davesisk
Platinum Member
My old PT1418 can lift around 600-700 lbs with the bucket. I found out when moving gravel, sand, blocks, and pavers that it can lift this much weight without tipping forward if it's on level ground AND the steering isn't turned. I discovered, however, that when I attempted to turn a corner, the articulated steering essentially shortens the machine, moving it's center of gravity forward enough to now allow the machine to tip forward with the bucket loaded.
From reading I did before buying anything, I learned that you should always carry loads as low as possible (and even sometimes back downhill with a load in the bucket). With the load low, the machine can only tip a few inches forward before the bucket hits the ground. If I had been carrying these loads up high, I could certainly see how it would have been possible for the machine to tumble forward, and then very likely fall to the side (given the heavy backend would be up in the air). All this, even giving the stability and low COG of these machines. I'm glad I took the advice I read! With the load low, it was an "oh sh*t" feeling, but a non-issue. With the load high and a potential tumble forward or to the side, it could have become more than a non-issue pretty quick!
I guess one of the few disadvantages of the articulated steering is that it does indeed "shorten" the length of the machine when you make a sharp turn, thus changing it's balance with a load in the bucket.
Mine doesn't have a ROPS, and based on what I've read, my opinion is that it's probably safer for me to not wear the seatbelt given that there's no ROPS. If mine did have a ROPS, then I'd wear the seatbelt. (Btw, I'm not one of those folks who never wears seatbelts. I always bucket up in a vehicle, so this is a conscious decision rather than a habit.) What do you think?
One thing I could do, of course, is to add some ballast weight to the back (maybe a bar or two to hang gym-type weights on?). This would allow me to lift more weight on the front, but I'm wondering if I might overload the hydraulics by doing so. I believe I've seen that there's some relief valves that open to prevent overloads, but I'm not even certain if my 12-year old machine has these, at least for the lift cylinders, etc.
Opinions or thoughts?
Dave
From reading I did before buying anything, I learned that you should always carry loads as low as possible (and even sometimes back downhill with a load in the bucket). With the load low, the machine can only tip a few inches forward before the bucket hits the ground. If I had been carrying these loads up high, I could certainly see how it would have been possible for the machine to tumble forward, and then very likely fall to the side (given the heavy backend would be up in the air). All this, even giving the stability and low COG of these machines. I'm glad I took the advice I read! With the load low, it was an "oh sh*t" feeling, but a non-issue. With the load high and a potential tumble forward or to the side, it could have become more than a non-issue pretty quick!
I guess one of the few disadvantages of the articulated steering is that it does indeed "shorten" the length of the machine when you make a sharp turn, thus changing it's balance with a load in the bucket.
Mine doesn't have a ROPS, and based on what I've read, my opinion is that it's probably safer for me to not wear the seatbelt given that there's no ROPS. If mine did have a ROPS, then I'd wear the seatbelt. (Btw, I'm not one of those folks who never wears seatbelts. I always bucket up in a vehicle, so this is a conscious decision rather than a habit.) What do you think?
One thing I could do, of course, is to add some ballast weight to the back (maybe a bar or two to hang gym-type weights on?). This would allow me to lift more weight on the front, but I'm wondering if I might overload the hydraulics by doing so. I believe I've seen that there's some relief valves that open to prevent overloads, but I'm not even certain if my 12-year old machine has these, at least for the lift cylinders, etc.
Opinions or thoughts?
Dave