SeaMac
Senior Member
Hello fellow HEF members,
Thought I would share my opinion/s after a 48 hour demo/eval of a brand new Volvo L110G. First, I have to say it was a VERY impressive Wheel Loader. On the project we are currently working we have a John Deere 624J, Komatsu 320-6 and CAT 938G the 'matsu being brand new. I am aware that the L110G is more comparative with 644K, 380-7 and 938K Loaders respectively nonetheless I did conduct a very thorough field test and evaluation.
For starters, no matter how hard I worked the 110G in a 10 hour shift I couldn't consume more than 22 gallons of diesel and that got the attention of our Fuel/Lube Truck Driver who swore the 110G would be an extremely thirsty machine.
A truly favorite feature/option of mine was the Boom Suspension System, once engaged the "all too familiar" bucking of a loader flat disappeared. We're doing pipe work and the jobsite layout has us stockpiling 57 stone and clean fill about a 1/4 mile from our trenches. I can't tell you in words how much more rock or fill actually makes it to the trench in comparison to the other loaders, not a drop is spilled and being able to transport at nearly 16mph without being beaten to death is awesome.
The APS controlled Transmission is also very impressive once set to match underfoot conditions, in this case I had it set at "M" for medium and the upshifting/downshifting didn't miss a beat. Where the other loaders would slip and spin the 110G just kept going. Again, this is pipe work and there's quite a lot of water and mud underfoot so every opportunity for wheel slippage has been provided.
Yet another favorite feature is the rearview camera, it actually works and works well even in low/no light conditions although with the rear work lights on there is unwanted glare where a simple switching off of the lights remedies that situation.
While we're on the topic of lighting this brings to mind an equally important matter, that being visibility and I'm talking with forks. Our other loaders are lacking in this regard with the Deere 624J being the worst, visibility with the Deere is utterly horrendous and usually requires a man on the ground to lift or off-load pallets. We use wide carriage/frame, long tine construction forks and so the L110G came with such forks. The Volvo TP Linkage has no comparison in the industry IMHO, to the fork tip visibilty is outstanding and never requires a man on the ground for assistance. We are constantly moving "things" or off-loading trucks and not needing two people to do so is money in the pocket.
Now for power, the L110G has got it in droves, we conducted some “feats of strength” tests with all four loaders and the 110G clearly came out the winner. When doing backfill operations you simply drop the bucket and mash the accelerator pedal and it WILL move any pile straight to the trench without needing to lift the bucket to lessen the load. All the other loaders will just tire spin and dig potholes unless you raise and curl the bucket.
More on power and lifting ability, we have some massive trench boxes/mules onsite which once assembled are usually moved about with our excavators (CAT 336E, Komatsu PC400) if you want to fork one with the Deere, ‘matsu or CAT loaders you will be looking at the ground in short order. Whereas the L110G just picks ‘em up and moves ‘em without any hesitation.
One more on lifting ability, the site we’re working is an old borrow pit having been partially filled with rubble of all sorts and there are some old concrete power poles left weighing about 22,000lbs each. First came the 320-6 which couldn’t even budge the pole, next the 938G which made the pole wiggle. Along came the 624J which could lift the pole nearly 6” before rear-standing to the sky. Lastly, the 110G where I was shocked at first because it too went ass-end up before I realized I was forking two poles, I backed the forks out to grab just one pole and began lifting. Not even did I straighten out the rear tires and to full boom height that pole went, I felt totally confident that the Volvo could have easily driven that pole around the jobsite fully raised with ease.
Now for the basics, to service or fluid check one presses a button and the engine cover raises making everything readily available on the left side. The Zerk fittings were very well placed and made life for our Fuel/Lube Guy much easier. The fact that the rear trunion needs no greasing is a welcome feature too. This is an Interim Tier IV machine and there are some points of clarification in order, you do not simply shut’er down to talk to someone, you have to let the turbo cool down for at least two minutes or it WILL remind you and it comes with a “black box” so you can’t lie about not doing so. Also, it required a regeneration everyday but doing so had ZERO negative consequences she ran as normal with no degradation in performance.
Oh yeah the seat, in this instance and ISRI Air Suspension version with nearly every possible adjustment and man let me tell you, what a difference it makes at the end of the day. I do have two complaints about the machine provided for demo, one being the right side Long Arm Mirror which is utterly useless more akin to an appendage just asking to be ripped off. Two, the lack of rear cab mounted work lights it came with just the two in the engine cover. We do start work when it’s dark and end the same, adequate lighting “all around” is imperative.
Well, that’s it, all-in-all an extremely impressive Wheel Loader for Pipe Work even at $380,000 it would seem a bargain. Hopefully I’ll be seeing one soon with our company graphics on it, until then it’s the Deere 624J.
The End
Thought I would share my opinion/s after a 48 hour demo/eval of a brand new Volvo L110G. First, I have to say it was a VERY impressive Wheel Loader. On the project we are currently working we have a John Deere 624J, Komatsu 320-6 and CAT 938G the 'matsu being brand new. I am aware that the L110G is more comparative with 644K, 380-7 and 938K Loaders respectively nonetheless I did conduct a very thorough field test and evaluation.
For starters, no matter how hard I worked the 110G in a 10 hour shift I couldn't consume more than 22 gallons of diesel and that got the attention of our Fuel/Lube Truck Driver who swore the 110G would be an extremely thirsty machine.
A truly favorite feature/option of mine was the Boom Suspension System, once engaged the "all too familiar" bucking of a loader flat disappeared. We're doing pipe work and the jobsite layout has us stockpiling 57 stone and clean fill about a 1/4 mile from our trenches. I can't tell you in words how much more rock or fill actually makes it to the trench in comparison to the other loaders, not a drop is spilled and being able to transport at nearly 16mph without being beaten to death is awesome.
The APS controlled Transmission is also very impressive once set to match underfoot conditions, in this case I had it set at "M" for medium and the upshifting/downshifting didn't miss a beat. Where the other loaders would slip and spin the 110G just kept going. Again, this is pipe work and there's quite a lot of water and mud underfoot so every opportunity for wheel slippage has been provided.
Yet another favorite feature is the rearview camera, it actually works and works well even in low/no light conditions although with the rear work lights on there is unwanted glare where a simple switching off of the lights remedies that situation.
While we're on the topic of lighting this brings to mind an equally important matter, that being visibility and I'm talking with forks. Our other loaders are lacking in this regard with the Deere 624J being the worst, visibility with the Deere is utterly horrendous and usually requires a man on the ground to lift or off-load pallets. We use wide carriage/frame, long tine construction forks and so the L110G came with such forks. The Volvo TP Linkage has no comparison in the industry IMHO, to the fork tip visibilty is outstanding and never requires a man on the ground for assistance. We are constantly moving "things" or off-loading trucks and not needing two people to do so is money in the pocket.
Now for power, the L110G has got it in droves, we conducted some “feats of strength” tests with all four loaders and the 110G clearly came out the winner. When doing backfill operations you simply drop the bucket and mash the accelerator pedal and it WILL move any pile straight to the trench without needing to lift the bucket to lessen the load. All the other loaders will just tire spin and dig potholes unless you raise and curl the bucket.
More on power and lifting ability, we have some massive trench boxes/mules onsite which once assembled are usually moved about with our excavators (CAT 336E, Komatsu PC400) if you want to fork one with the Deere, ‘matsu or CAT loaders you will be looking at the ground in short order. Whereas the L110G just picks ‘em up and moves ‘em without any hesitation.
One more on lifting ability, the site we’re working is an old borrow pit having been partially filled with rubble of all sorts and there are some old concrete power poles left weighing about 22,000lbs each. First came the 320-6 which couldn’t even budge the pole, next the 938G which made the pole wiggle. Along came the 624J which could lift the pole nearly 6” before rear-standing to the sky. Lastly, the 110G where I was shocked at first because it too went ass-end up before I realized I was forking two poles, I backed the forks out to grab just one pole and began lifting. Not even did I straighten out the rear tires and to full boom height that pole went, I felt totally confident that the Volvo could have easily driven that pole around the jobsite fully raised with ease.
Now for the basics, to service or fluid check one presses a button and the engine cover raises making everything readily available on the left side. The Zerk fittings were very well placed and made life for our Fuel/Lube Guy much easier. The fact that the rear trunion needs no greasing is a welcome feature too. This is an Interim Tier IV machine and there are some points of clarification in order, you do not simply shut’er down to talk to someone, you have to let the turbo cool down for at least two minutes or it WILL remind you and it comes with a “black box” so you can’t lie about not doing so. Also, it required a regeneration everyday but doing so had ZERO negative consequences she ran as normal with no degradation in performance.
Oh yeah the seat, in this instance and ISRI Air Suspension version with nearly every possible adjustment and man let me tell you, what a difference it makes at the end of the day. I do have two complaints about the machine provided for demo, one being the right side Long Arm Mirror which is utterly useless more akin to an appendage just asking to be ripped off. Two, the lack of rear cab mounted work lights it came with just the two in the engine cover. We do start work when it’s dark and end the same, adequate lighting “all around” is imperative.
Well, that’s it, all-in-all an extremely impressive Wheel Loader for Pipe Work even at $380,000 it would seem a bargain. Hopefully I’ll be seeing one soon with our company graphics on it, until then it’s the Deere 624J.
The End
Last edited: