No matter what job site I’m on these days, there always seems to be a Takeuchi TL130 track loader running around or parked off to the side waiting for its next job. Is Takeuchi giving their machines away or are they popular for a reason? According to Allen Rudd, Takeuchi USA, they have sold 350-400 units in Oregon and Washington.
To get honest-to-God, down-and-dirty feedback on the TL130, Eric La Rue of The Excavators LLC invited me to test out his machine on a residential development in Aloha, Oregon. The day was wet and foggy, perfect for a test run.
La Rue knows a thing or two about the excavation business and the tools of the trade. He’s been in the business since 1989 specializing in new residential construction, foundations, sewers, septic, and more recently, directional drilling: “We used to rent a lot of wheeled skids for our jobs, and they’d really beat up your body. So, when I decided to buy a new one, I knew I was going to get a
tracked skid.”
This 7646 lb operating weight “compact” rubber track loader might seem small, but once I got up alongside it and stepped into the cage, everything suddenly looked a lot bigger. The six-way adjustable suspension seat immediately made me feel right at home, and the rear pivoting seat bar
even has built in arms rests. I know it might sound a little bit Martha Stewart, but if you’re going to go to those lengths to make the operator feel comfortable, why not have a conveniently placed cup holder?
The joystick controls at first seem overly sensitive, but once I got used to it, I suddenly realized they are actually very responsive and smooth. The 13” wide rubber tracks with deep gullies and offset pads give excellent flotation and traction in deep mud, pivoting back and forth. As La Rue put it, “I’m shocked by what this machine can do in the mud.” He has even gone as far as to retire his TD7 International dozer.
What about long term reliability and serviceability? I talked with several service managers from Star Rentals and United Rentals in Oregon and Washington, and they all agreed that the TL130 is pretty much bullet proof. “Renters hammer these machines, but they just keep on working,” according to Matt Adams from Star Rentals. Electrical and hydraulic problems are unheard of, and the cab pops up for easy access to the hydraulics.
Track wear is another matter. Contractors and rental company employees all have the same complaint – rubber tracks typically wear out after about 800-900 hours. Again, La Rue was quick to defend the machine: “The TL130 has enough power that after about 800 hours the tread is scrubbed right off. No surprise there.” This is a hard pill to swallow for contractors used to rubber tracks lasting 2000-3000 hours on an excavator, but the problem is not unique to Takeuchi track loaders. It’s a problem with most OEM track loaders.
So, there’s only question left to answer (apart from the cup holder), “Will steel tracks ever be available for track loaders?”
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