It’s Merlo Time!

Rooted.Tree.Solutions

Rooted.Tree.Solutions

Branched out member
Location
Elkhart, IN
<div class="bbWrapper">It’s been a long wait, but our new Merlo finally arrived on Friday! Pieced out 2 easy trees at my house Saturday that I’ve been saving for training. Now we’re ready to rock!<script class="js-extraPhrases" type="application/json"> { "lightbox_close": "Close", "lightbox_next": "Next", "lightbox_previous": "Previous", "lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.", "lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow", "lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow", "lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen", "lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails", "lightbox_download": "Download", "lightbox_share": "Share", "lightbox_zoom": "Zoom", "lightbox_new_window": "New window", "lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar" } </script> <div class="bbImageWrapper js-lbImage" title="3bcfe19b46253fabac43def385d16146.jpg" data-src="https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20221204/3bcfe19b46253fabac43def385d16146.jpg" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-single-image="1"> <img src="https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20221204/3bcfe19b46253fabac43def385d16146.jpg" data-url="https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20221204/3bcfe19b46253fabac43def385d16146.jpg" class="bbImage" data-zoom-target="1" style="" alt="3bcfe19b46253fabac43def385d16146.jpg" title="" width="" height="" loading="lazy" /> </div><br /> <div class="bbImageWrapper js-lbImage" title="c4b130666ed882b1de46a7f018b63e42.jpg" data-src="https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20221204/c4b130666ed882b1de46a7f018b63e42.jpg" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-single-image="1"> <img src="https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20221204/c4b130666ed882b1de46a7f018b63e42.jpg" data-url="https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20221204/c4b130666ed882b1de46a7f018b63e42.jpg" class="bbImage" data-zoom-target="1" style="" alt="c4b130666ed882b1de46a7f018b63e42.jpg" title="" width="" height="" loading="lazy" /> </div><br /> <br /> <br /> Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper">Do you plan on driving it job to job or do you have a lowboy for it? There’s some cool Merlo Facebook pages for owner operators.</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper">Congrats! A friend has one that I&#039;ve climbed with. Amazing tool! As for driving, don&#039;t listen to the sales reps. Regular driving beyond a few houses down will destroy the transmission. 100k repair. Thankfully, my friend hasn&#039;t experienced that, but heard it from other owners.</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper">We are ordering a custom trailer to haul it on. Until then will drive it locally if it’s close, or we’ll hire someone to haul it for us. <br /> <br /> <br /> Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 16134" data-quote="HigherGroundArborist" data-source="post: 726422" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/forum/goto/post?id=726422" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-726422">HigherGroundArborist said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> We are ordering a custom trailer to haul it on. Until then will drive it locally if it’s close, or we’ll hire someone to haul it for us.<br /> <br /> <br /> Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>Congrats brother! Put 800 hours on mine in 2022. Drove it on the road a shit ton. Hills are slow going...There were rumors of some kind of memo that went out about not being able to drive them. Didn&#039;t come from Merlo. Never heard of anyone that actually had any issues with drivetrain. Didn&#039;t have a second of downtime with the exception of a few minor self inflicted problems. Though I heard some people had some sensor issues. You&#039;re going to love it. Going to get a tractor trailer set up in 23 sometime. Having it moved is actually pretty nice if you can find someone reliable to do it for a reasonable amount. Saves a driver as well as a big rig sitting on the side of the road during the job.... Good luck!</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper">Man, it looks like a cool and fun machine, but honestly I don&#039;t get it. When you need to also buy a semi truck and lowboy to move it around, what&#039;s the advantage over a truck mounted crane?</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 21212" data-quote="Kottonwood" data-source="post: 728754" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/forum/goto/post?id=728754" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-728754">Kottonwood said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> Man, it looks like a cool and fun machine, but honestly I don&#039;t get it. When you need to also buy a semi truck and lowboy to move it around, what&#039;s the advantage over a truck mounted crane? </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>Deployment, stowing, and towing friction points are valid concerns. However, the added efficiencies do make up for these points of friction in some markets.<br /> <br /> I’ve seen it go places you wouldn’t dream of putting a cable crane. Its weakness is that it can’t cable down past a roofline. So there’s give and take. Its ability to maneuver on site, lightning setup, and ability to manipulate heavy loads make it shine in the right situation. Tool for task, like right tree, right place.</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 21212" data-quote="Kottonwood" data-source="post: 728754" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/forum/goto/post?id=728754" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-728754">Kottonwood said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> Man, it looks like a cool and fun machine, but honestly I don&#039;t get it. When you need to also buy a semi truck and lowboy to move it around, what&#039;s the advantage over a truck mounted crane? </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>You need to see it in action. On the right jobs there is no faster way. Even with towing etc.</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 8137" data-quote="Crimsonking" data-source="post: 728890" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/forum/goto/post?id=728890" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-728890">Crimsonking said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> Deployment, stowing, and towing friction points are valid concerns. However, the added efficiencies do make up for these points of friction in some markets.<br /> <br /> I’ve seen it go places you wouldn’t dream of putting a cable crane. Its weakness is that it can’t cable down past a roofline. So there’s give and take. Its ability to maneuver on site, lightning setup, and ability to manipulate heavy loads make it shine in the right situation. Tool for task, like right tree, right place. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>Well it has hydraulics plumbed to the end of the boom for the saw. I see no reason a mounting plate with a high speed (or even two speed) hydraulic winch couldn&#039;t be fabricated for it. You could even use synthetic line to keep the weight down.</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 21212" data-quote="Kottonwood" data-source="post: 729046" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/forum/goto/post?id=729046" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-729046">Kottonwood said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> Well it has hydraulics plumbed to the end of the boom for the saw. I see no reason a mounting plate with a high speed (or even two speed) hydraulic winch couldn&#039;t be fabricated for it. You could even use synthetic line to keep the weight down. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>If memory serves, either the winch has a low rating, or it’s so heavy it negates is effectiveness by drastically reducing overall capacity. Either way, my friend who bought the merlo said the winch wasn’t worth having.</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 8137" data-quote="Crimsonking" data-source="post: 729075" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/forum/goto/post?id=729075" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-729075">Crimsonking said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> If memory serves, either the winch has a low rating, or it’s so heavy it negates is effectiveness by drastically reducing overall capacity. Either way, my friend who bought the merlo said the winch wasn’t worth having. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>Sounds like the available winch isn&#039;t designed very well.... Seems like making your own is the way to go. I was only bringing it up because you said that was the weakness of the merlo. Imo the weakness seems to be the high cost and hassle of transporting it. Looks like a great machine though, would be useful for a lot more than just tree work. If I had one, I&#039;d probably have all sorts of attachments for it, man basket, forks, winch, etc. I build pole barns and it would be an awesome machine to have on those jobsites..... I don&#039;t know if the cost would ever be justified though. The grapple saw makes sense when you have access.</div>
 
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<div class="bbWrapper">It can do a lot more jobs than you would think. The grapple is offset about 6 feet from the actual boom itself. Can reach over as well as under wires. Can put peices down on the other side of house drop wires and fences etc. For what it can do in a 55 foot radius I think it&#039;s cheap. It sets up 18x18 outriggers full extension. All wheel steering it will go anywhere. The winch weighs 1200 pounds. Forget about the winch.... can sling with no winch I&#039;d you need to</div>
 
<div class="bbWrapper">I put some stuff on instagram stories but don&#039;t have a lot of pictures... I might make a video of things for new users to look out for to help. I made lots of dumb little mistakes in the first 200 hours. Didn&#039;t really cost me big time or anything like that, but would have been nice to know. The people who sell them aren&#039;t tree people. Basically figured it out on the job.</div>
 
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