Ditch Witch SK755

Oak Savanna

Oak Savanna

New member
Location
Ontario
I sold my 2014 Vermeer 650tx aka "the sprinkler". I take care of my equipment, wash it once a week, greased regularly, fluid and filter changes as per the maitenace schedule etc. With only 500 hours on it, it was problem after problem. Couldn't seem to keep hydraulic oil in it. Replaced probably half a dozen hydraulic hoses, an "O" ring blew in a control box at under 100 hours and leaked hyd. oil all over a customers yard, A tube inside the rad blew and leaked hyd. oil all over a customers yard yet again. The big bolt heads that you crank on to tighten the tracks were about to bust right through the plate on both sides of the machine. If I put any more weld on that vermeer grapple the machine wouldn't be able to pick it up! The list goes on....I was too fed up with Vermeer to even give the new 725 a shot, I went with a Ditch Witch 755 and a BMG grapple. Thanks to Carl aka "Lumberjack" for hooking me up with the grapple! I hope this machine out lasts the vermeer!
IMG_7486.webp
 
That is a nice looking machine.

Oak Savanna I notice you have a dump trailer full of wood in the background. I'm about ready to buy one to haul wood and the machine Lumberjack set me up with. Do you mind telling me what size yours is (or what you think would work better), height of the sides, and weight you commonly put on it?
 
cedar said:
I have a 755, not one problem with 400 hours on the machine. It's great and can move some fairly large wood. I'm thinking of selling my articulated loader since it never leaves my shop.
Click to expand...

Thats whats I wanna hear! I haven't even been on mine for an hour total yet. I got them to put on the single drive control because thats what I was used to with the vermeer. Wasn't a big fan of the two stick control. The DW was $6000 more than the vermeer 725 but if its gonna last longer then it will be worth it in the long run. The DW is also 32.8hp and the vermeer is 25. It seems like a better design and I think its gonna last longer. I am a big fan of the grease piston to tighten the tracks verses having to use a ratchet with vermeer. The DW is fast and has full speed reverse unlike the vermeer. We reverse quite a bit when dragging brush. It also seems much easier to work on than the vermeer. Someone was actually using their head and keeping in mind the fluid and filter changes and putting things where than can be easily accessed on the DW.
 
merle_nelson said:
That is a nice looking machine.

Oak Savanna I notice you have a dump trailer full of wood in the background. I'm about ready to buy one to haul wood and the machine Lumberjack set me up with. Do you mind telling me what size yours is (or what you think would work better), height of the sides, and weight you commonly put on it?
Click to expand...

Good eye! We got back to the yard at 6pm friday and it was dark so I left it loaded till the next morning. Mine is a drop axle so it sits lower to ground which makes it easier to load wood over the sides and load equipment. Its 6'x12' and the sides are about 2-2.5' tall plus a 2x12 that I pop off while I am loading wood over the sides. It has two 7000# axles which makes it a 7 ton trailer. The back gates open up barn door style to dump, but you can put bars in the bottom and fold them down and use it as a ramp to load equipment as well. As far as how much will it haul?! I have had that thing way overloaded and it handled it no problem, not sure of exact weight. Not something I am proud of, but it happens sometimes. It has a 3 stage post hoist in the front and has lots of power as long as the battery is charged. It has been a work horse for me but my next one will be a heavier built trailer. Mine is all tube frame and I think my next one will be channel. Tube can rot from the inside out and with the road salt here in the winter it speeds up the process. There are lots of different sizes and styles out there on the market. I am a fan of drop axle for loading logs and equipment. My next one will be the same style maybe a little longer and heavier framing. I hope this helps!
 
Yep helps a bunch. I was thinking toward 14 foot. And going as stout as possible on the trailer.

If I wasn't buying something from a company back east that has the ability to hot dip galvanize (I live near the coast) I was thinking the Diamond C trailers with their channel frames look pretty good.

A hook lift trailer out of Canada looks interesting. A person could drop a box at this job and that job.

Thanks again for your thoughts.
 
cedar said:
I have a 755, not one problem with 400 hours on the machine. It's great and can move some fairly large wood. I'm thinking of selling my articulated loader since it never leaves my shop.
Click to expand...
I am on the fence bout articulating vs mini skid. I live around Dallas, trees are not huge, mainly suburban houses with fences. I cannot decide. Not a big fan of dragging plywood every where, but the 36 inch access is appealing. Help me!!
 
Oak Savanna said:
I sold my 2014 Vermeer 650tx aka "the sprinkler". I take care of my equipment, wash it once a week, greased regularly, fluid and filter changes as per the maitenace schedule etc. With only 500 hours on it, it was problem after problem. Couldn't seem to keep hydraulic oil in it. Replaced probably half a dozen hydraulic hoses, an "O" ring blew in a control box at under 100 hours and leaked hyd. oil all over a customers yard, A tube inside the rad blew and leaked hyd. oil all over a customers yard yet again. The big bolt heads that you crank on to tighten the tracks were about to bust right through the plate on both sides of the machine. If I put any more weld on that vermeer grapple the machine wouldn't be able to pick it up! The list goes on....I was too fed up with Vermeer to even give the new 725 a shot, I went with a Ditch Witch 755 and a BMG grapple. Thanks to Carl aka "Lumberjack" for hooking me up with the grapple! I hope this machine out lasts the vermeer!
View attachment 35066
Click to expand...
I was thinking of getting a DW mini. I have just ordered a dump trailer, do I need to get it with drop axles, or does the four inches matter at all with loading with a DW and BMG? I have the two foot side walls, and was thinking about adding the a 2x12 wood on top of that. Thanks!
 
Last edited:
Oak Savanna said:
I sold my 2014 Vermeer 650tx aka "the sprinkler". I take care of my equipment, wash it once a week, greased regularly, fluid and filter changes as per the maitenace schedule etc. With only 500 hours on it, it was problem after problem. Couldn't seem to keep hydraulic oil in it. Replaced probably half a dozen hydraulic hoses, an "O" ring blew in a control box at under 100 hours and leaked hyd. oil all over a customers yard, A tube inside the rad blew and leaked hyd. oil all over a customers yard yet again. The big bolt heads that you crank on to tighten the tracks were about to bust right through the plate on both sides of the machine. If I put any more weld on that vermeer grapple the machine wouldn't be able to pick it up! The list goes on....I was too fed up with Vermeer to even give the new 725 a shot, I went with a Ditch Witch 755 and a BMG grapple. Thanks to Carl aka "Lumberjack" for hooking me up with the grapple! I hope this machine out lasts the vermeer!
View attachment 35066
Click to expand...
Fantastic equipment!
 
Patriot Arborist said:
I am on the fence bout articulating vs mini skid. I live around Dallas, trees are not huge, mainly suburban houses with fences. I cannot decide. Not a big fan of dragging plywood every where, but the 36 inch access is appealing. Help me!!
Click to expand...
As long as the operator knows what he’s doing, and doesn’t make 500 trips across the same track, the DW should not damage the lawn. We have no real problems, if there is a place where you have to make repeated tight turns, or there’s a narrow gate you must pass through many times, drop a sheet of plywood there and that will be good enough.
 
Reach said:
As long as the operator knows what he’s doing, and doesn’t make 500 trips across the same track, the DW should not damage the lawn. We have no real problems, if there is a place where you have to make repeated tight turns, or there’s a narrow gate you must pass through many times, drop a sheet of plywood there and that will be good enough.
Click to expand...
I have an articulating loader and love it for no turf damage, 1.5 k lifting, telescoping boom for loading into anything, and its speed...’many other benefits. Bigger trees (and yards) over here in ETX though. If I need a smaller unit for tight access I just rent and put my grapple on the rental. If I had to have tight access every day, I would go with the DW Zahn I think.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom