craigslist lately for $20,000 less than a new one! When on Johndeere.com, compare the CT332 to your other choices and it will be the better machine. I loved driving both models at the dealer, and it out preforms all others on the job. I was even given my own key and a movie of the CT322 and CT332 against the other brands. They have a low center of gravity, lift much more weight, drive faster with 2 speed option, pushes more, ect. you wont be dissapointed!

 

[deereboy72]

caterpillar bought the company asv just kept the name and asv uses cat undercarriage takeuchi has some good equipment but i prefer caterpillar

 

[GreenWannabe]

caterpillar bought the company asv just kept the name and asv uses cat undercarriage takeuchi has some good equipment but i prefer caterpillar

Some bad info here. Terex bought ASV about a year ago. Cat owned 23.5% interest, and supported the buyout, according to ASV's press release. Cat uses ASV undercarriages on their multi-terrain loaders (but not their newer design compact track loaders, as I understand).