I can't believe Volvo isn't going to make sure you are operating a Volvo Excavator. I hope someone from Volvo Marketing is watching this. Big fan of LD18. No criticism

@marinussnijder7941

11 ай бұрын

I agree, if there is one you-tuber that is an advocate for Volvo, it’s Chris. Are they dropping the proverbial 🥎 here?

@williamuskoski1385

11 ай бұрын

Can’t pull a 3-500k machine outta thin air. Stuffs just not available rn

@davidmiller1483

11 ай бұрын

I second that.

@marinussnijder7941

11 ай бұрын

For what its worth, I have send a message to Volvo head quarters, maybe more of us could do the same?

@jeffhall768

11 ай бұрын

Why the brand loyalty? Never understood that.

Way to go Chris, whichever machine you decide to get, it's nice to see that your business is growing.

Man, I am excited! Am I on my own? You know you're Letsdig18 fan when you get inklings that a bigger machine is in the pipeline. I know nothing absolutely zero about heavy machinery.. that's a lie actually, I've learnt a lot from watching Chris' videos. What an age we live in where anyone in the world can share his journey?! Super exciting times!

@fabiancanada8876

11 ай бұрын

I am fascinated by excavators and what they can do. The ratio from what an hour costs to what they can do is outstanding. I wish I can buy one one day or at least have one on our property for 1 week every year :-) So yes, very exciting times in that sense (and pretty depressing times in other fields).

@DyrewulfNV

11 ай бұрын

Yeah, he was GIDDY using the 550... :)

I normally save LD18 video's for bedtime, or when I get up in the morning, but I saw the title and had to watch. Chris, your operation has grown so much in 3 years! Nice to see the younger generation with people who actually want to work and succeed in life.

Did anyone else watch DPs video this morning where he removed the paint off of his new Hyundai's counterweight ?

@dennis2376

11 ай бұрын

Yep, the blocks attacked him. :)

@thatdave86

11 ай бұрын

Will it be 3 months or more to touch up the paint ? Aaron said it well ,"you got a camera use it "

@bobbrinkerhoff3592

11 ай бұрын

@@thatdave86 " three months or more " more likely, never . He's on the record as saying " fixing the paint doesn't make me any money " , when he was asked about painting Bubba Dump . Edit ; I stand corrected, he actually touched it up . Good for him .

It's crazy how smooth you are at running equipment like this. It stands out.

I have been a subscriber for about 3 years and truly enjoy your videos. It has been fascinating to watch your business change dramatically in 3 years. Three years ago you were working with John on a regular basis and primarily completing 1-4 day projects. In the last 12-18 months (since you purchased the haul truck) your work has expanded into multiple month projects. What is most amazing and probably challenging is completing the majority of the work yourself with limited part time support. Today's video was really fun and especially the teaser at the end - keeping us in suspense. I don't know much about excavators but just watching the video and assuming it is affordable I would think you would choose the Kobelco unit. Seemed to have better balance with the larger bucket. My guess is you will need to add a thumb to whichever machine you choose. Best of luck. Looking forward to your decision!!!

Leaving us on a cliffhanger I see....lol. He leaned on the Kobelco, but a part of me says the Hyundai because he mentioned how much more ready it was and easier to move. I guess we'll see in the end. Either one would likely benefit his operation.

Big bucket was put back on the Kobelco...the one Chris is bringing home.

DP seems to enjoy his Hyundai. He even gave it a nice tattoo this morning. 😬😂

I have a feeling it’s the Kobelco. Looks strong and handled the bucket well. No dipping with a full bucket all the way out. Sounds strong and quick too.

@scottbamasime4338

11 ай бұрын

I think Dirt Perfect got a call asking his opinion on Hyundai machines..and that made up Chris's mind..

@jcurran8860

11 ай бұрын

That Kobelco is fast. It would load much faster than the Hyundai.

@leighphillips1913

11 ай бұрын

Hyundai’s are rubbish. You can’t go from a Volvo to a Hyundai. Go the kobelco

@balforitown4274

11 ай бұрын

Kobelco all the way Chris, Hyundai only good at one thing Rally Cars, That Kobelco Rocks 👍

@bodsky28

11 ай бұрын

​@leighphillips1913 you probably never operate hyundai or Volvo, I can tell you i operate both machine I end up getting hyundai 350 and 220 way better fuel than Volvo they operate similar but hyundai is cheaper I never have problems they are both have more 2500 hrs, the guy owns the Volvo has to many problems so there you go haha

Nice! Looking forward to seeing which one you pick and what in store for it. Thanks again for the channel!

Nothing I love more than when Chris goes shopping. He makes other shoppers look like rookies.

The jobs are just gonna get bigger. The Kobelco is in line with expansion to the max. The Hyundai moves around much easier to move and will be harder to sell later. Looking foreword to seeing how you see it.

@andrewc9234

11 ай бұрын

that and Kobelco is cheap horsepower compared to all the other big mfg's personally, my favorite brand to run

Hard to believe that Volvo couldn't find Chris a excavator

both are very nice, either one but, I would go with the one that your mechanic has support for and can fix the quickest, nice to see you progress with your business. sad that C&C didn't have something for you. very nice.

@mikeznel6048

11 ай бұрын

They can fix em all.

Next week, Chris looks at 40 ton haul trucks....

@jrwalker1048

11 ай бұрын

A Euclid is on the wishlist too😂

AMI is going to need to upscale the LD18 Bucket and Thumb blueprints for a 300 sized machine.

@MichaelBrown-qn9hi

11 ай бұрын

Exactly because it's not A "LetsDig18" without the Thumb.

@michaelblack9253

11 ай бұрын

I was wondering that myself

I asked a Kobelco mechanic what he thought about their equipment. He said they were the Cadillacs of excavators. They have some beefy bulldozers and loaders too. That would be my choice, unless you were going logging. Then it would be the Link-Belt. 🤘😎

Oh, leaving us on a cliffhanger!!🤣🤣Watching you run that 550 made me wonder if you wouldn't get a larger machine. Those 220s are workhorses but when it takes ten scoops vs five or six, yeah makes perfect sense when you have dirt to move. Can't wait for the reveal!

Good on ya Chris!! I thought you might be looking when you spoke of the 450 a few videos back. You have been very good at predicting your needs and getting the equipment that pays off the best for ya!! It’s not a simple skill to develop. The haul truck is a prime example and the fact you have 2 jobs on the go at any one time with 2 excavators now, are great examples. I suspect there’s a bigger haul truck in next year’s budget. You have mentioned the size of the 25 yard truck being a little too small. The bigger excavator will warrant either a bigger haul truck or a second 25 yard truck and at least 1 full time employee!! I’m just guessing. Of course you will do what you do & you already have a plan devised, I’m sure!! Keeps us coming back!! 😂😂. See ya tomorrow?? Heh heh. Take care, Eh!

@lester1517

11 ай бұрын

Your spot on with your comment mate, bigger things are coming, GOOD LUCK TO YA CHRIS

Good choice Chris. Both seemed to work fine. Being able to swap buckets from machine to machine is a plus.

Very impressive that you can operate any and all machines. Thanks for taking us along!

OK so I'm not an operator.. It's hard to tell which is smoother because Chris can make nearly anything run like silk, but I think I picked up on the little hint at the end. :) Not saying which here, but I know when you need it, the new machine is going to do very well in your hands!

I had a feeling that it would not be long after Chris ran that 550 that he would end up getting one or like in this case just getting a bigger machine because I could see how impressed he was with that bigger machine and how much material it moved so quickly!

@merlepatterson

11 ай бұрын

Yeah, the 550 took two scoops to fill his offroad truck, this one will probably be about 5 (maybe less with the 60"?).

@genesispuredeaf2390

11 ай бұрын

@@merlepattersonit was actually 3

@merlepatterson

11 ай бұрын

@@genesispuredeaf2390 Was it 3? I forgot. I know it wasn't the 9 or 10 it takes for his 220.

@ZeZeBatata69

11 ай бұрын

A 550 is a pain in the ass everywhere and every time except when it's already on the job site. Both the costs of acquiring and operating that thing are astronomical.

@genesispuredeaf2390

11 ай бұрын

@@merlepatterson agreed….you were right there.

Congratulations, they are both great looking machines and seemed very smooth when you ran them.

@justinfufun5483

11 ай бұрын

Did you notice how the Hyundai was ripping over with a full bucket at full reach... without a thumb. That could create an issue down the line.

@eldonhill4840

11 ай бұрын

​​@@justinfufun5483I wouldn't call that an issue, that's to be expected when you have that size of bucket relative to the machine. That's just the tradeoff you have to be aware of when you run a large bucket, better production but you have to swing your load closer over the side of your tracks and be well aware of your tipping point

In 1989-2000 I worked for the city of Bakersfield, Ca. operating wheel loaders. They bought through the bidding process a Sam Sung equivalent of a Cat 950/John Deere 644. In one year the Sam Sung was so beat up in our normal operations and then burnt up that the city banned Sam Sung from the bidding to replace their loader. I felt that the Deere 644 was for it's size was the best of all our loaders. you put up another great video. Thanks.

So grateful for the cliffhanger. Just one more reason to anticipate another LetsDig18 video to see which one it will be. Glad business is good for you Chris.

The 330 is still on machinery trader while the Kobelco isn’t. Hmmm

@troyledbetter6597

11 ай бұрын

Good catch!

@karlschupp8552

11 ай бұрын

Plus he left the bigger bucket on it!!!!

@falcon1722002

11 ай бұрын

Yeah didn't sound like the bigger bucket was going with the 330 since the smaller one couldn't fit on the 350. My vote is 350

@Vickie-Bligh

11 ай бұрын

I also looked at Neal Equipment and the Kobelco isn't listed so I think we got our answer. Thanks feetball for the heads up!

Wonder how much of a vote Donnie gets on this choice? Price to move it around will be a factor.

@jerrymclean8075

11 ай бұрын

Yep, there is more expense to hauling these things! In NC anything 12' wide and up you have to have a chase car to help escorting it, anything under 12' no escorts are needed.

@almostanengineer

11 ай бұрын

While that’s gonna be a factor, I would expect he could build that into the jobs he bids on, so not as much a factor as ease of maintenance, etc…

@gragor11

11 ай бұрын

@@jerrymclean8075 can he be his own Pilot/chase car?

@Lee-At-Green-Pheonix-Rc

11 ай бұрын

Man thats sucks volvo wouldn't answer u after Con expo but both kobelco and hyundai are good machines so either choice Matt has an older kobelco and of course Mr Mike at Dirt Perfect has his Hyuinda 220

@jamiegibson1010

11 ай бұрын

@@gragor11 As long as you have the signs and lights. I suppose there might be a short course to get a ticket/license which I'm sure Chris would already have the knowledge.😀

I cannot believe that Volvo won’t do anything for you. Your loyalty to them and their products and this is the thanks you get…oh well it’s their loss good luck with your new machine Chris. Be safe out there.

Congratulations, they are both great looking machines and seemed very smooth.

Man its been a hell of a journey watching you from an old case backhoe and link belt to here. Congratulations man

@dennis2376

11 ай бұрын

What a road it has been, and at least there has been no snakes in the near equipment, yet. :)

They're both very nice looking machines that would be a great addition to your fleet. Congrats Chris. Can't wait to see which one you bring home.

I saw out of the corner of my eye the title of your video as I was watching a steam tractor run. And I started to tear up because I've been praying for you to have the ability to get one a BIGGER one ,one that can pull trees out of the soil like a woman plucks eyebrows, I don't know how they do it without flinching but I know what ever girl you get will be like the Shehulk nothin will mess with her, I'm so happy for you, I knew after the 550 it wouldn't be long now that was a BIG girl and you made her purr like a kitten.

Kobelco are nice and easy to work on!! Good machine there, put a lot of hours on a 350 Kobelco

We all know you'll say "I know it costs more...but I just had to get the bigger one!" It's the Kobelco. Nice one Chris. Can't wait till you get it home.

@dansbrown1313

11 ай бұрын

I'm pretty sure Chris will be taking the Hyundai home. Mike Simmons (aka "Dirt Perfect" has a 210 A Hyundai ) so now Chris will smile and say "mines bigger than yours".

That is some really really nice used equipment. I don’t think you’d go wrong with either one. I reckon just pick the one that best suits your budget, current and future needs, and that you can get parts and service for. Can’t wait to see what your ultimate decision is.

That cliffhanger is for Volvo... then us lol. Be ready for something shiny to pull up Chris. Fingers crossed lol

How about attachments cost (gotta have the Thumb)as for comments about machine movements, let's not forget "It's not the machine, it's the Operator", and Chris is a Smooth and Knowledgeable Operator. As always your videos leave us wanting "MORE".

Could also require you to get another truck to keep the digger going on a larger job. Then the productivity could be improved all round.

Maybe it was just me, but the Kobelco seemed to have visibly more ass to it's giddyup with the 60" bucket than the Hyundai. It also seemed stronger on the swing motor than the Hyundai. I know it's a slightly bigger machine. Both were pretty quick for that big of a machine.

We shall see...... to be continued! Congrats on which ever one you select. I'm sure it will become a new favorite on the big job sites.

I'm sure you will be happy with your decision - which ever machine it is. Thanks for taking us along on this investigatory trip.

They want $169,900 for the Hyundai. Not bad for a 1600hr machine. The Kobelco isn't listed on their site any longer, so I suspect we can guess which machine Chris bought... With 3 excavators and all the other equipment, Chris needs some reliable fulltime help. Just doing routine maintenance is becoming a chore and it's not sustainable as a one-man show.

@eatshitpitt1990

11 ай бұрын

Shit man, would be worth going down and helping just for the experience itself from a guy like him.

@armyranger9346

11 ай бұрын

They wanted $210,000 for the Kobelco and "someone" bought it.

@RobGreco71

11 ай бұрын

I see both on their website listed for sale? @@armyranger9346

@donnyhudgins1917

11 ай бұрын

It's still on the site for sale this morning. Both of them are.

@armyranger9346

11 ай бұрын

@@donnyhudgins1917 It is and it no longer has the 60" bucket.

Great video. 👍 it's just not right leaving us hanging. LOL Thanks for sharing 👍

That Link - Belt really is a good looking machine!!!

Not knowing Chris's local DOT weight regs, hard to say which one is going home with him. But i do know that 60 inch bucket really needs a 2nd Volvo haul truck! Lol. I'm betting Chris is gonna hit the upcoming winter auctions hard looking for a sister to his! A 2nd haul truck would cut days off a dam build.

Chris you should have looked at Linder Equipment in Greer SC. They have Komatsu Excavators.

Chris Heavy D Sparks loves his Kabelco 350, and it is a beast, as he said, he has used it in many recoveries of equipment

The ye old cliffhanger. The Kobelco moved so much smoother. I could foresee buyer's remorse with the Hyundai.

Great to see that you are growing and expanding your business. Looking forward to seeing you move a great deal of dirt. I can't see you doing any pond clearing although it would make good viewing.

You seemed to like the increased speed of the Kobelco. Guessing that's hard to ignore. And that it could handle a full big bucket fully extended without being on one track.

A cliffhanger! Can't wait for the next video installment. My instincts say you're leaning towards the Hyundai. Can't go wrong with either one.

So love the way you are not afraid, of moving forward, hope you choose Kobelco' you da man

330 is a small machine for what I’m used to running… but that seems like a great size machine for the jobs you do. Seems to be a solid machine too. Think you made a great choice on this one. 👍

New equipment! Woo woo! Love the videos and as always keep up the great work!

All I know is that whoever Chris contacted at Volvo clearly wasn’t high enough up the food chain to make sound business decisions on behalf of the company. When you have a brand ambassador with the following that Chris has, there are NO excuses to not figure out a solution to keeping VOLVO out front and center. Very stupid mistake.

@jtsokiehobbyandadventures6666

11 ай бұрын

If volvo was smart they would have done something. Cris advertising he has done for them. Wonder if he contacted Volvo and seen if they had a machine somewhere

@KipdoesStuff

11 ай бұрын

WHen there is nothing available you can't just pull it out of your ass.

@wayupnort6271

11 ай бұрын

@@jtsokiehobbyandadventures6666 in the beginning of the video Chris stated that he reached out to Volvo.

@ronarant2897

11 ай бұрын

I wouldn’t have thought Volvo would want him doing a “side by side” comparison of their machines with a competitor?

@TheFrozen1313

11 ай бұрын

lol there are companies out there that are buying more Volvo machines a year than Chris and his KZread followers combined will ever buy. Volvo isn't out here making stupid mistakes.

The empire continues to grow. Good stuff bucko!

Just to need a bigger machine and having a budget says something! Congratulations on a new machine! I would be happy with a mini and I'm working towards that

Congratulations mate, you work bloody hard for everything you’ve got, what’s next maybe a Volvo scraper ?, noticed the Kobelco has two small lines that look like bungee cords that run to the quick connect on the stick, they don’t look like they’d last a day clearing tree’s or stacking fires.

It’s so great to see how you’ve grown your business! I’m sure you’ll make the best choice for you. We had always heard that the Hyundai hydraulics were a little weak and prone to problems, but we never owned one to say first hand. Anyway, so glad to see your business is doing well and wish you all the best!

I am sooooooooooooooo beyond thrilled. Congratulations on digging rocks.

Of these two machines the Kobelco makes the most sense for the work that Chris intends to do with it. It is larger, has more lift capacity, handles the 60" bucket better (could even have a larger one if needed), and from the outside view in this video, is more responsive, faster acting, and operates smoother. The other considerations is parts/dealer availability and location for when repairs are needed. I would imagine that a grapple will be added to fully accessorize the machine. The weight difference between these two is probably not that big of a limiter since both are in the "oversized load" category and will require pretty much the same transport requirements. The Kobelco will move more dirt and clear more land faster; especially with an experienced operator like Chris. On thing I've learned over the years is that the bu++ hurt of buying a tool fades quickly if that tool performs the job admirably and above my expectations. But the buyer's remorse stays with me for as long as I own the tool if it fails to work as needed. And budget is always the killer of good ideas. And to Chris, congratulations on all of your success. It has been fun to watch you grow your business over the years. You work hard and deserve all of your success. Looking forward to seeing your continued growth. Nice job!

I have driven both , but as a owner it would be the Kobelco hands down for dig out and trade in price

Man kobelco makes a great machine. Ran a 350 for 6 months pulling 20ft trench boxes out of concrete like they were nothing.

@NorthKoreanSimp

11 ай бұрын

kobelco is junk.

Great cliffhanger video! Good job Clint, C & C Equipment has what you need.

Told you go big long ago watching the yardage you were moving. Plus the reach alone is huge for you

He can hop in any machine and make it look like he’s been operating it for years he’s a gun that’s why we like watching his channel

If the Hyundai was a 350 I don't think there would be any hesitation towards it, but I felt the Kobelco handled the bigger bucket a bit better than the Hyundai and Chris really wants the bigger bucket, so we will have to wait and see if the budget stretches to the bigger machine..🤔🤔🤔

Chris if you bought one over here in NE Oklahoma, I'd let you try it out at my pond. Lol. And years ago I hauled counter weights for Caterpillar. 😊😊

I think either machine would be good. We’ve got both and each has held up well. I like my Hyundai 330 better though. Also hugely depends on the service you can get in your area. Good Luck Buddy!!!

Man that 350 linkbelt looks nice 😍

Chris when you’re restacking the burn pile with the excavator does the hydraulic hoses ever get too hot from the fire? Iv never seen you damage one yet but why do they not burn through more often?

@dennismalcolm6620

11 ай бұрын

I HAVE ASK HIM THAT SAME QUESTION AND I DON'T KNOW IF I EVER GOT A REPLY!!!IT MUST BE FIRE PROOF 🔥

@DeweyCheatumNHoweLLC

11 ай бұрын

I know it happened once, over a holiday weekend. He was redoing the pond dam on a job, I think 2 years ago now. Just checked the playlist, it was the 10 acre pond project.

@shitloveaduck

11 ай бұрын

@@dennismalcolm6620- if you have watched for a long time he has explained why. He doesn’t leave them near the fir long enough to get damaged. Like when you move your finger through a candle flame quickly. They tolerate a lot of heat.

@andrewr2650

11 ай бұрын

It takes prolonged exposure to 500+ F to get rubber to start to melt and catch fire. While those fires can achieve 800+ down in the middle of the pile, up where he is working with the gasses are still burning off the temperature is much lower. It would probably still be enough heat if he set the stick in there and left it for a few minutes but He moves quick and all the motion up in the air is cooling them off

@dennis2376

11 ай бұрын

@@DeweyCheatumNHoweLLC That was due to leaf build up, I believe, and the leaves caught fire, due to flying embers, damaging the hose. :)

I think that the 350 would be better for you Chris it looks nicer then the other one. But it's your choice

That linkbelt looked super clean

Did you talk with DP about his machine and his thoughts? Where in PA is this place.

Chris guins , the king of dirt in north Carolina, freaking king of dirt on KZread that's for damn sure, freaking awesome Chris, gonna be sweet to see a new to you excavator in the fleet, thanks for sharing an I look forward to seeing the next video 💪🇺🇲✊🤙👌 my opinion,my opinion only, as much advertising that you have done for volvo over the years, they should give you a dang 350, but opinions very,

Another new toy for his growing fleet. Good job Chris

Kobelco. Can't wait to see the "big job" coming up. I thought the last couple of big jobs (solo mostly) were big jobs... I sure hope he has some good crew.

Is there any way to increase the counterweight on these machines to compensate of a larger than standard bucket?

Local cat dealer priced a new 320 to us at 500k now.

Rudd equipment has a Volvo 380 with 2k hours for $155,000. Surprised you didn’t look at it! Congrats on the business growing, you deserve it!

@ZeZeBatata69

11 ай бұрын

Hmm.. What type of 2k were those hours?

Kobelco, you were leaning on it at the end.

That kobelco is gonna kick some ass. Congratulations on the new purchase Chris

Bigger excavator means bigger truck and dozer! Love watching you grow!!

@jamescheever7982

11 ай бұрын

2nd haul truck n some operators

@RKHarm24

11 ай бұрын

I see the bigger Komatsu dozer sitting over there in the line up.

@jeremybell9113

11 ай бұрын

@@RKHarm24 I had the same thought!

@jeremybell9113

11 ай бұрын

@@jamescheever7982 Chris can drive two trucks 🤔😝

Now this is a cliff hanger. Chris wants that bigger bucket. Guess we will have to wait until next week.

That Link Belt is very nice! I do like the colors of it! To bad that Volvo 550 wasn’t available.

Mike really likes his Hyundai . Hopefully the 330 is as good as the 210 . Good luck with whichever you choose .

I thought the Bucyrus Erie demonstrator he's been testing out on the farm was going to be the next upgrade for the fleet. It has plenty of stick and a quick decoupler for all your attachment needs too.😂

@RUSTON51EVADP

11 ай бұрын

Nice picture of a b&e large,,wi driver side operator on the curb side.This was still pict,spreadvopen looks as fill the bill.Old sizing numbers were like 466 ,triple6, 866 and the 1o66..

I'm happy for you. The only reason you wouldn't pick the hyundai is to tick DP off ;)

I guess the 550 will have to wait on 2M subscribers. I'm guessing the KOBELCO is your choice but either should be a good addition to your equipment collection.

And a Sunday afternoon cliff hanger! Hyundai is my guess. Are you going to put your thumb on the new machine?

The big question is how easy to do daily maintenance? Are the Zert fittings in all the correct locations and didn’t see a thumb on either bucket.

@anderleof

11 ай бұрын

Zerk

I was kinda half expecting a hunt for a bigger machine after the trialling of that Volvo 550E and getting into some projects that have maybe pushed the 220's. After the talk about the dump truck yesterday I think it was, I was thinking that that might be the next piece to upgrade though.

TO BE CONTINUED?!..... your KILLING us, Chris! 😂 Congratulations on either one. 👍🍻

@johnj2748

11 ай бұрын

Kubelco is my guess. He put the larger bucket back on it. The Hyundai is still listed online and the kubelco is ‘sold’

Looking like the Kobelco is the better choice for you. It handled WAY smoother and more graceful for you. Your sideswipe grading was significantly smoother and quicker. And your draw grading also looked quick, smooth and natural. Even given the more money, I think with the ease of use, you'll finish jobs sooner and end up paying for itself sooner. It's just the best fit of the 2!

I thought from the start of the video it would be the Hyundai, but seeing the larger bucket back on the Kobelco, I changed my guess to the Kobelco

I enjoy your videos so very much. I am really looking forward to watching you use a larger machine. you make it look so easy, while you operate your equipment.

What we don’t know is there’s a EC350E out of frame that he also tested and bought. you got us good Chris 🤣🤣

@crypticchris8812

11 ай бұрын

Where?