All I Want for Christmas
A Ditch Witch XT1600 Tops CE’s Gift Grab Bag of Innovative Compact Equipment

Every silly season has its ultimate gift list. While some suckers are holding out for a steely new grill, PlayStation 3 or foot-tall talking Jesus doll, I’m hoping to see orange and black under my big, bright ornamental tree this year.

I’m asking for a new Ditch Witch XT1600. There’s no need to get me anything else. I’ll be set with my new Ditch Witch Excavator-Tool Carrier. It’s pretty big, so no need to wrap it either. Just put one of those big bows on top (you pick the color).

What? Only one holiday goody for Mr. Gribbins this year?

Well, it really is more than just one present, and well, it does cost $60,000. But hey, the new XT1600 is an excavator, loader and all-terrain tool carrier wrapped into one (that there’s a bargain). With its quick-attach plate, the XT1600 can wield both compact utility loader and skid steer attachments. It could easily trench, auger, break, grab or pick and place palletized loads all the live long day. With its dedicated undercarriage, the XT1600 only exerts 5.8 psi of ground pressure, touting more traction and
comfort in tough terra firm and more sensitivity when it comes to delicate surfaces. With a dedicated excavator (sporting a dig depth of 11 ft, 2 in. and boom sweep of 260 degrees), this machine is a great ditch digger in confined places. It’s my favorite do-it-all machine that came out this year, and it will look awesome sitting in our office parking lot (my publisher is going to be so jealous).

The Ditch Witch XT1600 is just one of many innovate compact machines released in 2006. And while it might top my Christmas list, maybe your holidays are calling for a new Gehl 7810E skid steer, Bobcat 2300 4x4 UTV or Kenco self-leveling pipe hook attachment.

If that’s the case, check out this year’s ultimate construction equipment wish list. Turn to page 44 in this issue and thumb through “The Next Evolution in Innovation.”

Our overworked CE staff has scoured the countryside all year, searching for the best compact machines out there. We visited every trade show (from the World of Concrete to the Green Industry Expo) and every major product launch (from Komatsu Field Days to the Honda Grand Prix) to see what iron was making the most waves in the construction, landscape and rental industries.

We found nine machines that really tickled our fancy and six attachments that broke new ground for innovation. We’re sorry we could not include every original and pioneering piece of equipment out there, but we’ll be covering innovation in every issue of CE in 2007. That’s a promise. Just make sure you pony up to our Web site at www.compactequip.com or fill out the reader service card in this issue to guarantee that you and your crews are signed up for CE in 2007. It just might be the second best gift you get this year.

Keith Gribbins
Managing Editor
kgribbins@benjaminmedia.com

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