Incline Village lies on the north shore of Lake Tahoe, Nevada, in an area spanning 56 km² (35 sq. miles). Its General Improvement District (IVGID) is a community partner which provides utility and recreational facilities for the 8,500-strong population in the Village. As a popular tourist destination boasting facilities such as ski trails and mountain biking, maintaining the area for both residents and tourists alike is an important task. For Fleet Superintendent Rich Allen, it’s a task which has become a whole lot easier since he took delivery of a Multihog back in September 2018. The MX 120 multi-purpose tractor is fitted with a Pronovost snow blower for winter use. A front-mounted flail mower is used for the summer season, and the Multihog has been used year-round since its arrival.
“We mostly use our Multihog for snow blowing on sites related to the water and sewer system. In summer, it mows ski slopes for us, as well as the off-site water treatment ponds,” explains Rich.
The District traded in an old machine from a competing manufacturer. It was used with a snowblower, and Rich says it had a lot of mechanical problems. The operators were also vocal about its lack of comfort. Rich took this feedback into account when choosing a new machine, as he considers staff happiness an important part of the District’s responsibility: “The area the Multihog operates in is within an 11-mile radius of the Public Works office. It doesn’t sound that far, but if you’re driving an old, bumpy machine all day, it matters. The operators LOVE the driveability and comfort of the Multihog for their longer journeys.”
Other factors which influenced the decision to purchase were the Multihog’s simple design, high level of comfort, and the fact that it is hydrostatically driven. As their previous machine was also multifunctional, the IVGID were keen to maintain that feature in the new addition.
Rich says he has seen 3 major benefits since the Multihog joined the fleet: a drastic improvement in operator comfort, better driveability, and crucially, (for snow removal), increased reliability.
Aside from the mower and snow blower they already use with the MX, Rich says they are planning to get even more out of their Multihog, by adding an easement attachment for the sewer department to use.
From a health and safety perspective, the Multihog has also brought about advantages for the District. “We added a huge rear bumper/grill and extra lights, which help our operators to identify hazards. The MX is also much safer when driving at speed than our previous machine. For our operators, the smooth ride, quiet cab and all-round comfort the Multihog offers is above and beyond what they’ve been used to,” explains Rich.
As Fleet Superintendent, reliability is a huge factor for Rich. His previous machine had a lot of problems, and in that regard, the Multihog has been a breath of fresh air for the whole team. “From a maintenance standpoint we have far fewer problems and downtime than other similar equipment in our fleet and parts and service support from local dealer Alpine Smith Inc. has been outstanding!”
“My operators love the Multihog. Even the bigger operators tell me how much more comfortable it is."
"We’re cleaning the streets more efficiently, so that is definitely an environmental benefit for our city."
"The Multihogs were ideal for us. As they’re much lighter than our old machines, we can use them to remove snow from our boardwalks and sidewalks."
"The driving experience absolutely convinced me. I love driving it, the suspension is amazing. To be honest, the comfort level could not be better."
I knew it must be a really good piece of equipment, and my instincts were right - our two machines have been operating flawlessly.
“Since the purchase of our first Multihog in 2019, they have proven to be a valuable asset in our machinery fleet."
"I recognized straight away that a Multihog could serve our city well. We’ve got 8 attachments for it, and it’s taken the place of multiple machines."
"Apart from the environmental benefits, it’s also really, really comfortable to drive and I'm relieved that it has improved our operational safety."
“Our cycle paths are very neat in just one sweep/working passage. This ensures the safety of our residents, especially during autumn and winter."
“From a maintenance standpoint we have far fewer problems and downtime than other similar equipment in our fleet."
“Our MH outperforms our older snow blower by at least 200%. It can handle all types of snow with a greater output and much faster.”
"The suspension really allows an incredibly high level of driver comfort, and we’re amazed by the performance of the PTO hydraulics."
"The Multihog has performed very well on the reliability front compared to other machines. It’s a really solid and extremely strong machine."
"My colleagues are so much happier using this machine. It’s more ergonomic, warm and comfortable for them."
"Our 2 machines can do so many things, and although they’re small and compact, they’re so well built that they do the work of much larger equipment"
"The Multihog puts us at a professional level that’s unmatched by our competition"
"The Multihogs are working really well for us. The operators have found them straightforward to use and we hope to add to our range of attachments."
"The Multihog doesn’t vibrate like our old machine, and it’s so quiet I don’t even need to wear ear protection - no post-shift fatigue anymore!"
DHL at Leipzig-Halle airport operate a fleet of 12 Multihog tractors equipped with combi snow plough & brush attachments, de-icing sprayers and V snow
"It’s one machine that does it all - safely and efficiently. Very comfortable in the cabin too, which makes work more enjoyable for the operator."
"The only way to compare the Multihog to other machines is to compare the comfort of an old vintage car to a brand new car. - there is no comparison"
"At that point the snow is super dense, icy and solid; it’s pretty hard to shift, but it’s no problem for the MX. This tractor is really, really good"
"Our asphalt grinding process is faster and more efficient now, we tested it and we’re definitely covering more feet per hour than before"
"The Multihog is a different animal from anything we’ve ever had – the articulation, rubberised tyres and 4-wheel drive ticks a lot of our boxes."
“We try to improve our operations with each new purchase of equipment & this has certainly been the case with the acquisition of our Multihogs"
X