Mini skid steer shopping

[TopNotchEquipment]

The New CAST 825D

 

[Patriot Arborist]

Ditch Witch all the way. We have had others and run almost all of them and they are superior in all ways. We have a 750 and an 850, just sold our 650 which was awesome as well! We have both a branch manager and a vermeer grapple. Both have great features but the bm is preference. The crews literally take a mini everywhere unless its a drop and leave scenario, no questions asked.

How many plywood pieces do you have to bring to each site? Do you have to put them anywhere the mini goes, or just where you will be turning? Trying to decide between a mini and an articulating machine for tree work. Thanks!

 

[Patriot Arborist]

I own both, if the wood pile is right by chipper the mini skid will indeed win, grab spin and stuff. Fun times! If tree is in back yard and chipper on the street, on the giant I’ll be finishing up lunch before your done loading plywood back on trailer. Both are great machines and will not disappoint!


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How many/where do you have to put plywood?

 

[colb]

How many plywood pieces do you have to bring to each site? Do you have to put them anywhere the mini goes, or just where you will be turning? Trying to decide between a mini and an articulating machine for tree work. Thanks!

It depends.

If you have an experienced operator, you'll need a max of 2 sheets for turn pads at the corners.

If the ground is wet, you'll need mats all the way in regardless of whether you have tires or treads. Actually, it is better to reschedule if you can.

If you have high quality turf everywhere, you'll need an experienced operator and two sheets, or full coverage for an average operator.

If you have sub-high-quality turf, there is probably a dirt patch that the client will be okay with you turning on. But, the rest of the turf may be a loss because it was already marginal.

If you have a lot of trips, you need to cover up regardless of whether you have wheels or treads. I generally shoot for 10 trips max for a medium size removal. For a full size removal over nice turf, I cover it all up. It is important to economize the trips without getting too much weight on the front rollers and thus increasing the ground pressure. Stein arbor trolley can help a lot with the medium size (~20" diameter) logs.

The client needs to know the level of impact, the cost associated with the levels of protection that you recommend, and then choose the level of protection. Usually you can tell what they need/want by just looking around.

In general, choose the wheeled loader if you have wide suburban access and high employee turnover, you can put a high hinge pin height to work, and have few or no steeps. Wheeled units also do well in rural areas because of their size, but check out the very large tip weights of the new DW skids (and the new Toro skid?) that essentially negate this advantage. Choose a tracked mini for chipping on asphalt, low employee turnover, hilly areas, narrow urban/suburban access, and work in rural areas where turf is a bit more rare.

 

[Reach]

I find we can do quite a few trips with really wide turns without damage to the lawn, or I can spin a CTX100 on only one sheet of plywood, without marking the lawn next to it. If it’s muddy though, no loader, or pair of boots, can cross a lawn without making tracks. Hence the reason I am posting today instead of working.

 

[Patriot Arborist]

I agree with you as well after buying my Avant 528, it’s lifting capacity and stable ness is amazing, and yes the only neg is not good in mud and 36” gate issue, I kept my mini skid also, but overall if I were to only buy one again it would be the Avant. Getting on and off is a non issue. Having a roof over your head and the controls top it off!

I am looking into the 254T, one issue I am thinking about is it is too tall to get into my shed or garage. What are your thoughts on keeping it outside, with a tarp or build something to drive into, like just a roof. Also, is there any problems driving them up the ramps into a dump trailer? Thanks!

 

[Patriot Arborist]

The Giant tele 254 is 10x better than a tracked mini, I have both. The mini is better climbing snow or mud on a hill and gets in a 36” gate. I have used my mini one time in the last two years, the Giant goes out ever day and will do circles around any mini out there. I do have the wide tires and all are filled solid which works great.

I am looking into the 254T, one issue I am thinking about is it is too tall to get into my shed or garage. What are your thoughts on keeping it outside, with a tarp or build something to drive into, like just a roof. Also, is there any problems driving them up the ramps into a dump trailer? Thanks!

 

[tnttree]

We designed a cover for the Giant I have tested it putting over 3000 miles at highway speed and it has held up great --I will post a picture tomorrow - just put it in to production

 

[deevo]

I am looking into the 254T, one issue I am thinking about is it is too tall to get into my shed or garage. What are your thoughts on keeping it outside, with a tarp or build something to drive into, like just a roof. Also, is there any problems driving them up the ramps into a dump trailer? Thanks!

I keep mine in the garage, no problem, also no problems driving it up into my dump trailer I have fold down ramps.

 

[colb]

I have six foot ramps and a dump roll off trailer. I have to tilt the bed to get the angle right. Morning moisture or hydraulic fluid make it sketchy. DW sk650. Five star ramps will custom make aluminum ramps with a curve at the top, which is important for tracked loaders.

 

[Patriot Arborist]

We designed a cover for the Giant I have tested it putting over 3000 miles at highway speed and it has held up great --I will post a picture tomorrow - just put it in to production

Are you going to post a pic of the cover?

 

[tnttree]

Are you going to post a pic of the cover?

Crap --- didn't get it done today - for sure tomorrow

 

[Patriot Arborist]

Crap --- didn't get it done today - for sure tomorrow

Hey, I just saw it's you Dave. I am Adam, a couple of days ago you sent the quote for the Giant.
Is the cover easy to get on?

 

[southsoundtree]

I have six foot ramps and a dump roll off trailer. I have to tilt the bed to get the angle right. Morning moisture or hydraulic fluid make it sketchy. DW sk650. Five star ramps will custom make aluminum ramps with a curve at the top, which is important for tracked loaders.

I always load my track-loader with straight ramps, including into my forestry bed at 44" with 10' ramps.

 

[tnttree]

Hey, I just saw it's you Dave. I am Adam, a couple of days ago you sent the quote for the Giant.
Is the cover easy to get on?

yes easy enough to get on, 4 snap straps, picture is the one with over 3000 highway miles on it

down side $999

 

[Patriot Arborist]

I always load my track-loader with straight ramps, including into my forestry bed at 44" with 10' ramps.

Thanks. Where to get them?

 

[colb]

Thanks. Where to get them?

Northern tool stocks standard five star ramps.

 

[jim454]

The New CAST 825DView attachment 54301

I can vouch for this little loader, I have one parked on my trailer.

 

[tnttree]

Thanks. Where to get them?

we sell these

Ramps • Branch Manager

10,000 lbs Capacity, 96" Long, 15" Wide! (Sold In Pairs)

www.branchmanagerusa.com

 

[Fivepoints]

we sell these

Ramps • Branch Manager

10,000 lbs Capacity, 96" Long, 15" Wide! (Sold In Pairs)

www.branchmanagerusa.com

Those ramps are bad about cracking at the ends. We have the 10 ft version of those. They both cracked in a couple of months of use with a 3000 lb machine. They work great and are so much easier to deal with than steel ramps. Just got to watch out for cracks causing problems. It would suck to have the end fall off while the loader is on it.