Ditch Witch sold to Toro

[CaPowell]

https://newsok.com/article/5623082/oklahomas-ditch-witch-sold-to-toro

I know some of you guys run some Ditch Witch equipment, so I thought you might be interested. Big news in my neck of the woods...

 

[Tom Dunlap]

That should make news here too. Toro is a Minnesota company.

 

[craneguy1]

 

[Gorman]

Can we get some conjecture as to what this may mean for the future??? I was looking to get a DW later this spring but now I dunno.
I know morbark bought out rayco earlier this year so maybe that merger may shed some light on what will happen here.

 

[CaPowell]

Hopefully, they just keep things going the way they are. I would think they would keep the Ditch Witch brand name. But, what do I know- I didn't know Toro was that big.

 

[NE Tree]

Ditch witch is too good of a brand to do away with. I can't believe Toro owns them now

 

[Barc Buster]

Hmmm. This may make a decision to go with a Boxer easier. No brainer really since I live pretty close to the Morbark factory, but I do like the DW mini's.

 

[VenasNursery]

Hmmm. This may make a decision to go with a Boxer easier. No brainer really since I live pretty close to the Morbark factory, but I do like the DW mini's.

Do yourself a favor and stay away from Boxer Morbark chippers are excellent but not their stumpers or boxer. That’s one of the reasons they bought Rayco

 

[Barc Buster]

Do yourself a favor and stay away from Boxer Morbark chippers are excellent but not their stumpers or boxer. That’s one of the reasons they bought Rayco

Thanks for the heads up. What specifically did you have trouble with on the boxers? And was it before or after Morbark bought them out?

 

[VenasNursery]

Thanks for the heads up. What specifically did you have trouble with on the boxers? And was it before or after Morbark bought them out?

I go to the factory twice a year for their maintenance (change oil - all filters - flip knifes - adjust an ill- grease and inspection $400) And when things go wrong only 2 times anyways I see what they are working on,when I’m there and got to know them and hear things but better yet see things

 

[Fivepoints]

Thanks for the heads up. I hope this doesn't change ditch witch as I really like my semi local dealer. I have an sk650 and will probably buy a later model one at some point.

 

[southsoundtree]

Hmmm. This may make a decision to go with a Boxer easier. No brainer really since I live pretty close to the Morbark factory, but I do like the DW mini's.

I have one.

Mine, and BrendonV's might have been manufacturing flies when the frame cracked from improper cooling, it something.


Collapsing hydraulic SUPPLY LINE.

Loose bolts.

Motor comes loose, shall I go on?

The selling point on the Boxer was expandable undercarriage and 9" tracks.

Had I not been in a divorce, with a young kid, I'd have raised a lot of Hell.
BrendonV's was immediately replaced, and he sold the new Boxer machine and bought DW.

 

[grappleyarder]

I have one...

I have one too but the newer Boxers seem to address some of the short comings including updated controls. Not sure why they haven't created much Buzz, skidsteers have been a popular topic but not a mention of Boxer since the Morbark purchase. Don't know if they are competitive on price with other brands?

 

[Barc Buster]

I have one too but the newer Boxers seem to address some of the short comings including updated controls. Not sure why they haven't created much Buzz, skidsteers have been a popular topic but not a mention of Boxer since the Morbark purchase. Don't know if they are competitive on price with other brands?

They were cheaper when I was shopping them at Arborcon last week. Morbark rep addressed some of the issues from before they bought them, but past horror stories makes it a tough decision.

 

[Toomuchsawdust]

Dammit. I'm eyeing a 1550 in the next couple years, I wonder if quality will go downhill before I can get one.

 

[islandarb]

Dammit. I'm eyeing a 1550 in the next couple years, I wonder if quality will go downhill before I can get one.

You found the thread B.

 

[Gorman]

I mean, this is as good an indicator as any to buy one this year before quality changes.

 

[Toomuchsawdust]

I mean, this is as good an indicator as any to buy one this year before quality changes.

Guess I better pay off the 600 this year and get started on the 1550.

 

[BooRad]

I have had Toro dingo - 525 narrow (diesel). Been more than a champ for 5 years now.

 

[colb]

I have one too but the newer Boxers seem to address some of the short comings including updated controls. Not sure why they haven't created much Buzz, skidsteers have been a popular topic but not a mention of Boxer since the Morbark purchase. Don't know if they are competitive on price with other brands?

A few years back the 532dx had one of the best tip weights among 36 inch access units, but had a poor hydraulic pump design that only allowed for one less motion than one needs to haul a log out of a yard. It was something like you couldn't articulate the elbow while moving the tracks. Not sure if that was it, but it was something like that. They lost head to head against the dw sk650 in every category except that you could push the tracks out wide with a button press if you didn't need 36 inch access. The dw units allow you to change that width in about an hour or two of shop time... Then they were trying to offload 532dxs for cheap to make room for tier 4 machines. It took a long time and looked awkward. Meanwhile, some kickass units were coming out (dw sk850, the Toro unit, the Vermeer 725, then the sk1550). Dw also did a minimal pre-tier 4 production run of the sk755, which was a hot machine and didn't languish like the extra Boxers did - quite the opposite, people who know still want the late sk755 serial numbers because they are not tier 4 and can accept weight kit upgrades. Felt like Boxer was progressing modestly while everyone else was frantically running faster just to keep up. But, I would like to see those expandable/retractable tracks on future units. Not sure why that tech didn't stick around...