Avant loaders

[TopNotchEquipment]

Cast 800 series has HD

"Tractive power" I believe it's called is one of Avants weaknesses in my opinion. The ability of the machine to push or pull a load.

I believe Dave spoke of heavy duty hydraulic wheel motors being available on the Avant or another machine. HD motors would sure be interesting to me if I knew they were available and I was buying.

(Possibly not HD.....but I remember more force could be delivered to the wheels. More flow at higher force?)

Cast 800 series HD drive 400cc wheel motors
Cast 30-series has HD MTK 315cc drive motors

 

[TopNotchEquipment]

Thanks. Custom adapter plate is a PITA alright.

http://tnedistributing.com/loaders/

 

[TopNotchEquipment]

"Tractive power" I believe it's called is one of Avants weaknesses in my opinion. The ability of the machine to push or pull a load.

I believe Dave spoke of heavy duty hydraulic wheel motors being available on the Avant or another machine. HD motors would sure be interesting to me if I knew they were available and I was buying.

(Possibly not HD.....but I remember more force could be delivered to the wheels. More flow at higher force?)

Cast runs 315cc he drive on the 33Tlx (800 ft/lb torque) 2-speed option on 33T Carbon has (1200 ft/lb torque in low range) 800 series Loaders have 400cc wheel motors (850 ft/lb torque)
Avant runs 255cc wheel motors

 

[Sfoppema]

Thanks. That's encouraging.
I like the Avant 528 - ticks alot of boxes for my operation. But Im not seeing many down comments on them (relative to battle hardened Mini designs) - so Im just probing for a balanced view.

I rented for two months and almost bought an avant 528. Got it with the avant grapple, which has a rotator. I had a number of concerns:

-It's got no nuts going up hills, barely goes up ramps. You have to feather everything to get it to work. I understand the Giant HD loaders have beefier wheel motors. For 45k I want nuts going up a hill....
-The frame of the machine is solid, meaning if you go over uneven terrain, you'll have one wheel come off the ground from time to time. This makes the ride not only less comfortable, but you have less traction and tend to spin out unless you time things right. You probably will tell clients about the fancy machine you have from Finland that never makes any marks, then they see you out the window spinning out on their lawn.... Not what you want!
The Giant frame oscillates, so you keep four tires on the ground at all times (mostly anyway)
-The plastic is delicate and easy to dent/scratch/break. Probably expensive to replace. I did dent mine, but did not replace them......
-I tried to get it with the BMG, but got the avant grapple, which I did not like. It had electric over hydraulic for the rotator, and that was intermittent/stopped working about a month in. I wouldn't use a grapple with tiny wires to it when you're dragging brush/wood
-You can't really use it in the woods. A mini skid blows the doors off of any model wheel loader in the woods.
-On mine, the wiring to the seat belt sensor would go in and out. If you don't have the seat belt on (or connected) none of the controls on the machine will work. I'd have to put the seat belt in and out and wiggle it for 5 minutes sometimes to get it to work. Obviously, just a small wiring issue, but this was a brand new machine with three hours on it when I got it.
-If you don't also have a mini skid, you won't be able to get through gates. The machine is too wide.
-It's taller/longer/wider than a mini skid. Makes a difference when you are thinking about how you will be transporting the machine from job to job.
-Also worth noting. The Avant is great for feeding brush once you get used to it, but you need a lot more space around the chipper to feed it than if you were using a mini skid.

Of course, I had a lot of fun running it, and you'll get a lot done with it no doubt. I was just a little disappointed in the above mentioned items. Going to have to drop 45-50k and I can hardly go up a hill, having wiring problems, denting stuff, losing the grapple..... Could buy three solid mini skids for that price. Or a solid mini skid and a 30k chipper. I just couldn't justify it....
Never actually gotten on one, but it seems like the Giant is better. For the HD, metal panels, and oscillating frame. My 2cents

 

[VenasNursery]

I rented for two months and almost bought an avant 528. Got it with the avant grapple, which has a rotator. I had a number of concerns:

-It's got no nuts going up hills, barely goes up ramps. You have to feather everything to get it to work. I understand the Giant HD loaders have beefier wheel motors. For 45k I want nuts going up a hill....
-The frame of the machine is solid, meaning if you go over uneven terrain, you'll have one wheel come off the ground from time to time. This makes the ride not only less comfortable, but you have less traction and tend to spin out unless you time things right. You probably will tell clients about the fancy machine you have from Finland that never makes any marks, then they see you out the window spinning out on their lawn.... Not what you want!
The Giant frame oscillates, so you keep four tires on the ground at all times (mostly anyway)
-The plastic is delicate and easy to dent/scratch/break. Probably expensive to replace. I did dent mine, but did not replace them......
-I tried to get it with the BMG, but got the avant grapple, which I did not like. It had electric over hydraulic for the rotator, and that was intermittent/stopped working about a month in. I wouldn't use a grapple with tiny wires to it when you're dragging brush/wood
-You can't really use it in the woods. A mini skid blows the doors off of any model wheel loader in the woods.
-On mine, the wiring to the seat belt sensor would go in and out. If you don't have the seat belt on (or connected) none of the controls on the machine will work. I'd have to put the seat belt in and out and wiggle it for 5 minutes sometimes to get it to work. Obviously, just a small wiring issue, but this was a brand new machine with three hours on it when I got it.
-If you don't also have a mini skid, you won't be able to get through gates. The machine is too wide.
-It's taller/longer/wider than a mini skid. Makes a difference when you are thinking about how you will be transporting the machine from job to job.
-Also worth noting. The Avant is great for feeding brush once you get used to it, but you need a lot more space around the chipper to feed it than if you were using a mini skid.

Of course, I had a lot of fun running it, and you'll get a lot done with it no doubt. I was just a little disappointed in the above mentioned items. Going to have to drop 45-50k and I can hardly go up a hill, having wiring problems, denting stuff, losing the grapple..... Could buy three solid mini skids for that price. Or a solid mini skid and a 30k chipper. I just couldn't justify it....
Never actually gotten on one, but it seems like the Giant is better. For the HD, metal panels, and oscillating frame. My 2cents

I demo a avant- and didn’t like it at all
End up purchasing another mini

 

[Gray squirrel]

I rented for two months and almost bought an avant 528. Got it with the avant grapple, which has a rotator. I had a number of concerns:

-It's got no nuts going up hills, barely goes up ramps. You have to feather everything to get it to work. I understand the Giant HD loaders have beefier wheel motors. For 45k I want nuts going up a hill....
-The frame of the machine is solid, meaning if you go over uneven terrain, you'll have one wheel come off the ground from time to time. This makes the ride not only less comfortable, but you have less traction and tend to spin out unless you time things right. You probably will tell clients about the fancy machine you have from Finland that never makes any marks, then they see you out the window spinning out on their lawn.... Not what you want!
The Giant frame oscillates, so you keep four tires on the ground at all times (mostly anyway)
-The plastic is delicate and easy to dent/scratch/break. Probably expensive to replace. I did dent mine, but did not replace them......
-I tried to get it with the BMG, but got the avant grapple, which I did not like. It had electric over hydraulic for the rotator, and that was intermittent/stopped working about a month in. I wouldn't use a grapple with tiny wires to it when you're dragging brush/wood
-You can't really use it in the woods. A mini skid blows the doors off of any model wheel loader in the woods.
-On mine, the wiring to the seat belt sensor would go in and out. If you don't have the seat belt on (or connected) none of the controls on the machine will work. I'd have to put the seat belt in and out and wiggle it for 5 minutes sometimes to get it to work. Obviously, just a small wiring issue, but this was a brand new machine with three hours on it when I got it.
-If you don't also have a mini skid, you won't be able to get through gates. The machine is too wide.
-It's taller/longer/wider than a mini skid. Makes a difference when you are thinking about how you will be transporting the machine from job to job.
-Also worth noting. The Avant is great for feeding brush once you get used to it, but you need a lot more space around the chipper to feed it than if you were using a mini skid.

Of course, I had a lot of fun running it, and you'll get a lot done with it no doubt. I was just a little disappointed in the above mentioned items. Going to have to drop 45-50k and I can hardly go up a hill, having wiring problems, denting stuff, losing the grapple..... Could buy three solid mini skids for that price. Or a solid mini skid and a 30k chipper. I just couldn't justify it....
Never actually gotten on one, but it seems like the Giant is better. For the HD, metal panels, and oscillating frame. My 2cents

That's why I have 420 smaller power up hill is just getting used to it will be fine

 

[TopNotchEquipment]

I rented for two months and almost bought an avant 528. Got it with the avant grapple, which has a rotator. I had a number of concerns:

-It's got no nuts going up hills, barely goes up ramps. You have to feather everything to get it to work. I understand the Giant HD loaders have beefier wheel motors. For 45k I want nuts going up a hill....
-The frame of the machine is solid, meaning if you go over uneven terrain, you'll have one wheel come off the ground from time to time. This makes the ride not only less comfortable, but you have less traction and tend to spin out unless you time things right. You probably will tell clients about the fancy machine you have from Finland that never makes any marks, then they see you out the window spinning out on their lawn.... Not what you want!
The Giant frame oscillates, so you keep four tires on the ground at all times (mostly anyway)
-The plastic is delicate and easy to dent/scratch/break. Probably expensive to replace. I did dent mine, but did not replace them......
-I tried to get it with the BMG, but got the avant grapple, which I did not like. It had electric over hydraulic for the rotator, and that was intermittent/stopped working about a month in. I wouldn't use a grapple with tiny wires to it when you're dragging brush/wood
-You can't really use it in the woods. A mini skid blows the doors off of any model wheel loader in the woods.
-On mine, the wiring to the seat belt sensor would go in and out. If you don't have the seat belt on (or connected) none of the controls on the machine will work. I'd have to put the seat belt in and out and wiggle it for 5 minutes sometimes to get it to work. Obviously, just a small wiring issue, but this was a brand new machine with three hours on it when I got it.
-If you don't also have a mini skid, you won't be able to get through gates. The machine is too wide.
-It's taller/longer/wider than a mini skid. Makes a difference when you are thinking about how you will be transporting the machine from job to job.
-Also worth noting. The Avant is great for feeding brush once you get used to it, but you need a lot more space around the chipper to feed it than if you were using a mini skid.

Of course, I had a lot of fun running it, and you'll get a lot done with it no doubt. I was just a little disappointed in the above mentioned items. Going to have to drop 45-50k and I can hardly go up a hill, having wiring problems, denting stuff, losing the grapple..... Could buy three solid mini skids for that price. Or a solid mini skid and a 30k chipper. I just couldn't justify it....
Never actually gotten on one, but it seems like the Giant is better. For the HD, metal panels, and oscillating frame. My 2cents

Oscillating as it does allow for all tires on ground adds to ride but is less stable, I have sold all the machines you are referring to and rigid chassis are more stable platforms. Also giant has only a momentary differential lock which you need to hold the button to use. Most other machines have a switch which allows you to turn it on so even if one tire floats over a hole you still will have others driving (spinning is not a huge issue). Yes the HD Giants do have larger 400cc wheel motors but so does the Cast 825D/830D if you are looking for cab rear, in cab forward the Cast has 2-speed drive on 33T-Carbon model giving you 50% more wheel torque in low range than single speed 400cc wheel motors. There are other differences as well Cast offers larger 14” wide tires, higher lift height, 10-function joystick standard, rubber iso mounted cabin (800 series) larger Kubota engines across entire line (giant uses D902, Avant D1105) Cast uses D1105 and D1305 engines and more . Feel free to call me if you would like to discuss more, as I have sold all the units you are looking at. 6124549191 cell

 

[Gray squirrel]

I rented for two months and almost bought an avant 528. Got it with the avant grapple, which has a rotator. I had a number of concerns:

-It's got no nuts going up hills, barely goes up ramps. You have to feather everything to get it to work. I understand the Giant HD loaders have beefier wheel motors. For 45k I want nuts going up a hill....
-The frame of the machine is solid, meaning if you go over uneven terrain, you'll have one wheel come off the ground from time to time. This makes the ride not only less comfortable, but you have less traction and tend to spin out unless you time things right. You probably will tell clients about the fancy machine you have from Finland that never makes any marks, then they see you out the window spinning out on their lawn.... Not what you want!
The Giant frame oscillates, so you keep four tires on the ground at all times (mostly anyway)
-The plastic is delicate and easy to dent/scratch/break. Probably expensive to replace. I did dent mine, but did not replace them......
-I tried to get it with the BMG, but got the avant grapple, which I did not like. It had electric over hydraulic for the rotator, and that was intermittent/stopped working about a month in. I wouldn't use a grapple with tiny wires to it when you're dragging brush/wood
-You can't really use it in the woods. A mini skid blows the doors off of any model wheel loader in the woods.
-On mine, the wiring to the seat belt sensor would go in and out. If you don't have the seat belt on (or connected) none of the controls on the machine will work. I'd have to put the seat belt in and out and wiggle it for 5 minutes sometimes to get it to work. Obviously, just a small wiring issue, but this was a brand new machine with three hours on it when I got it.
-If you don't also have a mini skid, you won't be able to get through gates. The machine is too wide.
-It's taller/longer/wider than a mini skid. Makes a difference when you are thinking about how you will be transporting the machine from job to job.
-Also worth noting. The Avant is great for feeding brush once you get used to it, but you need a lot more space around the chipper to feed it than if you were using a mini skid.

Of course, I had a lot of fun running it, and you'll get a lot done with it no doubt. I was just a little disappointed in the above mentioned items. Going to have to drop 45-50k and I can hardly go up a hill, having wiring problems, denting stuff, losing the grapple..... Could buy three solid mini skids for that price. Or a solid mini skid and a 30k chipper. I just couldn't justify it....
Never actually gotten on one, but it seems like the Giant is better. For the HD, metal panels, and oscillating frame. My 2cents

I demonstrated a giant didn't like

 

[Gray squirrel]

I demonstrated a giant didn't like

didn't like lack of throttle and didn't like the switch for forward and reverse

 

[TopNotchEquipment]

didn't like lack of throttle and didn't like the switch for forward and reverse

Cast has hand throttle and hudraustatic pedals for forward and reverse

 

[tnttree]

Giant is the only 2400# category loader that can get under 36" wide -- everyone else 39"
The 254's controls are more like a true US built Big boy Wheel loader
and with the HD 400cc pump it has hill climbing balls
and it has features no other in its class have
+ Try to get the other MFGs to paint in your company color

 

[TopNotchEquipment]

Cast 800 series Loaders are equipped standard with more features than any loader in class and some features no other manufacturer offers in compact Loaders only larger machines.
Cast will also paint a Machine any color you would like.
Cast Loaders can get to 36.5” (unbolting front fenders is required)
Cast 800 series have larger displacement Kubota engines than the Giant (D902) Cast 825D (D1105) Cast 830D (D1305)
Giant (7.4 gpm) Cast has Twin pump auxiliary 825D (11 gpm) 830D (13 gpm)
Cast has 400cc wheel motors standard and Giant offer 400cc wheel motors as an upgrade when HD package is ordered.
Giant has integrated solid cabin, Cast 800 series is standard with rubber iso-mounted cabin and suspension seat. The rubber iso-mounted cabin allows the engine to be lower in chassis for lower center of gravity (increased stability) while also allowing for more ground clearance even with a lower overall height to top of rops.
Cast under carriage is fully skid plated vs Giant has vented rear skid plate
Giant pin height (112”) Cast pin height (117”)
Largest available tires Giant (13”) Cast (14”)
Easy access service panels on Cast units
All Cast boom hydraulics are bulkheaded at front of boom tower for easy field serviceability
Cast Multi function joystick (momentary Aux, bi-directional detente, telescopic functions on buttons)
Cast has Differential lock switch (stays on until shut off) Giant has momentary diff lock button (need to hold button continuously to keep differential locked)
Cast has Fully protected front end (all steel panels no exposed hoses below lift cylinder)
Cast has full digital gauge cluster
2020 Cast models are cab-ready or factory installed Cabin and heat option, no cab options available for Giant 254
Cast has hydrostatic 2 pedal drive (F & R) with hand throttle, Giant is automotive drive (F-N-R switch) and the hand throttle is over $1000 option)
Faster quick coupling system is optional on both Cast and Giant

2020 spoiler: Cast 33T-Carbon is standard with 2-speed Poclain drive (15 mph in High range) and an impressive 50% more wheel torque (1250 ft/lbs) in low range over 400cc single speed wheel motors (825 ft/lbs) ......

Call me if you would like to discuss further 6124549191 Harry

 

[Merle Nelson]

Wow Cast info looks good.

 

[Superak31]

Branch manager have any specials or discount codes for the bmg im interested in one for my 528. Want the rotating feature

 

[Merle Nelson]

Do you have any interest in discussing the pros and cons of power rotate in front of the 528 Superak?

 

[tnttree]

Thanks Merle,
free spinning or powered rotating I make them both
this is my old story,

 

[Superak31]

Yes im ready to buy

 

[Superak31]

I dont chip anything over 10in. Want to be able to load logs from side of dump trailer

 

[Gray squirrel]

What is cast equivalent to 420 avant

 

[Superak31]

May just buy the avant log grabber since the dealer is local. Anyone have experience with this