mini skidsteer show off

[stumper120]

Ok I am getting ready to decide if a mini will fit into my operation. I would love to see some pics of your minis lifting logs and loading trailers. either with forks or a branch manager.. show em off

 

[gregory]

Best money you will ever spend for tree work next to a chipper .I have a thomas gt25 with a bmg grapple , saves time and energy everyday.

 

[climbhightree]

Pics of my Vermeer 650tx

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[limbcontrol]

Is there a chart that compares all minis? I am too considering a mini. The most important factors for me are in this order #1 fits through a 36" gate #2 lift height. If it can't lift a log up and place it through the rear of the back of a dump truck... #3 lift capacity

I've not put together a spreadsheet comparing all those factors but from glancing at the specs the ditch witch sk650, vermeer 650tx and the boxer 532dx are the top contenders. I did tell myself I'd never own another vermeer product.

 

[welltree]

I have finally purchased a mini and am using it to help in the ice storm cleanup my guys couldn't be happier its turning a day of struggling dragging brush 100+ feet into a joke, guys are laughing having fun doin it.i bought a vermeer650 with the Vermeer grapple if it keeps up I will buy another

 

[BigWood]

I'm not sure you can laugh or have fun at -30. Maybe I'm just not doing it right. Judging by how much work there is/will be, another one couldn't hurt.

 

[AmericanArborist]

This was one of the cooler things at the TCIA Expo. It'd be too heavy for most things to pull around but sure would be nice to have the mini and the chipper on the same truck.

 

[TreeLogic]

Man that looks heavy.

 

[Bucknut]

We use the DW sk650. We only have the forks for now. Still pulls huge piles of brush. We just lay a rope on the ground, stack brush on it, tie running bowline around the pile, tie other end to top of forks with clove hitch and away we go. Had machine for a year and it still surprises us with its power.

Have more pics, but no time to resize now. Should have plenty of free time with this weather though...

Are you considering any articulated loaders, like Avant? They don't have brute power, but very good on turf I think. Not much more expensive than a good mini skid.

 

[SumoClimber]

I like that chipper setup from TCIA, the Boxer 322 should "only" add about 2000 lbs. Any way you slice it, the rig should be towed by something class 7 or 8 for any decent payload capacity.

With the Beever weighing in at approx 6 tons a non-cdl vehicle would only have about 2 tons capacity left for chips(curb weight on my K6500 is 5 tons). At approx 500 lbs yard, 2 tons payload is only 8 yards of chips. I guess if you just want a 10' bed on your truck, lol.

 

[AmericanArborist]

I bought a high reach bucket that we use for stump grindings mostly. I also have a bmg and forks and a standard bucket but very few pictures of it in action.

 

[bushwackertree]

We run a Vermeer s800tx and a asv rc30, my guys get all pouty when we can't use them. That Morbark is a nice set up, bandit did one like that a while back for Mike Poor.

 

[MSHURLEY146]

We run a Vermeer S800tx with a modified Ryan's Grapple
we can get through 41 inch gates and load a 30 yard dumpster on the ground. Pretty impressive, PS not really a Vermeer fan until now.

Matt

 

[flushcut]

I have an S800tx and love it!

 

[stumper120]

I like the look of the mini articulating loaders but I feel I would just get a Kubota 420 or 520 before going that rout. I have run a r520 loading 12' 32'' pine logs and the lifting capacity is awesome. not bad on turf and I bet a set of turf tires would make it better, but they weigh triple what a mini weighs and would need a dedicated trailer to get it to the job. The pics are great guys. this thread may even help sell my wife on the idea lol.

 

[Lumberjack]

If you're look at a Kubota R520, check out the Gehl AL540. It specs very well and costs about $10k less. Plus dealer support is awesome through us!

 

[matdand]

Our Vermeer 600 has been a great investment:

- BMG drags brush and lift logs
- stump grinder attachment avoids trips with another machine
- bucket can haul rakings, stump grindings or snow
- forks load or unload stuff
- auger is great for planting

Here is a pic of the machine in the truck with the BMG and grinder. Got everything done with one trip.

 

[matdand]

These guys moded their 90 to be able to bring their mini. I think they pull it with a 550.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=...e=3&amp;theater

 

[SRTsteve860]

[ QUOTE ]
These guys moded their 90 to be able to bring their mini. I think they pull it with a 550.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=...e=3&amp;theater

[/ QUOTE ]

this reminds me of the talk that was going on here when JHuffman put his chipper onto a small landscape trailer, allowing him to haul his stump grinder as well.

The way I see it, it wouldnt be too hard to get a suitable sized trailer with a rear gate, and either fabricate one yourself, or buy it, with the side loading ramp as well. Seems like you can mount the chipper on the deck of the trailer -sans axles, and have room in the front for whatever machines you want, in addition, depending on the width of the trailer, there might be room to add cabinets or tool boxes to hail climbing/rigging gear and saws.

All depends on what size chipper you got i guess.

-Steve

 

[matdand]

I was told that you could once buy chipper directly from the manafacturer without axels. Wonder if it's still possible.