Which to choose? Mini Skid Steer

[deevo]

Not taking anything away from your DW 800, like I said I hear great things about that model, and people rave about the 1050 and 1550.
Again with the BUTT,
if your machine estimate approachs 35K, you owe it to your company and your clients lawn to at least try an articulating loader, NO ALTURNA MATS needed, you pay a little more for articulating because of its turf friendliness, speed and incredible lift to weight ratio, the telescopic boom options helps you overload your trailer. no shuffling logs up by hand

This top of the line Giant 254 standard boom, MSRPS for 35K
compared to a 1050 -- 1000 pounds lighter weight, I bet at least twice as fast (9.5mph), lifts 2"s higher (whoopty doo), Dw1050 has it on lift ~3k to ~2k tips, and only 2" longer overall
Biggest advantage of the Giant . . . no alturna mats needed, even with AG lug tires

"Minis" skids are great - Articulating Wheel loaders are a step up in most residential situations.
Talk to anybody who has had both

Your absolutely right Dave ,I don’t know why more guys aren’t using them they are clearly missing out! I ended up getting an avant 528, but the giants a great machine also, and I owned a mini skid for 6 years before buying the Avant. Not having to put mats down is a huge huge plus. Mini skids are lawn wreckers no matter how you look at it ( well nice lawns anyways) I still have my mini skid for a second crew but it’s night and day having the avant !

 

[deevo]

Dave, we sold our tracked mini after we bought our Giant from you. Articulation is a Giant step up. The pun was not initially intended . It is a very well built and incredibly reliable machine. 2.5 years and ~1800 hours and it just keeps on going. Going back to tracks for me would be like going back to dial up internet.

Ha ha so true!

 

[RopeShield]

Is there such a thing as an Articulating machine that can Skid Steer?

 

[Jehinten]

Personally I do not put down mats and have only had issues on muddy slopes with my miniskid. Here's an image of a 180° turn that I did at the dealer when I bought it. Plus being a mini I can load it in the chip box (this is huge for me as I often work alone, so I can still get all of the equipment to the job in one trip) and I can still turn in place if needed.

I would certainly be happy using an articulating loader, but needing a second trip just to get the equipment to the job is a deal breaker for me. I'm sure it works great for you guys running a crew with enough drivers to bring all of the equipment.

 

[Jehinten]

Is there such a thing as an Articulating machine that can Skid Steer?

Clearly this technology cannot work in yards, but if it did I think it would be the ultimate loader. You can move in any direction,

In addition I hear one of the drawbacks of an articulating is visibility behind you, I've never used one so I could be off but I know in full size skid steers it's an issue, I'm surprised they do not have a stand up operator for an articulating that stands sideways like compact forklifts have. Such as this

This would still allow the better viability and easy off and on of the mini skid with the power and lawn friendliness of the articulating.

 

[Gorman]

On the subject of turf tracks on a ditch witch, I got a quote for a 1050 with a bmg and I inquired about the turf tracks. The dealer near me advised against them and said I’d get stuck frequently. He didn’t even know if there were aftermarket available.

 

[Fivepoints]

Colb,
Post up if you find some. I have an SK650 as well and have looked for turf tracks but never found any.

 

[Wes84]

Personally I do not put down mats and have only had issues on muddy slopes with my miniskid. Here's an image of a 180° turn that I did at the dealer when I bought it. Plus being a mini I can load it in the chip box (this is huge for me as I often work alone, so I can still get all of the equipment to the job in one trip) and I can still turn in place if needed.

I would certainly be happy using an articulating loader, but needing a second trip just to get the equipment to the job is a deal breaker for me. I'm sure it works great for you guys running a crew with enough drivers to bring all of the equipment.

Ive never had issues with tearing up turf on my SK 850 unless the ground was pretty wet. Soft 3 pt. turns just like you would with a zero turn mower. Ive got a friend with a 1550 and he says that's can be hard on turf with the extra weight.

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[colb]

Ive never had issues with tearing up turf on my SK 850 unless the ground was pretty wet. Soft 3 pt. turns just like you would with a zero turn mower. Ive got a friend with a 1550 and he says that's can be hard on turf with the extra weight.

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I think the 1550 has lower ground pressure than the smaller units. Weight and ground pressure do not correlate. Weight and ground pressure do not correlate. Weight and ground pressure do not correlate.

 

[Jehinten]

Haha. Mine probably has more ground pressure than most as it is a tire unit. It just doesn't have the tracks tearing up the grass on turns. I'm running my tires bald so they tend to slide a little easier over the turf. I do believe in muddy conditions or if I were digging that the tracks would be more beneficial, but for what I do the tires work great. The only time I wish for more traction is loading the mini when the ramps/tires are wet, and when pulling over a spar.

 

[Wes84]

I think the 1550 has lower ground pressure than the smaller units. Weight and ground pressure do not correlate. Weight and ground pressure do not correlate. Weight and ground pressure do not correlate.

It has a good bit lower ground pressure than any unit they've ever made. I never said anything about it correlating. My comment suggests that it doesn't.

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[tnttree]

On the subject of turf tracks on a ditch witch, I got a quote for a 1050 with a bmg and I inquired about the turf tracks. The dealer near me advised against them and said I’d get stuck frequently. He didn’t even know if there were aftermarket available.

Ha , the green track slicks would sit and spin on wet grass - almost like being on ice butt they did not peel up the sod

 

[tnttree]

This is the future for carrying minis and some articulators

Pioneers

 

[tnttree]

 

[southsoundtree]

Tracks' ground pressure is very high when heavily loaded, but turns like nothing, as you are riding on the front idlers/ front end of the tracks, not anywhere else. Point-loading, I've heard it called.

 

[Merle Nelson]

Is there such a thing as an Articulating machine that can Skid Steer?

I was wondering that too. Is there an articulating machine that has four tracks instead of four tires?

I see tracked systems for pick up trucks so far along that they have one set up you can carry in the bed and pull them out drive your tires up into them only when the need arises.

 

[Wes84]

View attachment 57214View attachment 57215View attachment 57216View attachment 57217View attachment 57218

Wow. Is that your Thomas mini? Didn't expect to see that. My wife grew up in New Brunswick, Canada right down the road from their manufacturing facility. I visited it last year. Owner gave me a little tour of the place.

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[marne]

I was wondering that too. Is there an articulating machine that has four tracks instead of four tires?

I see tracked systems for pick up trucks so far along that they have one set up you can carry in the bed and pull them out drive your tires up into them only when the need arises.

 

[evo]

Look at snow cats there are many different kinds.

 

[Merle Nelson]

Wow marne, that is exactly it. That looks like the same size as an Avant etc.

Welcome to TreeBuzz by the way. Lots of good info and help available here......like what you just provided. Thanks again.

If it was more muddy where I am that is exactly the unit I would want. Thanks Evo, I'll look up snowcats. Marne will I find info about that unit there or elsewhere?

 

[Luzl78]

View attachment 57247

Wow marne, that is exactly it. That looks like the same size as an Avant etc.

Welcome to TreeBuzz by the way. Lots of good info and help available here......like what you just provided. Thanks again.

If it was more muddy where I am that is exactly the unit I would want. Thanks Evo, I'll look up snowcats. Marne will I find info about that unit there or elsewhere?

Wow marne, that is exactly it. That looks like the same size as an Avant etc.

Welcome to TreeBuzz by the way. Lots of good info and help available here......like what you just provided. Thanks again.

If it was more muddy where I am that is exactly the unit I would want. Thanks Evo, I'll look up snowcats. Marne will I find info about that unit there or elsewhere?

as soon as you turn that track is ripping up a manicured lawn.