[cutntrim]

We have Worker's Comp, Universal Health Care, and private health insurance up here. I pay $345/mo. for health,dental,life, and short+long term insurance for myself and my family. For example, when I had my shoulder operated on twice for recurrent dislocations, the operation was covered by OHIP (not sure of the acronym exactly, but it's Ontario's version of our universal health care program). My private insurance paid for a semi-private room (although none was available at the time), and covered 80% of drug costs (painkillers), plus some of the cost of physiotherapy. Having universal health care has not eliminated worker's comp, but maybe the rates here (and in Australia) are lower than the U.S.?

[Bill Schwab]

I'm getting it somehwat now....Well, we pay $754.00 per month for a family of 5 for health care through an HMO. Our comp rates are the highest in the land ($30.00 per hundred) due to way too many lawyers and thier never ending hunger to make a buck, along with may who really abuse our system. For comparison sake, what is your tax percentage that contributes to the health care system? We are sitting somewhere around 34% ( I have to look it up on QB to be sure)

Back to the though of rubber tracked dump trucks, I started to make one a while back, then got slammed in work. Seeing these things helps me imagine the possibilities...

[BJR]

We have 2 seperate health systems. The public Government Hospitals and the private health system which you pay into through a health fund. The private system has private hospitals and specialists. You are suppose to get better treatment through the private system. We also pay a 1.5% levy in our income tax for the private system.

You use the private system if you don't trust the public system to look after you.

Workers compensation insurance is purely work related. Only for injuries that occur at work.

[BJR]

I also looked into the track dumpsers such a JCB, but the maintenance and initial cost was too high. They also travelled too slow.

I have excavated a few pools with my 322 Bobcat excavator and 2 dumpers. With me excavating, one man driving one dumper onto a truck on the road whilst I was loading the other and 2 trucks we can move up to 45cub metres, app 1600 cubic feet in 8 hours. Much faster than a mini loader.

Great for moving a lot of material quickly in tight access applications.

[cutntrim]

If you're asking about income tax brackets, for Canada you have to combine the Provincial rate with the Federal rate. Mine is currently 31% combined. New this year the Feds are tacking on a annual health care premium, which for me will be $225 and next year goes up to $450 per.

[Bill Schwab]

Got it Cutn...Sounds similar to ours, but, we were told work comp would not be needed..More rhetoric!


BJR, How much was the dumper you run, and, what brand, is there a dealer net?

[BJR]

Bill:

I paid approx $19k each, which included foam filled tyres.

You can also get steel tracks to put over the wheels.

The web address is www.avanttecno.com

[johnkeegan]

Anyone interested in "mini loaders" for moving materials etc. should really look into the ASV RC30. It's a mini trackloader that's only 4 feet wide, carries 800-100 lbs., moves material quickly through ANY terrain ( yet is fairly turf friendly). Plus it can be used for grading, digging holes, with forks etc. It has the versatility of a Dingo but MUCH more stable and it's safer because you ride in it not on it. I have a couple of big Bobcats (A300 & S250) but I leave them at the shop alot more now because the ASV is so quick and nimble it can do the job just as fast yet it weighs less than 3000 lbs. I've got all the toys but this is probably the best investment. (Cost is $22 -$25K)
P.S.- on the subject of powered wheelbarrows, if someone wants a much cheaper alternative to the ones listed here try the "Dr. Powerwagon." It'll carry 800-1000 lbs. up and down hills all day and is very nimble. And it only costs $1500-$2000, depending on options. I've had one for 5 years and have abused the hell out of it and would recommend it to anyone. You do have to dump the hopper manually but because of the design I can dump a 800 lb. load with one hand (and I'm not a bull). Plus the Dr. Powerwagon is light enough 2 guys can easily lift it (when empty) and put into a truck.

[Will Pacala]

Has anyone used the "PowerWolf" I think the same people that make the power wagon make the power wolf. Basically it is the same as the power wagon but you sit and ride on it instead of walk behind it. Looks pretty neat from the website. www.countryhomeproducts.com

[BJR]

When you are placing material into areas that are very dodgy, IE you could fall of the edge, I love machines that you can walk behind. It is not very user friendly to be in a machine whilst it falls over an embankment.

I also have an RC30. It has it's uses and so do the dumpers. Especially for the work we do.

[Bill Schwab]

BJR:

Have you ever gotten the tracking issues worked out with your ASV machine?

[Stonehenge]

John K,

I've seen a couple of your posts about the ASV, and Bill alluded to BJR's issues with the machine. From what I recall, BJR has had nothing but trouble with that machine, sprung tracks, prematurely worn tracks, a host of other problems. Have you seen any of the same issues?

[johnkeegan]

Stone, I have had absolutely no problems with the machine during the first 200 hours. Of course, that could change... I know, though, that there are adjustments that are required on the tracks. But I feel fairly confident in the machine because, as I understand it, Caterpillar bought the rights to the track system for their track loaders. I don't think (or hope) they would have done that without some research.
And as far as performance, it's been great. As I said before, I leave the Bobcat A300 or S250 back at the shop alot more now. Whether excavating walkways, removing old shrubbery for plantings (use the forks), light grading, loading the bark blower.... it's worked great. And the light, compact size is handy. For instance, I can load the machine with 3-4 yards of material onto my BriMar 14' dump trailer pulled by my F350 pickup and go off to prep a small walk or finish grade and return with the machine and any spoils in the trailer without tying up the bigger trucks or Bobcats.
And I did demos with the "mini skid steers" and other smaller track machines made by Dingo and Bobcat, but there was no comparision.

[Bill Schwab]

John:

I was just going to say... Track tension and how you clean them has alot to do with longevity. We used to run 12" gap in the tensioners, now we run 0-1/4".

I strongly advise anyone running an ASV or Cat MTL to go sign up for the track training class, (MTL School). It will save you thousands in repairs.

[johnkeegan]

Bill, Thanks for the advice, will do.