Anyone expecting deliveries on these in the near term? Mine is supposed to be here this week - I don't see any video out there of anyone putting them in the dirt yet so either I'm actually high up on the list, or the delivery date is overall much later than what I've been told!
for interest
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New Caterpillar 265 Skids
- Thread starter jaclo
- Start date
Queenslander
Senior Member
Do you have your machine yet jaclo?
I’ld be keen to hear your first impression.
I’ld be keen to hear your first impression.
I've heard some guys are getting theirs on the east coast. No word yet. I'm not optimistic about having it this month, based off of how some other irons in the fire I have are going.
Queenslander
Senior Member
I believe the first 255 in Australia was unveiled at field days in Sydney a week or so ago.
We, my sons at least, have ordered one which is supposed to be late June delivery.
Was scheduled to leave the Sanford NC plant last Tuesday, so we'll see how they go.
We, my sons at least, have ordered one which is supposed to be late June delivery.
Was scheduled to leave the Sanford NC plant last Tuesday, so we'll see how they go.
to be clear, I am not trying to use this as a launchpad for some social media channel, I got my phone out and talked for way longer than I thought I was going to and I just thought I would share it here, hope there are some people that find some value.
Queenslander
Senior Member
Thanks for posting ..as good a review that I’ve seen so far.
You mentioned the possibility of getting a smart blade in the future..would that be Cat’s GB124 or another brand?
You mentioned the possibility of getting a smart blade in the future..would that be Cat’s GB124 or another brand?
I would like to get a GB 124 but I have a GB 120 that is going to be a little more accessible to me on the pricing front as it is coming out of the cat dealer rental fleet. I’m gonna pursue that and see if I will be happy with the 120 over the 124 which I imagine I can be. I think I’m also going to put a 2-D grade control system on it whether that’s the earthworks 2-D or the gobox. I have full 3-D automatics on a dozer so I don’t need to get the fancy 3-D treatment.
Queenslander
Senior Member
As expected, late June delivery of our machine didn’t happen but we are due to pick it up next week.
Just wondering if you ended up putting the GB120 on your machine and what you needed to add to make it work.
Only looking for 2D and our machine has the IMU package.
We have Topcon receivers that we use on our graders.
Cat dealer doesn’t have a clue.
Just wondering if you ended up putting the GB120 on your machine and what you needed to add to make it work.
Only looking for 2D and our machine has the IMU package.
We have Topcon receivers that we use on our graders.
Cat dealer doesn’t have a clue.
I decided to wait for a clean used one so I have not purchased a GB attachment yet. Not many for sale out there but the lead times aren’t near as bad out of the factory. The 2D systems are really fairly simple.
The go box is one route I was really considering:
Alternatively you can go with what i believe they call “2d earthworks” -
I’ve went back and forth with my Trimble guy about why you would pick one over the other. The only defensible point he’s made is that 2D earthworks is upgradable to 3D. Granted you then have to buy a GPS base and globes and the machine control code and it’s probably altogether around $60k+.
I think the go box is about $8-10k USD but it’s been awhile since I quoted it.
I have no interest in full 3D on a skid loader. That’s just too much damn money.
You might take a look at LPS. There is some discussion on it on here on the GPS thread. It's cheaper than GPS, its more accurate, there just are some line of sight issues to deal with.
Having run a 2D box on a Sharp Grade grader box, the down side is your held to what a laser can deliver. It can do single slope and dual slope. What they cant do well is complex grading like parking lots. That is why I went LPS. All depends on what your business is into.
Having run a 2D box on a Sharp Grade grader box, the down side is your held to what a laser can deliver. It can do single slope and dual slope. What they cant do well is complex grading like parking lots. That is why I went LPS. All depends on what your business is into.
Shouldn't that guard package just be offered as standard? Why do you have to pay additional to have that sealed better and hose protection on the drive hoses?
The cooled seats looks like a good idea. Nice that Cat addressed the quick attach, their old method took entirely too long to swap buckets. I like the extra camera's but totally saw the issue with losing the additional cameras once you went forward. It would seem that could be quickly fixed with a software change. My DL550 splits the screen so you can keep your camera on all the time and still see all the important info on the screen. I would for sure like the side camera option like this has.
First time I had seen anything on this new machine. Well done.
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Queenslander
Senior Member
I can’t see us having a need for anything more than 2D at this stage.
Just doing pads for sheds, cattle yards, feedlot pens etc.
Smaller areas that are too tight for a grader.
Trimble have quoted $12k for Earthworks Go! 2.0, including two receivers, so that’s around $8.5k US.
Still waiting to hear from Topcon.
Just doing pads for sheds, cattle yards, feedlot pens etc.
Smaller areas that are too tight for a grader.
Trimble have quoted $12k for Earthworks Go! 2.0, including two receivers, so that’s around $8.5k US.
Still waiting to hear from Topcon.
I told my sales guy the same thing in regards to the guard package. It’s only another 1200 bucks or something but I suppose for a government entity or something that’s a option they will trim off to get the bid.
there is a different option you can pick so the camera is on full-time. It’s just that when you pick that option, you don’t also get the side cameras when you go in reverse. It’s kind of a wonky deal. As a guy that just does dirt work, I can confidently say I don’t use the side cameras at all.
Thank you for the kind words and I’m glad you got some value out of it. I did make a second follow up video if you are interested in listening to the ******* wind blow while I talk.
Buildin
I'm looking at the 255 for farm use. When I looked at the machine the only thing I didn't like was the radiator and cover. There's no hinge on the cover so you have to pick it up to clean the radiator. Seems like that could be bad when my hand slips on a greasy, sweaty day. Even more than that is the radiator mounting. With no easy way to tip the radiator, it seems the top of the engine could be hard to access. I've never had a CTL so I honestly don't know if this matters or not. Any thoughts?
The top does slide out and lift off, i agrre woukd be nice to be hinged with a jack. However when compared to most other ctls that is one of the cleanest and easiest engine bays to work on and service. I absolutely love my 265. You can always find something you don't like about any machine, but you'll find more you hate with most others. I've been at it since 1995, for the most part if i can afford it I'd take Cat over most anything else. You will love it.
I'm looking at a basic package. It still has the pressurized cab, air ride seat, radio etc. It doesn't have the touchscreen or the extra joystick controls but I'm fine with that. The one thing it's missing that the salesman was said is important is the tripple roller for the track. Is that something you'd worry about?
Your probably referring to the back idler, my case had singles front and back but didn't give me any issues. Must be a base package or a 255 thing. My 265 is not the fully decked version but has triple front and back. I do have the screen and joystick with all the controls. I'd question the salesman and see if they woukd swap it out for you.