B
Budgie
New member
Hi, just joined. Hoping to glean some sound advice from a Plant Forum as opposed to an arby boyscout lala land forum!
For years (I am a timber contractor in devon where winching comes with the territory - literally) I employed a sub-contract winching contactor with an
RJ Fukes conversion on a 2007 Hitachi 13 tonner (predecessor to the Zaxis I guess) to do all my winching. He is now too busy and I'm currently winching with a
radio controlled Tajfun 85 3pl winch. Downside of that is low pulley and tractor now not badass enough to drive through deep ruts where I either need to winch to or recover a stuck forwarder.
So I'm in the market for a 13 tonner (nominal - I know this can vary from 12-15+ on the plate). 20 tonner simply too physically big for access. Heavier weight in the same size package appeals so that it is more "planted". The reach and power of a 20 tonner would be great but just not going to get that into the majority of sites I work. Nor do I fancy the fuel bill (mate said he did over 300 litres in a Komatsu PC210 heavy digging over 9 hours sh1tthe bed). Looks like I can get a very tidy late JCB JS130 for circa £20k which would leave some budget for the winch conversion. Or and older SR machine, tattier for not much less... hmmm
I have been advised by two good mates that I should be looking for a zero / short radius / compact tail swing machine with a blade... There are others in timber who would diss this config. Current job as an example, with the bucket down the slope away from the narrow track, the tail would hit the bank above so the zero thing makes sense.
Assuming I've worked out the fundamentals, I'd be looking at Komatsu PC138 or New Holland Kobelco 135... I've heard long term reports on the Korean machines that put me off Doosan / Hyundai et al.
Any nuggets of advice?
Very much appreciated.
PS Sorry I'd like to be able to fit a grab and rotator fairly soon after purchase, moving up to a grapple saw as some stage and possibly even run a
flail too. I understand I need flow for this etc. I definitely want joystick controls for aux NOT foot pedal as I have tried and hated. Ta
For years (I am a timber contractor in devon where winching comes with the territory - literally) I employed a sub-contract winching contactor with an
RJ Fukes conversion on a 2007 Hitachi 13 tonner (predecessor to the Zaxis I guess) to do all my winching. He is now too busy and I'm currently winching with a
radio controlled Tajfun 85 3pl winch. Downside of that is low pulley and tractor now not badass enough to drive through deep ruts where I either need to winch to or recover a stuck forwarder.
So I'm in the market for a 13 tonner (nominal - I know this can vary from 12-15+ on the plate). 20 tonner simply too physically big for access. Heavier weight in the same size package appeals so that it is more "planted". The reach and power of a 20 tonner would be great but just not going to get that into the majority of sites I work. Nor do I fancy the fuel bill (mate said he did over 300 litres in a Komatsu PC210 heavy digging over 9 hours sh1tthe bed). Looks like I can get a very tidy late JCB JS130 for circa £20k which would leave some budget for the winch conversion. Or and older SR machine, tattier for not much less... hmmm
I have been advised by two good mates that I should be looking for a zero / short radius / compact tail swing machine with a blade... There are others in timber who would diss this config. Current job as an example, with the bucket down the slope away from the narrow track, the tail would hit the bank above so the zero thing makes sense.
Assuming I've worked out the fundamentals, I'd be looking at Komatsu PC138 or New Holland Kobelco 135... I've heard long term reports on the Korean machines that put me off Doosan / Hyundai et al.
Any nuggets of advice?
Very much appreciated.
PS Sorry I'd like to be able to fit a grab and rotator fairly soon after purchase, moving up to a grapple saw as some stage and possibly even run a
flail too. I understand I need flow for this etc. I definitely want joystick controls for aux NOT foot pedal as I have tried and hated. Ta
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