By Mike Anderson
LAS VEGAS – There’s no truth to the rumor that, under Manitou Group, the Mustang brand will quietly go away.
At a press conference on the opening morning of CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011, Manitou company officials confirmed 123-year-old Mustang is “here to stay” along with its big sister Gehl – a message backed up the corresponding introduction of the vertical-lift Mustang 3300V and Gehl V300 “skid loaders.”
With more than 131 inches of lift and a rated operating capacity of 3,300 pounds, the 84-horsepower Mustang 3300V and Gehl V300 skid steers provide the “performance customers demand from a machine this size,” says Kelly Moore, product manager for both product lines. Braced by thick steel plating, the lift arm design provides optimal views to the sides of the loader and a direct line-of-sight to the bucket cutting edge, he says.
Electronic engine control and foot throttle allow the Yanmar-powered Gehl and Mustang machines to be operated at partial throttle when the workload allows for reduced fuel consumption and lower sound level. A high-flow auxiliary hydraulics option is available for both models.
Unique to the Gehl V330, the Hydraglide ride control system is standard.
