Mini skid steer shopping

matdand · Nov 10, 2017

Today I demoed a 1050 and an Avant 420. The 1050 was awesome! Seems like a super robust and powerfull machine, compared to our Vermeer 600. But man, that 420 was fast and did not leave a single trace on a soaked lawn. Plus it only has a 20hp motor! Ahhh choices, choices. Next week I'm trying a Giant Tele, can't wait!

monkeylove · Nov 10, 2017

That included the

matdand said:
Today I demoed a 1050 and an Avant 420. The 1050 was awesome! Seems like a super robust and powerfull machine, compared to our Vermeer 600. But man, that 420 was fast and did not leave a single trace on a soaked lawn. Plus it only has a 20hp motor! Ahhh choices, choices. Next week I'm trying a Giant Tele, can't wait!

I was playing with the Avant 420 before I went with the Dingo. The 420 is certainly a nice machine. If you go that route, ask about the Universal mini setup. You might not want it but it is available. Otherwise it is all Avant attachments from what I was told.

matdand · Nov 10, 2017

Ya we'd need adapters for our plates and hydro connections, which is a bit of a pain I guess.

Jasonk · Nov 10, 2017

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.

deevo · Nov 10, 2017

matdand said:
Today I demoed a 1050 and an Avant 420. The 1050 was awesome! Seems like a super robust and powerfull machine, compared to our Vermeer 600. But man, that 420 was fast and did not leave a single trace on a soaked lawn. Plus it only has a 20hp motor! Ahhh choices, choices. Next week I'm trying a Giant Tele, can't wait!

Keep us posted I’m deciding on adding an Avant or Giant with a BMG for the spring to go along with our 725

Mike Haege · Nov 10, 2017

Have ran Vermeer 600tx for 7 years and got a Giant/tele last winter. The Vermeer can fit through a 36 inch gate and go up a steeper slope and handles well on snow. The Giant is 5x better at everything else, not to mention safer for operator. Absolutely love the giant. Leave the plywood on the trailer[emoji4].

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matdand · Nov 10, 2017

Mike Haege said:
Have ran Vermeer 600tx for 7 years and got a Giant/tele last winter. The Vermeer can fit through a 36 inch gate and go up a steeper slope and handles well on snow. The Giant is 5x better at everything else, not to mention safer for operator. Absolutely love the giant. Leave the plywood on the trailer[emoji4].

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Why not go with the duals to make it 36 inch possible? Curious why do you find it safer?

colb · Nov 10, 2017

matdand said:
Why not go with the duals to make it 36 inch possible? Curious why do you find it safer?

How much time goes into changing out the "duals"?

Phoenix · Nov 10, 2017

Sorry to derail the thread,but do still have the stumper 220 attachment for your ditch witch colb?

Mike Haege · Nov 10, 2017

matdand said:
Why not go with the duals to make it 36 inch possible? Curious why do you find it safer?

No turf tires available for the size of duals necessary for this machine, went with 12” wide turf tires, all four foam filled added 800+ pounds, helps keep machine on ground. Has not been tipped yet. I have seen the vermeer on its side 1/2 dozen times by four different operators. Also as far as safety is concerned the operator on stand behind machines is very often the pinch point between a whole world of options. Had a worker get clothes lined by a clothes line t post. Thought he broke his neck when his legs went instantly numb and he fell to ground but turned out fine just bruised. Also there is a steel roof overhead of giant operator. Safety alone was a big factor in taking the plunge on a new machine.

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jim454 · Nov 10, 2017

JJM IV said:
I am shopping for a mini skid steer. Is a grapple the best route? Thinking grapple / bucket would be best all around attachment. Should I buy one small enough to fit in 36" gate? Vermeer 800 looks awesome but won't fit in gate.

BMG brother, you wont be disappointed.

southsoundtree · Nov 11, 2017

And remember, the BMG has a slip-in and pin tow hitch receiver included. I move my 44o0 pound chipper with my 2680 pound mini.

Baja Mike · Nov 12, 2017

Ditch witch with BMG all the way I have 2 755's and they rock.
I looked into the mini loaders but they wouldn't be able to do what a mini does working with a crane in suburbia. Also the capabilities for light grading and going up and down slopes is unreal. I have over a 1000 hours of runtime on mine and and am still amazed. I switched over to 1/2 in plywood from 3/4 and it's not that bad to move around.
@Phoenix I have a toro stump grinder attachment that I would be willing to sell if interested.

FJR · Nov 12, 2017

Baja Mike said:
Ditch witch with BMG all the way I have 2 755's and they rock.
I looked into the mini loaders but they wouldn't be able to do what a mini does working with a crane in suburbia. Also the capabilities for light grading and going up and down slopes is unreal. I have over a 1000 hours of runtime on mine and and am still amazed. I switched over to 1/2 in plywood from 3/4 and it's not that bad to move around.
@Phoenix I have a toro stump grinder attachment that I would be willing to sell if interested.

Can you expound on why a mini loader would be inferior to a mini when working with a crane?

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surveyor · Nov 12, 2017

Found this interesting video, about how he added a stop valve to his grapple.

colb · Nov 12, 2017

surveyor said:
Found this interesting video, about how he added a stop valve to his grapple.

I've got a check valve too.

colb · Nov 12, 2017

FJR said:
Can you expound on why a mini loader would be inferior to a mini when working with a crane?

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I think the mini skids feed chippers better than wheeled loaders. Chippers are low, so the low center of gravity plus the superior traction are great for that application. You can on/off a mini skid easier. They are zero turn. Just all round clearly better. I could feed 30 ft. of 24" diameter pine into a chipper if I needed to, with my sk650.

RopeShield · Nov 12, 2017

If your considering gas versus diesel, you may want to check this out.
https://www.google.ca/search?rlz=1C...nXAhUQxmMKHTPaAPwQ1QIInQEoBA&biw=1536&bih=686

Baja Mike · Nov 12, 2017

The ability to step on and off and the zero turn makes this in my opinion the best piece of equipment for feeding a chipper, also shorter length when working in roadways. Easier to train new operators on as well.
Easier to jump off and out of the way in an emergency bailout.

flyingsquirrel25 · Nov 13, 2017

FJR said:
Can you expound on why a mini loader would be inferior to a mini when working with a crane?
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Working all around, with crane or not... I can set the chipper up on one side of a standard width driveway and spin the zero turn machine around on the other side, feeding a top, wood or brush without getting on the lawn or edging. The step on step off function of the mini is great when working the loader and the chipper (one man). The auto idle on the sk1050 is great for this as well, step off to manage the chipper it idles down. Jump back on, request hydraulics and the rpms run up. I’m sure you can do some cool stuff with a mini loader too, but these are the reasons I have the skid steer.

surveyor said:
Found this interesting video, about how he added a stop valve to his grapple.

This was corrected on the new gen units sk800, sk1050 and sk1550. I did notice right away the need on the rental sk752 I had for a couple weeks, but the demo 1050 and my unit both do not need the lock valve.