All Terrain Excavating

[Randla]

I can't say i know which system SS15 is, SS1 would use my existing pedal, and switch between tilt and rotate. It would also make it much less expensive to set up each machine for, although, I'm sure it won't be as fun as Dc2.

I put an explanation of the control systems up a while ago and it's here: https://www.planttalk.co.uk/threads/tiltrotator-selection.187/ The relevant bit is:

Where for cost reasons the fully proportional systems cannot be installed on a digger with a single hydraulic circuit, the joysticks are replaced with ones with two buttons on each stick and a controller installed. This allows both tilt and rotate functions to be used simultaneously with the speed of tilt and rotate being controlled by the (proportional) hammer pedal; and the service (tilt or rotate),together with the direction of service, being controlled by the buttons.

Since you have a pedal controlling the hammer circuit I would go with SS15 - it's far more usable than SS1 (as Shaun @TiltyShaun says) and it shouldn't cost any more.

Robert

 

[V8Druid]

We could bring him back. Sure someone will make us a spitting image puppet

NOOOOOOO!!

 

[V8Druid]

I put an explanation of the control systems up a while ago and it's here: https://www.planttalk.co.uk/threads/tiltrotator-selection.187/ The relevant bit is:

Where for cost reasons the fully proportional systems cannot be installed on a digger with a single hydraulic circuit, the joysticks are replaced with ones with two buttons on each stick and a controller installed. This allows both tilt and rotate functions to be used simultaneously with the speed of tilt and rotate being controlled by the (proportional) hammer pedal; and the service (tilt or rotate),together with the direction of service, being controlled by the buttons.

Since you have a pedal controlling the hammer circuit I would go with SS15 - it's far more usable than SS1 (as Shaun @TiltyShaun says) and it shouldn't cost any more.

Robert

unless you want to fork out the same for DC2 as the tilty costs you on its own SS15 gives you a very usable set up ... tilt and rotate simultaneously with optional directional control independent of your pedal .. ie .. rotate left/tilt right, vice versa, tilt and rotate right/vice versa ... very usable especially after a few hours practice
the pedal supplies the oil at what ever rate you choose and the buttons tell the oil where to go

 

[BillybobLockwood]

Picked up our new Cat 301.8 Today! we wanted a 302, but there won't be any more in the states until june. So far I'm Mostly thrilled!



The cab Is EXCELLENT! Eh controls feel great. I was a little frustrated the bluetooth radio was not included, and its 400 dollars to Add now.
Engcon next, and Idig, than it will be a weapon!

 

[Gunners]

Thats a really well thought out machine. I really like the look of these new CATS. Yet to try one though

 

[BillybobLockwood]

Hey all
Thought I'd post a bit of an update. As a PSA, I'm going to talk about money in these posts, It's what underlies all our business, and i love to hear about it, so I'm going to talk about it.

this week started with us going swimming on a foundation job I have been Loosing money on hand over fist, I quoted 5600, and should have done triple that,




Very Pleased with the new Cat, very smart looking machine, and very comfortable. mid week we were to start on a job close to home, beautiful country.
This one is a 900 SQF, the addition dig was 4,800, another 2,000 for all the rock in the footing, and 4200 for a new road were going to build. I underbid this one to, but not terribly.

10 O'clock That day, I get a call from the developer on the previous job, the footings are flooded, and we have to dig out some more for the concrete guy.

at the end of the week, we were back to edgewood to finish the dig, install a gravel base for the footings and crawl space, and move the fill. This job was a quarter-Mile Haul to the back of the property. This made a Big mess, and took a long time with the tracked skid steer, Starting to seriously consider a dumper. problem is it seems there is not a size that works nicely with both of my small machines, the 301.8, and the 314. maybe a 2 ton dumper and a hydrema 912? a Guy can dream right!

Well that's it for this week Folks. would love your thoughts on dumpers, or any comments on how those prices compare to the UK.

 

[Giles]

Mate we’ve all lost money on jobs, can you specify in your quotes like 500 yards out etc any extra is extra? No fun loosing on a job.

good luck with the new machine be interesting to see it with the engcon on

 

[BillybobLockwood]

hey all! This week started with a 4 In 1 Bucket for the Cat 259! what a Treat! these are amazing!

next Up we spent monday evening installing the radio, and (now redundant) second Auxilary on the 301.8. very easy to work with these new cat machines!

In short review, the cat 301.8 is Very good! the controls however are another story. They just don't have any feedback, It could be operator error, but i can't hold grade with a bucket at all. I have an engcon direct mount with DC2 one the way, which is a whole drama itself! I hope a grade beam works out well, as it should give a little more feedback! I should mention, I'm only 21, so I always love to hear advice from others!

What is the day rate for a man and machine there in the Uk? In the USA It's beeween 120 and 150 and hour for mini, or about 1 grand a shift, depending a little on size. What about Dumpers or tiltrotators? do they add much to your day rate? Im struggling a little to keep as busy as i like, finding new general contractors to work with is getting tougher and tougher here.

 

[Giles]

hey all! This week started with a 4 In 1 Bucket for the Cat 259! what a Treat! these are amazing!
View attachment 21710
next Up we spent monday evening installing the radio, and (now redundant) second Auxilary on the 301.8. very easy to work with these new cat machines!
View attachment 21713
In short review, the cat 301.8 is Very good! the controls however are another story. They just don't have any feedback, It could be operator error, but i can't hold grade with a bucket at all. I have an engcon direct mount with DC2 one the way, which is a whole drama itself! I hope a grade beam works out well, as it should give a little more feedback! I should mention, I'm only 21, so I always love to hear advice from others!

What is the day rate for a man and machine there in the Uk? In the USA It's beeween 120 and 150 and hour for mini, or about 1 grand a shift, depending a little on size. What about Dumpers or tiltrotators? do they add much to your day rate? Im struggling a little to keep as busy as i like, finding new general contractors to work with is getting tougher and tougher here.

looking good and some nice shiny toys, 4:1 looks good.

the rates here are dog s**t and enough to make you cry

it seems £350 a day is about the ceiling

but there is so much variation

guys will go out for as little as £150 a day with 1.5ton

some big hire firms will hire you a man and machine 13-15 ton for £32-35 an hour

when you her what rates are like in USA and Europe you wonder if it’s worth the slog.

I personally tend to do the whole job so build an extension for someone inc all work or steel framed shed and erect it etc

but I price my dumpers in with the job, so generally it’ll be 1.5 mini with 1 ton wheel or tracked dumper £350 a day, 3 ton and 3 ton wheeled or tracked dumper £400 a day, 5/8 ton and 6 ton wheeled or tracked dumper£450 a day. 13 ton £450 a day.

then if they we need operators for dumper it’s £150 a day for labourer etc

Ollie @Gunners is cutting a good swathe with day work and value add with engcon etc

most general builders here would rather hire a machine for £250 a week and stick Pete from the pub on it who says he can operate it for beer money and blunder on themselves than part with any decent money.

good luck and at 21 you must either be earning well or not scared of some debt to have the shiny new kit you do, but I guess at 5-6k a week that’s no worry.

 

[doobin]

If you’re doing the at at 21 without family money and premises then I take my hat off to you. But you need to charge more, we all undercharged at 21. Part of the problem is getting the customer to take you seriously.
Grow a beard if it ages you and if you have an older employee try taking him along with you to quote.

 

[Furniss]

Giles - Rates in Europe are higher than u.k but so are taxes/wagons-pickups/diggers-dumpers/fuel/parts etc etc hence the higher rates.

Billyboblockwood - I would of thought if you are keeping that skidsteer and mini digger paid for, putting an engcon on it and presumably have the kit to move it all etc then you are doing alright at 21......crack on

 

[JD450A]

Don't think you need much advice, If your working out that your too cheap without being shouted at and your keeping your gear paid for then your fine. Age means F*** all.

IMHO dumper wise get a 6 tonner..... will be about right for your big machine on little jobs, and you will just about load it with the 1.5t machine for a long haul (load it with the skiddy nae worries)

 

[Smiffy]

Don't think you need much advice, If your working out that your too cheap without being shouted at and your keeping your gear paid for then your fine. Age means F*** all.

IMHO dumper wise get a 6 tonner..... will be about right for your big machine on little jobs, and you will just about load it with the 1.5t machine for a long haul (load it with the skiddy nae worries)

And get a swivel skip so can turn to face machine and tip up a little bit

 

[Furniss]

Age in this instance means it would appear hes doing o.k in the time hes had.

 

[JD450A]

And get a swivel skip so can turn to face machine and tip up a little bit

Don't fry his head, hes american so the revelation you can use a dumper instead of a 2wd Ford Fwhatever with a tipper body is already stretching it

 

[Gunners]

Sorry Billy, $1k per shift? To do what I do now but with more space around me to work? Whistler up the road for the Mtb and skiing surrounding me.....

You got any jobs going? Ill load up my container and ship the operation international!

 

[Grahams]

Two things come to mind from what you are saying:
If you try to get more day rate jobs initially you will get used to what you can achieve for any given time and then it will be easier to accurately price whole jobs so you will have less danger of losing money. In the long run priced jobs are where the money is if you are going down the efficiency route of IDig and Engcon you will do the jobs quicker and with less manpower than others who rely on traditional ways of working. Using those on day rates will probably cost you money as you will be finished faster, but won't be able to get the extra on the hourly rate to cover less hours.
I know I have just said try for day rate jobs to gain experience, but don't under price to get experience. You want repeat work from these people and it is very difficult to push up rates if you have already done a similar job for them cheaper.
Anyway, good luck and keep the pictures coming. We all like to see what other people are doing.

 

[V8Druid]

hey all! This week started with a 4 In 1 Bucket for the Cat 259! what a Treat! these are amazing!
View attachment 21710
next Up we spent monday evening installing the radio, and (now redundant) second Auxilary on the 301.8. very easy to work with these new cat machines!
What is the day rate for a man and machine there in the Uk? In the USA It's beeween 120 and 150 and hour for mini, or about 1 grand a shift, depending a little on size. What about Dumpers or tiltrotators? do they add much to your day rate? Im struggling a little to keep as busy as i like, finding new general contractors to work with is getting tougher and tougher here.

Nice looking 4 in 1 that
I have (edit - seeeeeeeerious) shed envy

 

[BillybobLockwood]

Thanks all! No family money here!!
I should mention, I work north of 100 hours a week normally, half at our family cabinet shop, and half in my buisness. I don’t pay myself yet in the excavating business, so all the income goes towards machines and expenses, that’s why I have some newer kit.
I
don’t mind the older stuff though, my cat 314 is a 2003 model, and I love it. Smaller kit just makes sense to buy new though.

@Grahams you nailed it, I’m looking for day rate work to keep busy, and to learn. Most of what we do is price work for general contractor, which can be risky, but also has the potential for much more profit.

have yet to ever use a dumper @JD450A, most Americans use skid steers, loaders, or in really big site 6wd articulating haul trucks. Loaders and skid steers make a HUGE mess.

 

[Smiffy]

Our dumpers have the potential to make a huge mess as well especially with the standard tires
I believe a few on here run flotation tyres on the machines to improve the situation
Although I was driving a 3t tracked dumper up and down a waterlogged field last week and it didn't fit at all, made a surface sludge but didn't dig in