What gives...

[Komatsu]

I had a price from CAT 2 years ago for a new 308 with rubber blocks on steel tracks, 4 buckets, 2 Aux lines, aircon, radio and hydraulic hitch for £52k plus vat. Thought that was a very good price for a decent spec machine. And that was before I did any negotiation. Literally an over the phone price.

This tiltrotator thing is interesting. Are larger plant companies thinking its the next big thing and investing before getting the right operators for it? It took me well over 200hrs to get the hang of how to drive mine and I had a keen interest in doing so - having just spent the cash! Would I be bothered if I was just told to drive it? I believe ECL have had this exact problem with drivers taking the tilty off and going back to fixed because they cant drive them/ don't like them/ I can do fine without attitude. The right operator can make any machine sing - tilty or not but the attitude has to be right.

There is no doubt that tiltrotators increase efficiency on the right work. Once you've mastered one you'll never want to go back if you can help it. But up to that point I did wonder if I'd done the right thing - others have said the same. It also comes down to the fact that if they aren't deployed right or hired out for the same money as a standard machine then they wont stick in the market. Because whats the point in having one if nobody sees the benefits.

Agree with all of that Ollie, also think that the hype about how many are out there and a shortage of second hand ones and new ones been sold is a slight exaggeration, just don’t see them?...the one thing I have started to see a lot of over the the last 12 months or so is the idig system, very simple to use, and cheap in comparison, two different products obviously, but seems to be that people thinking about spending a bit of money and making an investment are going down that route rather than the tilty one.

 

[Arduainefs]

What weight is the base machine

Its an SK140SRLC-5 ....15 tonnes ish

 

[TiltyShaun]

Were talking about 1 year old (soon to be 2 ) 8 tonne diggers owing firms 100k with 200 hours on it.. It's not healthy at all.

Just been back to check on the this. The problem is more to do with 200 hours in 2 years than £100k.

 

[TiltyShaun]

Agree with all of that Ollie, also think that the hype about how many are out there and a shortage of second hand ones and new ones been sold is a slight exaggeration, just don’t see them?...the one thing I have started to see a lot of over the the last 12 months or so is the idig system, very simple to use, and cheap in comparison, two different products obviously, but seems to be that people thinking about spending a bit of money and making an investment are going down that route rather than the tilty one.

On my little digger the engcon was cheaper than the Idig. Now I have 2 diggers to share the idig it looks more of a proposition for me, but to be honest, would still rather have another engcon first!

 

[TiltyShaun]

Its an SK140SRLC-5 ....15 tonnes ish

Still a lot more metal than an 8 tonner! As I have posted above, utilisation and type of work is the key.

 

[Komatsu]

On my little digger the engcon was cheaper than the Idig. Now I have 2 diggers to share the idig it looks more of a proposition for me, but to be honest, would still rather have another engcon first!

But is your Engcon the button and pedal set up?

 

[TiltyShaun]

But is your Engcon the button and pedal set up?

Yes. It suits what I wanted on that digger for the money. My eyes have been opened and I know that on the bigger digger the options are more expensive.

 

[Mark]

A new 8t machine now is circa 80k Plus your extra's. A tiltrotator with trimmings is another 20k at least

You'll burn 120k minimum with a full spec 8t machine, tilty, grapple, set of buckets etc time it's spec'd up....

Then they go out pissing around on crap rates In my world a 8t machine is a £40/hr machine on a wet hire. My 175's are going from £35 - £40hr in January.... Trouble is there are too many dreamers going out to cover costs. Tilty or not alot of people are working at suicidal rates still!

The tiltrotator Bubble is exactly that in this country. There is not the onsite/management level brainpower to recognise the benefits it brings and increase the required rate to suit the machine specification... with the best will in the world they could be the best £20k you'll spend, but if the productivity is'nt reflected in the rate your pissing in the wind.

f**k it, I'm going backwards with my fleet.... 580 Hymac anyone?

Wish we could get £35 to £40 an hour for a 8T machine can get a 30T machine up here for £40 an hour.

 

[Gunners]

Having both the Idig and a tilty, they are both great and both save labour requirements which in my line of work saves money. But if I could only have one I would have the Idig setup over a tilty. The ability to take it between machines and the saving it gives in time and not needing a man on the staff (or in my case keep getting out to check levels) means it would pay for itself very quickly. That's before you realise the savings you're getting from digging 100% accurate 100% of the time. Aggregate and muck away costs money.
Honestly the things I've dig with it so far first time - particularly bastard grades that join two existing levels to one. Hold bucket on first point, use tape measure function, move arm to other grade you want to join to, tape measure tell you the pitch, set that into it and off you go, first time one pull. Its not taking long to earn its money.
When combined with a tilty it adds another dimension but I miss out on the full integration with the rotation as the EC02 doesn't have EPS. I can only imagine how good it would be if I did.

 

[TiltyShaun]

Having both the Idig and a tilty, they are both great and both save labour requirements which in my line of work saves money. But if I could only have one I would have the Idig setup over a tilty. The ability to take it between machines and the saving it gives in time and not needing a man on the staff (or in my case keep getting out to check levels) means it would pay for itself very quickly. That's before you realise the savings you're getting from digging 100% accurate 100% of the time. Aggregate and muck away costs money.
Honestly the things I've dig with it so far first time - particularly bastard grades that join two existing levels to one. Hold bucket on first point, use tape measure function, move arm to other grade you want to join to, tape measure tell you the pitch, set that into it and off you go, first time one pull. Its not taking long to earn its money.
When combined with a tilty it adds another dimension but I miss out on the full integration with the rotation as the EC02 doesn't have EPS. I can only imagine how good it would be if I did.

So with what I currently have, the 3 tonner with tilty, the 8 tonner with nothing, you would go idig on both before tilty!!

 

[Komatsu]

Having both the Idig and a tilty, they are both great and both save labour requirements which in my line of work saves money. But if I could only have one I would have the Idig setup over a tilty. The ability to take it between machines and the saving it gives in time and not needing a man on the staff (or in my case keep getting out to check levels) means it would pay for itself very quickly. That's before you realise the savings you're getting from digging 100% accurate 100% of the time. Aggregate and muck away costs money.
Honestly the things I've dig with it so far first time - particularly bastard grades that join two existing levels to one. Hold bucket on first point, use tape measure function, move arm to other grade you want to join to, tape measure tell you the pitch, set that into it and off you go, first time one pull. Its not taking long to earn its money.
When combined with a tilty it adds another dimension but I miss out on the full integration with the rotation as the EC02 doesn't have EPS. I can only imagine how good it would be if I did.

And that’s exactly the feedback I’ve been given from round the country, the fact you can swap between machines, and saving on labour seem to come out on top every time.

 

[Gunners]

So with what I currently have, the 3 tonner with tilty, the 8 tonner with nothing, you would go idig on both before tilty!!

Yeh... Honestly Shaun, its brilliant. We are always digging to a level in our line of work. Drains - you can set up the pitch and off you go. Footings - easy. Driveways - use dual slope to dig out and grade stone accurately. You and I have both been using our 3t machines as 5 tonners anyway. You got the 8 to provide a bit more muscle. What you cant get with the 8 and its standard buckets you can tidy with the 3t. I'd say it would be a pretty good setup for your business with the two machines on site. And once its set up it takes 2 mins to change to the other machine.
I've done some videos on youtube of a few examples of how I use it because there isn't much up on there with the Idig at the moment. I'm no Leonardo Dicaprio but hopefully I get my points across. I need to do one on the slope features because its bloody brilliant.
https://www.youtube.com/user/Olliegunns - Please like and subscribe

 

[fred]

How much is the idig installed ?

 

[Shovelhands]

Yeh... Honestly Shaun, its brilliant. We are always digging to a level in our line of work. Drains - you can set up the pitch and off you go. Footings - easy. Driveways - use dual slope to dig out and grade stone accurately. You and I have both been using our 3t machines as 5 tonners anyway. You got the 8 to provide a bit more muscle. What you cant get with the 8 and its standard buckets you can tidy with the 3t. I'd say it would be a pretty good setup for your business with the two machines on site. And once its set up it takes 2 mins to change to the other machine.
I've done some videos on youtube of a few examples of how I use it because there isn't much up on there with the Idig at the moment. I'm no Leonardo Dicaprio but hopefully I get my points across. I need to do one on the slope features because its bloody brilliant.
https://www.youtube.com/user/Olliegunns - Please like and subscribe

Your not wearing your famous hard hat in any of your videos?

 

[Komatsu]

How much is the idig installed ?

These are just some of the offers Fred, Neil is salt of the earth, very genuine and able to answer all questions.

Nasco Load Indicators Ltd

Prolec / Engcon dealers for sales and service

www.nascoloadindicators.co.uk

 

[Komatsu]

https://www.youtube.com/user/Olliegunns - Please like and subscribe

Really good videos there Ollie, easy to see why this system is so popular.

 

[Left hooker]

Wish we could get £35 to £40 an hour for a 8T machine can get a 30T machine up here for £40 an hour.

42 an hour for my 5 ton with tiltrotator

 

[Left hooker]

And that’s exactly the feedback I’ve been given from round the country, the fact you can swap between machines, and saving on labour seem to come out on top every time.

As much as I want idig I don't have a laborer just me so tilty is a first for me as people say don't get anymore for being faster but with a tilty I can do more to keep me on site longer

 

[Brendan]

Having both the Idig and a tilty, they are both great and both save labour requirements which in my line of work saves money. But if I could only have one I would have the Idig setup over a tilty. The ability to take it between machines and the saving it gives in time and not needing a man on the staff (or in my case keep getting out to check levels) means it would pay for itself very quickly. That's before you realise the savings you're getting from digging 100% accurate 100% of the time. Aggregate and muck away costs money.
Honestly the things I've dig with it so far first time - particularly bastard grades that join two existing levels to one. Hold bucket on first point, use tape measure function, move arm to other grade you want to join to, tape measure tell you the pitch, set that into it and off you go, first time one pull. Its not taking long to earn its money.
When combined with a tilty it adds another dimension but I miss out on the full integration with the rotation as the EC02 doesn't have EPS. I can only imagine how good it would be if I did.

Is the I dig auto grade assist? Or just a visual to work to?

 

[fred]

Is the I dig auto grade assist? Or just a visual to work to?

from watching the vid its manual and works of a laser as you track.