Go with a Deere it has 2 pumps makes it nice for tracking and operating boom/stick at the same time.
They are all designed in Japan. There isn't a hill of beans difference between any of them. Each model is almost the same as the other guys model.
I would like whatever I could make money with and from what I have seen, I could make money with any of them before last year.
This guy said it all. Years ago hoes each had there own characteristics, now forget about it. parts and srevice is your main consideration, they really dont last like the old 200 series cats, I am running different 300 series cats now and could easily see the difference in quality on these rigs. ointhead
Sounds like you need to run a Deere Scott...lol
I almost think the Cat machines are hit and miss now. Our company has a nice selection of 385C's. We have 2007 models with fading paint, hydraulic pump problems, final drive problems and weird electrical issues, and we have 2006 models with no issues. We have a 2008 model with no issues. I can say one thing for the new Cat iron... the paint SUCKS.
Our 08 Powerstripe model looks like ass compared to the 06 our crew has. Both get the same maintenance programs (200hr service on all filters), washed on a regular basis.
I've heard numerous lemon stories with the bigger CATs, especially in 2006-2007 365CL and 385CL models. The smaller ones are usually better from them. Still, they are not quite 200 series quality.
Hi guys, I had a brand new 365cl in bayonne one winter loading nothing but pumped in sand, high,high production but easy work nonetheless, about 200,000 yards through the rig decided to stop swinging one day, . Well I dont remember the 245b&d hoes doing that. turns out they had to rip half the motor out to fix it, and what did they give us for a fill in rig you ask? a certified rebuilt 245dlc . thats what I call poetic justice. Burnout, I havent got any experience on any deeres except a 350c track loader, which was great little rig:drinkup
Our company has just in the last year acquired some 365's, we haven't had them before but they don't seem to be getting many fans over the last year. But that could just be their odd size for us, too small for mainline, too big for a side hoe. There is also a 650D Deere in there, its a nice machine just has a really crappy setup but that says more about the company that originally purchased it.
We have lots of 245's... still have some of the early models they bought in the 70's, they require a special touch but I love em. It's kinda funny our company probably has just as many 65ton and up sized hoes as we do smaller ones. We have 365's, 375s, 385s, 245's, 750 Deere and Komatsu's, 800 Deere and Komatsu's, an 850 Deere, an 1100 Hitachi and some 1250 Komatsu's.
The Cats are great hoes I will give em that even though I'm not a Cat man. But I love our Deere's. When I started here I had a 210 Link Belt. I loved that little LB hoe, but now with 4000 or so hrs on it, she's falling apart. Granted it sees a lot of new green ops, and hoe packs 95% of the time its running.
Between a Deere/Hitachi, Cat, Link Belt you can't really go wrong. Talk to some people and see what everyone says. And of course... dealer network.
You know what burnout, I feel like this, since cat hoes <...>, they definitely lost there edge. Cat still is the one to beat with loaders (track& wheel) loaders, dozers and probably graders too. :drinkup
Well I don't know about their medium sized wheel loaders.... I like mah Deere's. Track loaders definately. I know one thing you will be able to appreciate though..... the silence of cat hoes. They are quiet. By your name I know you remember a very loud screaming engine in front of you. But then again a Dynahoe 490 is practically a wheel loader, dozer, backhoe, excavator, grader, noise maker all in one. ointhead
Nine years straight on a 190 burnout, 3-53 detroit powered, my ears are still ringing. call me bananas but they still are my favorite backhoes, I still run one upon occasion, (nobody else will). young guys got no idea.:usa