TLB's - Whats the future??

[MKTEF]

I think this discusion is interresting.
Here in Norway they don't sell any BLT at all.(well, maybe under 10/year)
Nowbody want's them.
On the construction sites the telescopic trucks has taken over the lifting jobs. With a bucket you get a loader as well.
The digging is done with wheeled excavators or the mini's.
Regarding the discussion on levers ill post a picture of our BLT.

This is a 1991 Volvo 6300.
It's got joystick controls... Excavater style when the seat is turned back.
Controls the loader when turned to the front. Everything is controlled by the joysticks anyway. Push a button and the exc is controlled when seated to the front.
Gearshift on one button and so on. Difflock, pendel lock on axel, everything..
Then to the physical force of this little one.....
This particular one is in good shape, lifts 10 000lbs++.Has the same force as a L120... The front lifting system is from a Volvo 4400.(L70/L90 ap.)
You lower the backhoe and just keep on lifting...
The exc has a extra hinge on the arm so you get more than 180 degrees.
Our best all performer machine, roading is no problem.. speeds well.
A typichal allround machine that works with everything.

We have till today not found any machine on the market that can do the same as theese ones.
It's this year the competitors has come up with joysticks, equal wheels, and real power on the lifting system.
I didn't say anything about the price; they can be made today, but nowbody will afford to buy one.

 

[tuney443]

I will take my 410G over a small excavator or skid steer combo anyday.No,the TLB will not go away--no reason to--it's not like the last days of the dinosaur as some of you would have us believe.Just look at all the new,ingenius designs being released.This costs the manufacturers big bucks obviously--if there wasn't a huge market,they simply wouldn't do it.

 

[capt_met]

i still think it comes down to marketing. in my situation i was able to get a tlb with a 12" dig depth and the loader can lift in excess of 3000#. i was able to get this with trailer, couple attachments with only 500 hrs. for under25,000. if i was to go shopping for a skid steer min ex combo with the same capacities and ablilities and hours ithink i would be spending a bit more.
new the story is the same, JD 110 w/ 4in1 bucket and hydraulics around 38,000 new. to get the same abilities out of a combo more money would have to be spent. if you were a company and could sell 2 pieces of equipment for more or one for less it is easy what you will push. also, can't forget maintenance on 2 machines as apposed to one. i will agree that the 2 machines will get more done faster than the tlb but it does come with a price.
i doubt we will see any majors putting a lot of research money into tlb's like the french one mentioned. i wish they would but money talks and i guess it wouldn't pay for them at this point.
i can only speak on my experiance with compact equipment. on the larger stuff it may be totolly diffrent. i am very happy with a tlb and will probably follow this one with another one. preferably with more creature comforts.
good luck

 

[95zIV]

Are we forgetting JCB'S?

I've seen quite a lot of people pointing out how nice it would be to have 4-w/s, and same size tires. But, it's been what? Close to 15 years since JCB came out with that option, and if I remember right case did too. Not only that, but JCB has the vertical outriggers and the sideshift booms that allow you to get close to buildings and such. Granted the machines aren't all that big but they sure looked handy.

 

[equipment fan]

any prototype of futurist backhoe loader?With these prototype,probably,the backhoe will be returned on all construction sites.I have seen the case and the volvo prototype of backhoe but no one of other manufacturers.

 

[tuney443]

I've seen quite a lot of people pointing out how nice it would be to have 4-w/s, and same size tires. But, it's been what? Close to 15 years since JCB came out with that option, and if I remember right case did too. Not only that, but JCB has the vertical outriggers and the sideshift booms that allow you to get close to buildings and such. Granted the machines aren't all that big but they sure looked handy.

And let's not forget a blast from the past--a huge Pettibone,4X4,all 4 tires the same---BUT ARTICULATED!!! Almost as big as a 200-4 Dynahoe. I had a Cornbinder 3820,all 4 tires the same, but with rear wheel steer---needed a football field to turn that beast.JCB does make a decent hoe,granted,but nothing runs like a deere.Yeah,I'm biased.

 

[Backhoe89]

I personally would like to see something like the one that is made by that french company, especially that i am in the market for equipment to start my own construction outfit. That machine has to be one of the most capable ones i have seen, and i would really like to see a company like case take the TLB to the next level.

 

[Grader4me]

I certainly believe that the age of the backhoe loader being the "go-to" of choice is over, but there will always be the niche. They are still the darlings of city works departments in this neck of the woods.

They are a must for our operations as well. They will never die in this small part of the country.

 

[mike69440]

Sure beats a pick and shovel.

Large dozers are getting rare in New England. Excavators and off road truck and small dozers are what are used in moving material, but there is 1-2 BH's on any big site also

 

[RonG]

That is one scarey pic Mike.Is that a bucket of rocks way up in the air like that?Makes me shivver.Ron G

 

[srpccorp]

I'm no excavation contractor, not by far. In my travels though as a landscaper and arborist I've seen what the TLB and the skid steers / mini-x's can do. For myself if ever in a position to do so I'd have to say that I'd be going with a skid steer for versatility... grinder, harley rake, forks, grapples, etc. etc. and then a full sized backhoe. I couldn't see myself ever having a need for a mini-x because it's just not what I do.

 

[biggixxerjim]

Little off topic, but didnt the excavator kill the track loader??? Remember when u used to do all the digging with a t-loader??

 

[Squizzy246B]

but didnt the excavator kill the track loader

Just kicking this thread into gear again. I suspect that jim is quite correct. The Trackie would appear to be even rarer in my parts than the TLB. Seems there is some consensus that the TLB might be making some sort of a minor comeback. I think one of the points we don't acknowledge is just how good the hydraulic excavator has become. By this I mean the multi-tasking speed of operation, manoeuvrability, comfort and overall performance.

I was doing a small job last Saturday where the client is the partner and operations manager of one of our biggest drainage contractors. His smallest excavator is like a 160 (he thinks if its not 35 tonnes its only a toy)....so it was a bit funny him wanting my 3 tonner in his backyard. I gave him a run and after a few minutes I could see he wasn't all talk and obviously had years of experience under his belt. So I set him to it (He was paying the hourly hire :beatsme ) and got the skid running to feed around the back of his new pool. In seven hours we nailed the job which I'd figured at 2 days on my own. I still got paid roughly the same.

Today he was ringing me still raving about the mini-ex and how he couldn't believe just how good it was in that application...and the zero-swing etc etc. There is just no way a TLB could have done more than 60% of that job with a 30 foot long section to backfill 4 feet deep and only 6 feet wide. Horses for courses...of course.

On another note, since I started this thread I have been paying particular attention to how many TLB's there are on constructions sites. We are in a building boom and I have only seen 3 in recent months although I have seen a few on the road.....which raises a valid point about the TLB's ability to move from site to site.

 

[Squizzy246B]

Cranking up an older thread again...but was talking to a Cat salesman yesterday who said his biggest market for the TLB's is small and medium drainage/pipeline contractors. He also said this market has exceeded the sales target for the "E" series.

 

[equipment fan]

Cranking up an older thread again...but was talking to a Cat salesman yesterday who said his biggest market for the TLB's is small and medium drainage/pipeline contractors. He also said this market has exceeded the sales target for the "E" series.

That`s nice!Does he talked about something new in the cat backhoe line for the future?

 

[bear]

Around here a backhoe is one of the major pieces of kit for almost all the jobs that get done. mini ex's and skid steers etc are viewed more as toys, and an excavator is only owned by the bigger companies. Most of the time a backhoe is used because it is much more convenient to get to a job unless there is major excavation to be done, and will take fewer men to get the job completed. This is mostly a because a lowboy and truck won't be able to make most of the curves we have and roading an excavator a mile or two (if you're lucky) isn't the greatest way to be using the machine.

 

[Highwood5]

Well having owned both I would say it depends on a couple factors. If you have room to move then the TLB still can out production a excavator (agriculture jobs, road and bridge stuff). Its really in the city that the excvator starts to shine because of the small footprint it takes, you don't have to find someplace to park the tractor.
Myself we sometimes haul our 580 behind the tandem and take it it out to our piles of top soil to load and haul into town for the bobcat to place on land scaping jobs. Loading 10 yards with a CX80 size excavator really bites
Also the mobility is a big factor after you trench out 300 yards for water or sewer sometimes you have to place bedding material with the loader, and when you have room backfilling with the 580 over the CX80 it wasn't even close.
The biggest problem I have though is the time it takes to get a new operator up to speed on the TLB compared to other machines.To run a TLB well the operator has to run both front and rear simutanously sometimes( You really run out of hands sometimes!) And teaching these guy's the value of the independent brakes for loader work, how to properly use the extendahoe, and this is still just elementary work.
But once he's up to speed a operator makes a TLB real handy for just about anything.:thumbsup

 

[JS580SL]

I think a good backhoe operator is somewhat a dieing breed.

Myself personally, Id rather operate a backhoe any day. Takes more talent and thinking. I enjoy running the backhoe much more than a skid, mini excavator, and most times a bigger loader or excavator.

My dad has spent a good 3/4 of his career doing most of his work with a backhoe. He has to be the best hoe operator I have ever seen. He's taught me alot and I think we'd be lost without a backhoe no matter how much we use the other equipment. Its a loader, excavator,and dozer to us. It handles what the mini's can't and fits in the places were the 120 can't. Plus its the most mobile machine and works snow removal in the winter.

I don't think the backhoe loader will ever truly fade away. When I buy my own machine it will be a backhoe no matter what.

 

[Duke]

I still see lots of backhoes all over the place, especially in road construction. We have public sewer going in a few miles away and there's at least a dozen 580's & 590's parked on the shoulder of the road.

There are excavators, too, but way more backhoes. My dealer has at least 30new 580 Super M's on his lot.

Not bad for something some of you are saying is dying away.

 

[tuney443]

I think it's mostly young guys who are advocating the tonka toys.The TLB will always be the mainstay of most excavators.It's not going anywhere.