Mini Skidsteer or small bobcat?

[l2edneck]

Im at a point in my bizzy season that im wondering what would be better?

Im in need of a fair priced small walk behind machine or a small bobcat....

just wonderin price to? weight,clearance,manuverability,lifting lbs and of course financing?

I need to be able to lightly load my non dump trailer and tow my machine,plus dig and load/off load materials and tree debris,all within in my means?

Im also lookin to try to contract movin debris from tight areas to areas where can be reached with heavier equipment....

What is the better option?

any off this make sense?

if so please discuss.Thank you for any input?

 

[treevet]

I demo ed a tracked Dingo w grapple last week and was very impressed. Got it for a remote area behind a residence down an embankment w only access just big enough for this unit.

We were allowed to put brush in far rear woods and wood on border of prop. Prob about 30" dia 70 foot half of pin oak sheared off in storm. We stacked piles of brush, grabbed them sideways and drove them couple hundred feet and rammed them in the woods and squashed them down. Picked at biggest prob lk piece of wood drove it and other stacked piles of wood to border and cut up. Had l500 for day w 2 men and 100 rental. Turned out he demo ed unit and it took 4 hours to do job. Surprisingly easy on lawn w tracks.

 

[treevet]

PS it came w a surrey. Got the feeling that I couldn t hurt myself w this if I tried.

 

[sawinredneck]

I looked into it as well Nick, I thought a mini bocat/ride on miniskid would be a nice niche market. Everybody told me I was nuts. I looked and looed for jobs for it, never drummed up any work. Most places I can take down a section of fence and get a larger machine in and have the same yard damage.
For tree work, it's merits are much better than dirt/concrete work. They make grapples that will pivot this way and that and are very versatle for chunks and brush.
I say if it's something you are serious about, rent a few, see what works see what doesn't for you. Every situation is different. If you find you like it, and NEED it a LOT, then buy one. If not, rent the times you do. Keep the overhead low!!
You and I are a lot alike on finances, when it's good, it's GREAT, when it's bad, well........................................
Just some thoughts.

 

[okietreedude1]

I too needed something to pick up wood with and I was tired of cutting things into bite size chunks for lifting. SOOOOOOOOOOO, I bought a vermeer 600tx. Track ride on skider.

For me, renting was not an option. Vermeer wanted $4?? per week, $12?? per month + insurance. At purchase, they gave me 100% financing and the payment isnt that bad.

Ive encountered a few pieces that I still had to cut a bit smaller but its increased productivity on the jobs Ive used it on. To be able to pick up a 6-8 ft piece 12" diameter and put it on the truck vs. cut it all into firewood size and manually haul and lift....

Lawn damage-well, ya just gotta be careful. Doing a 360 will tear it up. a slight turn isnt as bad. I try to do a straight shot in and out w/o turning. If I have to turn, I also have some plywood I take to put down.


I too am looking for other ways to benifit from it. Im thinking snow removal come winter time. Sure its small, but there are a lot of sidewalks big machines cant do.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

One of my clients just got a Gehl mini loader. Articulated rider, great little piece of gear.

Out of production, so you have to get them from a rental place now.

It'll lift 455# to 7.25 ft

 

[mckeetree]

One of my clients just got a Gehl mini loader. Articulated rider, great little piece of gear.

Out of production, so you have to get them from a rental place now.

It'll lift 455# to 7.25 ft

We have two of the the little Gehl articulated loaders. They are O.K. but made for really light work and now parts are kiind of a problem. I picked them up from a rental place that was going out of business with 120 hours and 200 hours on them. I think most guys need a little bigger loader but I love the articulated steering.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I think most guys need a little bigger loader but I love the articulated steering.

For getting into narrow access backyards it is great. We did a large honeylocust the other day and he got al of the tree out with the little loader. It squeezed in between the trunk and the garage as we took it apart.

The telescoping bucket helps get everything on the flatbed of the Ferightliner. He looked into a number of the miniloaders, ride behind style, and none would get enough up onto a pile in the truck.

 

[John464]

He looked into a number of the miniloaders, ride behind style, and none would get enough up onto a pile in the truck.

thats the biggest downfall of the min loaders. none can reach over the side of a dump truck and stack logs. If you buy just a mini skid or small bobcat style loader you need a grapple truck to get the wood into the truck. If you dont feel like buying another truck a mid-range to large loader will load over the side of a truck. The downside is you may have to take a fence down, but not really a big deal for the advanced production you get.

Oh and for those of you that mentioned turf damage. I get zero and can do 360 degree hairpin turns with a 3,500lb log.

 

[Canyonbc]

AHh i was given the brochure and the demo videos...looks like awesome piece of machinery....

ya with that posi track i think it was...no lawn was hurt didnt matter what the operator was dealing with

for the little mini loaders...where are people renting them from, and what are they renting for???

i mainly do brush clearing, and heck i have some older quads and a three whealer to haul the stuff to the chipper or trailer....but brush is quite light...

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

If you dont feel like buying another truck a mid-range to large loader will load over the side of a truck.

The client who got the Gehl has a Bobcat, and needed something to get into tight spaces. Another client got a mini loader and has used it to move mulch in his yard.

 

[okietreedude1]

for the little mini loaders...where are people renting them from, and what are they renting for???
..

You might check vermeer. They rent them out. pretty high rates plus you have to have insurance. depending on your policy, you might have to add that service wich could up your premium.

I also know there are rental places that have models like toro.

Larger cities have bobcat yards that rent them out.

As for the rates, thats hard to say. vermeer here wanted 400+ per week, close to 1200 per month. A friend has rented a toro dingo and I think he gave about 150/day.

As for vermeer though, call and ask for a demo when you have a large job. string out the salesman. get multiple demos. if you act like you might want to by one, they will keep bring it free hoping youll buy.