Mini skid vs articulated loader

Gareth's Tree · Apr 21, 2016

AmericanArborist said:
Our 18" Bandit chipper means very few logs at the end of the day. Usually the mini just tucks a few logs into the back of one of the trucks and off they go to the next one.

So you don't do much with firewood? Loading logs, I think, is our biggest inefficiency. My brother sells firewood so we save as much as possible. Currently we are loading with a tractor with forks. I think I need a grapple!

AmericanArborist · Apr 21, 2016

We don't do firewood. If we did, it would be a different story. I haven't been able to identify how to make any money with firewood. It is so much work for so little money. I do some saw milling though and owning the al540 has allowed us to get some great logs out of back yards that otherwise would be cut too small for slabs.

Gareth's Tree · Apr 22, 2016

AmericanArborist said:
We don't do firewood. If we did, it would be a different story. I haven't been able to identify how to make any money with firewood. It is so much work for so little money. I do some saw milling though and owning the al540 has allowed us to get some great logs out of back yards that otherwise would be cut too small for slabs.

Just out of curiosity, how much does a cord of firewood sell for there?

AmericanArborist · Apr 22, 2016

around 200 i think.

ChampionTree · Apr 22, 2016

Agree that it's just not worth the time around here. Maybe as a hobby, but if you were to pay an employee, equipment costs and diesel to deliver, you are making scraps. Margins just aren't high enough unless you are selling Birch at the Kum and Go for 5.99 a bundle.

Gorman · Apr 26, 2016

Firewood freakin sucks. There, I said it. On a cord for $240, I'm making about $100 before taxes.

TreeWorks13 · Apr 28, 2016

It's just busy work if there's a lull in the tree work and no maintenance to do then I do firewood. Not making tons of money but not losing either also am building customer relations .... I get referrals from firewood customers that I normally wouldn't reach. It's like highschool around here everyone runs in clicks of you get in and do a good job you end up doing all the work for that click.

Jesse

TreeWorks13 · Apr 28, 2016

By itself firewood dose suck tho no argument labor intensive and little return I can't beleive I used to sell it for 30/face 35 delivered I'll throw it over the bank for that ...... Ok I'm done derailing now

Jesse

Tr33Climb3r · May 1, 2016

This is ours right after the bmg was delivered. We picked this machine up for 7k I believe back in 2013. We also plan to pick up a gehl al20dx this coming Friday for cash as well. Two loaders for under 20k. Not bad.

This is the gehl we are getting.

DTS · May 2, 2016

The Gehl is a great machine use it almost daily really like the extendable boom and zero turf damage

cedar · May 2, 2016

I have a Swinger articulated loader and DW mini-skid. I rarely bring the Swinger to the job due to access and the steep terrain where I live. It's also easier to load the mini-skid on a dump trailer and head to the job. I've thought about selling the Swinger to try a 60 or 70 hp track loader for better traction and stability.

Tr33Climb3r · May 2, 2016

cedar said:
I have a Swinger articulated loader and DW mini-skid. I rarely bring the Swinger to the job due to access and the steep terrain where I live. It's also easier to load the mini-skid on a dump trailer and head to the job. I've thought about selling the Swinger to try a 60 or 70 hp track loader for better traction and stability.

What kind of swinger do you have?

cedar · May 2, 2016

It is a 2001 Swinger AG.

cedar · May 2, 2016

cedar said:
It is a 2001 Swinger AG.

cedar · May 2, 2016

Here's a picture.

Tr33Climb3r · May 2, 2016

Swingers are nice machines.

Gareth's Tree · May 2, 2016

Tr33Climb3r said:
This is ours right after the bmg was delivered. We picked this machine up for 7k I believe back in 2013. We also plan to pick up a gehl al20dx this coming Friday for cash as well. Two loaders for under 20k. Not bad.

This is the gehl we are getting.

Those al20's are nice! And some what hard to find. What is the model of the machine in your first picture? And how much does it weigh?

Tr33Climb3r · May 2, 2016

Gareth's Tree said:
Those al20's are nice! And some what hard to find. What is the model of the machine in your first picture? And how much does it weigh?

That's a wilmar wrangler 1992 I believe. I think it weighs about 7000 lbs

Gareth's Tree · May 2, 2016

Tr33Climb3r said:
That's a wilmar wrangler 1992 I believe. I think it weighs about 7000 lbs

Is it a Willmar Wrangler 4500? If it is those are supposed to weigh over 8 thousand pounds, how does it do on lawns? Or is it a different model that is lighter?

Tr33Climb3r · May 2, 2016

That may be true. I don't see a model number on it but this is the tip rating. I've run it through my yard in the spring. It will sink a little but it doesn't tare up turf. In a couple weeks the grass/soil pushes back up and you don't notice it. If we feel it's wet we will bring matts. I would love to get duals for this machine. Once these tires ware out I am going to look into it.