MINI SKID STEERS
- Thread starter acushman
- Start date
I can't vouch for much because I've only had mine for about a month, but I was very surprised of how well built the Thomas's are. I didn't expect to see what I saw when the truck came for delivery. I've bean running it as hard as I could to find flaws before warranty gives up and so far so good. Why spend 20k+ when you could have it for half that. We are not construction workers...we are just moving materials. /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Attachments
- Location
- Lansing, NY
We started our search taday for moving some damage from the floods, used a thompson seemed great tracks worked better for the mud but in some areas wheels are going to have to do.
Thanks for the input we are still looking and testing.
Thanks for the input we are still looking and testing.
[ QUOTE ]
We started our search taday for moving some damage from the floods, used a thompson seemed great tracks worked better for the mud but in some areas wheels are going to have to do.
Thanks for the input we are still looking and testing.
[/ QUOTE ]
20 grand, Bobcat, tracks, Thomas, wheels, Toro, 10 grand, used - whatever . . . .All I can tell youse guys is whatever you get it will pay for itself very quickly if your STILL doin all the humpin and dragin by hand. /forum/images/graemlins/confused.gif Cheapest groundsman you'll ever have!! /forum/images/graemlins/blunt.gif
We started our search taday for moving some damage from the floods, used a thompson seemed great tracks worked better for the mud but in some areas wheels are going to have to do.
Thanks for the input we are still looking and testing.
[/ QUOTE ]
20 grand, Bobcat, tracks, Thomas, wheels, Toro, 10 grand, used - whatever . . . .All I can tell youse guys is whatever you get it will pay for itself very quickly if your STILL doin all the humpin and dragin by hand. /forum/images/graemlins/confused.gif Cheapest groundsman you'll ever have!! /forum/images/graemlins/blunt.gif
[ QUOTE ]
I can't vouch for much because I've only had mine for about a month, but I was very surprised of how well built the Thomas's are. I didn't expect to see what I saw when the truck came for delivery. I've bean running it as hard as I could to find flaws before warranty gives up and so far so good. Why spend 20k+ when you could have it for half that. We are not construction workers...we are just moving materials. /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
Thanks Brendon /forum/images/graemlins/beerchug.gif
I can't vouch for much because I've only had mine for about a month, but I was very surprised of how well built the Thomas's are. I didn't expect to see what I saw when the truck came for delivery. I've bean running it as hard as I could to find flaws before warranty gives up and so far so good. Why spend 20k+ when you could have it for half that. We are not construction workers...we are just moving materials. /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
Thanks Brendon /forum/images/graemlins/beerchug.gif
Lumberjack
Branched out member
I just wish Thomas made a mini under 3' wide! They can make a skid steer, but not a mini?? Why?
[ QUOTE ]
I just wish Thomas made a mini under 3' wide! They can make a skid steer, but not a mini?? Why?
[/ QUOTE ]
Factory Sucks they will not listen to me! /forum/images/graemlins/mad.gif
Heard tell of a guy who made a set of 4" duals for the muffler side of his Thomas, he moded the muffler and when he took off one dual he had a 36" machine. ( the Thomas is actually 40" wide) I never seen it -- urban mini legend?
I don't know I have not been able to locate 4" rims - have to be totaly custom .. . . . $$$$ any way this is how I would do the Duals if I ever get around to it. /forum/images/graemlins/cool.gif
I just wish Thomas made a mini under 3' wide! They can make a skid steer, but not a mini?? Why?
[/ QUOTE ]
Factory Sucks they will not listen to me! /forum/images/graemlins/mad.gif
Heard tell of a guy who made a set of 4" duals for the muffler side of his Thomas, he moded the muffler and when he took off one dual he had a 36" machine. ( the Thomas is actually 40" wide) I never seen it -- urban mini legend?
I don't know I have not been able to locate 4" rims - have to be totaly custom .. . . . $$$$ any way this is how I would do the Duals if I ever get around to it. /forum/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Attachments
- Location
- Burnaby, BC
rborist, you may need to adjust the counterweight, it looks a little excessive for raking and sweeping! oh, and can you get a pic of one arm in the air yelling yeehaw! ? it is stampede this week isnt it? 
- Location
- Home of the New Jersey Devils
That rake idea looks cool too! I saw one in MN a year or two ago. Good on grass too right?
PS. Get a haircut! /forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif
PS. Get a haircut! /forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif
- Location
- Norfolk UK
great tips.Will be building a heat shield this weekend.
This is a great little article
http://www.constructionequipment.com/article/CA6307059.html#Trenching%20Performance%20Averages%20*
http://www.constructionequipment.com/article/CA6307059.html#Trenching%20Performance%20Averages%20*
allmark
Participating member
That showed a nice comparison at the end of each machine.
- Location
- Boulder County, CO.
Dave,(and anybody who cares to comment),
I'm looking at 36" or less wide track mounted units (vermeer s600tx, dingo tx 420, bobcat mt52 and ditchwitch sk 500). Will your standard (manual swivel) unit will fit all of these? Is the hydrolic hookup easy on all, or are there significant hurdles to jump?
Also, (since Thomas doesn't make a 36" tracked unit), are you willing to comment on these various brands? Anybody else who has opinions on these?
I'm leaning toward ditch witch, based on its longer tracks (less compaction) and higher dumping height. Also, dedicated attachments pump. Vermeer--maybe too new, probably has some bugs to work out.
Dingo--tracks and track drive not as beefy. May have some power drain when performing more than one hydrolic function. Bobcat--their mount only accepts their attachments. The Denver DW dealer is a mechanic by training, and sounds like he'd give great support after a sale.
Thanks.
Thoughts?
I'm looking at 36" or less wide track mounted units (vermeer s600tx, dingo tx 420, bobcat mt52 and ditchwitch sk 500). Will your standard (manual swivel) unit will fit all of these? Is the hydrolic hookup easy on all, or are there significant hurdles to jump?
Also, (since Thomas doesn't make a 36" tracked unit), are you willing to comment on these various brands? Anybody else who has opinions on these?
I'm leaning toward ditch witch, based on its longer tracks (less compaction) and higher dumping height. Also, dedicated attachments pump. Vermeer--maybe too new, probably has some bugs to work out.
Dingo--tracks and track drive not as beefy. May have some power drain when performing more than one hydrolic function. Bobcat--their mount only accepts their attachments. The Denver DW dealer is a mechanic by training, and sounds like he'd give great support after a sale.
Thanks.
Thoughts?
KentuckySawyer
Participating member
- Location
- Louisville
Another question...
Anybody familiar with Ramrod mini skids? The one I'm looking at retails around 14-15K, weighs 1300lbs, and will lift 700lbs. It is a wheeled unit with "balloon" tires that I could aquire for around 7K. This is a new machine at a killer price.
Any input?
I definitely don't care for the name.
Anybody familiar with Ramrod mini skids? The one I'm looking at retails around 14-15K, weighs 1300lbs, and will lift 700lbs. It is a wheeled unit with "balloon" tires that I could aquire for around 7K. This is a new machine at a killer price.
Any input?
I definitely don't care for the name.
- Location
- SE UK
PM Mr Ed, I believe he has the info on Ramrods.
Fred,
My son votes for the MT, I have no experience with the 36” machines ( I am lazy and like to ride!). quite frankly I don’t run the machines day in day out in the field. I get most of my feedback from our crews. My grapples fit all the minis, and I have never loved any of the quick couplers – when they work they are great the Flatface are like magic, but when they don’t work (under pressure) they can be a big PIA.
I think Ditch Witch is the newest entry into the mini market, they have a lot of track experience with there other equip lines. Vermeer has supposedly fixed there Hyd issues they had on there first machines. The MT has a tougher track then the Toro, and Not having universal isn’t such a big deal, its pretty easy to adapt attachments to there Mounting plate’s. Most after market Mfg of attachments make the bobcat style for little or no extra charge. MT Plates run about 90 bucks.
Remember with Tracks you have about a 30% maintenance increase over Tires, and they are harder on turf.
I have run across a wheeled 32” machine the Ramrods – they can put 4” wheels on all there machines – really cuts into your traction though.
Kentuckysawyer -- What model is that machine? sounds like a hell of a buy!! My son Dust and I just came back from the Ramrod factory in Canada (see pictures). We were quite impressed with thier Machines, Why did we go there, being Thomas dealers?? It’s a long Story but Thomas is restructuring there Biz and working on moving it to the USA, at least that’s the rumor. Anyway they have stopped making machines for now and we don’t know if it will be a year or so till we can get any more machines. Sucks they are a very good value.
I used to run Ramrods till Thomas came along and lowered the prices. So we went up to meet the Ramrod boys they are one of the original Mfg’s of Minis. They have the most lift capacity and push pull power, they also have a nice Kawasaki Eng – sposed to be much more reliable than the kohlers. We just ordered some machines and will have them in Louisville next week http://expo.mow.org/ big show all the mini’s will be there I will scope them out. I will also bring one to TCI http://www.treecareindustry.org/public/meetings_tci_expo.htm
My son votes for the MT, I have no experience with the 36” machines ( I am lazy and like to ride!). quite frankly I don’t run the machines day in day out in the field. I get most of my feedback from our crews. My grapples fit all the minis, and I have never loved any of the quick couplers – when they work they are great the Flatface are like magic, but when they don’t work (under pressure) they can be a big PIA.
I think Ditch Witch is the newest entry into the mini market, they have a lot of track experience with there other equip lines. Vermeer has supposedly fixed there Hyd issues they had on there first machines. The MT has a tougher track then the Toro, and Not having universal isn’t such a big deal, its pretty easy to adapt attachments to there Mounting plate’s. Most after market Mfg of attachments make the bobcat style for little or no extra charge. MT Plates run about 90 bucks.
Remember with Tracks you have about a 30% maintenance increase over Tires, and they are harder on turf.
I have run across a wheeled 32” machine the Ramrods – they can put 4” wheels on all there machines – really cuts into your traction though.
Kentuckysawyer -- What model is that machine? sounds like a hell of a buy!! My son Dust and I just came back from the Ramrod factory in Canada (see pictures). We were quite impressed with thier Machines, Why did we go there, being Thomas dealers?? It’s a long Story but Thomas is restructuring there Biz and working on moving it to the USA, at least that’s the rumor. Anyway they have stopped making machines for now and we don’t know if it will be a year or so till we can get any more machines. Sucks they are a very good value.
I used to run Ramrods till Thomas came along and lowered the prices. So we went up to meet the Ramrod boys they are one of the original Mfg’s of Minis. They have the most lift capacity and push pull power, they also have a nice Kawasaki Eng – sposed to be much more reliable than the kohlers. We just ordered some machines and will have them in Louisville next week http://expo.mow.org/ big show all the mini’s will be there I will scope them out. I will also bring one to TCI http://www.treecareindustry.org/public/meetings_tci_expo.htm
