Cost of telehandler ownership vs tractor loader

[Derrick Hughes]

most small farms I visit have a skid steer for that job

 

[Derrick Hughes]

 

[Derrick Hughes]

this is my favourite drive
i get to try all sorts when doing deliveries.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

 

[Jontym]

Bought this 406 nearly two years ago, more than halved tractor and loader hours since. Twenty eight years old and 4500 hours, wouldn't be without one now, tractor and loader feel positively numb in comparison.

 

[young&keen]

View attachment 601790

this is my favourite drive
i get to try all sorts when doing deliveries.

Are these any good of concrete? Loading round bales ect?

 

[Irish NZ]

Not used a handler since i moved to nz..... and i would love 1 dearly. Moving back to a tractor loader was/still is painful...

 

[Yorkshire Compact Loaders]

Also look at the MultiOne range.

http://www.multione.co.uk/

 

[ollie989898]

The Merlo with the rear pto and 3 point linkage would suit you well. They’ve been around a while now so must be some used ones about. Loads of Merlos around us and people love them.

Very expensive when new. And a bit of an odd ball, would a Merlo fitter be able to fix one that isn't brand new any more?

Maybe ACE will look after it for you? He loves a challenge?

 

[ollie989898]

One, it's a tractor.

I was meaning my own pet compromise here.View attachment 601714

I can do better:

 

[ollie989898]

Also I spotted a pivot Dieci handler the other day as well. Looked pretty good and outwardly simple, though I guess nothing is simple any more.

 

[fermerboy]

We have both, a handler and a tractor with a front loader.
I don't see them in competition with each other.
They both have their place here and I wouldn't want to be without either.
Wouldn't want to empty muck out of cattle sheds with the loader, and likewise wouldn't want to pull my 500 bales of straw home 14miles with the loadall.
The Op will still need a tractor even if he went for a handler, so the only real saving is the cost of the front loader.
With todays modern tractors with decent shuttle and hydraulics, 90% of the time there isn't that much in it, the handler can do stuff the loader can't sometimes (extra reach and height) but actually how often do you need that day to day? You will do some stuff quicker, but not all so the hours will just go on a different machine.
We also have an old MF 60hx Industrial loader, (a digger with the back actor off) and it has stood in when the Loadall was broken etc, and it did everything we needed, just as fast, maybe a odd shunt or two extra in the tight spots but not miles apart as some would have you believe, some jobs the old MF will whip the telehandler.
As for costs, our JCBs have been very good or perhaps lucky, first went from 5000hr to 13000hr with only a shuttle switch, over tyres and servicing,
This one hasn't been so good with a solenoid, some bushes, belt tensioner and idlers on the engine, and a few leaks needing fixed, over tyres and servicing.
Horses for courses and I wouldn't criticise either option.

 

[ACEngineering]

Very expensive when new. And a bit of an odd ball, would a Merlo fitter be able to fix one that isn't brand new any more?

Maybe ACE will look after it for you? He loves a challenge?

If thi gs get that bad i need to start working on merlos to survive i will pack up and get a cosy job in a dealers parts dep.

 

[Happy hillbily]

I got this one 5 years ago to replace a ford 545d does 500 hrs a year, only me driving it. Had 3500 hrs on it, now just over 6000. Uses 3 litres of fuel an hour. Costs other than servicing have been 1 window, a set of tyres, and quite a few flexible brake hoses between the axle and hub. Weak spot on this type is the crowd linkage, massive forces going through short linkages, so a grease gun is your friend, every time she's filled with fuel, it's greased ! Seen plenty of machines wrecked and needed thousands spent on them, just for the lack of a £15 grease gun !!!

 

[Happy hillbily]

Bugger tempted fate ! Blown flexi
brake hose

Need the flexi, and a small metal pipe which connects the flexi to the hub, which usually corrodes as it sits on top of the hub and is constantly covered in muck and snaps as the flexi is taken off
£85 for both so not a silly price

 

[Yorkshire Compact Loaders]

 

[ollie989898]

If thi gs get that bad i need to start working on merlos to survive i will pack up and get a cosy job in a dealers parts dep.

Come along now ACE, one you have learned the ways of the dark side imagine how useful you would be, if no mechanically minded person will dare touch them!

I am certain you could even write to them in Southampton and aid them (on a consultancy basis) to improve the areas in which their product needs it?!

Be a devil, I know you like a challenge!

 

[ACEngineering]

Come along now ACE, one you have learned the ways of the dark side imagine how useful you would be, if no mechanically minded person will dare touch them!

I am certain you could even write to them in Southampton and aid them (on a consultancy basis) to improve the areas in which their product needs it?!

Be a devil, I know you like a challenge!

if it ain't red it can rot in the shed

 

[ACEngineering]

Bugger tempted fate ! Blown flexi
brake hose
View attachment 602120

Need the flexi, and a small metal pipe which connects the flexi to the hub, which usually corrodes as it sits on top of the hub and is constantly covered in muck and snaps as the flexi is taken off
£85 for both so not a silly price

cut that silly metal flexi bit off, its making the hose kink at the ferrule causing a weak point for the hose.
you an get ferrules with a short metal spring tail which would be ideal for that or maybe a 45 deg/135deg fitting would sit better instead of a straight fitting

 

[Grassman]

if it ain't red it can rot in the shed

And what colour would yours be