Well....IMA bout to find out! Cashiers check is in the truck and I will pull mine home in a few hours.
Comparing the U25S to U35-4, some strange things
- Thread starter Jfet
- Start date
Cool, grats!
I am also getting my check ready...for a U35-4 hah hah. I decided the larger cab (I am 6'7") and larger lifting capability would be worth the heavier weight.
We took all of the extra stuff off the Isuzu so she is a slim 8500 pounds right now. With both of us in the cab probably around 8900 pounds which leaves 10,600 pounds for the U35-4, thumb, and 12" + 24" buckets plus two 20 foot 6600 pound working load chains and binders for the blade/treads and a 3" strap for the boom.
Going to be fun times ahead.
I am also getting my check ready...for a U35-4 hah hah. I decided the larger cab (I am 6'7") and larger lifting capability would be worth the heavier weight.
We took all of the extra stuff off the Isuzu so she is a slim 8500 pounds right now. With both of us in the cab probably around 8900 pounds which leaves 10,600 pounds for the U35-4, thumb, and 12" + 24" buckets plus two 20 foot 6600 pound working load chains and binders for the blade/treads and a 3" strap for the boom.
Going to be fun times ahead.
coachgeo
Well-known member
Equipment
L225 w/woods Few Mowers & Back Blade, D722 in Motorcycle (Triumph Tiger), LMTV
Like your Expo camper. Slowing building one too. Base truck is an LMTV and Camper is a 14.5 foot former Ambulance box.
DBCSteve
New member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
B2650, FEL, box scraper, Artillian forks & grapple, GR 2120 mower
Jfet and Flienlow --
I'd appreciate hearing your experiences operating both machines. I plan to rent a U25S or U35 this summer from the rental yard in Snohomish to excavate for a large rain garden, several culverts and a few other projects on our 20 acres. Just don't have the need to buy one of these fine machines (I've spend more than $30k over the past year on Kubota, Land Plane, Artillian and Rears equipment).
I've gotten a lot of great use from my B2650, but still too busy to post. 70 hours since last June -- grappling, flailing, earth work, dragging trees, moving firewood, moving pallets of concrete blocks, road maintenance, tilling, and more earth work. Mowing gets done by the GR2120.
Steve
p.s. -- I'm a big fan of Larry and Rich at Sound Tractor. Great sales and service.
I'd appreciate hearing your experiences operating both machines. I plan to rent a U25S or U35 this summer from the rental yard in Snohomish to excavate for a large rain garden, several culverts and a few other projects on our 20 acres. Just don't have the need to buy one of these fine machines (I've spend more than $30k over the past year on Kubota, Land Plane, Artillian and Rears equipment).
I've gotten a lot of great use from my B2650, but still too busy to post. 70 hours since last June -- grappling, flailing, earth work, dragging trees, moving firewood, moving pallets of concrete blocks, road maintenance, tilling, and more earth work. Mowing gets done by the GR2120.
Steve
p.s. -- I'm a big fan of Larry and Rich at Sound Tractor. Great sales and service.
I played with it a bit last night after I got it off the trailer. For some reason this tiny machine feels huge when your are on it. Perhaps that is just due to me not being on one in a very long time. Tonight (weather dependent ) I may clean a ditch and just get myself used to the thing. Even though this is a small machine, I do like having the reach which is far beyond what my BX25 has and feel this was the probably the best purchase for me in regards to size and cost.
It is much too early for me to tell how I am going to like it or pros and cons. I do know one thing that I do not like that I knew fully well going in (and have accepted) is that it does not have any foot pedals for the tracks and can only be moved via the sticks. This can probably remedied by fashioning some sort of Peg on them.
It is much too early for me to tell how I am going to like it or pros and cons. I do know one thing that I do not like that I knew fully well going in (and have accepted) is that it does not have any foot pedals for the tracks and can only be moved via the sticks. This can probably remedied by fashioning some sort of Peg on them.
I walked by Sound today and saw the U25, U35, and U55 up close (they have like 6 of each on the street at their store). These things are a LOT bigger than I had pictured, even the U25. Sometimes watching a video of one without a person standing beside it they look like toys. In person they seem a lot larger. The U35 towers over me and I am 6'7". Much larger hoes than on the Kubota tractors. It looks like you can move some serious dirt with the U35....going to be fun.
afret with his U55 is a beast.
I will share my experience with the U35 when we get it back to our property.
afret with his U55 is a beast.
I will share my experience with the U35 when we get it back to our property.
Got a little seat time in on the 25. basically the goal was to just get the feel for it. I need to dig out my ditch a little better, and didnt have the time nor the fuel to do so.
Initial thoughts- I need a clean out bucket. I would take this into consideration when you buy yours. I didn't do any real digging but the machine did great for what I did do. Its been a while since i have been on a trackhoe and I forgot how easy it was to over dig.
Here is some video, I just put my cell phone in my shirt pocket, and it isn't that great.
https://youtu.be/QdjmSIgrLtc
No vertical videos LOL, humans have two eyes!
You seem already comfortable with the hoe. I plan to use the timber grading method too. I was going to get a cleanout bucket before the winter to move some snow (36 or maybe 48?).
You seem already comfortable with the hoe. I plan to use the timber grading method too. I was going to get a cleanout bucket before the winter to move some snow (36 or maybe 48?).
The Goal wasn't to entertain anyone
, and it was the only way I could take vid. I can operate it, just not to the level I want yet. I feel that I am way better at my BX25 hoe than this one. As far as the bucket. I am not sure what the best way to go on a 35 would be. I would ask Mark at Sound Tractor for his input. -This is all new territory for me.Well, we purchased our new U35-4 from Sound tractor with thumb, 12" and 24" buckets. 0.9 hours on the meter
They used a rollback truck to help load it on the 20 foot flatbed of our Isuzu NRR which normally carries our homebuilt RV + garage pod.
The U35 is a beast indeed. It rocked the truck quite a bit when loading but settled down when we got it positioned such that the front axle had some share of the weight. This position was quite a bit more forward than I had thought it would be....to the point where the blade was only about 2 feet from the headache rack and the boom/stick/bucket were folded down as low as possible.
Then we drove the whole thing back to our property across the mountains....7 hours with 9% grades at times. Fun fun. But really the truck actually did quite well and it sure is nice to have a RV that can also carry a 8500 pound excavator when you need to.
It was getting dark when we got back, so the interesting unload will be for tomorrow. I have my eye on a natural dirt loading dock formation on our property.
They used a rollback truck to help load it on the 20 foot flatbed of our Isuzu NRR which normally carries our homebuilt RV + garage pod.
The U35 is a beast indeed. It rocked the truck quite a bit when loading but settled down when we got it positioned such that the front axle had some share of the weight. This position was quite a bit more forward than I had thought it would be....to the point where the blade was only about 2 feet from the headache rack and the boom/stick/bucket were folded down as low as possible.
Then we drove the whole thing back to our property across the mountains....7 hours with 9% grades at times. Fun fun. But really the truck actually did quite well and it sure is nice to have a RV that can also carry a 8500 pound excavator when you need to.
It was getting dark when we got back, so the interesting unload will be for tomorrow. I have my eye on a natural dirt loading dock formation on our property.
Attachments
Well, we purchased our new U35-4 from Sound tractor with thumb, 12" and 24" buckets. 0.9 hours on the meter
They used a rollback truck to help load it on the 20 foot flatbed of our Isuzu NRR which normally carries our homebuilt RV + garage pod.
The U35 is a beast indeed. It rocked the truck quite a bit when loading but settled down when we got it positioned such that the front axle had some share of the weight. This position was quite a bit more forward than I had thought it would be....to the point where the blade was only about 2 feet from the headache rack and the boom/stick/bucket were folded down as low as possible.
Then we drove the whole thing back to our property across the mountains....7 hours with 9% grades at times. Fun fun. But really the truck actually did quite well and it sure is nice to have a RV that can also carry a 8500 pound excavator when you need to.
It was getting dark when we got back, so the interesting unload will be for tomorrow. I have my eye on a natural dirt loading dock formation on our property.
Congrats!!! Now go on and be a good Lad and give us some more Hoe Porn.
Congrats! I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun with your new beast.
I think you made a good choice getting the bigger one.
I think you made a good choice getting the bigger one.
I got the U35-4 unloaded by backing up to a dirt embankment...pretty easy.
I haven't had much time to play with it yet but reading the manual it seems to indicate that a grease gun and tool kit should be under the seat. There is just an empty place and a holder for a grease gun. Was I supposed to get this with the U35 or is it just saying that is where you can store them?
I haven't had much time to play with it yet but reading the manual it seems to indicate that a grease gun and tool kit should be under the seat. There is just an empty place and a holder for a grease gun. Was I supposed to get this with the U35 or is it just saying that is where you can store them?
Hummm. I too read my manual last night. It said the same thing. A grease gun and a filter wrench as I recall. None were under my seat either. I thought the people I bought mine off must have kept it.
I will say this. I am pleasantly surprised with the performance of my U25. I moved a rock that weighed more than it did. I did not lift it, but impressed me nonetheless. I also moved another huge rock, by wedging against the blade and traveling. Quite a load but got it done. One thing that shocked me a little bit was fuel consumption. I filled it up and ran for 3 hours and it is now down below 1/2 tank.
I cant imagine the fun your 35 will be!
I did get a filter wrench and two spare fuses in a bag with the manual, so maybe they just mean the area under the seat is the tool storage box and they show a place you can store the grease gun.
I am surprised with the U35 too. After unloading it my wife pointed to a 8 inch diameter stump and said pull that up. I started to dig out the roots on each side and she said just grab it. I did and the machine ripped the whole thing out of the ground roots and all. It would have been 20 minutes of work with a shovel, done in 10 seconds. 8000 pounds of bucket force must mean something.
I think the U25 only holds about 7 gallons, the U35 is more like 11 gallons. So you are using about a gallon an hour which seems right for a 20hp engine.
Thanks! I was hoping they didn't leave out some specialized tool that I will need. Off to the store to buy a grease gun, since I can't find my other one (and I think it has some special marine grease in it for our boat anyway).
I bought a Lincoln Pneumatic. Works great, but I am thinking about buying an battery Dewalt or Milwaukee.