Avant Thread!

Anonymity said:
I’d be interested too!
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So, when I bought my Avant 528 you could buy it in (2 wheel drive?) or you could go with an option of a switch to lock in all wheel drive. Two wheel slips far too much, I almost always lock them all up.

Then I added on the radiator guard that was offered too. I not infrequently push up against something. Also battery remote location jumper posts were offered. Battery went bad at some point and that was a boon. Battery is hard to get to. And it's easy to jump other equipment from that placement.
 
Okay, I'm qouted with efficiency package and the rad guard is included in that among other things, not the hitch though that sounds like a good extra tool in the box.
 
I demoed the Giant 254 Tele HD and Avant 500 series. A lot more pulling and pushing power with the Giant as the drive motors are a larger cc displacement, has universal attachment plate and the ability to oscillate 8°, which allows all four tires to be firmly planted on the ground with full traction and minimal ruts. You can also drop a pin down and lock it into rigid mode when you’re dealing with near tipping load capacities.

They’re built a lot more heavy duty, kind of like a tractor, and they don’t see boom failures due to the self leveling system getting in a bind. also, having the pivot point up front makes visibility a lot easier with the Grapple.

I got Giant 254 Tele HD with the counterweight package, and the dual them filled tires. Outer tires come off with one big bolt, and I ca fit through a 36” gate. (I’ve gotten all four tires off in about 50 seconds with a Milwaukee impact).
 
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Rented the avant for a month from our local guys Ace power when the hydraulic drive pump shit out on my 755 d.w. but Modern Equipment who I purchased my last 18xp chipper and sg40 stump grinder through are very good about letting us try stuff out they bring it let us utilize and get to know the machine and they trust us not to beat their shit up lol..
The controls with Avant using foot reverse forward and using your hand to manipulate the load only seemed more intuitive for new and seasoned users alike today. The switching of direction forward /reverse on hand limited everyone's ability to chip as fluidly quite noticably..I've seen ace operating on these giants so I know it's learnable to work safely and proficient, but we all agreed the Avant was easier to operate overall after 2 day comparison. Albeit we have had the Avant for couple weeks already now so were cheating there.
We did Crack the plastic front corner on Avant when 2 mats of top of a 1 stack slipped from grapple loading over side of trailer . Non issue on Giant if occurred. The side boom on avant way better visibility than straight on and with good reason if your not articulated from rear sitting loader it's slightly limiting with hanging grapple not so bad either way.The Avant smoked the giant in the heavy lifting department... the Giant felt more equivalent to the 423 than 528 .. I'm taking down large oak trees 3 times a week minimum so that in itself almost rules the Giant out, we had to cut stuff way small to lift today or use the 528,, But I've herd stories of boom failures on Avant! I'd be curious on that and a local guy to me i know here had his 528 mounting plate just broke.. I will report back on what that means coming out of his mouth in quick conversation for translation through pictures and more inspection into what actually broke. I'm hoping to find more out soon. The Giants have overbuilt boom compared to what they lift I guess which is better in regards without question IMHO. Ponder more later
Welcoming any input or things overlooked, thanks for everyone input thus far!
 
we run a 528 Avant, on Hilly terrain a lot. It has 1200 hrs. Some issues with the rotation function with our grapple. Turf tires. Hasn't disappointed yet. can't speak to the giant. Overall, I would call the avant, very reliable. just .02
 
RogerM said:
we run a 528 Avant, on Hilly terrain a lot. It has 1200 hrs. Some issues with the rotation function with our grapple. Turf tires. Hasn't disappointed yet. can't speak to the giant. Overall, I would call the avant, very reliable. just .02
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That's great to hear, Roger thanks for your input. I'm very impressed with the avant so far. My dealer has the 530 coming this week for me to check out and hoping it's the one I keep.
 
one other thing...
the bollard on our grapple has come in pretty handy at times. depending on your chipper set up.. when feeding it could get in the way, but we found a work around. The addition of the Avant, has almost negated the need for a winch. We had the winch before the Avant. Someone on here cleverly hinged their winch to make feeding easier.
 
cody willard said:
I demoed the Giant 254 Tele HD and Avant 500 series. A lot more pulling and pushing power with the Giant as the drive motors are a larger cc displacement, has universal attachment plate and the ability to oscillate 8°, which allows all four tires to be firmly planted on the ground with full traction and minimal ruts. You can also drop a pin down and lock it into rigid mode when you’re dealing with near tipping load capacities.

They’re built a lot more heavy duty, kind of like a tractor, and they don’t see boom failures due to the self leveling system getting in a bind. also, having the pivot point up front makes visibility a lot easier with the Grapple.

I got Giant 254 Tele HD with the counterweight package, and the dual them filled tires. Outer tires come off with one big bolt, and I ca fit through a 36” gate. (I’ve gotten all four tires off in about 50 seconds with a Milwaukee impact).
Click to expand...
Hey Cody I was curious about this information regarding boom failures anywhere you could direct me? What machines have you herd have failed? And self level system binding, maybe you could expound on this possibly? I was using giant today amd couldn't lift the head with grapple on normal function? It seemed like it was sort of binding?
 
RogerM said:
one other thing...
the bollard on our grapple has come in pretty handy at times. depending on your chipper set up.. when feeding it could get in the way, but we found a work around. The addition of the Avant, has almost negated the need for a winch. We had the winch before the Avant. Someone on here cleverly hinged their winch to make feeding easier.
Click to expand...
I like how you can add or remove the bollard on avant grapple. At first I thought was kind of janky to be add on but we didnt have on there and chipper feeding was far smoother with avant not having that whale tail pusher up top, on new bmg grapple on giant 1200tele im working with It does add element to work around with winch we have above our 18xp , it's not hindged .. yet. That bollard is key on many jobs so I will get one for sure
 
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