For farm use lifting and handling primarily hay bales (round), with spears, am I correct in assuming the tool carrier /parallel linkage is the preferred style over conventional z-bar? I wanted a high lIft boom but not all brands have parallel design with high lift.
I would have thought the shovel would be clumsy and slower loading as it's big lump only experience is a Daewoo shovel loading grain, quick load due to 5 tonne bucket but for Loading or stacking straw Loading straw I like our telescopic as cycle times are quick and it's nimble plus you can stack higher. A compromise would be 320 as it doesn't stack as high but you have clear visibility and pivot steer gives a degree of side shift. Longevity of shovel should be much longer. New long boombDaewoo was only £5000 more than full spec JCB 541 70
It depends on how you work and what is most important to you.
In my experience, a shovel that's a little too big for the job will be the cheapest in total cost over time.
It has it's limits as it's not tailored for your application, but it will do fine. I find the biggest problem to be getting in and out of cab if your routine gets you in and out many times in a day, as they are quite a climb compared to the small ones.
I never liked the rigid framed machines for bale handling, as it's much easier to stack bales tight when you can turn the bales sideways as you place them.
I wouldn't worry about z-bar limitations. Other factors are more important.
If it's only for bale handling, and nothing harder/heavier, i would probably choose the jcb320 from your list if just looking at how they do the job, but the case if i was responsible for running costs.
We have had many loaders over the years, but i have a volvo l70 now, and i like it a lot.
It depends on how you work and what is most important to you.
In my experience, a shovel that's a little too big for the job will be the cheapest in total cost over time.
It has it's limits as it's not tailored for your application, but it will do fine. I find the biggest problem to be getting in and out of cab if your routine gets you in and out many times in a day, as they are quite a climb compared to the small ones.
I never liked the rigid framed machines for bale handling, as it's much easier to stack bales tight when you can turn the bales sideways as you place them.
I wouldn't worry about z-bar limitations. Other factors are more important.
If it's only for bale handling, and nothing harder/heavier, i would probably choose the jcb320 from your list if just looking at how they do the job, but the case if i was responsible for running costs.
We have had many loaders over the years, but i have a volvo l70 now, and i like it a lot.
Is your L70 one of the newer ones you can steer with your left hand?