[LWPM]

Hey everyone, I’ve been looking into possible options for more efficient snow Plowing next season and came across A company called Uhi machinery. They basically import Chinese wheel loaders to Canada.
I’ve been to the dealership and questioned them in regards to parts availability and warranty. They offer a 3 year warranty on their wheel loaders and for parts that they may not have on hand, in a worst case scenario it will take them a month to get.
The machine I’m interested in has an operating capacity of 12,100lbs and has 74hp Cummins engine. I’ve heard about all the issues with Chinese loaders in the past in regards to the horrible machine operation compared to a Deere or cat, but I think this loader may be different. I’ve demoed the Uhi wheel loader and to my surprise was fairly smooth, in my option it was as smooth and a Kubota r640 loader.

And what blows my mind the most is that the machine cost $56,000CAD after taxes and is as smooth/operates the same as a $140,000 comparable Deere, cat, or Kubota loader.

What are your guys thoughts on this. This loader is seeming to check all the boxes on my list. Seems like it’s going to be pretty reliable with the Cummins engine and even if there are issues with the engine I can always bring it to the local Cummins dealer.

Let me know what you guys think, I’m also considering a farm tractor with an undermount plow or a Deere, Cat, or Kubota wheel loader.

 

[DeVries]

It's tempting for sure. I've thought about them but for me at the end of the day when I need the loader I need the piece of mind It's going to do its job. I know they all break down but Cat and Deere have thousands of machines out there and usually decent mechanics that for the most part can fix them.
That to me allows me to sleep comfortably for a few hours before a storm hits. Nothing worse than worrying if your equipment is going to do its job.
As a loader to load trucks in the summer, no problem if I had an older backup machine I'd buy one but that's not what I buy a loader for.

 

[m_ice]

If it were me I’d buy a used $60k Deere or cat loader before a new Chinese loader at the same price.

 

[grnleafgrnscape]

Just because it's a Cummins, doesn't mean parts are readily available in the US for that motor
For example a Deere ag tractor built for Europe doesn't have all same parts as same model for US distribution.

 

[Mark Oomkes]

A month????

I just waited 4 months for tires and gave up.

They're lying, they have no idea how long it could take. Assuming they're not, does the warranty pay for a rental for a month?

 

[LWPM]

I’m assuming they wouldn’t cover a rental but, instead provide a loaner as they have multiple units on the lot. I will ask that question though

 

[LWPM]

If it were me I’d buy a used $60k Deere or cat loader before a new Chinese loader at the same price.

Unfortunately a 60k cat or Deere is gonna be at least 15 years old with a lot of hours. So, it would be better to just buy a new machine at that point.

 

[grnleafgrnscape]

Would it?

 

[LWPM]

Buying a 15+ year machine with 10,000hrs is gonna have quite a few things that will need repairing. Plus you don’t know how well it was maintained or taken care of, so worst case the engine could blow or transmission. So for those reasons I rather buy a new Deere or cat.

 

[LWPM]

I came across some low houses Hyundai wheel loaders. I don’t see to many being used in my area, do any of you guys have and experience with Hyundai?
I’m assuming that Hyundai loaders are on the same level as deere, Kubota, Cat, or Case?

 

[m_ice]

I came across some low houses Hyundai wheel loaders. I don’t see to many being used in my area, do any of you guys have and experience with Hyundai?
I’m assuming that Hyundai loaders are on the same level as deere, Kubota, Cat, or Case?

A buddy of mine has multiple Hyundai loaders and excavator and swears by them. They are all used daily.

 

[m_ice]

Buying a 15+ year machine with 10,000hrs is gonna have quite a few things that will need repairing. Plus you don’t know how well it was maintained or taken care of, so worst case the engine could blow or transmission. So for those reasons I rather buy a new Deere or cat.

many 10,000+ hour machines are out there with service records.

 

[Mark Oomkes]

Buying a 15+ year machine with 10,000hrs is gonna have quite a few things that will need repairing. Plus you don’t know how well it was maintained or taken care of, so worst case the engine could blow or transmission. So for those reasons I rather buy a new Deere or cat.

Maybe, maybe not.

New stuff breaks too...plus all the electronics and emissions.

I've bought 4 544s over the past few years. 3,000-13,000 hours. One with 13k needed about $15k in work but I paid less for it than the others.

Do some research, test drive it, you should be able to get a feel for whether it's a decent machine or not.

Personally, I'll take a high hour brand name machine with fantastic parts availability over a brand new ChiCom POS.

 

[LWPM]

many 10,000+ hour machines are out there with service records.

For my area their isn’t much and the ones that have them are substantially more.

 

[grnleafgrnscape]

I'll take something I know I can have parts for usually overnight if absolutely needed.
I can't wait a month to plow my accounts

 

[Kinport]

I checked out UHI’s website, a guy up north of me is importing the same loaders (his are called “Clark Industries”) and has been doing it for years. He was/is a snow removal guy and at one point had a bunch of contracts across the state and started importing these for personal use as cheap horsepower. He got out of snow but kept importing them to sell. I sat in one when I went to his shop to buy some of his snow stuff when he quit. Seemed fine, and that’s it. I asked him about reliability and he said he had some blow head gaskets but so far everything else had been pretty good. A local asphalt operation bought one a few years back and they still have it.

I think if you have the time and patience to deal with translating Asian part numbers and service manuals to English, waiting on parts to literally float on a boat across a ocean, and finding mechanics who will work on them, then you should absolutely buy it and give it a go. You could very well get lucky and get 2-3k or more of trouble free service from it.

ran a dinosaur Hyundai wheel loader and excavator in my early 20’s moonlighting in a guys gravel pit. Tough old machines. I think it’s decent iron that has a much larger presence outside North America

About Us – Clark Industries

clarkindustries.us

 

[shawn_]

I checked out UHI’s website, a guy up north of me is importing the same loaders (his are called “Clark Industries”) and has been doing it for years. He was/is a snow removal guy and at one point had a bunch of contracts across the state and started importing these for personal use as cheap horsepower. He got out of snow but kept importing them to sell. I sat in one when I went to his shop to buy some of his snow stuff when quit. Seemed fine, and that’s it. I asked him about reliability and he said he had some blow head gaskets but so far everything else had been pretty good. A local asphalt operation bought one a few years back and they still have it.

I think if you have the time and patience to deal with translating Asian part numbers and service manuals to English, waiting on parts to literally float on a boat across a ocean, and finding mechanics who will work on them, then you should absolutely buy it and give it a go. You could very well get lucky and get 2-3k or more of trouble free service from it.

ran a dinosaur Hyundai wheel loader and excavator in my early 20’s moonlighting in a guys gravel pit. Tough old machines. I think it’s decent iron that has a much larger presence outside North America

About Us – Clark Industries

clarkindustries.us

55,000 for a 123hp 2 speed high range transmission loader. It almost seems impossible lol

At that price you can almost justify needing 2 machines on a site and buying 3 or 4 of em so you have 2 as a backup. 🤯🤯

 

[Mark Oomkes]

So for whatever it's worth, a few years back when SDLG or whatever started importing their junk stuff and it was half price of a brand name loader, quite a few fellas bought them. @Madson could help a bit more, but I believe the results were "due to the low price, buy 2 because you will need the spare."

Also, is the Kummings a gray market enjin? Does Kummings make gray market enjins?