Went to test drive a TL110, Dug a hole with a DX 225 instead

[queen of spades]

So I went to demo a TL140 at the bobcat dealer today. I liked the cab & suspension seat, and it had decent power. With a full bucket of dirt the machine feels like it's riding on it's tippie toes and did tip forward while backing up. The tracks sank in soft dirt with a full load, almost like my compact tractor's front wheels do. I liked the keyless entry, and maintenance would be a breeze with the sideways motor & roll-back cab. Not sold on the 140 though.

They didn't have the TL110 yet which is why I stopped by there in the first place.


Anyway, after looking at the 140 the sales guy told me about a Doosan DX 225 excavator that was sitting on the test lot. They usually didn't have them around but someone was looking at buying 3 of them and wanted to demo it and some other big equipment. So one thing led to another and he got the key and said to go take it for a test drive. :cool2:

First of all this thing was gigantic... felt like I was climbing a tree to get up to the cab. I drove it out a bit & dug a 15' hole, then filled it back in. It scooped up rocks as big as the bucket itself without flinching. The controls were so smooth, easy to use. I've never driven a track hoe before today and the worker said he was impressed with how I ran it. I know one thing after today I would trade my desk job for digging holes with one of these machines in a heartbeat. Lots of fun!

[bobcat_ron]

Welcome to the world of "real" heavy equipment, the mini crap isn't considered "heavy".

[Gravel Rat]

You thought a 225 was a big machine get to use a Hitachi 350 Forester with a high walker undercarriage that is a climb into a cab. A forester excavator you have two steps on the track frame then step on the tracks etc.

If you loose your balance trying to climb up on a Hitachi/Deere Forester excavator you can hurt yourself. They are definatly a 2 hand climb.

[Scag48]

Welcome to the world of "real" heavy equipment, the mini crap isn't considered "heavy".

Haha, so true. I have nothing against the compact stuff whatsoever, but once you run some big iron, you're really addicted. I ran a 40 ton hoe a little last year and that was big, ran a 60 ton this year and that was wild. Fill a truck in 2 passes. It's weird how your comfort level moves up, I used to think D8's were big. Now that I work next to them every day, kind of a small dozer when it really comes down to it. :laugh: Loaders are the same way, always thought a 950 was a big boy. We have a wheel dozer on our job right now, a Cat 824C which is basically a 980C with a D6 sized blade thrown on the front. Now that I've spent a few days in that beast, running something that size is no big deal.