Is the iDig Grade Control Worth Buying? | iDig 2D System Review

[@danielplain6821]

I appreciate you doing a real world review on it, Josh. I like the fact that you can remove the sensors, control box, and indicator and take them to the shop every day.

[@LakelandSepticCompany]

Yea I take my monitor out and keep it stored in the case it came with.

[@ne.laser_jon]

you can take them with you so they don't get stolen but one of the biggest selling points of the iDig is that you can move those sensors and control box from machine to machine! The main system is for one excavator, but you can buy a '2nd machine kit' for every other excavator you want it on which adds a ton of value! Last year I set up 5 excavators for my customer for a total of around $16,000 which sounds like a lot until you get quotes for wired systems at $20k or more per machine! It's also one of the easiest systems to use in my experience and it's one of the only systems that utilizes a 2D sensor with gyros in it. So when you set a slope, it keeps that slope running in the correct direction as you swing the cab around instead of digging a cone around your excavator

[@4kequipment88]

Thanks for the shoutout, glad we could help!

[@LakelandSepticCompany]

You guys were awesome to deal with!

[@waynevincent5448]

Excellent end user review. Nice to hear a review from someone who doesn't sound like a paid promotion/infomercial. I wonder how that would work on my backhoe, cause like you said, help is hard to find, good help harder yet.

[@LakelandSepticCompany]

I would think it would work on a backhoe but could be wrong.

[@ne.laser_jon]

you can def put it on your backhoe. you'll need to install the 2D sensor where the main boom attaches to the back of the tractor so it knows what direction your boom is facing. But it's possible! It's a universal system and sometimes you need to fabricate a plate for the sensors.....but still worth it!

[@michaelsprinkle6189]

If I understand correctly, If you’re wanting to dig a straight level ditch you need to use it with a laser?

[@LakelandSepticCompany]

You can do it without a laser as well. Just a little quicker with one.

[@ne.laser_jon]

Yeah iDig sends a 3M base mount now instead of those crappy suction mounts. It's all Ram Mount components so you can change and use whatever works best for you and your machine! HINT: if you tap the top of the bucket it'll tell you your cross slope percentage. I love this system! On top of being very well priced, you can use that same system on all your excavators! All you need is a '2nd machine kit' per excavator! So it adds a TON of value. Nice video though! PS: I sell these systems and I install them. Very rarely do I sell without installing, calibrating and training the customer. Calibrating is a bit tricky but I get it installed and calibrated within a couple hours.

[@joshhamel5853]

Where are you located?

[@ne.laser_jon]

@@joshhamel5853 sunapee, NH. But I travel all over New England

[@joshhamel5853]

@@ne.laser_jon I'm interested to try one out. I'm near Burlington VT

[@ne.laser_jon]

@@joshhamel5853 I can demo the iDig for you if you'd like? I work with new England laser and transit

[@georgewilson5496]

So you have to bench it every time you move the machine ?

[@LakelandSepticCompany]

No, you set your initial elevation and then when you move the machine you just catch the laser and it does the calculations to keep you on grade.

[@ne.laser_jon]

when you move the tracks you have to re-bench. you can bench either off grade or a laser. depends how you want to work. and only need to bench when you want to check your grade or do finish grading

[@ral3178]

I welded a plate to my dog bone on a cat 301.8 and it worked great. I can always get another dog bone if I trade it in. And I welded a plate to my trenching bucket because I have better luck with no teeth. Is the 3d available in North America???

[@LakelandSepticCompany]

I’m not sure on the 3d system.

[@ne.laser_jon]

I literally just got my first order of 3D systems today! Some stuff is a bit back ordered, but they're available! Where you located?

[@alistautube]

This is awesome bro thank you for your valuable review! Im a Drainlayer in New Zealand and have not had anything like this before... Im gunna get me one!

[@LakelandSepticCompany]

Awesome man glad it helped!

[@jonathanstafford8664]

I have been thinking about buying one but my use would be septic system and footer is the Acuracy not good for the fill line ditch

[@tristardiggin]

Good info on the system.

[@moltenmetal5645]

Good video, been thinking about getting one for my 50D. Not sure now after seeing the price for the first time. Sure it's worth it if one did lots of grade critical jobs, not sure i do enough to justify it.

[@LakelandSepticCompany]

We typically only use it for tank installs now but we justify it with safety. You’d definitely have to use it often to pay that price.

[@davida6383]

Hey Josh, could you give me any insight on how to to get ahold of drain field chambers in south Florida or Fl for that matter? I’m going to replace my personal home drain field and haven’t had much luck finding any local.. Help would be very much appreciated. Thanks

[@LakelandSepticCompany]

In Florida you have to be a contractor to buy septic material so it will be pretty tough to find.

[@davida6383]

@@LakelandSepticCompany Thanks for the info. I’m one scheduled test/application away from having my GC license. Thinking about gettin certified for plumbing/septics down the road. I have the machinery to dig/replace septics and have done the older wrapped corrugated and stone method on a house that is still working today. I believe the chambers are superior to that system so I wanted to use them on another house. I’ve found ADS arc 24 chambers for $50 a piece from a company locally who will sell to me. Is that a decent price/product?

[@LakelandSepticCompany]

@@davida6383 that’s a good bit more than we pay per chamber by about $20

[@kubota33]

Can you just weld something on the dog bone to mount the sensor easier on the outside? Love your machine. I own the same machine.

[@LakelandSepticCompany]

Yea you definitely could. Honestly it hasn’t been an issue aside from the last month or so. I kinda like it being on the inside so it’s protected while digging.

[@ne.laser_jon]

Kubota is a pain because they don't have any room on the couplers. You can put the bucket sensor on the quick coupler, ears of the bucket or on either of the dog bones. So Josh here could have put it on the flat dogbone. I prefer the coupler or bucket because calibration is MUCH faster. I don't like going on the inside because it may be protected from large debris, but a small rock could cause big issues. The bucket sensor can also be moved and you just have to calibrate new buckets

[@CMEDIRTWORK]

Did you ever tryout a magnetic laser receiver on the stick of the excavator?

[@LakelandSepticCompany]

No I haven’t. Wouldn’t it need to be reset as the machine moved along the trench?

[@andreas4687]

try laser receiver in a small deep hole, not possible

[@xxxmikeyjock]

wont be accurate on the stick, for grading I stick mine on the side of the bucket to reduce the variables that will cause error. it still isnt tight grading but will get you within a mile

[@smedleypdolittle]

After the first 5 minutes of use, magnet moved! The Trimble magnet isn’t strong enough!

[@carlos-ej5ht]

Hi. how long ago do you buy it? and where do you purchase from ? I am interesteted in getting one. thangs

[@LakelandSepticCompany]

We bought ours from 4k equipment

[@carlos-ej5ht]

@@LakelandSepticCompany

[@carlos-ej5ht]

thank. we got outwards with them to

[@dirtdiggler1980]

What’s pricing if you don’t mind on that setup ?

[@LakelandSepticCompany]

I paid a little over $10k for the 2d system

[@dirtdiggler1980]

@@LakelandSepticCompany right on man appreciate that. So I am in canada so I’d be like 40% more with the exchange good to know. Great content that’s for the videos.

[@LakelandSepticCompany]

@@dirtdiggler1980 no problem. Thank you.

[@xxxmikeyjock]

@@dirtdiggler1980 they look like the closest dealer to the wet coast of BC. we need a cdn dealer.

[@CdnElJefe]

@@xxxmikeyjock Brandt Tractor is an iDig dealer now. If you call your closest branch they can get you pricing and info. 👍

[@Kleiminc]

Thank you

[@darinhaas3798]

Watch out. The I Dig Combo sensor’s antennas are junk and break off. I’m on my second sensor already and that one just broke today. $1,000 + everytime you break one.

[@LakelandSepticCompany]

Mine doesn’t have an antenna that can break off.

[@darinhaas3798]

It absolutely does. Its a wireless system so to communicate with the other sensors it sends radio signals back and forth. Its a thin peace of copper wire under the clear cover. I have 2 I-digs and both have had antennae failures. Take the sensors off if you work in rock use a hammer or vib plate. My salesman said they will take the abuse but they can’t.

[@LakelandSepticCompany]

@@darinhaas3798 gotcha. In all honesty we stopped using ours. We started having very unreliable readings and couldn’t get any support to help solve the issue so we are shopping other manufacturers at the moment.

[@buildingallday]

@@LakelandSepticCompany I am curious, in what scenarios will you have unreliable reading? And did you find any new manufacturers with a system that you like?

[@snowman5217]

@@LakelandSepticCompany Did 4k quit helping you with support?

[@FPVForLife]

This is a pretty good video for the setup. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJ-5haaajK6MhZI