Contractor, Michael Calliss of Murraylands Trenching didn’t need much encouragement when Graham Marshall of All Make Trencher Sales and Service introduced him to the new Terex® TLB840 backhoe loader.
Specialising in trenching work for a local plumber, Michael said he was happy with the performance and reliability of his two earlier TLB 780 and TLB 880 models.
“The previous backhoes worked perfectly for my business, however a number of enhancements in the TLB 840 make this model even more attractive”, Michael said.
“For a start, you notice the improved weight distribution that comes from the new solid cast nose counterweight and the opening rear quarter windows that give you far better ventilation – and much better visibility, when trenching at right angles.
“The most obvious benefit is the new and extremely comfortable and well thought out ROPS/FOPS cab design. You really appreciate this workspace with its increased floor space, better visibility as well as its upgraded heating, ventilation and high performance air conditioning unit.
“Flip-up arm rests enable easy movement in and out of the cab and the tilt/telescopic steering wheel adjustment make finding the most comfortable driving position quick and easy.
“Other design changes, such as a lower boom height makes the machine safer and more efficient by increasing the working height clearance on site. A redesigned curved boom is great for getting the machine closer to truck sides. Another noticeable feature is a new slew system that definitely delivers more torque so that backfilling is easier, particularly when you need to slew uphill.
“When trenching forms the major part of your job, you need the TLB 840’s ability to dig deep, so being able to reach out to 6.7metres and dig down 5.4 metres is a real plus. There’s also a new outerslide extending dipperstick that makes it a breeze for clamping objects between the bucket and the dipper.
“The 7 in 1 front bucket takes loading to a height of 3.5 metres – plenty for loading high-sided trucks. Overall, the TL840 is an impressive machine”, Michael concluded.
