Tim Thorn vividly recalls the day he first laid eyes on the vintage Jaden mini loader that would become an essential part of his daily life. Living on acreage in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, the mini loader was a part of the property he purchased 15 years ago from an elderly couple moving into a retirement village. During Tim’s inspection, the previous owner, a petite man, was busy using the mini loader to drag a massive black wattle out of the dam. “Not sure if he was just showing off, but I was suitably impressed,” Tim recalls.
Tim has had the vintage Jaden mini loader for fifteen years, and it has become an indispensable tool on his property. The original receipt shows that the previous owner bought it second-hand in 1988 for $6,000 from Self Drive Bobcats and Mini Loaders in Tallai. Over the years, the mini loader has been a daily workhorse. “It’s used almost daily in any situation where I’d have to pick up a spade or a wheelbarrow. I don’t think I even own a wheelbarrow,” Tim says upon reflection.
The mini loader has tackled a wide range of tasks on Tim’s property. From moving mountains of basalt for rock retaining walls to transporting road base, topsoil, and turf, its versatility is unmatched. “The carryall attachment is great for moving fridges, furniture, and even an elevated work platform when you need it,” Tim says proudly.
Operating the mini loader is a unique experience for Tim. “It’s a full-body experience driving this thing,” he enthuses. The way he shifts his body weight makes a significant difference, especially when the loader is front-heavy. “You are often hanging your butt way back to stop it doing an endo. The hydraulics are basically either on or off (at least until you get the hang of finessing it!), and the throttle is operated by moving the lever between your knees. It’ll throw the uninitiated off the back in an instant, but it’s poetry in motion once you get the hang of it.”
The mini loader has been central to many significant projects on Tim’s property. “Probably retaining walls,” Tim states as reflecting on his biggest project, “It’s moved hundreds of meters of fill and countless tons of basalt for dry stacked walls.”
One of the most surprising aspects of the mini loader has been its reliability. “Despite my best efforts (and occasionally loaning it out against my better judgment!), it remains basically indestructible.”
Keeping the vintage Jaden mini loader running has required minimal work. “Almost nothing apart from routine servicing,” Tim notes. “I changed a counterbalance valve with a small leak a few years ago, but that’s all.”
For other mini loader owners, Tim offers some handy tips. “The machine is very light (390kg), which is both a blessing and a curse. That means it’s no problem loading it onto a single axle 6×4 trailer, but it needs more weight for a spreader bar or ripper to be effective. Water in the tires and any additional ballast is helpful!”
Tim wraps up with a request: “If anyone has an original Jaden trench or post hole digger surplus to requirements, please let me know!”
With his trusty 1980s Jaden mini loader by his side, Tim continues to transform his Sunshine Coast property, one load at a time.
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