Mini Skids

Okay so you are all tired of hearing from me but suck it up, that's why we all come here lol.

Avant is not going to work out. Dealer, Financing, and myself could not agree on a number that made us all happy. So I ordered my new Toro 323 and BMG Grapple from a different dealer, 10 minutes from my house.
Should be able to pick it up Friday or Saturday. Small, light weight and fits inside the enclosed trailer I already own and have storage for. Loading ramps for putting it into my truck when needed are next. Thanks to everyone for the support while I muddle along. :birra:

Toro 323.webp BMG Grapple.webp
 
monkeylove said:
Okay so you are all tired of hearing from me but suck it up, that's why we all come here lol.

Avant is not going to work out. Dealer, Financing, and myself could not agree on a number that made us all happy. So I ordered my new Toro 323 and BMG Grapple from a different dealer, 10 minutes from my house.
Should be able to pick it up Friday or Saturday. Small, light weight and fits inside the enclosed trailer I already own and have storage for. Loading ramps for putting it into my truck when needed are next. Thanks to everyone for the support while I muddle along. :birra:

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You know none of us are tired of hearing from you.
I really think you will love your mini but it won't take long and you'll be wishing you got one with a little more capacity. You'll still love it, but just wish it more umph. I think you're still in need of a dump trailer too! I like the idea of a mini over an avant because its much easier on and off, especially when running a small chipper like you have. Plus a mini takes up just a lil less space and is easier to sqweeze in the trailer with a few logs for the ride home.
 
tc262 said:
You know none of us are tired of hearing from you.
I really think you will love your mini but it won't take long and you'll be wishing you got one with a little more capacity. You'll still love it, but just wish it more umph. I think you're still in need of a dump trailer too! I like the idea of a mini over an avant because its much easier on and off, especially when running a small chipper like you have. Plus a mini takes up just a lil less space and is easier to sqweeze in the trailer with a few logs for the ride home.
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I agree that at some point I might want something bigger and a dump but for now this makes clean up and carrying to the chipper easier, I just turned 54 a few months ago. When I need bigger than this at the moment I usually need more guys also and I call a friend.
 
monkeylove said:
I agree that at some point I might want something bigger and a dump but for now this makes clean up and carrying to the chipper easier, I just turned 54 a few months ago. When I need bigger than this at the moment I usually need more guys also and I call a friend.
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With a mini now in the mix two people can do a ton of work and not feel completely exhausted at the end of the day. One other decent guy is all you need to be very productive.
 
Merle Nelson said:
Yes to Midsota but, no reason to permanently give up 4' of dump bed space for those that don't want to. They put side doors for loading at the front of their dump trailers as an option.
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I have seen a few online that were dump rear with enclosed fronts. Like you were mentioning but with added protection for your mini or other gear. This one is from http://www.cjaytrailers.com/combination-series/

combo-hydraulic-dump.jpg
 
On the dump trailers with the mini platform way out in front of the axles you'll be putting all that weight on the tongue. I wonder if that's a problem with some of these larger minis.
 
Nish said:
On the dump trailers with the mini platform way out in front of the axles you'll be putting all that weight on the tongue. I wonder if that's a problem with some of these larger minis.
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Depends on the tow vehicle. I wouldn't do it with a 2" receiver style hitch but no problem if it has a hitch plate welded on the back of the truck. Even some of the newer 2 1/2" receivers have really high tounge weight capacities and would be fine.
 
Looks to me like its a challenge of axle positioning for quite variable loads.
empty bed, heavy box
heavy bed, empty box
heavy bed, heavy box

I think you should expect a lot of tongue weight, at times, and only tow with the tow vehicle that can handle it. You could transport the mini in the empty bed, if needed.

You need to account for any extra length from axle to hitch. My F450 DRW has a 10K rear axle rating, with a 9' service body. I imagine that it has more leverage on the rear axle weight being heavier than if it had an 8' bed. Don't know how a 6' bed would be.


I don't understand how those weight-distributing hitches work, but it seems like it would be applicable. They push the tongue weight back onto the trailer, I believe...well, now I'm going to have to Google it. BRB
 
Stopped over sign the paperwork and get the run down of basic operation and maintenance today. The Dingo and bucket are there but still waiting for the BMG to arrive, supposedly Monday. Going to just wait and pick it all up at once either Monday or Tuesday, I need to clear out the enclosed trailer anyhow. Ordered my the 12 folding ramps from Discount Ramps today and they should be here next week also. If all goes as planned I am hoping to bring it over to Nj for the Saluting Branches day next Wednesday.
 
monkeylove said:
Stopped over sign the paperwork and get the run down of basic operation and maintenance today. The Dingo and bucket are there but still waiting for the BMG to arrive, supposedly Monday. Going to just wait and pick it all up at once either Monday or Tuesday, I need to clear out the enclosed trailer anyhow. Ordered my the 12 folding ramps from Discount Ramps today and they should be here next week also. If all goes as planned I am hoping to bring it over to Nj for the Saluting Branches day next Wednesday.
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Sweet! We are bringing the 1050 so we can have skid steer races ;) What did they hit you for the new BMG. I think mine needs to be upgraded this winter. Or re built. Lol :whistle:
 
@flyingsquirrel25 they are not too hard to rebuild @monkelove could help you build some oil lite bushings and with a little line note work you would be all good. I help a buddy rebuild one and it wasn't too bad. I had to re weld the center pin which ended in a pain to get it line bored back out. Oil lite bushings are the ticket to longevity.
 
Over priced. $2900, but I didn't argue. I don't mind if it's keeping my extremely local guys in business. You definitely look at my new one. It says the up right is 33" long and looks like the grapple is even with the ground. In my head the math tells me 66" pin height on the Dingo should get me way above my 42" bed height with the BMG on most things. I remember your on the Thomson looked closer. Not sure if they changed the BMG, my math is wrong, the Thomson has a lower pin height, or what. Might be all the same and I will find that out, lol.
 
monkeylove said:
Over priced. $2900, but I didn't argue. I don't mind if it's keeping my extremely local guys in business. You definitely look at my new one. It says the up right is 33" long and looks like the grapple is even with the ground. In my head the math tells me 66" pin height on the Dingo should get me way above my 42" bed height with the BMG on most things. I remember your on the Thomson looked closer. Not sure if they changed the BMG, my math is wrong, the Thomson has a lower pin height, or what. Might be all the same and I will find that out, lol.
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I have learned A big disadvantage of the Thomas was the auto level set up and it restricted me from getting the grapple into the truck or over the trailer. It took me buying the simpler machine to figure that out. The dingo I don't think has that feature. I can't remember what the pin height is on the Thomas either but I am pretty sure it was lower than 66".

Magnum783 said:
@flyingsquirrel25 they are not too hard to rebuild @monkelove could help you build some oil lite bushings and with a little line note work you would be all good. I help a buddy rebuild one and it wasn't too bad. I had to re weld the center pin which ended in a pain to get it line bored back out. Oil lite bushings are the ticket to longevity.
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Thanks. I'll have to talk to frank about it next week. I replaced the knuckle earlier this year because I was afraid it was about to fall off. It was something like $120 for all the parts, can't hate that. Funny thing is the grapple has fallen off twice since. The recommended double nut does not work you have to put a nylon lock nut on it.
IMG_0556.webp IMG_0557.webp IMG_0558.webp IMG_0559.webp
This is one of the older lighter grapples. I can only imagine how much this knuckle had seen!
 
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