Which to choose? Mini Skid Steer

[treeandland]

How do these compare?

I haven't seen much discussion of this model:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/172400542043

I've heard the Dingo 525 is a good machine. Shaw tree service has one ...you could ask him about it. I heard him say he'd like more lifting height, and more lift capacity. They have a Kubota diesel engine.

I've been really happy with my Ditch Witch SK750 that I got last February. It has tons of torque and lifting power. Hinge pin max height is 81". It would be nice to have more rear ballast because lifting too much weight will tip you forward. But there is always a limit.

 

[Tread Lightly Services]

I've heard the Dingo 525 is a good machine. Shaw tree service has one ...you could ask him about it. I heard him say he'd like more lifting height, and more lift capacity. They have a Kubota diesel engine.



I've been really happy with my Ditch Witch SK750 that I got last February. It has tons of torque and lifting power. Hinge pin max height is 81". It would be nice to have more rear ballast because lifting too much weight will tip you forward. But there is always a limit. View attachment 43310

How do you like the track roller system? Have you dented any rollers yet? Or had any problems with it?

 

[treeandland]

How do you like the track roller system? Have you dented any rollers yet? Or had any problems with it?

Haven't dented any rollers. It's been trouble free. The tracks need 1 or 2 pumps from the grease gun every 10 hours. I use a pressure gauge on the fitting that shows when it's enough. I hope I never throw a track...have you thrown one? How do you get it back on?

 

[colb]

Haven't dented any rollers. It's been trouble free. The tracks need 1 or 2 pumps from the grease gun every 10 hours. I use a pressure gauge on the fitting that shows when it's enough. I hope I never throw a track...have you thrown one? How do you get it back on?

My tracks get thrown while turning, usually due to a 3-4" diameter stump. I have a sixth sense that tells me when this is happening, and I can usually stop, and go forward in a turn to get the track back on. If it comes all the way off, the distance between the cogs needs to be shortened according to your machine's mechanism. I require a hand tool/extension for a tight space issue, wd40 as needed to lube the bolt/nut, then a large battery powered drill is nice to unscrew the large gauge bolt/nut combo.

The mini needs to be elevated onto blocks so that the tread clears the ground level. The front is no problem - just lower the arm down onto a log round to push up the front end of the mini.

The back is difficult for me. Last time, I put the front arm down to raise the front, shoved an 8" log underneath the mid point, tied the bmg to my blazer, pulled with the blazer to teeter totter the mini forward, stuck a round under the foot plate, and was good to go. It was very sideways tippy though...

Sometimes I can use a long metal rod to lever the track back on while pulling forward, but I'm fairly sure it's doing something bad to the tread.

Once the track is on, tighten to match the other side.

Hth!

 

[AmericanArborist]

My tracks get thrown while turning, usually due to a 3-4" diameter stump. I have a sixth sense that tells me when this is happening, and I can usually stop, and go forward in a turn to get the track back on. If it comes all the way off, the distance between the cogs needs to be shortened according to your machine's mechanism. I require a hand tool/extension for a tight space issue, wd40 as needed to lube the bolt/nut, then a large battery powered drill is nice to unscrew the large gauge bolt/nut combo.

The mini needs to be elevated onto blocks so that the tread clears the ground level. The front is no problem - just lower the arm down onto a log round to push up the front end of the mini.

The back is difficult for me. Last time, I put the front arm down to raise the front, shoved an 8" log underneath the mid point, tied the bmg to my blazer, pulled with the blazer to teeter totter the mini forward, stuck a round under the foot plate, and was good to go. It was very sideways tippy though...

Sometimes I can use a long metal rod to lever the track back on while pulling forward, but I'm fairly sure it's doing something bad to the tread.

Once the track is on, tighten to match the other side.

Hth!

I keep a cheap $30 car jack from harbor freight in the toolbox on the trailer so that we can always lift the mini. It helps too obviously for changing trailer tires.

 

[hseII]

Thoughts?

http://www.machinerytrader.com/listings/construction-equipment/for-sale/18155511/ditch-witch-sk755

 

[Jasonk]

Thoughts?

http://www.machinerytrader.com/listings/construction-equipment/for-sale/18155511/ditch-witch-sk755

Way too much for that machine with that many hours. I paid under $25k for our 750 last spring brand new and got 0% financing from ditch witch.

 

[treeandland]

My tracks get thrown while turning, usually due to a 3-4" diameter stump. I have a sixth sense that tells me when this is happening, and I can usually stop, and go forward in a turn to get the track back on. If it comes all the way off, the distance between the cogs needs to be shortened according to your machine's mechanism. I require a hand tool/extension for a tight space issue, wd40 as needed to lube the bolt/nut, then a large battery powered drill is nice to unscrew the large gauge bolt/nut combo.

The mini needs to be elevated onto blocks so that the tread clears the ground level. The front is no problem - just lower the arm down onto a log round to push up the front end of the mini.

The back is difficult for me. Last time, I put the front arm down to raise the front, shoved an 8" log underneath the mid point, tied the bmg to my blazer, pulled with the blazer to teeter totter the mini forward, stuck a round under the foot plate, and was good to go. It was very sideways tippy though...

Sometimes I can use a long metal rod to lever the track back on while pulling forward, but I'm fairly sure it's doing something bad to the tread.

Once the track is on, tighten to match the other side.

Hth!

Thanks for explaining how you do it. I'm hoping that if I keep the tracks tight enough by adding grease, I won't have a problem. I'll watch out for those little stumps.

 

[treeandland]

Thoughts?

http://www.machinerytrader.com/listings/construction-equipment/for-sale/18155511/ditch-witch-sk755

If you can talk them down on the price a bit....might be a good one for you. I would have bought the SK 755 but they stopped making it just before I was ready to buy. The machine is the same weight as mine, but the Kubota is a turbo so you get 32HP instead of 25. If you want to buy new and get over 25hp you'll spend at least $30,000 for the SK850 or whatever the newest model number is now. And then you have to deal with emissions re-gen mode.

 

[hseII]

Way too much for that machine with that many hours. I paid under $25k for our 750 last spring brand new and got 0% financing from ditch witch.

If you can talk them down on the price a bit....might be a good one for you. I would have bought the SK 755 but they stopped making it just before I was ready to buy. The machine is the same weight as mine, but the Kubota is a turbo so you get 32HP instead of 25. If you want to buy new and get over 25hp you'll spend at least $30,000 for the SK850 or whatever the newest model number is now. And then you have to deal with emissions re-gen mode.

Thank You

 

[colb]

Way too much for that machine with that many hours. I paid under $25k for our 750 last spring brand new and got 0% financing from ditch witch.

To be fair, the 755 has 3/2 the horsepower of the 750, but it's clearly not worth that much at 1800 hrs.

 

[colb]

If you can talk them down on the price a bit....might be a good one for you. I would have bought the SK 755 but they stopped making it just before I was ready to buy. The machine is the same weight as mine, but the Kubota is a turbo so you get 32HP instead of 25. If you want to buy new and get over 25hp you'll spend at least $30,000 for the SK850 or whatever the newest model number is now. And then you have to deal with emissions re-gen mode.

He's right about it being the best pre-most-recent-emissions-tier machine. If you can dump in a new block, go for it.

The recent "720ish tx whatever" from vermeer operates nice and has way better access to the engine space - the sides come off. It may be in the 24 horse range.

Generally, I do not notice engine hp. with my Sk650 here in phlat phlorida. Only notice it once with the sk650 when going up a hill with an unusually large log because the tip weight gets bigger as the hill gets steeper, and both of those circumstances load the machine independently at the same time. I need gpm and psi for stump grinding, and tip weight for grappling/planting

 

[DTS]

Just got a quote on a ditch witch sk 752 with 44" bucket $20,900 he only has 3 left. Comparable Vermeer $29.000 no bucket. Any input on sk 752 I'm looking to get it asap. Thanks.

 

[SarasotaTree]

I looked around in this thread but didn't see much about Vermeers new CTX100. I'm set to demo this machine next week. Does anyone own the unit? Looking for some good feed back on this mini skid steer Has anyone run one of these yet?

They are running around 35k which is a bit higher than a lot of other units but just by looking at the spec sheets, this machine looks amazing for its size.

 

[Treetopflyer]

I looked around in this thread but didn't see much about Vermeers new CTX100. I'm set to demo this machine next week. Does anyone own the unit? Looking for some good feed back on this mini skid steer Has anyone run one of these yet?

They are running around 35k which is a bit higher than a lot of other units but just by looking at the spec sheets, this machine looks amazing for its size.

August Hunicke justhe picked that one up I believe. Pretty sure he's in love with it! Haa

 

[climbhightree]

I looked around in this thread but didn't see much about Vermeers new CTX100. I'm set to demo this machine next week. Does anyone own the unit? Looking for some good feed back on this mini skid steer Has anyone run one of these yet?

They are running around 35k which is a bit higher than a lot of other units but just by looking at the spec sheets, this machine looks amazing for its size.

Check out August Hunicke YouTube page. He recently got one, and seems to love it.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

 

[SarasotaTree]

Check out August Hunicke YouTube page. He recently got one, and seems to love it.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

I've seen some of his videos with the machine. He's about the only source where I've actually seen this machine in use.

I bought an SC60tx from Vermeer about a year and a half ago so they know I'm a legit customer. They're gonna let me demo this machine for 2 days on a job site where there is almost no access. I'll be honest though, next week will be the first time I'll have ever run a mini so I won't have anything to compare this to. Trying to see if this is the machine to own or if there is any other make that can stand up to it.

 

[climbhightree]

I've seen some of his videos with the machine. He's about the only source where I've actually seen this machine in use.

I bought an SC60tx from Vermeer about a year and a half ago so they know I'm a legit customer. They're gonna let me demo this machine for 2 days on a job site where there is almost no access. I'll be honest though, next week will be the first time I'll have ever run a mini so I won't have anything to compare this to. Trying to see if this is the machine to own or if there is any other make that can stand up to it.

I have not tried it, but I think it will probably be my next machine. It is in the top teir in lifting capacity, height, and still only 36" wide. It is a beast though in length, which is frustrating to me for my truck setup.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

 

[AmericanArborist]

I have not tried it, but I think it will probably be my next machine. It is in the top teir in lifting capacity, height, and still only 36" wide. It is a beast though in length, which is frustrating to me for my truck setup.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

I know lots of people would be interested in buying your truck if you decide to change your setup.

 

[SarasotaTree]

So I was able to demo the ctx100 and I'll say that I was impressed. For its size, I was able to pick up some heavy pieces of wood, large brush piles and etc. A real time saver and it literally picked up everything I was able to throw at it. Keep in mind, I Demo'd the machine on a 40" ear tree. This was easily a 2 to 2.5 day job if we weren't able to use machinery. We put 8 hours in today and have about 2 more hours of work tomorrow. I do have one concern however....

I work in an area where a majority of our work is in nicely landscaped properties with nice lawns. The tracks on the machine seem to dig into grass. There were a few sections in the back yard that I'm going to have to fix. Granted I did warn them but I'm still going to fix it. If i were to buy a machine like this I'd need to know that I'm not going to have to bring 200-300ft in track mats with me on every job.

I was told by the Vermeer rep about turf tracks. Was wondering if anyone had any expirence with these types of tracks?