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testimonial: Lake erie tree service

avant 860 turns challenges into opportunities for this ohio-based tree service

Some contractors have an “aha” moment when they find the perfect machine for a specific task. For Jim Lowe, co-owner of Lake Erie Tree Service LLC, the game-changing machine is an Avant articulated loader with a grapple attachment.

“Since getting the Avant, we’ve halved the time we spend cleaning up brush after trimming trees or clearing land,” he said. Due to the articulated design, “we can grab brush and turn around almost instantly in a very tight area. The way the grapple works, plus the speed of the machine, allows us to get in and out so fast.”

Before the Avant, Lowe tried several solutions for picking up brush. “We had a lot of Toro Dingos, but they got to be a headache. Then we moved up to a skidsteer, but they are almost too big and bulky. It’s hard to get a skidsteer into places without tearing up the yard. The Avant is wheeled and has turf tires – it almost floats over the yard. That’s way more beneficial for us and the customers. The Avant is articulating and pivots in the middle, vs. a skidsteer you have to spin to turn, so the Avant can turn really sharply,” Lowe said. “The Avant picks up a lot more weight than most people think, even when loading logs,” he added. Additionally, the Avant grapple attachment is designed so that “one side can close up tighter than the other if you grab an uneven load,” helping to secure brush or logs until they’re loaded into a chipper or trailer. The Avant’s telescoping boom reaches high enough to load a dump truck, another reason why it’s Lowe’s preferred machine.

Lowe started Oregon, Ohio-based Lake Erie Tree Service in 2009, when he was still in his teens. His cousin, Dave Studer, is co-owner. Both got their first taste of tree work cutting firewood on their grandmother’s property. Today, the company has about 20 employees and its services include land clearing, tree removal, trimming, stump griding, and firewood. They primarily work for contractors and municipalities clearing land for new structures, sidewalks and roads, and removing hazardous trees on city property. Private homeowners are a smaller part of their market.

Lake Erie Tree Service first purchased an Avant 700 series, then added a larger Avant 860i to the fleet. “With the time savings and the reduced down time, the 860i is a complete game changer,” Lowe said. “Down time is very minimal compared to a lot of other pieces on the market” despite sometimes harsh work environments.

Outfitted with a grapple, the Avant is Lowe’s perfect solution for brush cleanup. With more than 200 attachments, an Avant could be the ultimate tool for your needs, too. Contact your local dealer today for the right Avant solution to your most time-consuming tasks.

View the testimonial from our dealer partners at Columbus Equipment Company here: https://youtu.be/vDVVbuHivHA