Gradall XL4100 Excavator w/ twin 5.9's

[Ncostello]

The highway department at work is buying a used 1998 Gradall XL4100 truck mounted excavator for ditch work. They've got 3 old ones that are all junk now and basically worth scrap prices.



This one is pretty nice and was owned by another county. It was traded in for a new one. We're paying $50K. A new version of this machine is $350K.



The excavator portion of this rig is powered by a Cummins 6BTA5. 9L 150HP-440TQ engine. Light years ahead of the old one we have with a 3cyl Detroit.



However the chassis is driven by its own engine for road driving. Its a 6BT5. 9 (non-intercooled) with 200HP-600TQ as per the factory specs. An option was the 6CTA8. 3L which the previous owner did not opt for.



The upper excavator engine was replaced at 4000 hours due to some oil consumption issues and the lower at 1300 hours / 30000 miles due a coolant leak that couldn't be figured out. Both by Cummins of Omaha and only a couple hundred hours on each now. Thats a good deal really cause 4000 hours is pretty low for the overall machine. The previous owner didn't mess around when they had a problem. They just got replacement engines and got it back on the road.



The truck transmission is a Fuller RTO-11908LL 10 speed forward/3 speed reverse. Top speed is 52MPH in 8th per specifications. LL gear will get you 3MPH. Clutch is a 14" single disk puller type.



I had really hoped it had the 8. 3L for the truck portion. But it dont. Is the 5. 9L in this application going to do the job OK? It was even offered standard for the 6x6 version. The machine is 45,600 LBS working weight. We don't have alot of large hills. But I guess all we can expect is slow anyhow. Thats fine. No need to speed in this. I just wasn't sure of the 5. 9 with such weight.



I guess if it ever has a problem... we can always drop in a 8. 3L or L10 or something.



PS: Would that Fuller work in a Dodge? Would be cool!!

 

[Ncostello]

Photo

Here's what it looks like for those not familiar with a Gradall.

 

[JUeckert]

i have been around those things since the late 70's when i was just a kid. they were onece fairly popular in my parts[ tx,la,ark], but there popularity took a dive in the 90's,early 2000's. they were onece also called badgers,[much the same machine] and typically ran chrysler v8 gasser's[top/bottom]. badgers didnt have a very good reliabity track record, but for there intended job[cleaning ditches], they did ok, and never really saw that many hrs a year. latter versions were as you mentioned, gas on bottom and generally detroit diesel on top. reliabilty improved a little bit. diesel on diesel was a option at this time also, then gradually phased into the only power plant of choice. latter versions like the one you picture, are solid units. and are gaining in popularity, especially with municipality's. up till about 5years ago, it was not uncommon to run across one of the latter units at an auction for less then $8k, seen a pair at a small county auction go for less then $4k each . when the oilfield kicked off around here about that same time, excavators and other equipment skyrocketed price rise, gradalls took a jump as well. personally i think 50k is way overpriced for the unit, with some looking i bet money you purchaseing agent could cut that price in half! then again, they are spending someone else's money, so whats it matter. as for power, the 5. 9 will handle it, remember gear ratio's are the answer there! reliability wise, i have a couple of cummins certified mechanic friends that would say the 5. 9 is the better then the 8. 3, [in that era]. . i havent set foot on one of those things in a few years, but what i remember about the latter ones i liked. one thing i have always maintained, when new i felt they were grossley overpriced for what you get, and can do with them. since municipalitys were likely the biggest buyers, this is probably the reason for the price tag.

 

[PToombs]

If it doesn't have enough power, turn it up! A little twist on the cone, fuel screw in a turn or so, it'll be a whole different ride! :-laf











There is a paving company in central NY that buys old Gradalls and cleans them up. Winter projects. Fix the mecanicals, fresh paint, resell for big bucks. They usually have 4-6 in the yard come spring.

 

[Ncostello]

Well, old gradalls are VERY expensive to fix and complicated pieces of equipment. So as to the value of one that was painted and "mechanically" gone over... I'd be skeptical. I guess buyer beware in this case. But most Gradall customers who've had them for a while know this.

 

[Ncostello]

$50K is in fact a good price for this later model machine considering all the others have more hours, rusted and are near $80K. We've seen the $25K machines. They are much older and much more worn out. Since we use them everyday and have fixed and repaired daily... we know a little about them.



For ditching... you CANNOT beat a Gradall. Everybody who ditches knows this. Since ditches usually belong to State or local governments... its true we are the biggest users of them. Regular style excavators cannot reach under power lines etc or operate under bridges like a gradall.



Its true they are overpriced, even used. But thats just the way it is I suppose. We are saving our taxpayers by buying a nice used machine that was taken care of and will last us many many years.

 

[JUeckert]

if you say it's a solid machine so be it, if y'all are happy with the price so be it. i'am not implying you or your purchaser dont know what the hell your doing, i'am just saying what i have witnessed. prices will vary from locations, and up north things have a habit of being higher. i will say that if it's all the machine you make it out to be,or the dealer makes it out to be, a warranty [if only a short one] should be in order for that price. having said this, i have been buying and selling fleet trucks and heavy equipment for nearly 20 years, sometimes to resale, sometimes to use in my own buisness, or both. i have several dealer connections, and quite often the same machine i bid on at a auction, they bid on as well. i have seen these dealers[some] buy an auction machine for a dam good price, and resale it makeing a killing. quite often the machine is indeed a good one, but often a little white lie gets told when i read an add in the sales description two weeks latter . something like recent engine or transmission, or one owner , etc. big name vehicle dealers are also getting strong into auction vehicles. as stated, this is not to offend, just to make you aware of something you may not know. lot of small counties in my region are getting into the auction game, especially buying equipment from the state, which is generally low hr and in good condition. they pay more for a unit, then individuals like me, but they get a better deal then going to a dealer.

 

[Ncostello]

I appreciate the help. We spoke with the original owners... an Iowa County Highway Dept. They traded it in as they do every 4000 hours no matter its condition. The forwarded us their complete history for service and work done. The Gradall dealership we bought it from was very nice about the whole deal and we verified, onsite, any and all problems noted.



We got free shipping to Indiana via the lowboy from the dealer as part of the deal. The trade in price was $38,000. We paid $49,500 exactly. We were quoted $5000 to ship from local heavy equipment carriers. So while they did make a few bucks on it... they also gave up some cause they are shipping it... which does cost them. We'll see once we get it in our shop and give it a good going over.



On the engine HP thing... I found out today our current G3W machine had a Detroit 8. 2T V8 (like a 3208 Cat but worse) with 205HP and 440TQ and a 6 speed. So the new Cummins 5. 9L machine with 200HP and 600TQ and 10speed Fuller should prove better and not worse.

 

[AABEN]

Ncostello Where are you in IN. I live at Princeton IN ,

 

[JUeckert]

sounds like a fair shake to me. i remember the 8. 2 engines, still got one left [out of 3 trucks] that i use to have. it's a distributer truck for road oil/mc80, so i dont use it much. i allways had decent luck with my 8. 2 engines, but i know many who havent. what i have found over the years, the higher 225/250hp engine are the one's that give the most issues. both the 3208 powered trucks i had were , reliable and very powerfull . good luck with the new toy...

 

[Ncostello]

Terre Haute, IN area.