Total Landscape Care Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/120635
equipment matters To compensate for both additional reach and lift capacities, wheelbases on skid steers have also increased, Wright continues. A longer wheelbase helps to give the operator a more stable platform when lifting weight to full height. With the younger, video-gamer generation starting to find their way into the cab, manufacturers are starting to tailor the controls for their skills. Conversely, the incorporation of the attachment control in the joystick, either hydraulic or electricover-hydraulic control, is gaining traction, Coleman says. Many skid steers now also have selectable controls to manipulate between ISO- and H-pattern control options, appealing to a wider customer base. However, H-pattern controls are becoming less popular, Wright says. Operators can also adjust the implement response and drive-system response with some control systems. "The adjustable implement control response allows an operator to match the speed of the implement system to meet his need for specific jobs, operating conditions and/or work tools," Coleman says. This feature gives the operator complete control over complex attachments. WHAT'S NEW? In the past few months, many of the large equipment manufacturers have used customer feedback to create new skid steer lines. With lower noise levels compared to its previous models, John Deere's E-Series models include electro-hydraulic (EH) controls, which are available for ISO-, H- and foot-control patterns. The skid steers also allow operators to switch between all three of these control patterns. The E-Series comes standard with connectunder-pressure auxiliary hydraulic couplers and a courtesy lighting feature that automatically shuts the machine lights off after operation. Takeuchi also expanded its skid steer line with the TS Series, which ranges in operating weights from 6,500 to 8,600 pounds. Operators can choose between radial and vertical lift options, and the TS Series has a 1,500- to 3,000-pound rated-operating capacity. Standard features include a foot throttle for changing the engine speed, tilt-up operator's station, oversized axle pods, pilot-operated joystick controls, one-piece mainframe and a 12-volt outlet. Gehl released a large-frame skid steer, the R Series radial-lift loader, which has an integrated The operator compartment on Gehl's R Series includes a side-folding restraint bar, fully adjustable joystick and hand/foot control towers, armrests and a cab-forward design. digital display, pressurized cab and high-powered hydraulic system. The three-model series ranges in operating capacities from 2,110 to 2,780 pounds, and lift heights vary from 120 1/2 to 123 inches. Staying with the full-sized radial lift skid steers, Mustang redesigned their R Series skid steers to offer improved visibility, a pressurized cab option and Yanmar engine with diesel particulate filter (DPF). tlc 5 4 To ta l L a n d s cap eC are.c om TLC0413_EquipMatters2.indd 54 A P R I L 2 013 3/25/13 3:57 PM