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Gehl AL Line

lumberjack

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2011
Messages
1,044
Location
Columbus, MS
I own a tree service and back in May I purchased a Gehl AL340. I am especially fond of their control layout as compared to any other CWL I've ran/been on. The F/N/R, diff locks, high/lo, and aux controls are all on the loader's joystick, making it far more suitable for running a grapple and most other attachments.

I'll attach more pictures from Tapatalk

7c7aee1f-1.jpg
 

lumberjack

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2011
Messages
1,044
Location
Columbus, MS
A few pictures from my phone. Any interest?
 

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lumberjack

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2011
Messages
1,044
Location
Columbus, MS
Not at all. It sips fuel, has great power, next to no turf damage, and a power shift transmission go great with the excellent controls.

I'm good friends with a dealer in MN. The first picture in my last post is taken at his dealership. I'll likely sell this machine and get another 340 or 540 in the next couple few months (127 hours, factory warranty until June).


The first picture is of the high dump/roll out bucket.

The second is that bucket with near a yard of sand.

The third is a near 5' cookie of post oak a couple feet thick. The tires on the machine are 30.5", FWIW. Around 2500-2800lbs, machine loaded it without issue aside from the grapple having a hard time pinching it.

The fourth is a pin oak log I was using to crush the brush in the trailer. I stopped and grabbed the log again and put it at the farthest out position for a picture.

The last picture is a 17.3k lbs of pine tree, loaded by the Gehl.
 

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motrack

Charter Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2003
Messages
332
Location
Ingalls Indiana
Occupation
field service tech
Cool looking unit. My only experience with a machine from the Gehl construction line was a telescopic boom loader which was a steaming pile of dung.

I wish you luck.
 

lumberjack

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2011
Messages
1,044
Location
Columbus, MS
I've been to Gehl's R&D park in Wisconsin and my first Gehl articulated loader experience in August of last year. My first time on the machine was showing it for a demo for a larg tree company (Bartlett) who alone has since bought 10ish units. From my friend's and my dealings with Gehl, they are determined to get the AL line right. The only problem I found with the my machine was they didn't upgrade the program on the computer that controls the flow's ramp in on the aux circuit. They sent me another computer and it took a couple minutes to swap.
 

motrack

Charter Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2003
Messages
332
Location
Ingalls Indiana
Occupation
field service tech
Glad to see they seem to be on top of it. The loader I was talking about broke the boom at 1800hrs and 3 months out of warranty with no support from the dealer or company.

Had some electrical issues develope in it then dealer shut their door so we just sent it down the road.
 

lumberjack

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2011
Messages
1,044
Location
Columbus, MS
Couple videos of the AL340. The first is sidewalk removal, the second is a smattering of pictures I've taken over the past year.

The front differential lock is leaking oil into the front axle (ZF axle). I'm two weeks and change out of warranty, but it's being covered. If anyone is interested in getting a Gehl AL loader, I've got a line on a great dealer!

http://youtu.be/Q-4zTGtdpbA

http://youtu.be/eS6UU9jRWjU
 
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lumberjack

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2011
Messages
1,044
Location
Columbus, MS
Sold the 340, which I delivered Friday in Kentucky. Today I picked up my new 540 in Minnesota.

Looking forward to getting it home and putting it to work!

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1344827243.949267.jpg
 

stumpjumper83

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2007
Messages
1,974
Location
Port Allegany, pa
Occupation
Movin dirt
Do some tree work myself, I have a gehl ctl70 and a takeuchi tb53fr excavator w/ hydraulic thumb. I use the excavaor alot for wood cleanup cause it just makes a single track in and a single track out. Weight wise it will pick pretty close to a prentice 120 log loader which means I can load pretty much any 10' log into my dumptruck - ford f-800. Real handy for the smaller chucks too. I have a 36" tooth bucket on it and its really for cleanup time as well.

Just spent 10 days pullin trees off houses do to storm damage and I was impressed. after taking the brush off and removing all the weight we could safely, I'd lift the logs or truck off the house. we are talking 20' of 30" norway spruce that had half uprooted, there were some large silver maples and locust damaged as well.

Btw, I like the grapple, do you have a standard brush brapple too? Also it looks like the old loader may have been a little short on height for that trailer, hows the new ones reach?
 
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lumberjack

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2011
Messages
1,044
Location
Columbus, MS
I had a grapple that I sold with the other machine, I'll buy another when I get a job that needs it.

The dangle style grapple is excellent for doing residential tree work. I also use it for some demo, it's my most used attachment. Only costs $3200 new.

The 540 lifts 8" higher than the 340. I load 90% of my material from the rear of the trailer.
 

lumberjack

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2011
Messages
1,044
Location
Columbus, MS
Moved a little dirt today at the house. I cleared the top of the hill back in June, now I'm working on flattening the top to make it more useable. 4-5k square feet I'm guessing.

First I stripped the top soil, which will be used elsewhere.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1344987174.203550.jpg
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The machine has enough power to doze with a 60" bucket. (Machine is 54" wide)
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1344987200.638261.jpg

I laid a 20" log across the hill, and scotched it with a bucket of dirt. Then I started cutting the hill's top, stocking the dirt above the log. I'll survey the area and pull it back out and compact as I go. Maybe I'll get a screen built before I do that.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1344987579.970288.jpg
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I'm impressed with the machine's power. I'm looking forward to getting a tooth bucket and a tilt tach. The machine has 5 hours in it now, had 0 (doesn't show tenths) I got to the dealer's lot. It was on 2 before I started doing the dirt work. Figure I spent about 2.5-3 hours on the dirt.
 
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lumberjack

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2011
Messages
1,044
Location
Columbus, MS
A video of the first 2 months with the loader. I'm very impressed by it.

http://youtu.be/O18v7GiMQCM


In keeping with forum rules as I understand them:

As of a couple weeks ago I became a compensated dealer rep/salesman for the Gehl AL loaders; Mustang CTL, skid steers, and excavators; Boxer Mini Skids, as well as Branch Manager Attachments as well as several other lines. www.topnotchequipment.com

I am located in Columbus, MS, the dealership is in Plymouth, MN; and we ship!

My contact info is:
carlrutherford@hughes.net
662-251-9191

Machines purchased through me get a 18v Lincoln Grease gun included that i pay for personally. All purchases through me from members of this forum get a forum discount on everything we sell. Let me know you're from HEF and your username.
 

lumberjack

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2011
Messages
1,044
Location
Columbus, MS
Copy and paste from a couple tree forums I'm on. Figured I would include the info here.

I'm excited about a new loader Top Notch Equipment will likely become a dealer for. Many folks remember the little Avant/Gehl AL20 from back in the day... now they are back and modernized as the Avant 419/420! We (TNE) bought the first unit in North America.

The 419 is gas, the 420 is diesel.

What's got me so excited about yet another articulated loader offering? For one, the price is the cheapest articulating wheel loader on the market. The gas version costs about 25% more than the Zahn, or essentially $20k for the base model with a gas engine.

Secondly, it's tiny! The over all length on the gas is 90", the diesel is 4" shorter. The 419 weighs 2050 lbs! Light enough to tow behind a car! The 420 is 110lbs more. I can also fit in the cab without issue, 6'2" and 250lbs.

And for those that know snobby about controls, this machine's controls are remarkably good. The joystick on machines coming in country next month have the aux hydro functions in the joystick, and the boom extension is to the right of it. I might extend that lever upward so I can run it with the back of my hand while running the joystick.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsGEsJLiHg4


Contact me for more info! Given the price point and specs, I expect these to be quite popular for landscaping and tree work.
 

Joe Clark

New Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2012
Messages
4
Location
wisconsin
Good info on wheel loaders. I was looking for something that can be used around a sawmill with log, pallet, loading and misc moving of stuff. Also wanted a unit that could pull a log from uneven terrain of a woodlot, but was concerned about it stability and traction. The videos show some of its capabilities for that type of application. Are there different tire tread options for work in the woods and/or can chains be added for frozen ground?
 

lumberjack

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2011
Messages
1,044
Location
Columbus, MS
Yes, there are different tire options for every machine. Chains on the front axle of the Gehls aren't s problem, the rear axle will depend on tire diameter and chain height for clearance.

Stability wise you will have to be mindful of what you are doing, and I would fill the front tires to increase stability.


The 540 is a beast of a machine. My current 540 is 2 post ROPS. Trying to decide, my next machine might have the cab with air/heat.


Tapatalk isn't letting me upload pictures:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v639/10mmsheepdog/null_zps8564721e.jpg

That is Eu Claire's 540 with truck tires (forget the brand) for added performance plowing snow.
 

Joe Clark

New Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2012
Messages
4
Location
wisconsin
These wheel loaders have great potential for low impact logging I think in the right conditions. Plus a whole lot of other work with the attachments. I see some brands have duals in the front for stability. Then I've seen some brands with a pto in the back. Good for a winch. Thanks for the info.
 

lumberjack

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2011
Messages
1,044
Location
Columbus, MS
What other brands have duals? To the best of my knowledge, we (Top Notch Equipment) are the only people offering duals on a wheel loader. We have a wheel option now for a 15" wide tire on the 340 (12.5" standard). Still working on a wider option for the 540 (15.5" standard).

Rear aux hydros could be added to the Gehls, the Avants have it as a factory option.
 

Joe Clark

New Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2012
Messages
4
Location
wisconsin
It was probably your video I seen with the duals. Giant from Holland had the pto. A 3- point with a farmi winch would be the ticket.
 
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