ASV Rubber Track Loaders
The Original Compact Track Loader Manufacturer Still Offers the Largest
Product Line Today
History
In 1983, ASV Inc. was founded by two snowmobile pioneers — Gary Lemke and Edgar Hetteen in Marcell, Minn. Lemke was one of the top snowmobile dealers in the United States and Hetteen had founded Polaris Industries and Arctic Enterprises (the two leading snowmobile manufacturers in the country). That first year, ASV engineers designed an all-terrain transport vehicle called a Track Truck, geared toward hauling crews and cargo for utility companies and ski resorts. But trucks with tracks would not be ASV’s end-all, breakout product. By 1987, ASV engineers had begun to develop another innovative track machine —a compact construction loader with a dedicated track undercarriage system. In 1990, ASV introduced the MD-70 version of its Posi-Track series, and the compact track loader market was born in North America.
By the end of the 1990s, ASV’s compact track loaders began to catch the attention of America’s largest equipment manufacturers. Soon after ASV engineers introduced the company’s Maximum Traction and Support System undercarriage in 1997, Caterpillar Inc., the largest manufacturer of construction equipment in the world, began to take notice. In 1998, Caterpillar signed an agreement to begin selling ASV’s Posi-Tracks through Caterpillar’s North American dealer network. But soon Cat wanted its own machines, so with ASV’s help, Caterpillar developed a unique line of compact track loaders — called Multi Terrain Loaders (MTLs). Today, ASV still supplies the undercarriages for Cat’s MTLs, while still having the largest line of compact track loaders on the market.
Products
ASV has been building its latest RC-Series of Rubber Track Loaders since 1998. In fact, the company boasts it is has built more models over more years than any other manufacturer in the industry. Today, ASV has nine different Rubber Track Loaders in its product line — the most of any one manufacturer on the market. Those models include the RC-30, RC-50, RC-60, RC-85, RC-100, RC-30 Turf Edition, RC-50 Turf Edition, RC-60 Turf Edition and RCV. For more in-depth information on each model, read the descriptions below.
RC-30
The RC-30 Rubber Track Loader is changing the way
people think about compact track loaders. Although it’s a compact machine (about the size of an ATV), it can
perform more work in varying terrains than larger track loaders or skid steers. The RC-30 uses ASV’s latest R-Series Traction and Support System (RTSS rubber track undercarriage) with suspension to give it only 2.5-psi ground
pressure, making it sensitive enough to work on turf, sod and pavement without causing damage.
Yet the RC-30 has the power and traction to dig, grade, backfill, remove snow and perform a variety of other tasks. With precision, low-effort joystick controls, it’s easy to become productive in just a few hours. The operator station features excellent all-around visibility, a comfortable sitting area and a full spectrum of gauges and switches in the heads-up position make for quick, easy access. Equipped with a rugged Caterpillar diesel engine, the RC-30 offers excellent and reliable power. With 30 hp and a machine weight of only 3,000 lbs, the power to weight ratio is excellent. The RC-30 is also available in a unique Turf Edition configuration with special smooth, green rubber tracks.
RC-50
Anybody using a mid-sized skid steer loader now has a track alternative — the RC-50 Rubber Track Loader. As with all other ASV machinery, the RC-50 uses ASV’s proprietary and unique rubber-tracked undercarriage system. The RTSS undercarriage on the machine utilizes 15-in. wide rubber tracks and 24-wheeled contact points. As a result, it delivers traction and stability not found in wheeled equipment with a ground pressure of only 2.7 lbs per sq in. The RC-50 provides plenty of power too with its Perkins 404C-22 engine, generating 50 hp (37.3 KW) and peak torque of 105 ft/lbs. The RC-50 has an operating capacity of 1,500 lbs and a top speed of 8 mph. The RC-50 is also available in a unique Turf Edition configuration with cool, smooth, green rubber tracks.
RC-60
The ASV RC-60 is a mid-sized Rubber Track Loader that combines power, performance and an outstanding list of leading-edge features. Topping the list is ASV’s award-winning RTSS II rubber track undercarriage technology with
suspension. This advanced system gives you maximum
traction and stability for working more productively in a wider range of conditions. The RC-60 also offers more performance and versatility than any other loader in its size class, say ASV officials. It features a 60-hp, 2.2-liter, four-cylinder Perkins 404C-22T that’s turbocharged for rock-solid performance even at higher altitudes.
The RC-60’s hydrostatic drive system includes ASV’s Posi-Power Control (PPC). This hydrostat automatically adjusts to match available engine horsepower.
As a result, it’s easier for the experienced operator to run the RC-60 at its peak potential. For the newer operator, it means better productivity with reduced chances of engine stalls. The RC-60 is designed to lift and place large loads with a rated operating capacity of 1,900 lbs. Loader arms feature a new, robust design similar to ASV’s larger Rubber Track Loaders. The RC-60 also comes standard with selectable self-leveling. Like the RC-30 and RC-50, the RC-60 is also available in a unique Turf Edition configuration with special smooth, green rubber tracks.
RC-85
The new ASV RC-85 delivers excellent performance, thanks to its careful balance of weight and power. It’s the same size as ASV’s flagship RC-100, but with less weight and an 86-hp diesel engine. The result is a great combination of power and
agility, making this full-size loader the best ASV solution for tough applications where you need maximum efficiency. With a 3,400-lb rated
operating capacity, it’s also excellent for spearheading loading and material handling jobs. The RC-85 is powered by the Perkins 1104C-44 N.A. diesel engine —
a 4.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine with high output, low
emissions and low sound.
This unit also features one of the most advanced hydraulic systems available, say ASV officials. Tracks are directly driven by single-speed drive motors with travel speeds up to 6 mph. The hydraulic system provides up to 38 gpm to the standard high-flow auxiliary circuit on demand or 20 gpm to the low-flow circuit. The RC-85’s load-sensing hydraulic system is highly efficient too,
producing up to 10 percent more hydraulic horsepower compared to less efficient systems.
RC-100
The RC-100 is ASV’s flagship Rubber Track Loader. It was designed from the ground up to take full advantage of its suspended rubber track undercarriage. It is the most
powerful and productive of the ASV RC-Series product line. The RC-100 is powered by the Perkins 1104C-44T
turbocharged diesel engine. It is a 4.4-liter, four-cylinder diesel engine that offers high output with low emissions
and low sound. In fact, with 304 ft-lbs of torque, ASV’s RC-100 has more available torque than any other compact track loader on the market, notes company officials. The Posi-Power Control system is an integral part of the RC-100’s powertrain. PPC is a power management system that lets you work the RC-100 to its fullest potential as it automatically shifts the hydrostat to match available engine horsepower.
The RC-100 is designed from the ground up to run on a suspended rubber track undercarriage. That means there are no compromises when it comes to machine width, ground clearance and machine balance. It also means you get maximum traction and a smoother ride. Forty-two wheeled contact points spread the machine weight over 18-in. wide rubber tracks, exerting only 3.5 psi of ground pressure. As with all ASV equipment, there is no steel inside the rubber tracks so operation is smooth, quiet and with much less friction. Also, a new tilt-up ROPS/FOPS canopy makes access to the hydraulic system quick and easy. Service to the engine and cooling package is through a
tilt-up rear hood.
RCV Vertical Lift
The RCV is a vertical lift rubber track loader that excels at jobs requiring higher lift height, longer reach and
high-flow hydraulics. The RCV’s innovative pivoting loader linkage results in a near-vertical lift path, keeping the load close to the machine throughout the lift cycle. This maximizes the RCV’s 4,000-lb rated operating capacity, so you can lift and place heavy loads yet still have reach at full lift to center-load, high-sided dump trucks or hoppers.
The RCV provides a great combination of power and
agility. It is powered by the 86-hp Perkins 1104C-44 N.A. diesel engine. Machine weight has been carefully matched to the horsepower rating, so you get exceptionally quick response and fast cycle times. The RCV is the first vertical lift rubber track loader that allows exceptional visibility to the rear, sides and forward of the machine, say company officials. The RCV comes standard with many time-saving features including a hydraulic quick-attach, quick-connect hydraulic fittings and selectable self-leveling. The RCV Vertical Lift Loader was introduced in March 2005 at CONEXPO-CON/AGG.
Advice to Buyers:
“Check out machine width before buying,” says Brad Lemke, director of new product development at ASV. “As they are compact track loaders, you will want a machine that can work in tight quarters, have good stability and is easy to transport. Some manufacturers are creating tracked loaders that are not all that compact, with unreasonable machine widths that are less maneuverable and more difficult to transport.”
Contact Info:
ASV Inc.
840 Lily Lane
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Phone: (800) 346-5954
Web: www.asvi.co
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