Takeuchi advice, Tb216 vs Tb219

[doobin]

Always gonna be a compromise when you're trying to cover all bases up to 8 ton, small weight differences make big productivity differences in the mini/ midi categories

Yup, if we've been over this once we've been over it a hundred times! I could't do without either my 1.2t, 1.9t or 2.8t. The only compromise I have is using the same pin dimensions across them all which helps keepo attachment costs down.

 

[Monkeybusiness]

The Takeuchi 225 isn’t (in my opinion) enough of a step-up in size/capacity from a 219 to make it worth looking at really. They are a bit of a ‘Large utility firm’ special - ticking the right boxes for their fleet buyers. They look pretty small in the flesh, but I have never had any time on one to prove/disprove my thoughts (even though I was very very close to buying one when they were first launched, as the concept is great).

 

[Brendan]

I don't have any issues legally transporting my E27. The Iveco Daily tipper is a great tow bus, and plenty of space even for things like the grading beam. Payload around 900kg so plenty of buckets, grab and ripper. It has a nice low 1st gear which is brilliant for towing. The Ifor GH1054BT was a fantastic purchase- just big enough for every machine I have save the 3t dumper, and a payload of 2840kgs. So perfect for the E27, the multione 8.4 fits on it quite happily with a grab or 4 in 1 bucket on it, and I even manage to squeeze my Kubota B2530 with mid mount and rear collector or flail collector on by reversing and using the bucket rest forwhatever is on the linkage. Just have to take the side hose off if the mid mount and collector are on it. The tie down points and side step are great too, make lashing down a pleasure rather than a chore.

I'd never want to go less than a full fat 2.7t machine unless I needed the compactness of a 1.9t. I'd say that goes doubly for doing the sort of work you do. Perhaps review your transport arrangements instead?

Been considering changing my pickup for a tipper, not a great fan of the tippers but the extra space to put buckets and attachments on the back frees up alot of towing weight, three buckets has got to be best part of 200kg

 

[Storrsy]

The trouble is with any machine- they tend to get forced beyond their remit. My 3 ton always does jobs which is 5 ton territory really but cos I’m a skinflint It doesn’t always work out paying 3rd party haulage to get t my 5 tonner there for just a few days work. Then when I do get my 5 tonner on a job I wish I had something bigger. Can’t win!

 

[doobin]

The trouble is with any machine- they tend to get forced beyond their remit. My 3 ton always does jobs which is 5 ton territory really but cos I’m a skinflint It doesn’t always work out paying 3rd party haulage to get t my 5 tonner there for just a few days work. Then when I do get my 5 tonner on a job I wish I had something bigger. Can’t win!

So why would you want anything less than the biggest you can move yourself?

 

[Storrsy]

So why would you want anything less than the biggest you can move yourself?

Because I need help.

 

[JD450A]

Issue with bigger transport is the hassle.

I love my lorry, but torn on downsizing back to 15t, upsizing to a Grab, or sideswiping to a HGV Classed Traccy on the O license.

 

[Storrsy]

So why would you want anything less than the biggest you can move yourself?

I don’t know really, just reckon my current setup isnt quite right, I’m always either overloaded or underpowered. Kind of have this idea that if I didn’t have the option of beasting my TB125 into jobs it’s undersized for (still want to buy it Rory?) then I’d simply have to factor in hauling the larger machine as a matter of course- leaving a nicely sized machine to comfortably tow around behind my truck. Every thing would have an easier life except possibly the customers wallet.

 

[Storrsy]

Issue with bigger transport is the hassle.

I love my lorry, but torn on downsizing back to 15t, upsizing to a Grab, or sideswiping to a HGV Classed Traccy on the O license.

What’s the max weight your lorry will shift?

 

[hiluxman]

Issue with bigger transport is the hassle.

I love my lorry, but torn on downsizing back to 15t, upsizing to a Grab, or sideswiping to a HGV Classed Traccy on the O license.

An 18t grab for me is working well, it's abit of a niche but like this week I did 3 loads from a job where it would of been a skip only job.

I was going to go for an 18t Roro but at the last min the grab poped up...and I think it was a great snap descion to say yes to it.

 

[Storrsy]

An 18t grab for me is working well, it's abit of a niche but like this week I did 3 loads from a job where it would of been a skip only job.

I was going to go for an 18t Roro but at the last min the grab poped up...and I think it was a great snap descion to say yes to it.

Can you get a grab lorry to shift a digger still? Like a 5 tonner or something. I reckon a grab lorry would be pretty handy addition to any fleet.

 

[Brendan]

Can you get a grab lorry to shift a digger still? Like a 5 tonner or something. I reckon a grab lorry would be pretty handy addition to any fleet.

Think you would struggle, mostly due to the grab but if that could some how be sorted to store without adding 2+m to the height you'd then need barn doors and ramps suitable for 5t

 

[Smiffy]

Think you would struggle, mostly due to the grab but if that could some how be sorted to store without adding 2+m to the height you'd then need barn doors and ramps suitable for 5t

Have to look for one with either a z crane or a heavy lift crane, both of which can fold up behind the cab once the grab is removed.
Currently quite a few ex mod 6x6 ivecos specced with remote fold up crane and a storage area for the grab which is on a quick release rotator, think they have barn doors and ramps too

 

[fred]

The trouble is with any machine- they tend to get forced beyond their remit. My 3 ton always does jobs which is 5 ton territory really but cos I’m a skinflint It doesn’t always work out paying 3rd party haulage to get t my 5 tonner there for just a few days work. Then when I do get my 5 tonner on a job I wish I had something bigger. Can’t win!

this is 100% correct and the reason we are not buying diggers anymore. You can hire in the correct size machine for the site/job for peanuts really.

Saying that will probably end up with a little 1.9 tonner at some point, maybe even electric!, just to scratch the itch and save a bit of donkey work where needed.

 

[doobin]

this is 100% correct and the reason we are not buying diggers anymore. You can hire in the correct size machine for the site/job for peanuts really.

Saying that will probably end up with a little 1.9 tonner at some point, maybe even electric!, just to scratch the itch and save a bit of donkey work where needed.

This makes a lot of sense for longer term jobs, but don't you miss having a tiltrotator?

Personally all my jobs are small and specialist. The specialist ones need all the attachments, and the small ones need me to be able to load a digger up in the morning to take with me, it would be too much hassle to arrange a hire. Luckily it's rare that I actually need anything bigger than my E27.

We used to use a hired 7.5t and grapple for all our land clearance jobs- having changed to the rotating grab on the E27 the ability to rotate has made it more efficient than the larger machine with grapple. The Multione is another step in that direction- towable, but can shift so much stuff so quickly.

I think the last time I hired a machine in two years ago- a 9t with blade to strip topsoil and load lorries for a sandschool. It was then quicker to dig the drainage and level out the stone with the grading beam and tilt hitch on one of my machines. For me it's all about the attachments.

 

[Hg2702]

For me it's all about the attachments.

Plus we all like buying attachments

 

[JD450A]

Personally there are few jobs that a 2t class digger cannot tackle..... anything larger and your better off bumping right up to 6/7t and being shot of the problem.....

Same with micro, last resort I'd rather have the 2t.

 

[Storrsy]

Personally there are few jobs that a 2t class digger cannot tackle..... anything larger and your better off bumping right up to 6/7t and being shot of the problem.....

Same with micro, last resort I'd rather have the 2t.

This is largely true, hence why I sort of wanted one nice larger machine and a happy middle ground in the towable category. That said you can move your own larger machines which is half the hassle, arranging haulage and working around their schedule is a hassle for a few days work. I did a brash raking job on a forestry site over the Tamar, it was 8 ton territory all day long but at least my 2.8t got through it and with the ability to move it myself I’m sure I was still more cost effective then getting a larger machine in even if it did take me a bit longer. Thumb helped massively on that job which a hire machine wouldn’t have either.

 

[hiluxman]

Can you get a grab lorry to shift a digger still? Like a 5 tonner or something. I reckon a grab lorry would be pretty handy addition to any fleet.

You can put a trailer behind it and tow it, although I can't as I don't have the licence for that.

What I tend to find is we dig out on 1 day and shift stuff on the next day or my driver drives the digger and I jump on the grab, it's good because I can wait on the job rather than others wanting to come, load and go. Also I can fit my other work in round it all.

My grab is quick release so it can be a crane and a brick grab within a few mins

 

[Smiffy]

You can put a trailer behind it and tow it, although I can't as I don't have the licence for that.

What I tend to find is we dig out on 1 day and shift stuff on the next day or my driver drives the digger and I jump on the grab, it's good because I can wait on the job rather than others wanting to come, load and go. Also I can fit my other work in round it all.

My grab is quick release so it can be a crane and a brick grab within a few mins

I find it becomes very full on if you try and drive the grab and the digger all at once.
I put a type 1 driveway in to a campsite 40m long in one day all material in and out by myself. Was knackered by the end of it.
I regularly do drop kerbs 2 man machine transit and 7.5t lorry
And that can be an easy day depending on where tip site is.
Working like this is easy if both people know what there doing and can drive a machine but it's pointless if the machine has to stop when u go to grab materials or you can't leave the other bloke unsupervised. It becomes a head ache.
Where I work
There are plenty of lorry's and quite a few have hgv so most working setups have been tried.