Most Popular Attachments 2 High-Flow Hydraulics Tiltrotators Attachments

Attachments Idea Book

Most popular 2 attachments

a Attachments Idea Book brought to you by TotalLandscapeCare.com table of contents

12 Tiltrotators

Attachments High-flow roundup 6 hydraulics 18

Attachments Idea Book brought to you by TotalLandscapeCare.com 1 most popular attachments

Tools of the trade: Landscapers’ favorite attachments BY: BETH HYATT

2 Attachments Idea Book brought to you by TotalLandscapeCare.com most popular attachments

Landscapers agree that these attachments have proven ideal for picking up items such as trees, large planters, containers and decorative rocks on the jobsite.

andscapers use a variety of attachments for doing everything from L snow removal to jobsite cleanup, and regardless of how often they are used, every landscaper has a favorite attachment.

Total Landscape Care reached out to experts from John Deere, ASV and Toro to find out which attachments seem to resonate with landscapers. Buckets (specifically a 4-in-1), pickup brooms, augers, nursery or pallet forks, forestry mulchers, landscape rakes and trenchers topped the list, according to these experts. Buckets and pickup brooms Buckets are basic. “They’re used for anything from moving materials around the jobsite, digging, grading and carrying loads,” says Kyle Cartwright, marketing manager with Toro. “So, it all centers on the bucket itself.” Regardless of the project at hand, landscapers can always find a Buck Storlie, ASV product line manager, says the use for their favorite attachment 4-in-1 bucket is the most popular type of bucket for when out in the field. landscapers. Compared with a standard bucket, “once you’ve

Attachments Idea Book brought to you by TotalLandscapeCare.com 3 most popular attachments

dumped the material, you can also open the 4-in-1 bucket and dump, drag and level the material a little quicker,” says Storlie. “You can also work a little closer to objects, such as buildings, see your edge and put on a nice finish.” Because landscapers must always make the most of their time and the amount of space available to haul equipment, having attachments that can serve multiple purposes helps landscapers get a higher return on investment, according to Justin Stegar, inside district manager for John Deere, compact construction equipment . “Landscapers value versatile attachments that save time and that they can use across multiple jobs,” says Stegar. “Multi-purpose buckets are capable of bulldozing, scraping, loading, metering and clamping material, which can be extremely beneficial for maintenance or installation.” Whether a landscaper is developing and shaping a project site, clearing rocks or debris Forks are a workhorse attachment as they help landscapers move an abundance of material. or loading material in and out, Stegar says a multi-purpose bucket will be able to handle it all. decorative patios, sidewalks and parking lots during Grant Van Tine, product marketing manager, com- landscape construction.” pact wheel loaders, John Deere Construction & For- estry, says because of their versatility, general purpose Forestry mulchers and buckets are one of the most used attachments among landscape rakes landscapers. Storlie says he’s seen a high demand for forestry Van Tine also notes that the use of pickup brooms mulchers. comes in handy during and toward the end of a “When (landscapers) are using this specific attach- project. ment, guys can go in and clear a piece, particularly un- “With these tools, compact wheel loaders can handle derbrush or larger stuff if necessary, and do that initial a majority of the materials that a landscaper will load, clearing,” he says. unload or transport on a jobsite,” he says. “Pickup The landscape rake has also proven to be an ex- brooms are also great for cleaning up hard surfaces like tremely popular addition for landscapers, and Storlie says it is a productive finish- “With these tools, compact wheel ing tool for putting in new lawns and similar projects. loaders can handle a majority of the “The landscape rake generally comes into use at materials that a landscaper will load, the end of a job,” says Storlie. “If you’re trying to break up unload or transport on a jobsite.” clumps of sod or have materi- — GRANT VAN TINE, JOHN DEERE als down that aren’t laying

4 Attachments Idea Book brought to you by TotalLandscapeCare.com most popular attachments

nice for you, the landscape rake can go through and “If (landscapers) aren’t doing irrigation all the time, aerate the soil, clear out the debris in the soil and bring then buying the trencher probably isn’t for them,” says it to the surface so you can pick it out and make the soil Cartwright. “It all boils down on the return they will get ready for seeds.” on it, and if they are short on labor, these attachments Landscape rakes also work well with compact track can help them be more efficient and effective in what loaders (CTLs), Storlie says. they do from day to day.” “In extreme terrains, the CTL mates well with the According to Storlie, the typical purchase price on a forestry mulcher because you can get on steep and wet landscape rake is estimated around $10,000, depending terrain,” Storlie says. “CTLs pair well with the landscape on the size of the rake. rake because of the low ground pressure of a CTL. CTLs Since forestry mulchers are a more expensive tool, it’s can go onto that thinner surface without doing a lot of recommended that a rental option be considered before damage, so you can use the landscape rake and not purchasing one outright. If you’re using a drum-style compact the soil.” mulcher, Storlie says the estimated cost will be around $35,000 or more. There are some lower cost disc-style Forks, augers and trenchers mulchers, he adds, and those tend to run closer to Rounding off the list of popular attachments are nursery $20,000. and pallet forks, augers and trenchers. “The price between those tools really depends on Because professional landscapers move a variety of what kind of finish you’re looking for when you’re done,” materials, Van Tine says they typically use either a nurs- says Storlie. ery or pallet fork in day-to-day operations. Mulching companies use mulchers on a daily basis; “Nursery forks have a hydraulically actuated arm that therefore, they tend to buy these attachments. The same make them ideal for picking up trees, large planters, is true with landscapers and landscape rakes, Storlie containers and decorative rocks,” says Van Tine. says. “Trenching and augering cut down on actual hand “If it becomes something you’re using infrequently or labor and those attachments are quicker and more ef- only on an occasional job, it’s a rental item,” Storlie says. ficient for the landscapers,” Cartwright says. If you use it on every job, however, you’ll want to own the attachment. Buying versus renting Ultimately, experts agree that you need to decide Whether landscapers should buy or rent an attachment what’s best for you by looking at how often an attach- ultimately depends on how much the attachment will ment will be used, its typical lifespan, your budget and be used. the potential repair or replacement cost.

Landscapers need to make the most of their time and available truck space. Attachments that can serve multiple purposes help with a higher ROI.

Attachments Idea Book brought to you by TotalLandscapeCare.com 5 high-flow hydraulics

Go with the flow: What to know about high-flow attachments BY: JILL ODOM

6 Attachments Idea Book brought to you by TotalLandscapeCare.com high-flow hydraulics

hen it comes to hydraulics, high flow W is sold as an upgrade option for those wanting to improve their efficiency or those in need of the right power for their attachments.

Opting to use high-flow attachments can seem like an unnecessary expense, with certain attachments such as augers having both standard-flow and high-flow models available. And high-flow attachments tend to run $1,000 to $2,000 higher than standard-flow options, depending on the manufacturer. Yet while high-flow attachments and machines come with more up-front costs, they can earn back that money with increased productivity, our experts say. High-flow attachments perform more efficiently and complete jobs faster than standard-flow attachments. Chris Trampush, a skid steer loader product manager with JCB, uses the example of clearing a three-acre field with a standard-flow mower attachment to explain the difference in efficiency. “The blades on that attachment are not going to spin as fast as if I had a high- flow attachment,” Trampush says. “So, it’s going to take me twice as long to mow that field than it would with a high-flow mower where the blades are moving a lot quicker. Your high-flow mowers are only working 50 percent of the time versus Attachments that often need the additional a standard-flow attachment, where it flow and pressure of high-flow hydraulics include augers, mulching heads, rotary cutters, trenchers and snow blowers.

Attachments Idea Book brought to you by TotalLandscapeCare.com 7 high-flow hydraulics

would run the entire time.” And high-flow machines are also more versatile, since they can run both standard-flow and high-flow attachments. If you have a variety of jobs, a high-flow machine and attachment will cover most job demands, says Dan Kakareka, product specialist – CE Products, New Holland North America. Follow the Triple A rule of “application, application, application” when determining whether or not to use high flow, says Diego Butzke, backhoe loader product manager, JCB. “Usually, people go backwards,” Butzke says. “They have a machine, or they want to use this machine and then they want to hook up an attachment to do a certain job. They should look to their applica- High-flow attachments can boost landscapers’ productivity by finishing jobs faster and more efficiently. tion, determine which attachment is productive and then go back to the machine and find the right machine to hook up that attachment.” “If you’re going to spend the extra money to get high Make sure you don’t waste the high-flow capabilities flow on your skid steer, spend the extra money on the of any machine you buy, Kakareka says. high-flow attachments so they run more efficiently and

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? Attachments that often need the additional flow and provide higher pressure ranges around 4,000 psi. pressure of high-flow hydraulics include augers, mulch- “Another difference between a high-flow and ing heads, rotary cutters, trenchers and snow blowers. standard-flow attachment is that sometimes high- “Every manufacturer is going to have a different flow attachments have larger 3/4-inch couplers for range of flow, but a general rule of thumb is most attaching the hoses, which allows an increased flow high-flow systems are going to range between 30 to 40 or gallons per minute,” says Gregg Zupancic, product gallons per minute (GPM),” says Dan Kakareka, product marketing manager, skid steer loaders & compact specialist – CE Products, New Holland North America. track loaders, John Deere Construction & Forestry. “Pressure range is going to be somewhere between “High-flow attachments are still capable of running 3,000 and 3,500 pounds per square inch (psi).” in standard-flow mode, which makes it more versatile Standard flow range tends to be between 17 to 24 than standard-flow attachments alone. Standard-flow GPM. The psi doesn’t change much between standard machines cannot run in high-flow mode, thus limiting and high flow, but the enhanced high flow offerings their capabilities.”

8 Attachments Idea Book brought to you by TotalLandscapeCare.com high-flow hydraulics

& compact track loaders, John Deere Construction & Forestry. “This would cause the attachment to be underpowered and would take longer and may not even complete the job at all.” And trying to run high-flow attachments on a standard-flow machine can damage the attachment. “Let’s say I have a standard-flow attachment and the lines can only handle 28 gallons per minute standard flow, and then I have a high- flow machine and I kick my high flow in and I’m running 33 gallons per minute,” Trampush says. “You could potentially burst the hydraulic lines to the attachment.” You could also damage the attachment by creating leaks or even destroying a motor, Zupancic adds.

Myth No. 2: High-flow attachments are not worth getting. The bigger question is where they might fit in your future busi- perform better,” Kakareka says. “In the long run, they’re ness needs, not initial cost. going to cost less and save you money and they’re go- If you have a standard-flow machine and a future job ing to perform better.” requires high-flow capabilities, that may require you to buy another machine, Trampush says, thus increasing Busting myths about high-flow your costs even more. attachments Myth No. 1: Standard-flow machines can run high- Myth No. 3: You only need to look at GPM when flow attachments determining an attachment’s productivity. When high-flow attachments do not receive the flow Engine horsepower and pressure also affect they require, it will result in inefficient operation and productivity. can even damage the machine or attachment. Tram- “You may have a high-flow system that’s capable push compares running a high-flow attachment on a of drawing 90 horsepower but if you’ve only got an standard-flow machine to having a fan on the lowest 80-horsepower engine, you’ll never actually be able setting, where it’s barely blowing at all. to capitalize the full potential of that high flow,” says “If an operator has a high-flow attachment and Buck Storlie, product line manager for ASV. “Whereas hooks it up to a standard-flow machine, the pump will conversely, you might have an engine that’s 100 not be large enough to turn that attachment quickly horsepower, but a flow system that’s only capable of 70 enough to complete the task at hand,” says Gregg Zu- horsepower, you’re never able to run your full engine pancic, product marketing manager, skid steer loaders capability either.”

Attachments Idea Book brought to you by TotalLandscapeCare.com 9 high-flow hydraulics

Butzke adds that landscapers shouldn’t forget to look Otherwise, hoses will burst or they permanently damage at the pressure as well when matching attachments to both the machine and attachment.” their machines. “Flow will give you speed while pressure will give Challenges of high-flow you force, or power,” Butzke says. “So, the customers attachments need to watch not only flow, but also pressure require- While high-flow attachments are the clear winners ments on both sides -- the machine and the attachment for efficiency, one big drawback is the extra heat they -- to make sure that they are matching everything. generate.

A machine’s GPM isn’t the only indicator of its productivity. Engine horsepower and pressure also play a part.

10 Attachments Idea Book brought to you by TotalLandscapeCare.com high-flow hydraulics

durability and reliability from that machine because high-flow attachments tend to have a higher demand,” Storlie says. “With a larger pump and more flow, the machine will need an advanced cooling package, such as a larger hydraulic cooler or radiator,” says Zupancic. “It is critical that you keep your cooling system and radiator clean and clear of debris. High- flow attachments can accumulate debris while the fans are trying to cool the engine, and debris can get sucked in and damage the engine.” Zupancic also recommends checking hydraulic fluid levels daily. If the machine’s hydraulic levels are too low, it will generate more heat, which can wear down the lifespan of the machine. Make sure you keep the hydraulic system clean, Kakareka adds. “High-flow systems are designed to run extremely efficient,” he says. “With today’s advanced hydraulic systems, the big thing is that there’s little acceptance of contaminants in the systems.” A hydraulic fluid sample kit is recommended, Zupancic says. “These kits help you sample the fluid and check the fluid’s quality by sending it to the dealer’s lab where High-flow systems have a low tolerance for contaminants so they can determine if there are any it is important to keep the hydraulic system clean. contaminants in the fluid caused by use, damaged attachments or rental attachment fluid,” he says. “I think probably the biggest thing that’s overlooked “Maintaining high-quality fluids by customers would be cooling capabilities,” Storlie says. will extend the life of the attachment, and reduce rub- “One of the really important things with a high-flow bing of debris on the gears,” Zupancic says. machine is to have an appropriate cooling package to go Be sure to follow the OEM’s maintenance schedule for along with it. both the machine and the attachment, Kakareka says. “You’re demanding more of the machine, there- “These will keep it up and running with excellence per- fore you need better cooling capability and you need formance,” he adds.

Attachments Idea Book brought to you by TotalLandscapeCare.com 11 tiltrotators Tiltrotators:

Increasing the versatility of compact

excavators BY: JILL ODOM

12 Attachments Idea Book brought to you by TotalLandscapeCare.com tiltrotators

Relatively new to the North American market, early adopters of tiltrotators have nothing but good things to say about the attachment. Tiltrotators: PHOTO: INNOVATIVE LAWN & LANDSCAPE

ith no end of the labor shortage in sight, landscapers are looking for W other methods to make the most out of their crews. One tool that is proving effective for early adopters is the tiltrotator.

This attachment does exactly what its name de- scribes. It allows users to not only tilt an attachment left and right, plus-minus 45 degrees, but also rotates it 360 degrees on 1.5- to 40-ton excavators. Invented in Sweden back in 1986, the tiltrotator is commonplace throughout northern Europe. However, it is relatively new to the North American market. Rototilt, the inventor of the attachment, established its North American presence in 2007 with a sales office in Ontario, Canada. Competitors Engcon and Steelwrist both opened their U.S. offices in 2017 with Engcon in North Haven, Connecticut, and Steelwrist in New Berlin, Connecticut.

Attachments Idea Book brought to you by TotalLandscapeCare.com 13 tiltrotators

“We noticed about four years ago that from nowhere, very comfortable with the sales team,” suddenly, we got a lot of interest from the northeastern he says. “I just felt more like they ap- part of the United States,” says Christian Yanes, U.S. preciated the amount of money I spent general manager/country manager, Steelwrist. “And we with them and I wasn’t just a one-time started getting a lot of quote requests around that time, purchase.” so that’s when we decided okay, maybe the U.S. market Running a Cat 304E as well, Doyle is ready now.” went with a Steelwrist X04 tiltrota- Yanes isn’t sure why it took 30 years for tiltrotators to tor, saying their customer service catch on in North America, but he does know that social stood out to him compared to the other media has been integral to spreading the awareness of manufacturers. the attachment and its capabilities. “As far as customer service goes, they’re very down to earth, very easy to Landscaper fans talk to,” Doyle says. “There’s definitely a Both end users Jake Audet, president of Audet Enterpris- personal connection, which made me a es, based in Westbrook, Maine, and James Doyle, owner/ lot more comfortable choosing them. Price operator of Innovative Lawn & Landscape LLC based in wasn’t really a factor there to be honest Torrington, Connecticut, say they first heard about tiltro- with you. They were actually higher than tators through social media. some of their competitors. But I don’t re- Audet saw the attachment being used on The Dirt ally look at price; I look at who’s going to Ninja Instagram account and now both Audet and Doyle be there when something breaks.” are posting pictures of their own tiltrotators in action Craig Alderton, regional manager on social media. (Dirt Ninja is the screen name of Tom of the Lake States and Midwest U.S.A. Gardocki, co-owner of New Era Excavating, Manchester, for Rototilt, highlights his brand’s commitment to New Hampshire.) innovation. “Once you use one, you kind of want everyone to “Rototilt wants to continually make improvements,” have one,” Audet says. “Why wouldn’t you want to be he says. “How do we make this better, stronger, lighter, more efficient? The whole point is to help everyone.” last longer? Rototilt has continued to invest in R&D to Audet chose an Engcon EC204 with intergraded grab develop the product to be longer lasting.” tiltrotator to go on his Cat 304E machine. “I just felt Alderton says there are Rototilt tiltrotators in the market that have more than 40,000 hours of use. He says the manufacturer uses larger, stronger bear- ings and other critical components, which helps contribute to the extended product life. Rototilt also uses tilt cylinders that feature an oil bath to house the rotor and worm gear as opposed to a grease-filled one. “Oil is a better lubricant,” Al- derton says. “It will get into all the areas and is easier to maintain on your machine intervals. In the sum- Landscapers often first hear about tiltrotators on social media after seeing their colleagues, like Gairad mer months when you’re working DeCastro, owner of Premier Landscape, (pictured above) posting about them. PHOTO: PREMIER LANDSCAPE hard and the temperatures are high,

14 Attachments Idea Book brought to you by TotalLandscapeCare.com tiltrotators

Audet uses his tiltrotator for tasks such as digging out patios, backfilling small foundations and digging trenches. PHOTOS ABOVE AND RIGHT: AUDET ENTERPRISES the oil will actually operate as a coolant so that your This ability to do almost anything helps frees up Au- rotator doesn’t overheat.” det’s crews from hand digging tasks. “I run two-man crews now,” Audet says. “I don’t have What can it do? to have a third guy with them. I can have one guy run- So, what exactly does the tiltrotator do that helps with ning the machine and a ground guy, but (he’s) not really efficiency so much? The attachment functions as a wrist even helping him. It’s all seamless.” between the arm of the excavator and bucket or any Doyle’s jobs typically consist of drainage work, hard- other tool connected to the quick coupler. scaping projects and other landscape construction proj- “Tiltrotators transform the excavator into a multi tool, ects. He uses a tiltrotator primarily for tree work, using which can perform many operations, increasing produc- a grapple to feed the tree through the chipper, which tivity upwards of 40-50 percent in some applications,” makes tree removal much safer. Alderton says. “The ability to rotate and tilt eliminates “It eliminates a lot of the handwork and it actu- the need to position or reposition the excavator. Being ally makes it a little bit safer,” Doyle says. “Guys aren’t able to rotate the bucket (attachment) allows the opera- standing right at the mouth of the chipper anymore. tor to work closer in tight areas, place/position aggre- We’re able to just take a full tree and throw it right gate/stone with increased accuracy, backfill at lightning through the chipper.” speed and contour/sculpt the area.” He also says there’s no loss in material now when Audet says that he mainly uses his tiltrotator for tasks scooping something out of a dump truck and backfilling such as digging out patios, backfilling small foundations, trenches can be done with ease. shaping berms and digging trenches. He’s says it’s more He’s also able to dig left and right while sitting in of a question of what can’t a tiltrotator do? one position. “It eliminates me having to have a guy

Attachments Idea Book brought to you by TotalLandscapeCare.com 15 tiltrotators

there with a rake or a shovel to move that material away from, say, a wall or another structure,” Doyle says. “I can completely do everything from one spot. It leaves us with minimal site damage because we’re keeping the machine in one place.” These efficiencies add up over time and can result in getting jobs done quicker, allowing crews to focus on other tasks. “On 90 percent of our jobs, it cuts out having an extra guy stand there with a shovel or a rake,” Doyle says. “That guy could be running and grabbing materials, for instance.” Tiltrotators are also well suited for tight areas where the machine isn’t level, says Joanna Tomczyk, director of sales in North America for Engcon North America Inc. “It doesn’t matter if the excavator is leaning, the tiltrotator holds the attachment at the angle you desire,” Tomczyk says. Efficiency can be increased even further by opting for an automatic quick coupler system. “Thanks to the built-in quick coupler (Q-Safe) with EC-Oil automatic oil connection, you can switch between mechanical and hydraulic attachments without leaving the cab,” Tomcyzk says. Price versus productivity Doyle says the tiltrotator frees up an extra worker so they can focus on other No matter which brand of tiltrotator you choose to go tasks. with, it will cost a pretty penny, but both Audet and PHOTO: INNOVATIVE LAWN & LANDSCAPE Doyle say that it is well worth the investment. They agree that the attachment quickly pays for itself thanks different options when it comes to the control system to the productivity it provides. and configuration ordered by the customer,” Yanes says. “It’s a little shocking, but once you swallow the pill of Engcon declined to list a price range as the many how much it costs, the amount of money that it’s saved variables all affect the total cost of the attachment. The me in the long run means it has paid for itself in a year,” company encourages landscapers to contact their local Audet says. “There’s jobs I wouldn’t even be able to do if dealers instead. I didn’t have it. I also can be aggressively bidding things Doyle advises other landscapers interested in a tiltro- knowing that I can do a job when other people are like, tator to buy it through a dealer and have it installed on a ‘Oh, that’s going to take me forever,’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah new machine as a package deal in order to be as effec- it’s going to take me a couple of hours.’” tive and efficient as possible. He spent around $25,000 Alderton says the base list price for a Rototilt tiltrota- for his tiltrotator package. tor for a compact excavator could range anywhere from “It was kind of a no-brainer to me if we were buying $11,000 to $20,000. Steelwrist says their base model it new to just not really worry about the price tag, to could cost between $11,500 and $15,000 but options just work it every single day,” Doyle says. “So, the price like the gripper would cost $4,000. tag really wasn’t a huge concern for me. It was at first, “The pricing of a tiltrotator is tricky, as there are but then I realized I have to work this thing a day and

16 Attachments Idea Book brought to you by TotalLandscapeCare.com tiltrotators

a half a month to make the payment.” company. He says the biggest part of the learning curve For those curious about a tiltrotator, Doyle advises get- for him was remembering he no longer has to reposition ting a demo. “As soon as you demo one, you’re not going the excavator constantly. Doyle says it took him about to turn back,” Doyle says. “You’re going to want one and two weeks to get things down pat but still learns new you’re going to find a way to do it, at least if you’re in it things every day. to win it like me. Once you use it once and you realize the “Normally, I joke around with them and say, ‘It’s nature of it and how efficient you can be.” going be two weeks of frustration and a lot of swear- All the manufacturers sell through dealers; financing ing,’” Yanes says. “Because it’s like starting to drive stick options are available. when you’re used to automatic, but once you’ve got it, Look at this way, adds Alderton: tiltrotators don’t cost you cannot be without it. So, I’d say that an experienced money, they make money. operator will take maximum of two weeks to get the hang of it.” Learning curve and attachment As for the maintenance of the attachment, it is pretty maintenance straightforward with the same greasing intervals as the Like any other skill, the learning curve for operating a machine. tiltrotator with ease will vary person to person. Get- ting used to tiltrotator controls can appear daunting. Huge potential For example, there can be up to three rollers and seven According to Alderton, tiltrotators have less than one buttons on each optional Encon MIG2 joystick. The right percent of the market share relative to the excavator joystick controls tilt and the left joystick controls rotation. sales, so there is huge potential for the North American Integrated grabber controls market as word continues to are on the back of the right spread through social media joystick. “As soon as you platforms, especially Instagram. Alderton says based on As for why so many land- feedback from Rototilt users, it demo one, you’re scapers remain wary of tiltrota- takes a couple hours to get the tors, Yanes doesn’t think it’s hang of it, up to a week to get not going to turn due to sticker shock. comfortable with it and up to “I think it’s more than fear a month to be proficient to the back. You’re going of investing in something new point where contractors say and failing and not wanting to they cannot live without it. to want one and fail in front of other landscap- “When I first sat in the cab, you’re going to find ers,” Yanes says. “That’s what’s it’s like playing a video game,” keeping them from doing it Audet says. “You want to learn a way to do it, at instead of the money because and you kind of get upset at the ones who have invested, yourself because you’re like, ‘I least if you’re in it to they have confirmed that they know I can do this. I just have have paid for their investment to learn.’ There’s so many roll- win it like me. within the year.” ers on the controller. It’s like — JAMES DOYLE, INNOVATIVE LAWN & LANDSCAPE “I truly believe everyone an extra hand, you just got to should have one,” Audet says. teach yourself how to use it. And it doesn’t take very “I mean, it’s kind of silly not to. If someone’s saying, long, probably a week of seat time, you get pretty good ‘Hey, there’s a there’s a really efficient way of doing this at it. All my guys are pretty professional with it now. I and it’s going cut down your time. Yes, you’re going to have four operators that use it, including myself.” spend some money, but you’ll be able to do more work Doyle is the sole operator of the tiltrotator at his and make more money.’ Why wouldn’t you do that?”

Attachments Idea Book brought to you by TotalLandscapeCare.com 17 attachments roundup

attachments roundup Attachments are used in every season on almost every jobsite. Take a look at a few featured attachments that are sure to

lend landscapers a hand when it’s needed most. BY: DON MCLOUD

Tackle trees, brush, grass The Kubota SC70 Skid Cutter is a 6-foot-wide heavy-duty attachment with a 7-inch cutting ca- pacity for tackling small trees, shrubs, bushes and grass. Designed for Kubota’s SVL95-2 compact track loader, the deck and side skirts are made of quarter-inch steel. The three-piece deck design has fewer weld points for added strength. Stan- dard safety features include front and rear chains, a pusher bar and a patent pending bi-fold door that covers the cutting chamber when not cutting in heavy brush. A case drain and motor pressure gauge are optional.

Rip, pry, load stumps with one tool Nye’s Ultra Heavy-Duty Stump Harvester can rip, pry, shake, split, crosscut and load. The company says it can split any stump that fits its jaws and harvest stumps in place. It can remove dirt and rocks from stumps before they are processed. The main cutting blade is situated on the operator’s side for better visibility and control. The attachment is made of quenched and tempered alloy steel with hardened alloy pins and bushings. The teeth are replaceable, and the blade can be sharpened easily, the company says. The harvesters come in hydraulic and mechanical models.

18 Attachments Idea Book brought to you by TotalLandscapeCare.com attachments roundup

Clear path in deep snow Bobcat’s snowblower attachment is designed to create a clean path even in deep snow banks and hard-to-reach spots, such as the middle of lawns, ditches or wooded areas beside a path. The blower’s chute rotates 276 degrees and can be adjusted up or down to place snow where you want it. The chute rotates by a chain and sprocket system, which means no loose, tangled or frozen cables. The blower comes in high-flow models that deliver added hydraulic power for heavy or compacted snow. The cutting edge is replaceable, and the skid shoes can be adjusted.

Grade with ¼-inch accuracy The Cat Box Blade, designed for Cat- erpillar’s skid-steer, compact-track and multi-terrain loaders, grades and levels large commercial properties with accuracy levels within one-fourth of an inch when used with Accugrade tech- nology, the company says. The Box Blade comes in 7- and 8-foot models that operate manually or automati- cally with a laser or GPS grading system. The attachment is designed for such grading projects as housing pads, roads and parking lots. It features dual slope capability, which increases efficiency and savings, the company says.

Attachments Idea Book brought to you by TotalLandscapeCare.com 19 attachments roundup

Low recoil, few moving parts Case Construction Equipment’s hydraulic hammers have only two moving parts and isolate every blow from the operator and carrier. The hammers are pre-assembled and made for Case backhoes, excavators, compact tractor loaders and skid steers. The blows are isolated in the cushion chamber, and recoil energy is recycled and used for the next blow. The long-stoke piston fa- cilitates energy transfer and recoil reduction. Case hydraulic hammers come with a gas recharge kit and a three-year warranty.

Remove stumps in one pass The SS30 Stump Shredder from John Deere removes stumps ranging from 8 to 28 inches in one pass. Larger stumps can be removed with multiple bores, the company says. It can bore down to 20 inches to remove roots. The SS30 is geared toward Deere’s new mid- and large-frame G-Series skid steers (320G, 324G, 330G and 332G) and compact track loaders (325G, 331G and 333G). The shredder was designed to reduce high-speed flying debris with a low- speed, high-torque planetary drive. It produces a small contained chip pile to make cleanup easier.

20 Attachments Idea Book brought to you by TotalLandscapeCare.com attachments roundup

Lift rocks with minimal energy The Fang Rake from Leading Edge Attach- ments allows the operator to comb the ground to remove stumps, brush and rocks. The tines are made of Swedish Hardox 400 alloy steel and are shaped to lift rocks and pull roots with the least amount of energy. The tines have no cross members and are thick and spaced far enough apart to allow small debris to sift through. When used with a hydraulic thumb, the rake acts similarly to a grapple, able to grab stumps and boulders to be removed or positioned.

Mow hard to reach spots The flail mower by Bobcatcan mow hard to reach places, including hillsides, roadways, ditches, riverbanks. Its triple- knife flails allow operators to mulch small branches, saplings, thick grass and vegetation as large as 4 inches in diam- eter, the company says. Side safety chains keep debris within the housing. The rotor brake stops the attachment within 7 seconds after hydraulics are turned off. A rubber torsion disc absorbs impact loads, and heavy-duty flanges on both sides of the rotor protect the drive train from dust and debris.

Attachments Idea Book brought to you by TotalLandscapeCare.com 21 attachments roundup

Pushing widths up to 10 feet John Deere’s Snow Pushers can create paths ranging from 8 to 10 feet, depending on the model. The attachment is designed for clearing sidewalks, parking lots and driveways. The pushers feature reversible, replaceable rubber cutting edges. A pullback edges is an available option for opening confined areas and working around vehicles, buildings, fences and other obstructions. The Snow Pusher is available in two models, the SP8 (8 feet) and SP10 (10 feet). They are compatible with Deere and competitive brand skid steers and compact track loaders.

Quickly switch buckets Kubota’s K7543 Quick Coupler is designed for fast bucket changes for the company’s tractor-loader- backhoe (TLB) series. It is compatible with the L47 and M62 TLB models. The coupler is also compatible with select Kubota compact excavator buckets, tilt buckets, grading buckets, trenching buckets, grading blades, cemetery buckets, frost rippers and excavating rakes.

22 Attachments Idea Book brought to you by TotalLandscapeCare.com