Mini skid steers

[Brush Hog]

Can you load a chipper with them ? Did a job on Saturday that I sure wish I had one. All trees could have been fed into chipper whole instead of humping them up a hill in 90+ degrees in chunks :censored:

For those of you have them which do you own and any dislikes ?

 

[oldirty]

sure you can just dont be beating the chipper up when your doing it.

 

[Canyonbc]

Yes you can, and its fun doing it.

I dont own one but EKKA has a video of some palms being fed with his mini loader

 

[treemandan]

Like my little Dingolator? Don't think it would be great on steep inclines with real heavy stuff but I am sure it could have come in handy SOMEHOW. I tote my little guy along to load even the easy stuff.
The other day I had a whole tree on two ropes and the top started to go in a way I didn't want it to go. We locked of the porty's and tossed a rope into the crown hooked it to the Dingo and pulled it the way I wanted, locked the brake, shut it off and finished lowering the tree. When we had it right where we wanted- half over the fence and 6 feet off the ground horizontal- we unhooked the machine, drove it throught the gate, across the lawn to the butt of the trunk, hooked it to that and pulled it the rest off the way over the fence. It was pure joy to have that "little" skid steer.
It turned me and Jamie into a 4 man crew.

 

[arbor pro]

I have a bobcat mt-50 tracked mini loader. Worth it's 2500# weight in gold as far as I'm concerned. I have a 36 " bucket with a 'thumb' grapple on it. I initially got it for cleaning up stumps but now use it for cleaning up tree debris as well. I haul it around on a 7x14 car trailer and can fit it right next to my sc252 grinder. I grind the stump, unload the bobcat and cleanup is easy. I pull the trailer behind my f350 dump.

My old tracks worked better on soft lawns because the tread was worn out - so, it didn't leave any impressions, just floated over the grass. However, they started to rip so, I bought new tracks which now can leave a 1" deep lug track if the lawn is soft. I wish someone sold a turf track for minis like you can get on large skidsteers - that would be perfect. I like the track vs wheels because you can just plow over the top of debris - both chips and brush, whereas with wheels, you might get debris hung up between the wheels.

I'd rather have joystick controls like the newer minis have but, my 2002 model will just have to do. It has 3 levers for the loader operation - tilt, lift, and aux hydraulics (grapple). My mini doesn't have the ride-on option nor the sulky like some models - you must walk behind it. To be honest, I don't think I'd want a sulky - too dangerous with all the tipping and fast movement. I would only want the ride-on style for more counterweight - otherwise, I prefer to walk behind the machine as it gives me good exercise and is easy to get away from the machine fast if I want to.

I've thought about the rotating grapples but, really, a regular bucket and grapple works just fine - especially if you want to be able to pick up small debris - in that case, those clam style grapples really won't work as they're meant for logs and brush.

I don't own a chipper - I just load and haul everything but I would think that a mini would be a great way to feed the chipper. I honestly will never do tree work without a mini skid again. It's every bit as important to me as my saws.

 

[gink595]

I've used a GEHL full size skid steer with grapple to load the chipper with, They were full size trees up to I believe (it's been a while) 12" in a Big Vermeer chipper, worked awesome, we cleared about a mile long path 100' wide section this way. And finished weeks ahead of schedule with three guys.

 

[arbor pro]

pic of my mt-50 with grapple.

2002 model. bought in 2006 with 500 hrs on it for $7500. Spent $500 on grapple and installation of grapple on the bucket that came with the mini. (I cut the teeth grooves into the bucket sides to help it grip logs).

 

[Brush Hog]

Nice set up arbor pro. I think I might put a grapple on one if I had it. That way you can make a big pile of brush and just come in a grab it. I also think it may help in feeding chipper. I also do landscape work so it'll help with that too. I'm officially putting it on the top of my want list. The best part is they fit through a 4' gate.

 

[arbor pro]

Nice set up arbor pro. I think I might put a grapple on one if I had it. That way you can make a big pile of brush and just come in a grab it. I also think it may help in feeding chipper. I also do landscape work so it'll help with that too. I'm officially putting it on the top of my want list. The best part is they fit through a 4' gate.

Best part is they'll fit through a 36" gate!

The grapple works great to crush the brush piles before I load them onto my dump truck or dump trailer. Rather than throw it on by hand, I just make several stacks around the yard and grab them with the mini to haul to the truck/trailer. Saves a lot of leg and back work. You'd be amazed at how big of logs you can move.

I forgot to mention - I also move my towable man lift around with the mini skid. I just screw a 2" ball into a hole I cut into the bucket and hook up to the lift. Last weekend, I had to move the 5500# lift down a 10 degree slope to the back of a lake property and then back up the incline again to the road (was too tight for a vehicle). I was nervous about slipping on the incline or not having enough power but, the mini hauled the lift like a champ! Grunted a little but, did the job and made me and a groundie $1500 in a day's work.

I LOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE that mini!

 

[treemandan]

Best part is they'll fit through a 36" gate!

The grapple works great to crush the brush piles before I load them onto my dump truck or dump trailer. Rather than throw it on by hand, I just make several stacks around the yard and grab them with the mini to haul to the truck/trailer. Saves a lot of leg and back work. You'd be amazed at how big of logs you can move.

I forgot to mention - I also move my towable man lift around with the mini skid. I just screw a 2" ball into a hole I cut into the bucket and hook up to the lift. Last weekend, I had to move the 5500# lift down a 10 degree slope to the back of a lake property and then back up the incline again to the road (was too tight for a vehicle). I was nervous about slipping on the incline or not having enough power but, the mini hauled the lift like a champ! Grunted a little but, did the job and made me and a groundie $1500 in a day's work.

I LOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE that mini!

I tote the 4500 lbs chipper all over the lawn and such with mine. Whatever the cost I am sure its is less than WC ins.
I like that 500 dollar grapple, I just have forks which work well but sometimes I have to ratchet strap a log down so it won't fall off.
I am really going to hate to have to get new tracks, the old ones barely make a dent. The guys who hot rod them use slicks. Did you see the thread?
Oh I changed a flat tire once with it too. Use it for extra lift when pole clipping and hedging, carry the beer, tools, radio and beach umbrella...
One of the best things is that you are not getting in and out of it nor getting on and getting off, just getting done.

 

[oldirty]

One of the best things is that you are not getting in and out of it nor getting on and getting off, just getting done.

for real though. not hopping in and out of the cab of the bobcat all the time. just step onto the mini.

they are studs for residential work.

 

[gr8scott72]

Very cool picture!

 

[treemandan]

for real though. not hopping in and out of the cab of the bobcat all the time. just step onto the mini.

they are studs for residential work.

When I first saw the full collor full page picture of The Tall Trees tree service company in the 2008 spring edition of the Sherrill Catalouge when I was sitting upon my comfy padded tawlet seat from K-mart I said to myself " Them there boys should have a Dingo"
I can't remember the last time I moved ANY amount of wood by hand( actually I can so my affection for the little loader is strong). The big loaders? Well what can I say? Theys Big, gonna move a mountain and that's for sure.

As far as riding on the rear platform? Yeah, it can get hairy BUT you can always jump ship. On the unit I have you need the counterwieght for the heavy stuff. They say 750 lbs is max, they obviously made a mistake. I just go very slow with the big stuff and there is not enough power to push or pull the chipper upsteep grades when you have to turn hard cause it cuts power to one track.

 

[oldirty]

lol

you love that picture.


call up sherrill and see if they cant follow you around the job taking pics for next year's catalogue.


they have a vermeer mini at that company i was at but its wheeled and is useless in the snow and soft ground. well not useless mind you but if the homeowner doesnt mind an absolute mess and ruts all over the yard then go fo it. tracks are good.

 

[MNClimber]

I am buying one of the Bobcat MT52's right now after demoing it for a week. The thing is amazing. I have a branch manager manual rotation thumb grapple on it and it work well even can load large logs into my dump truck. The pivot pin is at 72in so it works well. I will be using it much more than my Bobcat S250 now at least in residential yard at least.

 

[treemandan]

lol

you love that picture.


call up sherrill and see if they cant follow you around the job taking pics for next year's catalogue.


they have a vermeer mini at that company i was at but its wheeled and is useless in the snow and soft ground. well not useless mind you but if the homeowner doesnt mind an absolute mess and ruts all over the yard then go fo it. tracks are good.

It is wise to let the public see what I what I am up to. But I do have some new pictures like I promised. sorry to be so long posting them with the storm, lymes, and now I go on vaca after the big bash this weekend. Don't worry, I have peolple watching my stuff. Hope to post them soon.

 

[arbor pro]

I am buying one of the Bobcat MT52's right now after demoing it for a week. The thing is amazing. I have a branch manager manual rotation thumb grapple on it and it work well even can load large logs into my dump truck. The pivot pin is at 72in so it works well. I will be using it much more than my Bobcat S250 now at least in residential yard at least.

I've thought about one of those branch manager's but still would want a bucket for cleanup of small debris (twigs, chips). I would like to see someone come out with a 36" wide flat bucket (no sides) that's extra long on the bottom (like 30" or so) and a grapple to match - Basically the bucket/grapple setup I am running now but with a longer profile and longer grapple to pick up more debris. Weight is seldom the problem with my mini - picking up big piles of debris is sometimes a challenge though...

If anybody knows of such a bucket/grapple, please let me know. Thanks.

 

[MNClimber]

Yeah I know what you mean. I usually just carry a small mulch bucket with me.

 

[treemandan]

I've thought about one of those branch manager's but still would want a bucket for cleanup of small debris (twigs, chips). I would like to see someone come out with a 36" wide flat bucket (no sides) that's extra long on the bottom (like 30" or so) and a grapple to match - Basically the bucket/grapple setup I am running now but with a longer profile and longer grapple to pick up more debris. Weight is seldom the problem with my mini - picking up big piles of debris is sometimes a challenge though...

If anybody knows of such a bucket/grapple, please let me know. Thanks.

Maybe a set of forks to clamp to the bucket and an extension for the upper arm you allready have? I still can believe that grapple set up was so inexpensive; 500?

 

[squad143]

I recently purchased a Thomas 25g with a branch manager grapple. It works awesome. A real time saver. I don't load my chipper with it though (Bandit 65xl) as the mini skid hauls too much brush for a small chipper. Great for moving logs as well. (May have to have a couple of guys standing on the rear for counter balance though).

The only problem I have right now is having to travel to the job twice, once for the mini skid and once for the chipper. Looking at different options right now. I don't use the mini skid at every job, but on those I do, man, what a work saver.

Bought it used for $5500 with a bucket and the grapple. 500 hours.