Mini Skids

So you have a control to run the grapple hydraulic? That is not the foot pedal?
Yes, the Ditch Witch has a two-axis joystick that controls the hydraulics, i.e. vertical controls lift and horizontal controls tilt, and then there is a second lever or toggle that controls the grapple open and closed. The foot pedal is a supplementary (and one direction, as mentioned above) control. Although all the ones I've worked with we set so that the pedal opens the grapple.

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Correct.
The yellow knob/lever to the right of the joystick (up/down/tilt) runs the grapple hydraulics.
There is a cable linkage from the foot pedal that connects to the hand lever, but when using the grapple you don't use the foot control. At least, I don't.
 
I bought it.
Thing looked in real good shape. Like real good. For that price I think you got a really good deal. Did I happen to tip you off to it? I saw it posted on there web-site and thought someone on here could probably benefit from owning it, Your guys must be super psyched!!
 
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Priceless for storm work! This one from yesterday had just the right roof slope for us to cut the trunk all the way to the roof line and lift it off! Couldn't get the crane in, would of been a one pick job but this worked just fine ! We had it tied off up a pine as a back up as well.


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Had a Din.go K93. Brought it second hand and cheap, but had 1000 hard hours on it and the drive motors were shot, too much to replace. Now got a Mcloughlin mini loader. Got about 600 hours on it, got the upgraded Bush Master one with a triple pump because of the amount of trenching I do. Still charging on! Only down side is with a trencher its almost 1 tonne so had to buy a bigger trailer. The k93 was also good, but stuff paying 40K!!:hueco:
 
I recently bought an Avant 528. Was in the middle of a big job yesterday when the guy operating it hit the horn to get someone's attention. It shut down right there. After hours of 4 guys standing around doing nothing, discovered it blew a fuse. It fired right up after replacing it, but dam. And the dealer I bought it from is 4 hours away.
 
Preface: I'm not an Avant dealer directly, I sell them through/for Top Notch/Dave. My niche is relationships with customers outside of my local area so of course I look at things differently than traditional "big dealers".

Objectively, would it have changed the situation if your dealer was 30 minutes away? Either way the machine isn't running so you couldn't take it to them to diagnose. Your dealer likely would charge for a mobile mechanic visit, if they have one, and scheduling the visit would take time. My thinking is good phone support could have resolved the issue reasonably quickly, if it was the dealer or otherwise. I don't know how long it would take me to say "check the fuses" over the phone, but an electrical diagnosis would have been pretty quick given the way it shut down. Usually fuses blow for a reason, it might require some further investigation if it's a reoccurring problem.
 
On the topic of mini skids, I am now a dealer for Cormidi products. The KB (spider lift/crane) and the CMF ( Cormidi Multi Function carrier) are of the most interest to me currently.

The CMF can be outfitted as a mini skid, tracked dumper, concrete mixer, etc. Swapping functions takes less than 5 minutes. 3 of the 4 CMF carriers can fit through a 3' gate, the largest is 37" wide. The carriers have 8" of ground clearance, best in the industry I believe. By comparison, full size Bobcat track loaders only have 8.1" of ground clearance. The elevated idler and sprocket have a few advantages, one of which that applies to us is an easier time climbing curbs and other obstacles by making the front of the track a ramp, instead of strictly a wheel. The inside rollers are also mounted on a bogie to help improve ride and traction. The carriers are powered by a 20hp or 26hp Kubota diesel. The drive system is hydrostatic using variable displacement piston pumps which are much more efficient than gear pumps commonly used. They are available in standard or high flow, with the high flow topping out at just over 4000psi max. The operator platform on the back folds up out of the way when that's required.


The ML function (Mini Loader) uses standard skid steer attachments, which is to be expected in this country. The lift height is 75" on the smaller 2 carriers and 88" on the larger carriers. The tipping capacity ranges from 1867lbs on the small carrier without the counterweight to 2535lbs on the largest carrier with the counterweight. With the smallest unit and the counterweight, the Cormidi CMF ML lifts more than the Boxer 532DX and has a max height of only an inch less. The larger carriers are the highest lifting on the market, with a tipping capacity not far from the best. Tractive effort (how hard it pushes) appears to be the best in the industry, but that will require more effort to verify.

The controls are interesting, similar to the venerable Thomas controls with 2 sticks for the drive control (4.3mph or 4.7mph), joystick for the loader, and other sticks for the auxiliary functions. I should have one in stock in a few weeks and will get some time running them for a better understanding of how the controls work real life. I will also be posting copious videos of the machines, how they work, and how they are configured.


I have some pricing information on my online store, although the average person isn't going to buy them with a credit card. Over the next month or so I plan on getting much more information on the website and start publishing videos to get the information out there. I also have some ideas for some other functions, such as a telescoping loader boom for the possibility of 9'+ of lift height and possibly more weight as well.

Interesting times! Feel free to call or text for more information! 662-251-8686

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I'm pretty happy with what the dealer has done thus far. You right about the distance; I would just feel a little more at ease if the dealer was 30 minutes away instead. Thinking about an electrical problem makes me cringe a little.
I'm curious Lumberjack; I bought a bmg with the 528 and love it. The thing I absolutely hate is stumping and when it comes to cleanup, what do you thing about the scoops for cleaning up the grindings?
 
I'm pretty happy with what the dealer has done thus far. You right about the distance; I would just feel a little more at ease if the dealer was 30 minutes away instead. Thinking about an electrical problem makes me cringe a little.
I'm curious Lumberjack; I bought a bmg with the 528 and love it. The thing I absolutely hate is stumping and when it comes to cleanup, what do you thing about the scoops for cleaning up the grindings?
I use my scoops for about 80% of my stump clean ups. The only time I don't is for large stmps, especially when going down a full 12" with complete clean out.

The scoops don't "dig" well, so you have to be careful not to pack down the grindings. There is tricks you can do to make it somewhat better. I will rotate the scoops a quarter turn, and lock it in to the dogs by tilting the bmg. Then you can use the one scoop as a plow before dropping the other side to grab it.


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It depends on how you clean up your stumps. If you're getting the excess removed to mow over, they work well. As mentioned, they don't dig (on purpose).

The not digging is especially helpful when picking up rakings on grass.
 
Ditch Witch all the way
I have an sk 755 and it is incredible
I have 800 hrs of time on it
I have the bmg and it's awesome I pick up large limbs and stacks off small ones as well
I bought an extra set of small tracks to narrow it up and have not and will not put them on
Because I fit in most spots with the 9" tracks
I will just take a section of fence down rarely if needed
And I work in suburbia

Mike, with your SK 755 is it easy to control your tracks while you use your grapple? I think you have two side by side levers for the tracks...can you use them with one hand?
 
I'm confident that Mike will agree: operating the tracks with one hand on a SK650 is really easy and I reckon the 755 is set up the same way.
Your hand rests on top of a bar behind the track controls, and you just lightly pivot it (your hand) against the controls in the direction you want to travel.
If you are used to a single joystick control, it would probably take an extra couple of minutes to get comfortable and proficient using the DW system.
My old Asplundh bucket had 4 levers in the bucket. Just sayin'
 
Mine has the joystick I had the option of either I'm happy with the joystick but think the two levers would be a touch more precise you could easily work the tracks and grapple at the same time.
I'm in the market for another 755 if anyone knows of any for sale please let me know.
I have the bmg grapple and love it but I got to work with the Ryan's and that seemed nice to.
I think you will get used to whatever option you go with in a short amount of time.
If this is your first mini with grapple after using it for ten minutes you will say how did I work without it I use it on 90 percent of jobs
 
Pelorus and Mike,

Thanks for describing the controls. Yeah, it sounds like the joystick or the dual levers would both work well. I'm considering a Ditch Witch or a Vermeer mini, and I'm trying to weigh the features of the machines, and their reputation. How has reliability and service been with DW? Are they easy to work on?
 
I've never had to take mine (DW) back the dealer. For anything. Just over 700 hours on it now. Throttle cable broke. One track has come off once, and only once. Have flipped the machine on it's side once. (thankfully only once).
Wouldn't say it is particularly easy to work on. Are any miniskids "easy" to work on??? I dunno. Large hands with stubby fingers are a detriment when poking around in the innards of the beast. Glow plugs still don't make for easy starting in sub zero weather when it is stored in the cold. The Kubota engine has plenty enough gumption. The hydraulic track drive motors (SK-650) hang kinda low, and both motor guards have come off. The high rise track sprocket on the newer Vermeers / DW hopefully provide more ground clearance.
 

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