Avant 528 vs cast 33d

[Mick Dempsey!]

Turf tyres are vulnerable if you’re regularly going to max capacity, especially running over small stumps etc.
I only run on industrial/ag tyres.
If a lawn is going to be destroyed by ag tyres, it’ll get done by turf tyres as well.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

I run my Avant 528 hard. No mechanical issues so far. The plastic panels do take a beating so if you have a crew that doesn’t take care of things maybe you should go with an all metal machine. That said, every time the panels got damaged it was because someone was doing something they shouldn’t have and they knew it before the damage occurred. I think someone should make aftermarket panels for Avant and sell them to the tree care market.

Lucrative business idea

 

[Treetopflyer]

I run my Avant 528 hard. No mechanical issues so far. The plastic panels do take a beating so if you have a crew that doesn’t take care of things maybe you should go with an all metal machine. That said, every time the panels got damaged it was because someone was doing something they shouldn’t have and they knew it before the damage occurred. I think someone should make aftermarket panels for Avant and sell them to the tree care market.

Black duct tape did the trick on our cracked panel
I’m thinking of covers if the whole thing for the mad max look

 

[Treetopflyer]

Turf tyres are vulnerable if you’re regularly going to max capacity, especially running over small stumps etc.
I only run on industrial/ag tyres.
If a lawn is going to be destroyed by ag tyres, it’ll get done by turf tyres as well.

Just plugged my first tire yesterday matter of fact on our turf tire after 800 plus hours or not worrying about what I drove over !
Did a vine patch with tons of thorns thought somehow that got me til I found a screw !

 

[RogerM]

Seems like loyalties are pretty set. I have to say that I firmly believe that the operator has so much to do with how a piece of equipment is perceived. That being said, I'm in the Avant camp. Never flipped, no broken panels, very little issues. 528 1400hrs. Pushed to the limit.

 

[RogerM]

carried every bit of this hackberry up and out with turf tires

 

[RyanCafferky]

Just plugged my first tire yesterday matter of fact on our turf tire after 800 plus hours or not worrying about what I drove over !
Did a vine patch with tons of thorns thought somehow that got me til I found a screw !

I’ve been very impressed with the turf tires. I have had 2 flats both from nails or screws. Even using it in the woods with lots of stumps hasn’t been a problem for me. I did buy a set of the more aggressive tires on rims for extra traction on certain jobs. With an impact driver it takes about 1/2 hour to change all 4.

 

[Boomslang]

I went with Giant because it felt so natural and intuitive to drive. I've never used an Avant, so I can't compare, but I would love to try one to see the difference.

I think the big problem is once you learn and get proficient on one machine it's difficult to jump to another because you start the learning curve all over again. People tend to stick to what they know.

 

[RyanCafferky]

The Avant certainly has a learning curve. Every vehicle you drive steers with the front. If you are always looking forward and thinking that where your front tires are pointing is where you are going, you are in for a surprise on an Avant. Where your ass is pointing is what decides where you go on those machines. Once you grasp that, it is smooth sailing.

 

[Treetopflyer]

I’ve been very impressed with the turf tires. I have had 2 flats both from nails or screws. Even using it in the woods with lots of stumps hasn’t been a problem for me. I did buy a set of the more aggressive tires on rims for extra traction on certain jobs. With an impact driver it takes about 1/2 hour to change all 4.

I’m with you! I have a set of skinny we ran 2 times for tight jobs on long haul love how fast they swap
Here’s my 800 plus hour wide tires showing some side wall whooping and machine tape jobs from cracks

 

[Lupin_IV]

The off road tires are essential for winter work in snow. Snowblower attachment was also incredible. We used to blow the heck out of the work zone, made large property oak pruning a breeze at the first company I worked for. Really improved morale and workflow. Working in the snow has been a pain without one. Not that the cities gets much snow anymore lol.

 

[96coal449]

Turf tyres are vulnerable if you’re regularly going to max capacity, especially running over small stumps etc.
I only run on industrial/ag tyres.
If a lawn is going to be destroyed by ag tyres, it’ll get done by turf tyres as well.

Both machines I have mentioned are turf tired. They both see residential work most of the time. The giant with foam is faring well. The avant without foam has had 2 tires come of the rim do to terrain conditions and one flat from a puncture. The giant does well in any terrain, except for soupy slick stuff, and no issues with small stumps.

 

[cody willard]

My tractor has beer juice filled tires. What's the benefit of foam???

They add more counter weight, and if you get a puncture, you’re not staining the clients driveway red.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

The off road tires are essential for winter work in snow. Snowblower attachment was also incredible. We used to blow the heck out of the work zone, made large property oak pruning a breeze at the first company I worked for. Really improved morale and workflow. Working in the snow has been a pain without one. Not that the cities gets much snow anymore lol.

Come up here. I've got approval on whatever loader I want, lol

 

[Mick Dempsey!]

Come up here. I've got approval on whatever loader I want, lol

S’funny cos on job ads in the UK they will often state ‘we have a loader’ to assure applicants they won’t be hand-balling logs all day.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

I've already got a tractor with a loader, but we want an art since they are more versatile and faster than the tractor. I don't pull brush if I don't have to, lol.

 

[Mick Dempsey!]

I had a 36hp kubota with a front grab and forestry winch on the back before the articulated loaders.
Hell of a tool, hated to sell it, but couldn’t run both.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

View attachment 97518
I had a 36hp kubota with a front grab and forestry winch on the back before the articulated loaders.
Hell of a tool, hated to sell it, but couldn’t run both.

We love our Yanmar tractor. Mines a 25 horse. I don't plan on selling it. My wife LOVES it for the property. If it's not on the job she moves firewood, cleans up the woods, works the garden, etc. It's been a game changer for our company. Art loaders are just more efficient for general tree care.

 

[Mick Dempsey!]

We love our Yanmar tractor. Mines a 25 horse. I don't plan on selling it. My wife LOVES it for the property. If it's not on the job she moves firewood, cleans up the woods, works the garden, etc. It's been a game changer for our company. Art loaders are just more efficient for general tree care.

Yes they are, they do everything better, lift more, more manœuvrable, easier to transport.
My sadness about selling the tractor is that I sold it to my Brother in law, so I have to see it every time I go round there, and he wont sell it back to me now I have the money!

 

[RyanCafferky]

We have a big Kubota tractor with the winch and grapple along with other attachments. It comes out on jobs a few times a year and the rest of the time we use it on our farm. Hindsight being what it is, I would’ve likely bought a smaller tractor and a larger Avant.