But is the 2 slope good to have for the basic stuff I do? Or just go single? Honesty, the $350 difference doesn't sound too bad to have the extra function. Even if rarely used.
I think the dual slope feature is worth it. Especially for only $350 more. I won't buy a laser without dual slope capability.
Maybe you are already aware but dual slope still gets you only a single plane. In the world of rotary lasers there are (2) axis (hence dual slope). They are usually referred to as the X and Y axis. The X axis will always be 90 degrees to the Y axis (or perpendicular). If you have a single slope laser you can only pitch it along (1) axis. If you have the dual slope laser you can pitch it along both. Imagine a table top. It is a single plane (flat across the top). If you were at one end of our imaginary table you could tip the table towards you. This would put a slope along the X axis. Now imagine you tip the right side of the table higher than the left. This would put a slope on the Y axis. On a single slope laser you could program the laser to put slope in one direction or the other. If you have a dual slope laser you can do both at the same time. If we go back to our table you started off by sloping the table toward you. Now while the table is still sloped toward you, the dual slope laser can also tip either right or left as well. Remember that the table top is always a flt top, or on a single plane, so you can't make hips or valleys without resetting the programed slope of the laser. Hopefully that helps you understand the difference and the added function between the single and dual slope transmitters. I will often use the dual slope feature when grading for driveway slab prep.
I would also recommend getting one that has at least 12 degree slope capability. For my area 12 degrees is the maximum driveway slope allowed by the fire department. The TopCon that I have came with rechargeable batteries, can also run on 110 power, or I can also run it on D cells. I must admit that this is very handy.
I currently am running a TopCon RL1002s. At the time I bought it retail price was $3,200.00. I believe that it is the predecessor to the RL H5B. Before that I had some cheaper units (a CST and a David White -which were the same level with only a slightly different shell). I had some trouble with the TopCon going into error mode quite frequently. I also found that the cheaper units would work in colder temps than the TopCon. That was pretty frustrating for me. Especially considering that the TopCon was 2x the price as the other ones I had. While both of the cheaper units are now dead and gone the TopCon remains. I no longer have trouble with it.
I will also second the consideration of service after the sale. Unfortunately I live in a rural town so I have to ship a laser out of town for repairs. I just bought (2) Leica lasers (they haven't even arrived yet) in part because of reports of excellent durability. They also have a 5 year warranty and a 2 year "knock down" warranty. That's right...Leica will repair it for free if it gets knocked down or dropped, etc. Now that I have (3) lasers I have a spare with my current crew make-up. This will allow me to stay working if one is off for repairs.
Yes you
can get a laser indicator mounted to your machine. You haven't said if you want a receiver for a dozer or an excavator or what. If I was to buy a receiver for an excavator I think I would go with a Spectra LR60. I like the plumb indicator but it will also be accurate at +/-30 degrees of plumb. No other brand of receiver has the plumb compensation feature except Apache-which makes the LR60 for Spectra. I would really like to get a 2D system from Leica or IDig. They work pretty much the same as the what you now find on Cat excavators but without any automation. They are a bit spendy too. The LR60 will also work on a dozer mast but one could probably buy a less expensive unit for that application.