Low Cost vs. Low Price

Enlarge Image Image 1. The XRM 945.

Since Xtreme Manufacturing, Las Vegas, entered the highly competitive telescopic handler market three years ago, demand for telehandlers has only continued to rise. With very specific ideas about how equipment should perform, Don Ahern, president of Ahern Equipment Rental, and owner of Xtreme Manufacturing, has poured his heart and soul into the development of the Xtreme product line.

 

Although it has been a struggle to manage a growing manufacturing concern alongside a large equipment rental business, Ahern's perseverance is manifested in a consistent flow of new products. Introduced in late 2003, the XRM 945 is one of the newer products available in the 9,000-pound class, the fastest growing segment among pick-and-carry style machines.

 

Among its five high-mounted boom models, the XRM 945 falls in the middle of the company's product line, featuring 9,000 pounds maximum capacity and a 45-foot maximum lift height. Part One of a two-part review of the XRM 945 (Image 1) follows. Additional compact and rotating boom style machines are also available from Xtreme through an import agreement with an Italian manufacturer.

 

Under cover

Earlier this year, I had the chance to visit Xtreme Manufacturing's facility and see the XRM 945 as it was being assembled. Getting a look at a machine in its unfinished state makes it easier to appreciate what's underneath the final paint job, including the quality of material, welds, components, and paint processes.

 

Enlarge Image Image 2. Frames, staged for their turn down the assembly line, use 1-1/4 inch steel.

Frames fabricated of 1-1/4 inch steel plate make up the chassis, which is pre-painted in its entirety. (See Image 2.) Contributing to the clean and neat overall finish is a two-part epoxy etching primer. The etching feature means that the primer penetrates into the metal for maximum adherence. The topcoat includes a two-part polyurethane enamel. The finish is simply lustrous to both the eye and the touch.

 

Enlarge Image Image 3. The boom features sealed bearing rollers with bronze bushings used in critical pivot points.

The XRM 945 utilizes a roller boom assembly (Image 3) in which a dry boom rides on huge heavy-duty rollers. All the boom rollers and pivot points feature sealed bearings. Melonite-treated steel pins • a rust inhibitor • are mated with bronze bu

Enlarge Image Image 4. The carriage tilt cylinder is positioned to protect it from damage.

shings, which also ride on sealed bearings. These are intended to last the lifetime of the machine.

 

As you can see in Image 4, the carriage tilt cylinder is positioned on top of the boom head, thereby minimizing the chance of damage to the rod. Having replaced more than a few bottom-mounted cylinders on other makes of telehandlers in its rental fleet, Ahern chose to mount the cylinder where it is more protected. But just in case something is dropped on it, the cylinder rod is induction treated for increased hardness. The main lift cylinders pull double duty by also acting as the master cylinder for the carriage tilt cylinder.

Power and control

Enlarge Image Image 5. The Perkins model 1104 Turbo diesel engine sits inside the frame.

Xtreme uses an innovative three-section aluminum radiator supplied by A.K.G. of America, Mebane, Ga. The top section is a normal engine block cooler, and the middle section is the transmission oil cooler. The lower section, however, is dedicated to the turbo-charger. Pre-cooling the air boosts engine performance, but also helps the 108-hp Perkins 1104 diesel engine (Image 5) meet Tier II emissions. The engine, which is mounted mid-chassis and in line with the frame, is mounted directly to a Carraro TLB2 four-speed forward and reverse power shift transmission. An independent electric fuel pump self-primes the injectors when — not if — the unit runs out of diesel fuel. The engine, hydraulic pump, and valves are housed under fiberglass covers. Not your everyday fiberglass, Kevlar is woven into the fibers for additional reinforcement. The starter battery is stored in a rear compartment under a heavy steel hood designed to protect it from damage. A lock, protecting it from theft, would be a nice addition.

 

HAWE Hydraulics, Charlotte, N.C., provides the full-pressure mechanical-over-hydraulic boom controls. This design, which is intended to provide reliability and precise positive control, will be discussed in detail in Part Two. Hydraulic flow is provided by a Kawasaki variable displacement piston pump, which has an excellent track record in brutal hydraulic excavator applications. Pump model K3VL80 supplies up to 50 gpm at 2,300 rpm.

 

Although it seems minor in the broad scheme of things, the first item to wear out on any piece of construction equipment is the seat cushion. Frequent climbs in and out of the cab and exposure to the elements do a number on the upholstery. The XRM 945 is equipped with a fully adjustable suspension seat provided by Grammer of Hudson, Wis., which features easy-to-remove back and bottom cushions. Likewise, the dashboard is protected by a scratch-resistant Lexan shield. The clear cover is cut with oversized openings for all the switches and controls — a quick and cost-effective way to replace the cover and keep the control panel and decals legible.

 
Get what you pay for

Listed at $115,000 MSRP, which includes foam-filled tires and auxiliary hydraulics as standard equipment, this isn't the most competitively priced telehandler on the market. But consistent with Ahern's philosophy on the real cost of ownership, initial purchase price has very little to do with the Xtreme's overall cost. Regardless of your application — rental, framing, masonry, or steel erection — long-term maintenance costs and downtime associated with an out-of-service machine all affect the true return on your investment. Next issue, I'll give you my analysis of the unit's overall productivity and serviceability.