Thompson Slope Packer: Excavator Compaction Attachment

by admin on October 14, 2010

For all my Excavator Operators out there, I ran across a real treat this evening. The Thompson Slope Packer. If you are like me, you dislike compacting hillsides with your excavator. And compacting a hillside by running over it with a bulldozer is often hairy, and messy depending on the slope.

The Thompson Slope Packer is an Excavator Hillside Compaction attachment that makes hillside compacting a breeze. Unfortunately, we were not able to find any YouTube videos, but if you follow the link, you will see that the Thompson Slope Packer is quite wide, and can compact in 1 pass, what it would take a a Komatsu D39 4 passes to compact.

You will also notice that the Thompson Slope Packer is practically self cleaning, even on wet days. It self cleans with chains that run between each set of cleats. This allows the Slope Packer to compact dirt really well without letting the dirt pack in the slope packer.

Manufactured with heavy duty bearings, and heavy duty cleats, the Thompson Slope Packer is ready for any hillside compaction challenge. And not only hillsides, but wherever you need to compact dirt in volume, efficiently.

Check it out at Rockland Manufacturing

{ 1 comment }

Equipment Ballet: 3 Excavators Dance

by admin on October 14, 2010

We at Heavy Equipment Planet LOVE watching equipment videos. While I was cruising the world wide web for the latest and greatest machinery flick, I came across a video called, “Big Machines Dancing (Ballet Excavators)”. At first glance of the video’s title, I wasn’t sure if I should be offended and boycott the video. After all, what place does girly ballet have with manly machinery? After a couple minutes of pacing back and forth, I swallowed my pride and decided to watch. It was a treat.

I decided that I actually like this video, and if given the opportunity, would have loved to participate in this balle… I mean, project.

{ 0 comments }

The Kubota KX121-3: The Perfect Mini Excavator

by admin on October 11, 2010

How many times, fellow operators, have we been in situations where a tilting blade on a mini excavator would have made that trail-building job on that hillside a lot less stressful? Or, saved us hours in shaping a backyard landscape after trenching? Or, how many times would a simple tilting blade have kept us from needing a second machine on the job? The Kubota KX121-3 Mini Excavator is the answer to our past frustrations.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Kubota KX121-3 comes with a 6 in 1 blade! This new 6 in 1 blade can be angled 25 degrees and tilted 10 degrees, making grading, back filling, trail building, landscaping, way easier! Not only that, but the Kubota KX121-3 is probably the PERFECT size mini excavator in my book. Not too small, and not too big, AND comes with a 6 in 1 blade. If I was a billionaire, I probably wouldn’t think twice about going out and purchasing one right now.

The new 6 in 1 blade is operated with a T handle, similar to that on a bulldozer. This sweet blade is five feet, 11 inches wide, sticking out a full 2 inches past the tracks on each side. At just under 10,000lbs, the Kubota KX121-3 comes with a 40.5 HP Powerplant and a super slick load sensing hydraulic system, helping you operate at 100% efficiency.

To see how this cool new blade works, checkout this page on the Kubota Website.

Kubota, I’ll take one with a thumb to go!

{ 1 comment }

The SLASHBUSTER LW 362M: The Ultimate Bread Mixer

by admin on October 11, 2010

Over the weekend, I decided to research various tree shredders for excavators so I could write about them. This of course led me to the SlashBuster website. While I am still planning on writing an article on the ever-so-cool SlashBuster, I felt that I should first write about another gem I found on their website. The SlashBuster LW 362M.

At first glance, the SlashBuster LW 362M appears to be either the EPA’s worst nightmare, or the muffin man’s dream come true. Upon further reading of this very unique, mixer attachment for excavators, I see that it’s actually supposed to make the EPA happy AND give operators the chance to play in the mud and water at the same time.

The SlashBuster LW 362M was created for “Waste Cell Management”. When operated in a body of water or slurry with toxic cells, the LW 362M actually brings the contaminants and oils to the surface, where they can be recycled or properly disposed of. Another contaminant treatment is called “petroleum bioremediation”, where this SlashBuster mixer is used to blend contaminant eating bacteria into a body of water/slurry contaminated with petroleum.

This same SlashBuster model can be easily modified to mulch compacted soil in reforestation situations, making it much easier to replant trees and brush.

For more information, check it out on the SlashBuster Website

{ 0 comments }

VTS Skid Steer Versatile Track System

by admin on October 10, 2010

Versatile Track SystemSkid Steer Loaders and Compact Track Loaders have become one of the most popular and versatile tools on the job site. Track Loaders can be more flexible and mobile in the woods, on a muddy job site or in any situation with really loose or unstable ground. However, Track Loaders are not as ideal on surfaces like asphalt, where the rubber can be worn down at an accelerated rate, and rubber tracks are NOT cheap to replace. There are definitely pro’s and cons to both undercarriages.

Loegering has come up with a solution for contractors that have a Skid Steer Loader and would like the flexibility of converting it to a Track Loader, and then back again. It only takes 1 hour with the VTS (Versatile Track System) to take an ordinary Skid Steer Loader and turn it into a full fledged Track Loader. The VTS is an effective and affordable way to keep your Skid Steer Loader running on difficult terrain. See the video below to see just how effective this Versatile Track System really is.

{ 0 comments }

Kubota’s New Track Loader

by admin on October 10, 2010

This last June (2010), Kubota entered the Track Loader market. Unlike Caterpillar and other primary manufacturers before them, they skipped building a skid steer model and went straight for a compact track loader. Compact track loaders have been increasingly growing in popularity and even giving their sister skid steer loaders some great competition in market share.

What makes this new Kubota Track Loader so special you ask? Kubota built this track loader specifically as a track loader, NOT a skid steer loader with tracks. The current models offered through Kubota are the SVL75 and the SVL90. The model numbers represent the gross horsepower of both machines. Both of these models boast “best in class” breakout force.

For more information you can read about this sweet loader on the Kubota Website: http://kubota.com/F/AboutKubota/prl90.cfm

Kubota Track Loader

{ 0 comments }

Floor Mats & Liners for your Pickup Truck

by admin on March 26, 2010

Husky Floor Liners

In a world where we are constantly striving to get the most out of our equipment through performance modifications, better oil to help our engine last longer, and truck racks to help us haul more supplies, it is easy to forget the simple, affordable and practical accessories that will help us get the most enjoyment out of our equipment or pickup truck. For today’s example we would like to present you with the floor mat. The floor mat is often overlooked on a pickup truck, and if a pickup truck owner decides to purchase one, he usually does not put much thought into the purchase. Today I would like to present you with a few different floor mats and liners and will explain to you that not all mats and liners are created equal.

What is the difference between a floor mat and a floor liner?
Before choosing floor protection, it’s important to understand the difference between a floor mat and a floor liner. For the heavy equipment operator that is in or around mud, snow, grime, concrete and rain, you are going to want to stick with a floor liner. Why? Because floor liners trap mud, snow and anything else you track into your truck. They totally keep any runny material that you bring into your truck from seeping over onto your floor. You could picture a floor liner as a bucket that you set on the floor to put your feet in, trapping all kinds of debris and keeping your carpet safe and sound. Fortunately, floor liners contour to the shape of your floor, and look fantastic.

WeatherTech Extreme Duty Floor Liners

A floor mat on the other hand usually does not offer much protection at all. We usually only recommend floor mats for the truck owner that is only around minor dust, light rain, and won’t be tracking mud or grime into the truck. Unlike a floor liner, the floor mat lays flat on the floor. If enough volume of mud or snow gets tracked into your car from your feet, it will spill over onto your carpet easily since there is no protection or walls whatsoever.

What floor liners are the best? Also, are there any floor mats that offer decent protection?
Let’s look at what are in my opinion, the top 5 floor liners. These brands that I’m about to list are the best in the industry. What makes them the best? Superior materials, they custom made for each make and model car, truck or suv, and offer the best protection in the business.

Husky Weatherbeater Floor Liners

  1. Husky Floor Liners – Both Husky Liners and WeatherTech are some of the first and the best in the business as far as floor mats and liners go. When Husky Liners came on the scene though, their original floor liner took off and is still today one of the best selling floor liners available. They are rugged, durable and will outlast the life of your vehicle, no problem.

  2. WeatherTech Extreme-Duty Floor Liners – WeatherTech has been an industry standard for as long as I’ve been selling accessories. They’ve always been known for their superior styling and technology (yes, even floor liners have technology). WeatherTech makes a top quality floor liner, has been doing it forever, and they look amazing.
  3. Husky WeatherBeater Floor Liners – Husky Liners have always been a little…rugged. That is, until they came up with the WeatherBeater Floor Liner. The WeatherBeater floor liner from Husky Liners is  everything you could ever want in class and good looks. People with Husky WeatherBeater’s, open up their car on a daily basis just so that their jaws can drop because of how beautiful they are.

    4. Nifty Catch It Floor Liners

  4. Nifty Catch-It Floor Liners – Lund International is not an unfamiliar brand in car, truck and suv accessories. Lund has been around forever! One of their specialties is their new and improved Catch-It Floor Liner. Yet another floor liner that will simply wow your customers while offering protection for your floor.
  5. Rugged Ridge Floor Liners – A favorite of off-road enthusiasts, Rugged Ridge makes all kinds of offroad equipment, including floor liners. To tell you the truth, I wouldn’t be ashamed to put their floor liners in any car or truck that I own. They look great, and people love them.

Rugged Ridge Floor Liners


Any of the above floor liners will serve you well.

Again, what about floor mats?

If you want something without the ridges, such as a floor mat, the mat that offers superior good looks and decent protection would be the WeatherTech Floor Mat. You will be very happy with it.

I hope this article has been helpful to you. If you are in need of any kind of floor protection, check out FloorMatsAndLiners.com, I’ll be there to help you through one of the most important decisions of your life.

{ 0 comments }