skid loader / crane

[frodo]

business has been going well. so well that my back can finally afford a break. i am trying to decide between a skid loader or a 35' crane w/ around 18000lb lift cap. skider could be used in other applications but crane can obviously do alot as well. enlighten me

 

[ASD]

Depending On The Size Of Your Bis. I Would Get A Rubber Track Loader With A Crane U Need A Lic. To Operate It And The Ins. Is Alot Of Exter $$$$

 

[frodo]

i apologize i guess i mean a hook lift truck instead of a crane, something with a flat bed preferably hydro dump, 35ft boom

 

[John464]

Im assuming you mean a grapple loader truck. I second what ASD said. Get a rubber tracked skid loader with a grapple before you get the grapple truck.

A skid loader will give you access to nearly every job while the grapple truck would be sitting in the street.

 

[Timberhauler]

You can get a skid loader into a whole lot more places than you can a grapple truck.

 

[lawson's tree s]

skid loader is the way to go. you can use it for tree work spread a little dirt etc .

 

[hornett22]

i'd go with a med sized tractor.

i got a mahindra 3215 with a grapple and pallet forks.works great and i can do other work too like brush hogging.

if you do residentials and like repairing lawns,get the skid steer.doesn't matter with tracks or wheels.they tear yards up.tractors don't.

 

[frodo]

tractor...hmmm. i will have to take a look at that

 

[lees trees]

I use a little 40h tractor with grapple and skid att. low impact and easy to get to job I also use a small wheel loader for heavy lifts 3000lbs no yard damage but I use the tractor 9 out of 10 jobs I also use a grapple truck it stays in the yard.

 

[Magnum783]

there are ups and downs to both. The tractor will tear up the lawn less but will be harder to maneuver in some tight spots. The skid loader can maneuver on a dime but will tear up the grass but with some amount of practice you can figure out how to make it (skid loader) maneuver with out too much damage. I have used both lots of times and they both work well. I don't own either because I am too little. The AF has everything you could dream of.
Jared

 

[John464]

if you do residentials and like repairing lawns,get the skid steer.doesn't matter with tracks or wheels.they tear yards up.tractors don't.

that is not true at all. I have had my ASV RC50 turf edition for about 3 months and have the machine out with a crew daily. I have not recieved one call of turf damage as of yet and with only 5psi of ground pressure I do not forsee any of my highly nitpicky customers complaining about their sod or irrigation system being disturbed.

We've had this machine in the rain hauling 3,500lb logs across and it was like I wasn't even there after we rake up and the lawn dries. No tractor can do this, nor can they move as quickly and pivot spin turn on a dime.

A rubber tracked skid loader with tracks or with turf tracks,if you're concerned about turf, is the only way to go.

 

[lees trees]

I try to be aware of the cool stuff. Tell me about those crazy green tracks. looks smooth you can 360 without cutting the lawn? probably dont leave rubber marks on the driveway either?

 

[teamtree]

I would like to upgrade to a tracked skid steer. I currently have a John Deere 4410 (34hp) with 430 Loader on it. It is a workhorse and I love it. It weighs about 3000# and it is relatively easy on the lawns, unless it is wet then the tires can cut through the turf. The biggest problem is the tractor only weighs 3000# so it is hard to lift more than 1000# - 1200# without tipping it. Anything with a bucket will aid in the clean up of stumps, leveling, loading, carrying items a long distance. I would never get rid of my tractor but may add a skid steer.

I am also looking into a crane or knuckleboom w/ grapple. I think both of these could help my business. One, they would increase my ability to pick up more weight. Two, they would eliminate the need to get in some yards, with anything. The crane is very differenct than the knuckleboom. I would like to have both of these things too...but my wife says no way.

Let us know how things turn out.

 

[frodo]

the skid loader seems very attractive to me. if i don't have any tree work going on i try to stay busy doing something else, the skider would come in handy for this. the truck with the extend able boom,75ft cable and hook on the end seems like it would be cool to though, for the Tuff ones, extend boom over the top of large limb extending off main trunk (or main trunk) , attach, cut, lift, load onto truck, go bye bye. i love this business.

 

[frodo]

man that rc 50 is sweeeet.

 

[hornett22]

interesting,i haven't seen those before.

that is not true at all. I have had my ASV RC50 turf edition for about 3 months and have the machine out with a crew daily. I have not recieved one call of turf damage as of yet and with only 5psi of ground pressure I do not forsee any of my highly nitpicky customers complaining about their sod or irrigation system being disturbed.

We've had this machine in the rain hauling 3,500lb logs across and it was like I wasn't even there after we rake up and the lawn dries. No tractor can do this, nor can they move as quickly and pivot spin turn on a dime.

A rubber tracked skid loader with tracks or with turf tracks,if you're concerned about turf, is the only way to go.

i would have to see them in action though.every skid steer i have seen used around here with rubber tracks destroyed the lawn.i do not see how you could avoid tearing up moss with a skidsteer,ever a tractor is almost impossible.i have used both and a small to medium utility tractor is the best;for me.the mahindra i have is made in japan by mitsubishi and it has an insane turning radius.if anyone is interested in a link to a grapple MFG.,pm me.

 

[hornett22]

sounds like you need a larger ballast on the rear of that tractor.

I would like to upgrade to a tracked skid steer. I currently have a John Deere 4410 (34hp) with 430 Loader on it. It is a workhorse and I love it. It weighs about 3000# and it is relatively easy on the lawns, unless it is wet then the tires can cut through the turf. The biggest problem is the tractor only weighs 3000# so it is hard to lift more than 1000# - 1200# without tipping it. Anything with a bucket will aid in the clean up of stumps, leveling, loading, carrying items a long distance. I would never get rid of my tractor but may add a skid steer.

I am also looking into a crane or knuckleboom w/ grapple. I think both of these could help my business. One, they would increase my ability to pick up more weight. Two, they would eliminate the need to get in some yards, with anything. The crane is very differenct than the knuckleboom. I would like to have both of these things too...but my wife says no way.

Let us know how things turn out.

it should lift that without tipping no problem.my tractor is rated at 1410# for the front end loader.i lose a little over 300# with the grapple attachment but i haven't had a problem.today i was picking up some pretty large rocks and moving them across the yard.brush and logs are a breeze,don't know what i did without this thing. it has the quick attach setup for the front and will take skid steer attachments.what sold me on the tractor is the brush hog on the rear driven by PTO.i watched a guy with a skid steer with a brush mower on the front and the attachment took so much power from the machine it could'nt go up a small hill.may not have been rated for that small a machine.who knows.

i will try and get some pics in the next few days.

 

[John464]

i would have to see them in action though.every skid steer i have seen used around here with rubber tracks destroyed the lawn.

see it for yourself here, vid http://www.asvi.com/media/turfedition.rm

 

[lees trees]

very nice think I will reconcider skid steer. thanks

 

[Sassafras]

Wow

That video is impressive. our CAT 257B would have tore that turf up we really try to limit our sharp turning on nicer lawns. wonder if its the tracks or the machine that makes the difference?