Most residential fence gate to access back yard are 32", 36",39" width if you are lucky some times they are 42" . Giant minimum width is 36" depending on the tires you are using. Any ways Giant won't fit trough most of the time but it is small enough to fit between property lines end you don't have to drive on customer's angry neighbor's lawn.
If you have a skid I want your opinion
- Thread starter samsquatch
- Start date
southsoundtree
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Olympia, WA
It doesn't matter.
Measure bottlenecks in YOUR job sites.
I work in a very tight and wet, never really freezes, highly-planted sites with lots it slopes.
Some work in open lawns, easy fence panel removal-ville, with frozen winter's hard ground.
What is YOUR market like?
Jehinten
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Evansville
Most times a fence panel is easy enough to remove if necessary and you can reach over chain link fences if you have to hand drag to the fence. Another consideration is the size of debris, 36" wide brush is not much material. Removing a fence panel allows you to haul more per trip
And depending on what customers you're focusing on, the ones I work for don't want anything of their property to be disturbed specifically the fancy and expensive brick,stone, stamp concrete driveways, or pathways. Aluminum or steel welded fence can't do, don't try to remove plastic fence in winter. If customers hear the word Bobcat they will panic thinking of heavy equipment.
For their peace of mind I just tell them that Giant have a gentle tires and it is like a lawnmower.
So far the Giant articulated mini loader has been great for my needs.
For their peace of mind I just tell them that Giant have a gentle tires and it is like a lawnmower.
So far the Giant articulated mini loader has been great for my needs.
evo
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- My Island, WA
I just drive through the fence. Keeps it simple
SomethingWitty
Arkansawyer
- Location
- LR
This is why our vermeer grapple is superior to the BMG. You can grab a 20' long wad of brush and casually stand it straight up in the air to clear the gate and the eve of the house, too. If you're only dragging, the branch manager is probably fine.
Jehinten
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Evansville
This is the first I've heard of being able to do this, I looked into pros and cons of the two grapples but it seemed like vermeer grapple owners were not very vocal so I went with the BMG due to the overwhelming support and the extra attachments that can be used (clamshells and rake)
I've stood up debris with my BMG to go through a gate but it's a fine balancing act to keep it from pivoting and dumping over sideways onto the fence.
I do love my BMG, before this everything got loaded by hand or a chain choker attached to the skidsteer. That being said there are a few improvements that could be made to the BMG lineup. I'm sure Branch Manager is aware of how to beef their products up even more, but doing so comes at a cost of weight and price.
samsquatch
Participating member
- Location
- SE MN
Chipper? I don't use a chipper when I'm climbing.
As for my market, it's a mixed bag of everything. Rural, small towns, cities of 30-100,000, hilly tight back yards are not uncommon here, and nor is a flat front yard. Bucket truck companies do fine around here, as do climber/crane.
I think I will go with a full size Cat 247/257 MTL. They are much nicer on lawns and backyard hardscapes then full size wheeled machine and even CTLs. And as long as you know how to turn, they can be just as nice on turf as an art loader - we're talking 4.5 psi on the tracks.
Between that, and an estimate that 20% of my work would be easy front yard access, 50% would be backyards with enough room for a full size, and 30% would be fenced back yards, I'd gladly drag 30% to the fence and have the reach of the full size to pick over the fence, or just remove a fence panel if possible.
SomethingWitty
Arkansawyer
- Location
- LR
That was the deal breaker for us. There's no fine balancing when you can lock your grapple into position. It still has a swivel option, as well.
All that being said, we'll probably spring for a giant with a branch manager for the next machine we get. That will probably come after a dedicated truck for the sc752 we got recently.
Edit: we have a rake for the vermeer. It was made by Tree Climbers LLC in Fayetteville.
I am actually making some minor repairs and modifications to it today because it is raining. It's not a dozer blade, but we keep using it as one.
Attachments
Most guys report shearing the locking pin - and tearing up the grapple because of the incredible leverage you can put on the V grap with a locked in place long ass log. It has some advantages but it don't feed a Chipper as well without a Universal joint between the hanger and the grapple
Check these out , 2 available ~~ $10K each
Kubota 301 Articulated -- well maintained DUALS !, 1 owner used in a sod business
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SomethingWitty
Arkansawyer
- Location
- LR
I can see the smoothness helping with feeding the chipper. It is definitely a point where a good operator can smoke someone who doesn't have it down.
I don't buy anyone shearing off that pin without doing something incredibly dumb. Our last grapple was on our vermeer for years. Eventually you wallow out the holes that you use the most, but that takes time and abuse. We even broke one of the arms on that machine smooth off about a foot behind the attachment.
I do seem to recall the little housing for it kind of floating, but it ended up just being another source of slack rather than crushing an eve one day. I'll see about what broke there tomorrow. The guy that bought the machine didn't get the grapple.
samsquatch
Participating member
- Location
- SE MN
They look right up my alley, price wise. I can't find any info on them. Can you post a link to their specs so I can check them out?
Yeah, strange I cannot find anything on them either --
Guy is replacing them with Giants -- I have only seen 420's before these these are considerably lighter/smaller -- love the Brand - like I said could not see any leaks -- probably ~~ 20 years old -- you can see the owners company name and number on the second picture. You can call them direct - no need for me to get involved. When I was a young man I would take a chance on a used Kubota --
really rare to stump google
OasisTree
Branched out member
- Location
- Central Missouri
One thing to keep in mind - Once you have more work, you can pick and choose the work that is suited for the equipment that you have.
I have learned that one does not have to do everything that comes along, get equipped for the work you want to do and pass on the rest.
That way when you do go out and work you will be more profitable.
I have learned that one does not have to do everything that comes along, get equipped for the work you want to do and pass on the rest.
That way when you do go out and work you will be more profitable.
Reach
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Atglen, PA
Another option, if you have a decent local rental company, is to buy the machine you will use most of the time, and rent the other as necessary.
Hey @deevo did you ever shear the pin on your Vermeer grapple ?
deevo
Been here a while
- Location
- Horseshoe Valley, Ontario, Canada
The larger pin that holds it together no, but have had to weld around it 3 x now, latest being 2 months ago. It takes abuse for sure. The grapples 7 years old, it’s been on 3 of my mini skids now. The BMG on the avants been bullet proof other then one hose needed replacing.
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