Wacker neuson tilting mini 18vds

[Vinpetrol]

Has anyone used a wacker neuson ET 18vds?

I’m currently looking at one for sale . It’s to far away to try it though . I have a ET16 on hire and I think it’s a very capable mini . Very similar to my Volvo ec18c
The vds looks quite high up and I wondered would they topple over easier with higher point of balance . It also only tilts one way What’s that all about ? Is there much point in the tilting cab ? Also what like for reliability ?

 

[DaveDCB]

I ran the cat version of a 1.4 wacker, great machine, I can only assume the newer walkers are good still?
I don’t get the point of vds personally… might be useful for 1% of jobs.. where as a tilt hitch would be handy for 99% of jobs!

 

[craig]

I`ve got an ET24vds

Yes it stands a bit higher, but for the bulk of my work the slight increase in load over height is a benefit over the slight loss in depth, but not had any worries about toppling over.
It only needs a little bit of planning to start the right way round to use the tilt to your advantage. Againfor some of my work would be one track on the pavement. one in the road, so with the tilt a least your upright.
One of the first jobs I done was cleaning a ditch, that would of needed the 6 tonner to reach down from the top of the bank down to the ditch, with this WN I went down the bank and worked along side the ditch on the bank, without the cab tilted it was too steep to work, as soon as you sent the arm out it when to tip, with the cab tilted it was fine.
I not got many hours on it yet, so cant comment on reliability, but initial thoughts I like it.

 

[Vinpetrol]

I`ve got an ET24vds

Yes it stands a bit higher, but for the bulk of my work the slight increase in load over height is a benefit over the slight loss in depth, but not had any worries about toppling over.
It only needs a little bit of planning to start the right way round to use the tilt to your advantage. Againfor some of my work would be one track on the pavement. one in the road, so with the tilt a least your upright.
One of the first jobs I done was cleaning a ditch, that would of needed the 6 tonner to reach down from the top of the bank down to the ditch, with this WN I went down the bank and worked along side the ditch on the bank, without the cab tilted it was too steep to work, as soon as you sent the arm out it when to tip, with the cab tilted it was fine.
I not got many hours on it yet, so cant comment on reliability, but initial thoughts I like it.

How old is yours Dave ? The one I’m looking at is 2018 I’ve heard that the newer ones than this are a bit better than the older ones . Could this be the case ?

 

[craig]

How old is yours Dave ? The one I’m looking at is 2018 I’ve heard that the newer ones than this are a bit better than the older ones . Could this be the case ?

2021, I don`t think much has changed.

 

[Storrsy]

It takes about 5 seconds to lift and spin the machine using pedals using the blade to adjust level accordingly. To me it seems like it's trying to solve a problem that isn't there?

 

[Furniss]

It takes about 5 seconds to lift and spin the machine using pedals using the blade to adjust level accordingly. To me it seems like it's trying to solve a problem that isn't there?

I can't imagine the benefit of vds is worth the effort - but spinning yourself around like that to level up still chews the place up If it's soft going or a tidy garden etc
Wacker neuson should supply a tilt hitch as standard if they think it's enough of an issue.

 

[craig]

It takes about 5 seconds to lift and spin the machine using pedals using the blade to adjust level accordingly. To me it seems like it's trying to solve a problem that isn't there?

But if I`m scrapping grass off the back of a rural pavement half on, half of,f it would get tedious having to spin the machine each move, yes a tilt bucket would do it, but you`ll still be sitting on the piss for hours, and with a little less stability. The same with the ditch I tried describing (badly ) above it would of been hard work going up and down the bank for each bucket full, but once tilted I went along the bank, working cross carriage cleaning normally.

 

[GazCro]

You'd need a lot of the work to suit it as above to make it worthwhile but then it would be a no brainer. Pointless for me personally more disadvantages the advantages.

 

[Storrsy]

I can't imagine the benefit of vds is worth the effort - but spinning yourself around like that to level up still chews the place up If it's soft going or a tidy garden etc
Wacker neuson should supply a tilt hitch as standard if they think it's enough of an issue.

But you wouldn't spin that much to try and do the work of a hitch- Nor would you use VDS to compete with a tilt hitch- it's more to level yourself up in a scenario where you'd be in one spot for some time- or at least enough to cut a level bench in etc but tbh I find it quite acceptable to use a blade to swing the machine one way or other if doing a double camber on a path for example- whereas I think VDS could be quite infuriating as only goes one way..

 

[doobin]

Another vote for tilt hitch instead here.

 

[craig]

The thing is the vds isn't a replacement for a tilt hitch or bucket, it a stability/easy to prepare to dig/comfort thing.
A bit like a tilty, you can do 99% of the jobs without, but can make it easier