Articulated Loaders.... Rear Steer or Front Steer?

N

Nate Ebert

Location
Central Vermont
Hey Folks,

I'm ready to get a new articulating loader, it's time to upgrade our 20hp Multione. I've demoed a couple machines, Avant and Cast, which all have the same steering as the multione. This is style where you sit on the front and the rear of the machine moves around. The crew and I are pretty used to this by this time, but it does still occasionally become and issue getting into tight spots. Sitting on the rear like on a Giant or Intrepid machine seems a little more appealing in some ways, but does anyone else care to share their opinions of which may work better for tree work?

Also, I've seen a bit about machines that oscilate actually being less stable on uneven terrain that rigid frame machines. Any folks out there with oscilating machines have trouble tipping them over when a wheel drops in a hole?
 
I have a Giant 254 Tele HD and love it!!! There is no tail swing with the front steer and no blind spots. Also, the Giant oscillates 8 degrees which makes the ride super smooth, you also get constant 4 wheel traction, and it’s lighter on the turf because the weight distributes way better. However when we start moving big logs with it, you can drop a pin that’s located between the machine, and make both the front and back lock together and turn it into a rigid machine. That was one of the selling points, the fact that you could make it rigid or oscillating, takes about five seconds to manipulate the locking pin.

We have the dual tire kit and all four tires are urethane foam filled. It’s unbelievably stable and we have never came close to tipping it. Our set up lifts exactly as much as my friends Ditch Witch SK 800. Also, pretty much all Kubota tractor dealers can work on the Giants.

The wheel motors on the HD version are a larger cc output compared to the 500 series avant, bobcat, etc.
 

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cody willard said:
I have a Giant 254 Tele HD and love it!!! There is no tail swing with the front steer and no blind spots. Also, the Giant oscillates 8 degrees which makes the ride super smooth, you also get constant 4 wheel traction, and it’s lighter on the turf because the weight distributes way better. However when we start moving big logs with it, you can drop a pin that’s located between the machine, and make both the front and back lock together and turn it into a rigid machine. That was one of the selling points, the fact that you could make it rigid or oscillating, takes about five seconds to manipulate the locking pin.

We have the dual tire kit and all four tires are urethane foam filled. It’s unbelievably stable and we have never came close to tipping it. Our set up lifts exactly as much as my friends Ditch Witch SK 800. Also, pretty much all Kubota tractor dealers can work on the Giants.

The wheel motors on the HD version are a larger cc output compared to the 500 series avant, bobcat, etc.
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Thanks for the info Cody. I do really like the construction of the Giants and hear they are good machines. I think what's really holding me back on them is wanting something with a bit more capacity. I wish they would release a telescoping model that's between the 1200 and 3500. It's interesting to hear that you lock and unlock the machine frequently.

I'm looking at the Intrepid Km130, the Avant 635 and 755i, and the Cast xd 40. I'd like to be able to make some larger log decks for logs that can be milled or send to a firewood processor, as well as a machine that move large logs during crane jobs. Backyard access is not a big deal for us as most of our clients don't have fences.
 
We don't even drop the locking pin on the giant. We tend to snap it evey time we move big wood with it in. We have tipped it once moving big wood on uneven terrain. Total pilot error. As far as a giant 254T with no rotating grapple, you are leaving a lot of capabilities on the table. Additionally I wouldn't get one without the foam filled tires and weight kit on the rear. The sit on the back machine feeds a chipper like know ones business. Many moons ago when I demod the multione 7.2, it bottomed out loading into a low pro dumptrailor. The giant has no problem with bottoming out while loading during steep inclines. It really is the perfect machine for tree work.

We have 1400hrs on a giant 254t and love it so far. We are getting ready to add a bigger machine to the arsenal possibly a Avant 860I. Looks like a bad ass machine with lots of creature comforts.
 
Well I hadn’t really thought of it as a recovery tool but there you go!
I wanted a Giant years ago but there was no availability so I have had 3 Multiones and now an Avant.
 
Mick Dempsey said:
Well I hadn’t really thought of it as a recovery tool but there you go!
I wanted a Giant years ago but there was no availability so I have had 3 Multiones and now an Avant.
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Got the front end stuck in a ditch today (thought about @Helmstein’s post, put the grab down, boomed it out and backed out 4wd and diff locks on.
Everyday’s a school day!
 
I have the Avant I think you get used to the tail swing going forward it’s no issue, it follows you! The telescope arm is amazing! And the weight distribution is great too
 
Mick Dempsey said:
View attachment 85957
Managed to palm off a few bits of deodar trunk to a local wood guy 100 mètres down the road.
Saved me taking it home to rot in the field.
Click to expand...
I'm looking at getting into a 860I

Looked at this unit with the northeast USA rep today. They don't have any in stock so I have to look at customers machines. This one was open cab but I like the idea of a cab with heat and ac.

How do you like the fixed grapple. Thinking of getting a dangle rotating grapple and a fixed rotating grapple for it. Thought?
 

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Helmstein said:
I'm looking at getting into a 860I

Looked at this unit with the northeast USA rep today. They don't have any in stock so I have to look at customers machines. This one was open cab but I like the idea of a cab with heat and ac.

How do you like the fixed grapple. Thinking of getting a dangle rotating grapple and a fixed rotating grapple for it. Thought?
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860…drool.
As for the fixed grab.
It’s my go to attachement, especially as the powered rotator has been out of action for a couple of weeks.
Most importantly it’s head and shoulders the best of the three at lifting and transporting large pièces of wood.
If the branches are big enough you can use it like a dangle for feeding the chipper (found that out last week) once it worn in a bit.
Trouble with a cab is it’s more of a pita to get in and out, which can wear a bit thin I reckon.
 
Thanks for the recommendation on the fixed grab. The cab is a no Brainer in my opinion because the door lifts up and off with no tools required "glass might be a pita to keep clean" Best of both worlds. Do you think you could use the fixed grab to grab tree while upright, cut, transport and direct it to a desired location to be let down?

Avant makes the fixed grab with rotator. Looks pretty slick.
 
Yes, you can grab a tree upright, cut it and move it to the chipper.
You have to know the limitations of the machine though, and have a finger on the button to abort if it starts going pear shaped.
 
Mick Dempsey said:
Yes, you can grab a tree upright, cut it and move it to the chipper.
You have to know the limitations of the machine though, and have a finger on the button to abort if it starts going pear shaped.
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Haha that's awsome. I was thinking of getting a fixed rotating grapple for the 860I and also one that comes with a hanger. Such as a branch manager or the heavy duty avant grapple.

I think that is a huge advantage on some jobs to be able to lift trees while they remain vertical.

This machine will really give us the edge on larger projects with larger diameter tree trunks. What other attachments do you run with you're 760I? Any light brush mowing attachments?
 
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