If you have a skid I want your opinion

[Treetopflyer]

Funny you should mention that sheffa. I rented one for a week last week to forward material and feed chopper.. they walk sorta slow for most of the property we work on and they are heavy and tear up clients property without serious ground protection.. they are very useful as well very site specific.. like most things in this business , best to have an array of tools to work with

 

[Reach]

We run a full sized Cat, an older 246, on tires. I highly recommend Cat machines. There’s not many places I can’t put it, with exception of a 36” gate. One downside with a track machine though, pushing snow is nearly impossible. The machines float too well so they don’t get any traction.

 

[Jehinten]

I bought an '06 Vermeer S600 (wheeled mini skid) about a year and a half ago with 921 hours on it. It's been great for me although has had a couple of mechanical breakdowns, mostly broken o-rings. The best thing about this machine vs a full size is that I can load it in anyone of my trucks,including in the chip box of the bucket truck . This is beneficial for me because I take one truck to the job from my shop, I don't have any employees (apart from the mini skid ) so everything has to go in one trip. If I needed a dedicated trailer for the mini then I wouldn't be able to pull my chipper.

Although I don't necessarily encourage it, and I no longer have the need to do this anymore, the mini can fit in the bed of a short bed 1/2 ton pickup if you needed it to.


As mentioned, using a roll-off load logs. These were loaded with my BMG, the roll off is a rental for $100 which included drop off and pick up.


This pine log was 40" diameter, too heavy to lift but I could roll it up the ramps that I use for the mini.

 

[samsquatch]

Honestely, I'm not completely out of the market for an articulating loader, either. One thing I've considered in the past was the versatility of an art loader vs a skid, as far as power & attachments.
I think I asked about this before, but I don't remember the answers.

1. What attachment plates are they compatible with? Universal mini skid, or Bobcat, or etc?
2. Can it put serious downpressure on the bucket or blade like a skid can, for scraping ice/snow for instance?
3. Assuming traction is an issue on snow, how does the traction with chains compare to a skid on snow?
4. The models with aux flow, what are the flow rates like? I'm willing to bet there is no high flow options above 20gal/m.

 

[southsoundtree]

We run a full sized Cat, an older 246, on tires. I highly recommend Cat machines. There’s not many places I can’t put it, with exception of a 36” gate. One downside with a track machine though, pushing snow is nearly impossible. The machines float too well so they don’t get any traction.

I wonder if you could build your own track-chains, like tire-chains. I don't see why not. Still might float, too much, but I bet it would work. I'll have to think about that one. We hardly get snow here, and are not set-up with much snow removal services.

 

[samsquatch]

We run a full sized Cat, an older 246, on tires. I highly recommend Cat machines. There’s not many places I can’t put it, with exception of a 36” gate. One downside with a track machine though, pushing snow is nearly impossible. The machines float too well so they don’t get any traction.

Curious to know more about that. I talked to chap last year as he was pushing the 14" of snow we got last February. He was pushing with a CAT 277 MTL. I specifically asked him how the tracks were in the snow & ice vs anything else he'd operated. He was quick to tell me that his boss used to have a 272 wheel machine and the track machine he was using actually got better traction than the wheeled one. He seemed pretty seasoned so I believed him.

 

[southsoundtree]

Different rubbers and different treads will affect things. Chains on tires, studs on tracks, no chains on tires, etc.

Two different machines, possibly with two different plows/ buckets, and in different snow conditions.

Such variables can make anecdotal evidence challenging to translate.

Will it be bare-rubber on both machines? Studs? Chains (my friend once made a tire chain for driving out of a mud pit, and it worked on only one tire of his 4wd)???


Just thoughts, I've only ever plowed with a 4wd with chains.

 

[tnttree]

So if you can't push it throw it

Shameless BM New product plug,

Branch Manager 48in Snow Blower_V1.mp4

drive.google.com

 

[samsquatch]

So if you can't push it throw it

Shameless BM New product plug,

Awesome thanks for sharing that. but one of my concerns still stands. see video at 1:42 the snow left that didn't get scraped up.
Can someone attest to an Art Loader's ability to put downpressure? Say I ever had a need to scrap sod, would I regret buying an AL?

 

[OasisTree]

There is no comparison between a track loader and an articulating loader when it comes to digging and down pressure.

Most of the articulating loaders weight is on the back, which is great for lifting but not for digging. A track loaders weight is more centered, and they typically weigh around double what an articulating loader does. So to sum it up, a difference in weight distribution and the weight of the machine dramatically increases breakout force and down pressure.

2 different machines, and each one shines at different things. After having an articulating loader
for awhile, my whole crew agrees that the 8000# track loader we purchased instead is much more useful for us. But we do not use it for regular tree work, we use a miniskid for that.

But if I was to pick just one machine, I would still pick a Ditch Witch. It packs the most punch for the money in my opinion.

 

[Edi]

I used to own a bobcat MT55 until engine went bad, it was good mini skid but slow and rough to drive on asphalt my legs and back couldn't take it for long. Now i have the articulated mini loader Giant from tobroco it works perfect for me so far, good speed 3x faster than MT55 , turf tires are grate VS the tracks from the MT55 so I don have to place plywood to protect the lawn. down side the mini loader is (36 inches width) few inches wider than the MT55.

 

[marne]

Before really considering an artic I would try one for a few hours or at least a short demo. While they really seem to have pros, I just didn’t like sitting in there. I couldn't help, tried several it times, I just hated it, it's not about getting in and out, it's just that I didn’t felt right to sit in such a tiny machine, especially on slopes and in tight corners. Hard to explain but would definetly check before buying. Glad I didn't.

 

[Reach]

I wonder if you could build your own track-chains, like tire-chains. I don't see why not. Still might float, too much, but I bet it would work. I'll have to think about that one. We hardly get snow here, and are not set-up with much snow removal services.

Interesting idea. I’m not sure how that would work, but you could probably stud the track with screw-in tire studs. We run those on the rear tires, and they turn that loader into a snow dozer. They might scratch up the pavement more on tracks though, from the way they turn.

 

[Reach]

Curious to know more about that. I talked to chap last year as he was pushing the 14" of snow we got last February. He was pushing with a CAT 277 MTL. I specifically asked him how the tracks were in the snow & ice vs anything else he'd operated. He was quick to tell me that his boss used to have a 272 wheel machine and the track machine he was using actually got better traction than the wheeled one. He seemed pretty seasoned so I believed him.

That’s interesting to hear. The brand of tires makes a difference for sure; we have found Michelins to push better and ride nicer than anything else. Im also told the bigger track machines push better than the smaller ones; we pushed with a Takeuchi T130 one winter, but it didn’t work very well. It spent more time stuck on flat ground than anything else. It would drive on top of deep snow like a snowmobile though.

 

[southsoundtree]

Traction chains for tracks would have to stay off pavement.

Lots of long gravel driveways off plowed main roads, locally.

Chains could go on and off for pavement.





What can be attached to a bucket to prevent scratching pavement?

 

[tnttree]

Awesome thanks for sharing that. but one of my concerns still stands. see video at 1:42 the snow left that didn't get scraped up.
Can someone attest to an Art Loader's ability to put downpressure? Say I ever had a need to scrap sod, would I regret buying an AL?

Mini skids very little down pressure -- the bigger the skid AL whatever -- more down pressure duh
sitdown skids whether tracks or wheels are a dime a dozen compared to an AL in America, so bigger savings on used, basic economics .

Butt high end residential tree work - 4000# skids and up are brutal on lawns.
(even the minis most guys report using plywood and mats)
If I am doing clearings - working in the woods - give me a trackskid.
You buy AL to protect turf - there is no comparison to a skid

When trying to choose a "forwarder" machine
What percentage do you work in the woods? on Lawns?

What is your percentage pruning to funerals?
What is your average removal DBH?
How much landscraping (digging) will you be doing?

Even the smallest forwarder will probably drag more brush then your chipper can handle (with a BMG of course ),
So my question always is how do you load your logs. do you have a Clam Trk? loading a trailer? basically whats your tolerance for cutting the logs smaller?
answers to those questions should help you zero in on the best machine

(The Video - my first time running it - could possibly have pushed down more - not sure)

 

[tnttree]

The Baby Giant 254 only AL with Factory authorized Duals. one badass forwarder

 

[Reach]

What can be attached to a bucket to prevent scratching pavement?

Bolt on a poly clotting edge, no more scratching. https://www.maywes.com/products/poly-cutting-edge-for-plow-blades/

 

[Luke Haas]

Honestely, I'm not completely out of the market for an articulating loader, either. One thing I've considered in the past was the versatility of an art loader vs a skid, as far as power & attachments.
I think I asked about this before, but I don't remember the answers.

1. What attachment plates are they compatible with? Universal mini skid, or Bobcat, or etc?
2. Can it put serious downpressure on the bucket or blade like a skid can, for scraping ice/snow for instance?
3. Assuming traction is an issue on snow, how does the traction with chains compare to a skid on snow?
4. The models with aux flow, what are the flow rates like? I'm willing to bet there is no high flow options above 20gal/m.

1) I bought my GIANT loader from Top Notch Equipment in Minnesota, but now @tnttree sells them. My original loader has a "euro" plate I believe they call it, so I bought a Bobcat adapter plate and had my BMG made with a Bobcat plate, that way it can attach to our skid steer as well. In that process I learned there is a difference between Bobcat and Universal plates, but I'm glad I have the Bobcat one. Branch Manager has been fantastic to deal with as far as customer service goes and GIANT is far superior to any of the competition in my opinion. I have 2000 hours on my machine in just over 2 years and the only issues I've had is a throttle cable breaking and just recently my ground cable broke.
2) I use mine to plow out yards every day in central WI.
3) Traction isn't an issue, depending on depth of snow. They have low ground clearnace, so obviously if you have deep snow it will not glide on top of the snow like a tracked machine will. You just have to plow your way into wherever you're going.
4) No idea.

In my opinion, an articulating machine is the way to go if you're always doing residential tree work, they leave no trace!

Photo 1: You can see the Bobcat plate that's on there.
Photo 2: Lifting capacity

 

[samsquatch]

Photo 1: You can see the Bobcat plate that's on there.
Photo 2: Lifting capacity

What model is that Giant? And that’s wider than 36” right?
For those of you doing residential work, how important is a 36” wide machine vs a 42 or 48” machine?