Alstor 8x8

[adronetree]

Well guys I'm going to demo this Alstor 8x8 Saturday.
I don't think it will do what I want it to do but this guy swears it will and has convinced me to come demo it. Pulling several 17'5" 25" ply logs at once out of a backyard with 0 yard damage with a 2k lb machine that looks like a lawnmower sounds impossible to me. We'll see. It wouldnt be the first time I've been suprised by the way they do things over here though.
I'll let you guys know how it is but i'm expecting a big fail.

ALSTOR_Extreme_capable.wmv - YouTube

 

[swyman]

Mods, remove this at once, if AA sees this he will have a permanent woody, could be life threatening! Pretty neat little machine but probably has a price tag to match with all the get up. Couldn't see myself driving that around someone's backyard.

 

[adronetree]

Hey

Mods, remove this at once, if AA sees this he will have a permanent woody, could be life threatening! Pretty neat little machine but probably has a price tag to match with all the get up. Couldn't see myself driving that around someone's backyard.

Yeah I think the turning radius would be a problem. You could however back it straight in, run the winch cable out to the log, grab it with the boom and then drive out?? I
ts strange to me man but we'll see. They have a brush belly that goes in the standards on the back where it looks like you could stack alot of brush on it and drive it back out to the road too.
The tracked Bobcats will always be the standard in my mind but I think you could find alot of uses for one of these IF it does what they claim.

 

[swyman]

Yeah I think the turning radius would be a problem. You could however back it straight in, run the winch cable out to the log, grab it with the boom and then drive out?? I
ts strange to me man but we'll see. They have a brush belly that goes in the standards on the back where it looks like you could stack alot of brush on it and drive it back out to the road too.
The tracked Bobcats will always be the standard in my mind but I think you could find alot of uses for one of these IF it does what they claim.

I think if you tried to winch a log across a yard there would be a lot of damage but I have not tried it so could be.wrong. I run a 873 bobcat and my ultimate ride would be a t300. There are some cons I know but really my damage now is just tire track ruts from the weight. If I could drive in with 5lbs per sq.inch it would rock! I will own one someday.

 

[mattfr12]

I think if you tried to winch a log across a yard there would be a lot of damage but I have not tried it so could be.wrong. I run a 873 bobcat and my ultimate ride would be a t300. There are some cons I know but really my damage now is just tire track ruts from the weight. If I could drive in with 5lbs per sq.inch it would rock! I will own one someday.

I've been using a t300 and s-205 for about three years now the t300 really isn't any easier on lawns. You still always gotta wind up making wide sweaping turns or it rocks yards. I sold the s-205 because I just didn't use either of them to much anymore. But only kept the t300 because it runs a forestry mower. Liked the 205 more the 300 is super heavy.

I would get an articulated loader like a gehl. Once I can get a bigger mower I'll sell the 300 and go articulated.


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[adronetree]

I think if you tried to winch a log across a yard there would be a lot of damage but I have not tried it so could be.wrong. I run a 873 bobcat and my ultimate ride would be a t300. There are some cons I know but really my damage now is just tire track ruts from the weight. If I could drive in with 5lbs per sq.inch it would rock! I will own one someday.

My first Bobcat was an 873 .
The 300 is a great machine. I have never had major problems other than hoses, dirt in the fuel, etc. The radiator placement sucks. They have an issue with the rear idlers scalloping also if you do alot of boom up heavy work but it takes 1k hrs or more before it gets bad enough to replace them. Luckily the sprockets are usually the last to completely wear out.

Don't buy one with high hours!!!!!!!!! My undercarriage is shot by 2k-3k hrs. All the casters, front and rear idlers, sprockets are worn out by 3k sometimes by 2k or less. My last one pretty much worn out at 1400 hrs but I abuse them pretty bad.. Its easy to replace all the casters and idlers but not the sprockets. The parts are pricy.
Tracks every 700 hours for me.

 

[adronetree]

I've been using a t300 and s-205 for about three years now the t300 really isn't any easier on lawns. You still always gotta wind up making wide sweaping turns or it rocks yards. I sold the s-205 because I just didn't use either of them to much anymore. But only kept the t300 because it runs a forestry mower. Liked the 205 more the 300 is super heavy.

I would get an articulated loader like a gehl. Once I can get a bigger mower I'll sell the 300 and go articulated.


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Matt what about an A300?? Have you tried one??
How much use do you get out of your mower?? Are you happy with it?? I do medium/small clearing on the side of the highway and I've watched and used the smaller mowers and we determined a few sawmen, Bobcat with grapples, and chippers are faster and do a better job in pretty much every way. The forest is a good mix of brush and mid size trees.
The big mowers attached to Barkos, Timber axe etc,, are much better but$$$ and tractor trailer to haul around. Or better yet a mulching head attached to 60ft boom on a large excavator is the meanest clearing machine I've ever seen.
I've been considered trying a Ryan fellerbuncher attachment and then dropping the piles of all the little stuff by the chipper.
Depends on the work and terrain I guess.

 

[swyman]

Adronetree, sorry about the off topic but I am also curious about the a300. One thing my dealer told me was very pricey to repair but didn't know if the wider tires provided a much better footprint. Let us know how the demo goes with the 8 wheeler.

 

[mattfr12]

Matt what about an A300?? Have you tried one??
How much use do you get out of your mower?? Are you happy with it?? I do medium/small clearing on the side of the highway and I've watched and used the smaller mowers and we determined a few sawmen, Bobcat with grapples, and chippers are faster and do a better job in pretty much every way. The forest is a good mix of brush and mid size trees.
The big mowers attached to Barkos, Timber axe etc,, are much better but$$$ and tractor trailer to haul around. Or better yet a mulching head attached to 60ft boom on a large excavator is the meanest clearing machine I've ever seen.
I've been considered trying a Ryan fellerbuncher attachment and then dropping the piles of all the little stuff by the chipper.
Depends on the work and terrain I guess.

I liked the A300 but the tires still don't turn that much. In tight spaces you still end up working it back and forth a good bit. So I wasn't sold on it.

The forestry mower works great as long as your on decently level terrain. That mower is heavy lifting it up high enough to knock some trees over on hillsides is scary stuff. Almost peed my pants a few times sometimes it's a long way down.

What we do in land clearing is chip everything. Up hear the paper mill is giving 750 a load for a semi. So we truck it all day long. We picked up bandit 1900 off the tree trader and it's paying for itself nicely.then a used semi trailer with walking floor trailer for not much more than a new T300 with mower head.

So not sure what you situation is but we usually get an extra 2k in a day from chipping from the paper mill. Depending on how close it is.


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[adronetree]

I liked the A300 but the tires still don't turn that much. In tight spaces you still end up working it back and forth a good bit. So I wasn't sold on it.

The forestry mower works great as long as your on decently level terrain. That mower is heavy lifting it up high enough to knock some trees over on hillsides is scary stuff. Almost peed my pants a few times sometimes it's a long way down.

What we do in land clearing is chip everything. Up hear the paper mill is giving 750 a load for a semi. So we truck it all day long. We picked up bandit 1900 off the tree trader and it's paying for itself nicely.then a used semi trailer with walking floor trailer for not much more than a new T300 with mower head.

So not sure what you situation is but we usually get an extra 2k in a day from chipping from the paper mill. Depending on how close it is.


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Well you are doing bigger work than me then. One of the other guys local is running a 1900 track with a loader along with a Barko flail mower. He's fast.
Around 700 a load is the same in Georgia.
It should be more like 1400 a load at the power plant where the Government kicks in the subsidies but no the power company and the government have a nice little deal with each other.
The A300 can be switched from skid to steer mode for tight turns with a button. I think Matt is correct on maintenance with A series though.

 

[adronetree]

Hmm

Adronetree, sorry about the off topic but I am also curious about the a300. One thing my dealer told me was very pricey to repair but didn't know if the wider tires provided a much better footprint. Let us know how the demo goes with the 8 wheeler.

Swyman the footprint may be the same but the ability to switch back and forth from skid to all wheel steer mode is what makes it do smaller damage. Unless its wet. They make a chevron pattern flotation tire for them also which we've used on the greens on Golf courses before. Maintenance could be a problem on down the road but I doubt it compares to Track maintenance cost over a few k hours .
That being said the tracks still outwork everything else hands down.

 

[Bigus Termitius]

At least that's a true 8x8.

 

[swyman]

Swyman the footprint may be the same but the ability to switch back and forth from skid to all wheel steer mode is what makes it do smaller damage. Unless its wet. They make a chevron pattern flotation tire for them also which we've used on the greens on Golf courses before. Maintenance could be a problem on down the road but I doubt it compares to Track maintenance cost over a few k hours .
That being said the tracks still outwork everything else hands down.

I agree!

 

[no tree to big]

but wheres the slip scoop? if the one your looking at has a grapple I'd get it even if you need to build a plywood road to use the thing on a lawn it would just be badass

 

[mattfr12]

Well you are doing bigger work than me then. One of the other guys local is running a 1900 track with a loader along with a Barko flail mower. He's fast.
Around 700 a load is the same in Georgia.
It should be more like 1400 a load at the power plant where the Government kicks in the subsidies but no the power company and the government have a nice little deal with each other.
The A300 can be switched from skid to steer mode for tight turns with a button. I think Matt is correct on maintenance with A series though.

Ya we chip for other guys doing land clearing a lot for pennies on the dollar. If they have at least 3-4 loads. My 1900 is not on tracks. I have it forwarded to the chipper it just has a grapple on it. But if you got a lot for it to chip it will pack a semi in no time.

Years ago we had a guy trucking the chips for us and he ended up breaking down. So the trailer sat for a few days loaded. Well it rained for like three days straight and actually ended up bending the frame on it.


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[squad143]

Check this out: The Unstoppable Ural 4320 Off-Road Truck

Man these trucks can do some crazy stuff.

 

[sgreanbeans]

That was pretty impressive! Ive done deep water fording a bunch of times, but nothing like that! Our trucks (Military) I don't think could handle that.

 

[adronetree]

Hmm

That was pretty impressive! Ive done deep water fording a bunch of times, but nothing like that! Our trucks (Military) I don't think could handle that.

Here you go greenbeans!:

M35A3 Deep water fording - YouTube

Or here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=Np-AxPUaotw