Waikato/Auckland border is where Deals on Wheels lined up five Sunward mini excavators so the team could take a look over the latest F-Series models.
With the temperature nudging a little over thirty degrees in the shade, DOW tester Josh Simpson and I were both keenly eyeing the air-conditioned Sunward closed-cab models from the line-up of five mini excavators that New Zealand distributor Endraulic Equipment had earlier dropped off at a rural block on the Auckland/Waikato border. The Sunward F-Series machines have proven themselves popular with utility companies and owner operators, due to their strong price-point that doesn’t skimp on power availability, safety features, and add-ons usually seen on the more expensive brands.
Sunward's Mini Excavator Range
Sunward’s mini range from 1.8 to 5.6-tonnes delivers a variety of excavators suited to myriad jobs and our mission was to spend some time learning more about the features of the latest F-Series, and then bust into a pile of topsoil to get a feel of how each machine performed. Granted, we wouldn’t be operating in conditions that the mini excavators were really intended for, but it would still give us a good indication of the capabilities of each machine. One such example on the models 3.5 tonnes and above are the anti-drop valves on the dipper arm and in my opinion one of the biggest leap forwards in safety technology in the past 10 or so years. Another feature of the F-Series are the Yanmar engines, which on the two smallest models, the 1.8 and 2.0-tonne models (SWE18UF and SWE20F), now feature a larger 18hp Yanmar engine, a bigger KYB pump and drive motors. The Sunward F-Series models also come fully piped with dual auxiliary piping. “We’ve got high flow and low flow, so if you were to put on your hydraulic tilt-head there is no exiting the cab to switch between your drive unit when you’re drilling holes and your tilt mechanism, so it can be operated from inside the cab,” says Anthony Smith, sales executive for Endraulic Equipment. Piping that extends all the way down to the boom comes standard on all the F-Series models, making the addition of a hydraulic hitch a straightforward process.
With pretty much all the size bases covered in the Sunward F-Series models, a closer look at the closed-cab models shows good attention to detail including radio with twin-cab speakers and obligatory cup holders. For the operators across all the Sunward models, they will find the auxiliary hydraulic controls on the floor and Endraulic say there is an option of moving these to the operating sticks if required. Time to hit the dirt So, with a better understanding of some of the key features of the Sunward F-Series models, it is time to do a bit of earth moving. As mentioned earlier we had been given a stockpile of topsoil to dig into. Due to the drought-like conditions of the upper North Island and length of time the pile had been consolidating, it proved to be a formidable foe especially in the upper layers of the pile.
My first excavator choice was the middle of the range SWE25UF. The 2.5 tonne open-cab model looked just right for contractors who like to trailer their equipment to site behind the work ute on weekdays, while swapping out for a boat trailer at the weekends. Operation-wise, the compact mini excavator felt well-balanced, with good hydraulic oil flow throughout the arm movements. I did have to slew the arm ever so slightly to get a good view of the bucket, but I did have a digging bucket on the end of the arm as opposed to a wider weed bucket. The removable canopy should prove handy for contractors who work in confined spaces and the reach for a machine of it size while still maintaining a stable footing impressed me. SWE20F – machine weight 1940kg I’ve been considering purchasing a second-hand mini excavator for my small block of land, so opted to move down through the range of Sunward machines, while Josh busied himself with the larger models. Next on my list was the two tonne SWE20F and I was interested to see how much vision the cabbed version provided. While this model doesn’t come with air-conditioning, the opened windows and door provided good airflow and the cab kept the sun from beating in.
After using the machine for a good while, I think my first choice would be a cabbed version as along with protection from the elements, all-round vision was fine, along with the not half-bad sounds coming from the twin speakers. Power and performance felt on par with a number of other different brand mini excavators I have used previously and operating comfort was surprisingly good for a guy of my semi-generous proportions. SWE18UF – machine weight 1880kg Smallest of the Sunward F-Series range is the 1.8 tonne SWE18UF model. Frequently seen being used by utility companies and often sandwiched between the ground and the largest operator available, these sturdy little workhorses are probably responsible for a significant amount of our underground-placed connectivity.
The reason for their popularity is their simple design, along with no-nonsense control layout and ease of maintenance, not to mention pricing that bean counters find attractive.
In action, the SWE18UF worked well and at a good pace. The open cab model is a popular option and similar to the SWE25UF the canopy can be easily removed for low height work such as under house excavations.
SUMMARY In my opinion the Sunward F-Series models represent good value for money. It’s not difficult to find many older Sunward models still in regular work, which attests to their reliability and build quality. One of the reasons a lot of bean counters choose Sunward is that they realise how much extra chargeable work needs to be done to make up the price differential over more expensive brands. This alone should make the Sunward-branded mini excavators worthy of investigation by prospective purchasers.
Courtesy of Deals on Wheels
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