Quick help/advise please, just bought a mini skidsteer, either a great deal or just ok

evo

evo

Been here much more than a while
Location
My Island, WA
So I rented our only local mini skid. Its a 725tx diesel 2-3 years old with 350 hours on it. Comes with dirt bucket, mulch bucket, forks, auger 6" and 12" ( i think, big and little bits), and a rototiller. Price for all is $25k . Now I don't really know what I'm going to do with the tiller, or the auger (could so a splitter cone). I think I will keep the buckets, and forks for sure. Might keep it all just for a side deal if I slow down, and need to keep the guys busy.
So how did I do? The check isn't cashed yet, and machine isn't in my possession. Paying tomorrow after work. Should I run?

Edit, I should also add that the closest alternative rental is about a hour away (one way) and a ferry cost of about $40 for truck and trailer (also one way). There are two new tree services, so i know they are not buying the machine.. Perhaps I will get some clients from the rental yard, once people realize it's missing
 
The auger can be OK when planting a lot of trees...but it glazes the sides so you end up working it over with the shovel if the soil texture is fine.
 
If it is the previous generation, the tip weight is really low, and that is a big deal. I think the one you bought is the current one, right? 36" Ditch Witch units continue to stay at about 3/2 the tip weight of vermeer. I tested my 2011 sk650 side by side with the current vermeer 36" unit during hurricane Matthew cleanup. The tip weights were the same even though there was a 5 year generational gap. The engineering on the Vermeer unit showed a clear step forward over the DW, from 2011 to 2016. The fluids were easy to reach. The side panels hinge down or come off, providing superior access to the engine compartment. With 300 hours, it's much harder to go wrong at 25k. Is your Vermeer mechanic nearby? Do you already own a bmg?
 
Best of luck to you. I just bought a used mini from a dealer, worked great for the first two hours on its first job. Then started having hydraulic pressure problems. I had talked to the salesman multiple times, and looked it over/ test drove it for 2 hrs before purchasing. If it wasn't a 5 hr drive I probably would have spent even more time with it.

Even with limited hydraulic pressure it still saved me a bunch of work vs hand loading.
 
RUN!... Sorry just my opinion.
Brand new DW SK800 23k and change (Last June's price). ZERO hours, Zero rental hours and a full factory warrantee. Yes its 42" wide, its really not that big a deal.
Tiller... Eh, even you aren't sure, its just another piece of iron to rust in the yard for 9 - 10 months out of the year. And the tilling always comes when the trees are busy.
Auger - VERY HELPFULL when planting large quantities of small trees. In our soil conditions we do not see the glazing very often and if we do its super easy to fix. (Certainly not as bad as a tree spade). Both bits that come with are useless to a tree guy, unless you break fences a lot. A 36" bit is just north of $1200 FYI. The cone splitter idea works AWSOME! Best $675 I have spent for a while. We split a 20' tulip poplar into 4 pieces today and sent it through the chipper... GONE!
Both buckets and forks you will find a ton of use for.
It sounds to me like you are paying a premium for a low hour machine. NOT A NO HOUR MACHINE. I almost did the same when I bought the DW. Rental yard was looking for 22.5k, new was a couple hundred more, so I went up a size and paid even more... but boy am I glad I got the bigger machine. This one almost isn't big enough some days!
Just my opinion FWIW!
 
flyingsquirrel25 said:
RUN!... Sorry just my opinion.
Brand new DW SK800 23k and change (Last June's price). ZERO hours, Zero rental hours and a full factory warrantee. Yes its 42" wide, its really not that big a deal.
Tiller... Eh, even you aren't sure, its just another piece of iron to rust in the yard for 9 - 10 months out of the year. And the tilling always comes when the trees are busy.
Auger - VERY HELPFULL when planting large quantities of small trees. In our soil conditions we do not see the glazing very often and if we do its super easy to fix. (Certainly not as bad as a tree spade). Both bits that come with are useless to a tree guy, unless you break fences a lot. A 36" bit is just north of $1200 FYI. The cone splitter idea works AWSOME! Best $675 I have spent for a while. We split a 20' tulip poplar into 4 pieces today and sent it through the chipper... GONE!
Both buckets and forks you will find a ton of use for.
It sounds to me like you are paying a premium for a low hour machine. NOT A NO HOUR MACHINE. I almost did the same when I bought the DW. Rental yard was looking for 22.5k, new was a couple hundred more, so I went up a size and paid even more... but boy am I glad I got the bigger machine. This one almost isn't big enough some days!
Just my opinion FWIW!
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Opinions are great. DW quoted me 28-30 last year for a demo 2016 sk800 machine with a bucket. I'm not looking for balls, as I don't really do much for removal and 0 large removals.. I'm thinking I might ditch the tiller, and maybe the auger for a BMG. Regardless I'm getting a BMG! DW tried to shaft me on attachments, and was fixed on their prices. I am wanting to move towards stand thinning and ladder fuel reduction. After some haggling they said they'd come down 2K - the tiller and auger.
Just priced out the bradco attachments, and they retail for 7-8K give or take. Not saying that I'd be able to sell the ones I don't want for retail. Even though the auger and tiller look brand new. They went back and forth on the tiller if it was used once, or never.
I'm thinking I'm buying the machine for 19-20, and the attachments for 5-6.
We have hardly any glazing as well...
 
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evo said:
Opinions are great. DW quoted me 28-30 last year for a demo 2016 sk800 machine with a bucket. I'm not looking for balls, as I don't really do much for removal and 0 large removals.. I'm thinking I might ditch the tiller, and maybe the auger for a BMG. Regardless I'm getting a BMG! DW tried to shaft me on attachments, and was fixed on their prices. I am wanting to move towards stand thinning and ladder fuel reduction. After some haggling they said they'd come down 2K - the tiller and auger.
Just priced out the bradco attachments, and they retail for 7-8K give or take. Not saying that I'd be able to sell the ones I don't want for retail. Even though the auger and tiller look brand new. They went back and forth on the tiller if it was used once, or never.
I'm thinking I'm buying the machine for 19-20, and the attachments for 5-6.
We have hardly any glazing as well...
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Wow. I would have walked from that DW price too. That’s outrageous. I barely paid over 30k for our sk1050. Just out of curiosity, was that quote taking advantage of their 0% financing last year? According to our salesman that financing “option” cost a pile more money because the finance company will always get their money, one way or another. Some dealers may not offer the buy it outright deal, ours did and it saved upwards of 4500 we just had to locate our own financing which wasn’t a problem.
If they only want to take 2k off for you not to take the tiller and auger, you are better off taking them, paying more and selling them privately if you don’t want them. The auger should sell relatively easy, the tiller May go quick or not. As you said they have value.
Good luck, I hope it works out for you!
 
Personally I wouldn’t buy anything from a rental company. Ever. The people that rent stuff don’t check levels, bang the shit of bushings and generally mistreat the equipment. The rental companies, for the most part only fix what’s broken and do minimal maintenance. When it’s reached the major maintenance portion of it’s lifespan they flog it. Case in point 300 hours service point.
 
If you buy new, you pay more but get - the tools you need and not stuff that you don’t. Warranty, for what that’s worth? In the case of Bandit industries not much, and you know it’s history. History is a big deal in my opinion.
 
Stephen Moore said:
Personally I wouldn’t buy anything from a rental company. Ever. The people that rent stuff don’t check levels, bang the shit of bushings and generally mistreat the equipment. The rental companies, for the most part only fix what’s broken and do minimal maintenance. When it’s reached the major maintenance portion of it’s lifespan they flog it. Case in point 300 hours service point.
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So....employee operated/maintained?! Welcome to the business world.
 
Since I knew the mini was in the works I rented it, figured it’s a demo with out the sales pitch.
Another random thought for the auger, anyone here of fabing a winch? It’s all there but a drum, Amsteel, or cable... maybe a spike which the mini spears into the ground for added stability or chain it to a tree for added security anchoring?
I’ve put about 1/4 to 1/3rd of the hours on the machine. Mistake or not it’s mine now, plus a few other attachments thrown in. 3 auger bits 9, 12, 15”, landleveler (guess I could use it for a plywood highway. Might have the tiller sold already, might keep it too. I will send a mass email to my best clients to announce the machine and see if they have any interest in driveway work, post holes, or tilling. It would be a tough sell, but I could amend compacted soils to install planting beds?!?
 
Stephen Moore said:
Personally I wouldn’t buy anything from a rental company. Ever. The people that rent stuff don’t check levels, bang the shit of bushings and generally mistreat the equipment. The rental companies, for the most part only fix what’s broken and do minimal maintenance. When it’s reached the major maintenance portion of it’s lifespan they flog it. Case in point 300 hours service point.
Click to expand...
Yes rental companies SUCK! However this machine was hardly rented out. They are selling the dirt equipment off as a package or individually. They closed one location and are changing over, to event rentals and small tools only. Less and less diy ers here every year.
I’m not stoked on the rental part of it, but I do know what has gone wrong with the machine too. Surprisingly they are pretty strict, giving me the 3rd degree every time I rent it, specifically asking every detail of what my plans are. They refused to allow me to buy a grapple, and hook it up. Said it was the worst purchase they made based on demand. Every time I called to rent they had to triple check that I was indeed asking for the mini, and not a full sized.
But it’s is a rental.
 
Almost all of my mini use is as a debris hauler, lowering bollard, tree puller, or zipline termination. Rarely, I grind stumps or move/flatten ground. Don't get too spread out. Just make your monthly payment and save your back.
 
colb said:
Almost all of my mini use is as a debris hauler, lowering bollard, tree puller, or zipline termination. Rarely, I grind stumps or move/flatten ground. Don't get too spread out. Just make your monthly payment and save your back.
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I don’t plan on going full bore into the tilling business. I have plently of tree work and only really want to work 30 hours in the feild. I have two part timers who I schedule 2-3 days per person, doubling up when needed. They both want more hours, which will mean more time in the feild for me. IF and only if good clients want the extras will I offer the extra’s which I can now provide, keeping the employees moving, clients happier, cash flowing, and my ass with the family or remembering what my hobbies are. If there is no interest, or if it’s too much work with little reward I will keep what I want and sell the rest!
Off to enjoy the rest of my b-day with my family..
 

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evo said:
I don’t plan on going full bore into the tilling business. I have plently of tree work and only really want to work 30 hours in the feild. I have two part timers who I schedule 2-3 days per person, doubling up when needed. They both want more hours, which will mean more time in the feild for me. IF and only if good clients want the extras will I offer the extra’s which I can now provide, keeping the employees moving, clients happier, cash flowing, and my ass with the family or remembering what my hobbies are. If there is no interest, or if it’s too much work with little reward I will keep what I want and sell the rest!
Off to enjoy the rest of my b-day with my family..
Click to expand...
What tree work isn’t your hobby?
 
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