Ive been hearing a lot of statements from a lot of people on how track loaders are antiques and are useless compared to the modern excavator, especially when tasked with forestry work. Well, Ive finally found a decent video of a good operator, maybe even a great operator, this man can really show the true abilities of the track loader. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWJR6Iito6A Notice at the beginning, he is laying stone out, doing as good or better than a good tailgate job with a truck. Then at the 2 minute mark you get to see his grading abilities as he widens the road. Then at the 4 minute mark he is messing with some decent stumps, and he makes quick work of them. Then just before minute 6 he makes a thankyou moma, maybe a pipe ditch is short order, and does this without a grade man or support / secondary equipment. I posted this not because excavators are useless, I would be hard pressed to live without mine. I posted this to show what a skilled man can do with the right piece of equipment for the job.
:drinkup :notworthy
To the operator! He was too good with it.
nice job, nice soil to work with.
I would disagree to the thought that the track loader is useless compared to the excavator. In my opinion they both have their place and when used together they are a great set of tools for about any construction project. Both machines can do better at some tasks than the other, but the fact remains that Cat & Deere still sell and produce track loaders, this sends a loud and clear message that they are here to stay and have a place in the equipment market. I own each, and would not be caught without either. Just my 2 cents on that heavily debated subject.....
Yeah me too. Love my 953 and the 321. You can set a loader up to push in slots and move a lot of material just like a larger dozer. The loader can clear, grub, demo, load trucks, grade, carry stone and pipe, etc., etc. Graded many a building pad and parking lot with the loader. We run the D5G for simple economics - less maintenance cost and fuel use. Some working conditions are just not conducive to track loaders, like the sandy coastal areas - a wheel loader is king in similar situations for economic reasons - it's too expensive to run metal UC. In my area it's just the opposite, a wheel loader is useless with our clay soil and excessive rain for what I do. The ones that say track loaders are a dying breed, this is assuming they were once prevalent in their area, just means that haven't had any experience with what a TL will do. Then again, job sites and operating methods vary widely just as much so as the machines used.