Articulated loaders (other options?)

Anonymity · Jul 4, 2021

Just wondering what options (dealers) there are in Ontario for small articulated loaders for tree work for example I know of 2 for sure
-bobcat
-Avant
-Vermeer?
Not sure about
-Giant
-cast

or I suppose could be shipped easy enough into Ontario. I just would like to look at various options to consider, what fits best. I have spoken with the Avant dealer in Hamilton and will likey go that direction if there are no better options.

deevo · Jul 4, 2021

Anonymity said:
Just wondering what options (dealers) there are in Ontario for small articulated loaders for tree work for example I know of 2 for sure
-bobcat
-Avant
-Vermeer?
Not sure about
-Giant
-cast

or I suppose could be shipped easy enough into Ontario. I just would like to look at various options to consider, what fits best. I have spoken with the Avant dealer in Hamilton and will likey go that direction if there are no better options.

Tim from Hamilton Bobcats awesome to deal with we are getting our second Avant this week! I sold my Vermeer mini skid, done with the tracked lawn ripping BS, Any time you wanna check ours out we are just an hour away.

Serf Life · Jul 4, 2021

deevo said:
Tim from Hamilton Bobcats awesome to deal with we are getting our second Avant this week! I sold my Vermeer mini skid, done with the tracked lawn ripping BS, Any time you wanna check ours out we are just an hour away.

How does the Avant do in the woods? We do lots of trails, woods cleanups, blowdowns, thinning etc which the mini excels at, but def tough on multiple trips on a lawn without mats.

Mowerr · Jul 4, 2021

do not buy a giant!!!!! i never used anything else but the giant sucks any brand dingo is better than a giant....

southsoundtree · Jul 4, 2021

Serf Life said:
How does the Avant do in the woods? We do lots of trails, woods cleanups, blowdowns, thinning etc which the mini excels at, but def tough on multiple trips on a lawn without mats.

A couple 4x4s of thin plywood, used as Rotation Stations (just coined that, btw) between straight lines of travel, in areas where arcing turns are not possible can do a lot to protect dry lawns, with a little work. 4x4s are easy enough to let the machine carry them. Small rope loop over the board cleat.

Fwiw
$0.02
Ymmv

Serf Life · Jul 5, 2021

southsoundtree said:
A couple 4x4s of thin plywood, used as Rotation Stations (just coined that, btw) between straight lines of travel, in areas where arcing turns are not possible can do a lot to protect dry lawns, with a little work. 4x4s are easy enough to let the machine carry them. Small rope loop over the board cleat.

Fwiw
$0.02
Ymmv

For sure, i have a through box for 1/2 plywood and have 10+ sheets aboard with easy on and off, so no issue there. Articulating wheeled vs tracked is no brainer on turf, I’m asking about Avant or giant in the woods.

deevo · Jul 5, 2021

Serf Life said:
How does the Avant do in the woods? We do lots of trails, woods cleanups, blowdowns, thinning etc which the mini excels at, but def tough on multiple trips on a lawn without mats.

I have 2 sets of tires, turf and if needed the more aggressive style like in the link if that worked https://www.avanttecno.com/us/machines/400-series#technical-specifications or if it’s really soft I have mats on the cranes and other trucks

oceans · Jul 5, 2021

Anonymity said:
Just wondering what options (dealers) there are in Ontario for small articulated loaders for tree work for example I know of 2 for sure
-bobcat
-Avant
-Vermeer?
Not sure about
-Giant
-cast

or I suppose could be shipped easy enough into Ontario. I just would like to look at various options to consider, what fits best. I have spoken with the Avant dealer in Hamilton and will likey go that direction if there are no better options.

Mark Prz told me about Multione machines. He just got a 9 series machine. Might be bigger than what you are looking for, but they have a broad product line so maybe there’s one that fits your needs.

Anonymity · Jul 5, 2021

oceans said:
Mark Prz told me about Multione machines. He just got a 9 series machine. Might be bigger than what you are looking for, but they have a broad product line so maybe there’s one that fits your needs.

Where is the dealer located in Ontario?

Worththeweight · Jul 6, 2021

If they have occilation at the point of articulation, articulating loaders can’t be beat in the woods. Skidders use articulated steering.

RoyalTree · Jul 6, 2021

Vermeer is just rebranded multinone machines

Worththeweight · Jul 6, 2021

Look for a used gehl al 340 or 540. They’re still made but no longer sold in North America. I have both, purchased both used, have put 2000 hours on the 340, laid it on its side 3 times, but it never skips a beat. With a branch manager, we use them like mini dual arch grapple skidders, forwarding debris to the chipper, then feeding the chipper.

oceans · Jul 6, 2021

RoyalTree said:
Vermeer is just rebranded multinone machines

I did not know that. Now I do! Thanks.

EDIT: I just poked around Vermeer’s website under the Tree Care tab. It looks like they rebranded 3 Multione Models. If that’s true, Multione definitely offers much more of a lineup. Perhaps if you want a Multione machine that Vermeer didn’t repaint, Vermeer is still where you buy it? Dunno.

marne · Jul 7, 2021

oceans said:
I did not know that. Now I do! Thanks.

EDIT: I just poked around Vermeer’s website under the Tree Care tab. It looks like they rebranded 3 Multione Models. If that’s true, Multione definitely offers much more of a lineup. Perhaps if you want a Multione machine that Vermeer didn’t repaint, Vermeer is still where you buy it? Dunno.

Definetly not, vermeer is so greedy it hurts. It's very likely they screw you on the machine and it's parts like they do with their own machines.

Jehinten · Jul 7, 2021

marne said:
Definetly not, vermeer is so greedy it hurts. It's very likely they screw you on the machine and it's parts like they do with their own machines.

I hear this a lot regarding Vermeer, in my opinion some of the parts that I've ordered for my mini are higher than I thought they would be, but many are actually cheaper than other sources.

Iirc, hydro filters are $20-$30 cheaper than NAPA and hydraulic drive motors were $400 cheaper than a local Parker dealer.

Mowerr · Jul 8, 2021

You def don't want giant in the woods. The one we got wants to tip over of you drive over a small stick

Helmstein · Jul 14, 2021

Mowerr said:
You def don't want giant in the woods. The one we got wants to tip over of you drive over a small stick

Does your giant have foam filled 12" wide turf tires and the rear counterweight. Ours does and I've been on some pretty crazy inclines and sketchy spots (knockonwood) never tipped her. I always wondered if you could do the duel tire option with chains on the outside duels for the woods jobs. We always try to cut the stumps low because they do not like to crawl over them with the turf tires working in the woods.

Mowerr · Jul 14, 2021

Will stein said:
Does your giant have foam filled 12" wide turf tires and the rear counterweight. Ours does and I've been on some pretty crazy inclines and sketchy spots (knockonwood) never tipped her. I always wondered if you could do the duel tire option with chains on the outside duels for the woods jobs. We always try to cut the stumps low because they do not like to crawl over them with the turf tires working in the wo

I think their thinner than 12 but not much. Not turf tires and I don't think their foam filled. I don't think we got the. Counter weight too and I forgot about all this. So the giant might be a good machine if you have those features but I think ours is stock and we hate it.

Helmstein · Jul 16, 2021

Well definitely add all the above mentioned .The foam on its own adds about 400 pounds to the machine making it super stable with all the weight down low. The additional counter weight is a must, it also gives you a step for a guy to stand on when logs get super heavy. Your machine has huge potential!

tnttree · Jul 19, 2021

Mowerr said:
I think their thinner than 12 but not much. Not turf tires and I don't think their foam filled. I don't think we got the. Counter weight too and I forgot about all this. So the giant might be a good machine if you have those features but I think ours is stock and we hate it.

Rolling a machine on its side is an operator error, all articulating loaders can be tipped easily with a balls to the walls operator.
Mowerr which Giant model do you have? do you have the frame locked in Rigid mode?

Rigid framed machines are more stable than oscillating Axles, The Giant 254T is the only Brand out there that does both
In Oscillation mode you have much better traction and a smoother ride.
Giant - Avant all the others I always recommend foam filling tires not just for the added stability but NO FLATS is an added bonus.
Giant 263's - 1500's - Gehl 140's are notoriously tippy - you need the widest tires
I made the first commercially available duals for Gehl 140's just because of operator errors
Giant has 13" wide tires, Avants 12'" minimal but every inch helps stability
Giant has allowed me to make Duals for the 254's and factory Warranty them - extra stable, and you can chain up the outer dual
and I have made 1 1/2" wheel spacers gives you 3 more inches of stability