New Wacker Neuson minis

[Simon edwards]

True, I’m just going on the performance and reliability of my old cat ,can’t really see how a more mechanically advanced machine will be of any real benefit over time proven reliability.
I will keep this one for good so I suppose that’s the only niggle with not going for the new model ,but I’ve never been keen on the first run of a new model,prefer the last of a proven one,

 

[Simon edwards]

Been in touch with local dealer,waiting on price and px on the cat,apparently all they have available are ET18 with VDS,Sort of tempted by it but am a bit wary of its durability long term Any body had any experience of one?

 

[Storrsy]

Been in touch with local dealer,waiting on price and px on the cat,apparently all they have available are ET18 with VDS,Sort of tempted by it but am a bit wary of its durability long term Any body had any experience of one?

I spent an eternity trying to decide between vds or not. I think really it depends a bit on what your work is. I don't think durability wouldmt be so much a problem as it does look robust . For me what put me off was the ground clearance of the VDS ram sticking out the bottom of the undercarriage on the ET18/20 it's fine on a ET24 though. But the expanding tracks make the ram barely 100mm above the ground and I know in rough ground stone/blocks or stumps etc it would be annoying. VDS also raises the height of the machine which again not really a problem but dodgy knees I was trying to minimise the jump getting in and out all the time.
It's a shame there is no ET20s around because you really are getting quite a lot more machine that the 18 with out compromising the width. Tracks are quite a bit longer, bigger track motors, bigger arm and also breakout etc.

 

[doobin]

Been in touch with local dealer,waiting on price and px on the cat,apparently all they have available are ET18 with VDS,Sort of tempted by it but am a bit wary of its durability long term Any body had any experience of one?

That’s odd, I thought dealers were sitting on tons of unsold stock?

 

[Simon edwards]

Apparently not, Am told there are only a handful left in the country, I assume this is true,I haven’t seen any 20’s advertised anywhere.My choice would be non VDS 20, but looking into user reviews,the VDS seems to have very positive feedback and I could see it being an advantage on certain jobs.

 

[DaveDCB]

Wacker are making machines for John Deere in the USA now (or might be that John Deere are making wacker machines under licence) either way…

 

[Storrsy]

Yo

Apparently not, Am told there are only a handful left in the country, I assume this is true,I haven’t seen any 20’s advertised anywhere.My choice would be non VDS 20, but looking into user reviews,the VDS seems to have very positive feedback and I could see it being an advantage on certain jobs.

Yes I think VDS definitely has it's place. And not for bucket position or cutting levels so much as you'd be better off with a tilt bucket or just levelling up on the blade . For me it's more of an ergonomic thing- working accross hillsides digging trenches where your sitting on the piss normally. You can level up easier to save slewing up a hill or gain more height loading etc.

 

[Storrsy]

Been in touch with local dealer,waiting on price and px on the cat,apparently all they have available are ET18 with VDS,Sort of tempted by it but am a bit wary of its durability long term

I'll be interested to see what prices you get for a full spec one of the new ET20s. Perhaps you can buy my ET20 off me and I'll get one of the new ones

 

[Furniss]

hey wtf ! tart

 

[Simon edwards]

I'll be interested to see what prices you get for a full spec one of the new ET20s. Perhaps you can buy my ET20 off me and I'll get one of the new ones

It could be worth a convestationas long you as you haven’t worn all the newness off it!already got an old one

 

[Simon edwards]

Yo

Yes I think VDS definitely has it's place. And not for bucket position or cutting levels so much as you'd be better off with a tilt bucket or just levelling up on the blade . For me it's more of an ergonomic thing- working accross hillsides digging trenches where your sitting on the piss normally. You can level up easier to save slewing up a hill or gain more height loading etc.

I think that’s what makes me me hesitant,having spent many years making whatever machine I’m on do whatever I need it too at all kinds of madass angles etc. I’m always aware of where the machine is, you sort of develop a sixth sense,not sure being able to tilt the upper carriage if in an edgy spot is a good thing

 

[Furniss]

I think that’s what makes me me hesitant,having spent many years making whatever machine I’m on do whatever I need it too at all kinds of madass angles etc. I’m always aware of where the machine is, you sort of develop a sixth sense,not sure being able to tilt the upper carriage if in an edgy spot is a good thing

I imagine tilting it downhill if you're on a severe cross slope is advised against

 

[Simon edwards]

Probably only do it once though

 

[Storrsy]

I think that’s what makes me me hesitant,having spent many years making whatever machine I’m on do whatever I need it too at all kinds of madass angles etc. I’m always aware of where the machine is, you sort of develop a sixth sense,not sure being able to tilt the upper carriage if in an edgy spot is a good thing

I reckon it's one of those things that once you'd had it a while you'd find all sorts of creative uses. Scraping out a pond and need just that tiny bit of extra reach, all of the sort of things you'd normally find a way to do it anyway but it's another dimension and you don't have to use it if you don't want! I'd definitely have it if I had had the fixed tracked ET24. Often when I'm doing grab work on slope tracking along I think it's be nice to sit level so the spine isn't contorting etc

 

[Furniss]

so fixed track et24 vds is the way to go if you dont want adjusting tracks and your knees are good ?
vds and tilty ? would you bother ?

 

[doobin]

so fixed track et24 vds is the way to go if you dont want adjusting tracks and your knees are good ?
vds and tilty ? would you bother ?

I still can't see the point in VDS. It only tilts one way, and you can guarantee that it'll tilt the wrong way every time you need to have your blade down either in front or behind you!

Wacker show it being used when bumped up on a kerb, and that seems about the onlty realistic useage to me.

 

[Furniss]

I still can't see the point in VDS. It only tilts one way, and you can guarantee that it'll tilt the wrong way every time you need to have your blade down either in front or behind you!

Wacker show it being used when bumped up on a kerb, and that seems about the onlty realistic useage to me.

yep - add a tilty and then its just complication and weight i guess

 

[Bri963]

I’ve used a ET25 with VDS. Working along a slope it’s a damned sight easier than working tracks up and down the slope and using the blade to level up. You just have to be aware of where your tracks are sitting. Personally I think that unless you do a lot of hillside work, it’s not needed, but if you do, it works.

 

[Storrsy]

I still can't see the point in VDS. It only tilts one way, and you can guarantee that it'll tilt the wrong way every time you need to have your blade down either in front or behind you!

Wacker show it being used when bumped up on a kerb, and that seems about the onlty realistic useage to me.

There are way more uses to it then that. But granted it would be a case of getting it into your head when positioning much like the blade at the front. For grab work stacking down a slope to be easily able to level your self up without turning the tracks. Your gaining a fair bit more stack height suddenly, and how much time sitting on a side slope on a daily basis it's much better on your body to be sitting level, regardless of whether you have a tilty or not. And even without using the VDS at all your gaining an extra 3 inches of height which alongside a short dipper would make a great combo with a grab and probably a tilty too to offset the build height on smaller machines. Even small things like getting though a narrow gap use the VDS to tilt away from buildings/gateposts/trees

 

[Simon edwards]

There are way more uses to it then that. But granted it would be a case of getting it into your head when positioning much like the blade at the front. For grab work stacking down a slope to be easily able to level your self up without turning the tracks. Your gaining a fair bit more stack height suddenly, and how much time sitting on a side slope on a daily basis it's much better on your body to be sitting level, regardless of whether you have a tilty or not. And even without using the VDS at all your gaining an extra 3 inches of height which alongside a short dipper would make a great combo with a grab and probably a tilty too to offset the build height on smaller machines. Even small things like getting though a narrow gap use the VDS to tilt away from buildings/gateposts/trees

Cheers guys, good bit of information there,I was convincing myself to go for it,now I am in two completely different minds.My biggest concerns are the ground clearance ( which I hadn’t even considered) and forgetting myself when it’s tilted ,possibly leading to some tippy situations,probably overthinking it now!