A progressive arborist and firewood business has commissioned a new Toyota Huski skid-steer loader to help grow the business and increase safety.
Above The Rest Tree Care, based at Conjola on the New South Wales south coast, commissioned the Toyota Huski 5SDK8 earlier this year.
Company principal Jesse Chinnock said it is the company's first skid-steer loader.
"We've been in operation for six years now and the time was right to add a skid-steer loader, both to progress the business and for added health and safety benefits - by using the Huski to lift heavy items," he said.
Mark Elvins, area sales manager from the Toyota Material Handling Australia (TMHA) Queanbeyan branch, sold and delivered the Toyota Huski skid-steer loader.
"I had plenty of experience with Toyota Huskis through the business where I used to work and colleagues who have had four to five thousand hours of service from them," Mr Chinnock said.
"They are reliable and robust machines, and they're well priced for what you get.
"Mark Elvins first visited me three years ago to ask about adding a Toyota Huski skid steer loader to the fleet, and he has been terrific in his back-up and support. He's always happy to do things to help out," he said.
"I have bought a variety of equipment in the last six years and have had some unsatisfactory experiences with companies that forget you after you've made the purchase."
Mr Chinnock said the first service on the Toyota Huski was a good example of Toyota's different approach.
"I realised I had missed the scheduled service mark by 10 hours, so I rang Mark at TMHA. It was already mid-afternoon, but he contacted a service technician who was in Nowra that day and he drove 45 minutes to see us.
"By then it was late in the day, but the technician did the service and gave me some extra tips on how to look after the loader," he said.
"I was amazed by the promptness and quality of service," Mr Chinnock said.
The 39kW Toyota Huski 5SDK-8 has an operating load of 650kg and a dumping height of 2.190 metres.
Its compact 1530mm overall width provides easy access to confined worksites.
Key features include the Toyota Safety System and the option of a four-in-one bucket.
The Toyota Huski 5SDK-8 is one of six Toyota skid-steer models that cover operating loads up to the 900kg Huski 5SDK-11, all sold and backed nationally by Toyota Material Handling Australia.
Jesse Chinnock with his Toyota Huski skid steer loader