LiuGong Skid Steers Summarized — 2018 Spec Guide
The 385B Skid Loader Is Designed for the Demanding North American Market
LiuGong is a leading global manufacturer of construction equipment. The 385B skid loader from LiuGong North America is the product being offered to U.S. and Canadian customers.
North American contractors have begun to turn more and more to compact track loaders. While compact track loaders give them greater versatility for working on rough or unimproved terrain, there will always be a need for wheeled skid loaders. Among its compact lineup of machines, the 385B has been a star performer. One of the most unique things about the 385B is its appearance. Its curves are part of an overall design that promotes worksite safety and increases operational precision by maximizing the operator’s visibility and control. Rounding off its corners gives operators a wider, less obstructed view of the worksite and of any attachment being used, whether it’s a bucket, blade, fork or other attachment.
The operator’s panoramic view and the unit’s overall balance and stability improve safety, maneuverability and handling in confined spaces — on or inside trailers, between buildings or working next to walls or other vehicles and machines. Its curves have a second benefit, however. The company discovered that shaping metal and glass makes units structurally stiffer, less noisy and less capable of transmitting sound vibrations. The company engineered this into the design to reduce noise levels in the cab even further. The 385B easily achieves compliance with Tier 4 Final emissions standards with its 3.3-liter Yanmar engine rated at 72 hp, turning 2,400 rpm. This engine permits high torque with low fuel consumption. It also uses a diesel particulate filter (DPF). You will not need diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) for the 385B.
It has an operating weight of 8,250 lbs with 0.66-cu-yd bucket capacity. It has a dump clearance at full height of 8.4 ft, a rated load of 2,304 lbs and a static tipping load of 4,608 lbs. It’s based on a mono-block frame and features a trapezoid box boom frame. The cab tilts back more than 80 degrees, making it easy to service the engine and change the hydraulic oil filter. The 385B features a mechanical quick-coupler compatible with a wide range of implements that makes switching from one attachment to another quick and easy. The standard open-center hydraulic system provides a flow of 21 gpm, with an option for 32-gpm high-flow hydraulics. Other options include two-speed operation and a self-leveling valve for parallel lift. Ground clearance on the 385B is 7 ft, 9 in., and its front clearance radius with the bucket is 7 ft, 8 in.
Additional standard equipment on the machine include a control safety interlock, boom interlock and manual quick-coupler. The 385B is also equipped with an enclosed ROPS/FOPS cab complete with air conditioning and heater, as well as a two-speed motor and foot throttle.
Advice to Buyers
“The best advice I can give for buying a skid loader is to know the hydraulic requirements of the attachments you intend to run,” says Hugo Chang, product manager with LiuGong. “Mismatching a tool attachment to a machine’s hydraulic capability will guarantee disappointment. Once you’ve determined the skid loader is a match, then you can go through a thorough pre-purchase inspection routine.”
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