southsoundtree
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Olympia, WA
How is the mini platform built?
ramps for mini skid
- Thread starter petes
- Start date
climbhightree
Branched out member
- Location
- Lebanon, Pa USA
Yeah thanks. I like the way my fab guy put it all together. I don't have any pics of my platform. It is nearly identical to @climbhightree. On the drivers side i put a 4ft under body box for saws and on the passanger side is the bracket under the platform holds which the bucket and the forks slide into some square stock under the bracket. To be honest, I rarely bring all three attachments with me. It was one of those things that I thought I would use all the time but not so much. I am also about to upgrade the mini so the new bucket may not fit under there either.
tc262
Branched out member
- Location
- SE Wisconsin
I'm planning on building a platform for a mini as well. I will dove tail one side after the frame rail so its lower to the ground and I can also get away with using shorter ramps.
Tr33Climb3r
Participating member
- Location
- Wisconsin
We are in the process of pulling a man cab out of our international and build a platform for our gehl al20dx. Our only question is the ramps.
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southsoundtree
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Olympia, WA
Thanks for pics!!
TC262, thanks for the dovetail concept. Smart!
TC262, thanks for the dovetail concept. Smart!
monkeylove
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Roslyn, Pa.
If I was going to have something built, I think I would try to get a hydraulic lift gate on the side so I could drive straight on and just raise it. Would need some design thoughts but I am sure something could be figured out.
So as I mentioned I am about to upgrade the mini. This is going to lead to a redesign of the platform. One of my buddies had his welder make a platform and I think this is the design to have. Passenger side has a dove tail. The ramps are permanently attached and are spring assisted for easy lifting. He got away with 6ft ramps due to the stove tail. It is well built and functions well. 
Merle Nelson
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- SF Bay Area, CA
That looks really nice. Add a cab guard/matting box for anyone that has the room.
Jeff_Cochran
New member
- Location
- Memphis TN
I am eventually buying a new Isuzu nrr with an enclosed box for the mini and stumper. The box has one hell of a drop down ramp. They said it will hold 3.5ton no problem. I am just having a time choking down the $69k price tag for a new truck, new bed, and everything painted to match the fleet. It will also house my deep root rig and landscaping tools. With a hitch on the back it can pull a dump trailer for stump chips, wood, sod, pruning debris, landscape supplies, etc etc etc. just that price.....
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tc262
Branched out member
- Location
- SE Wisconsin
That’s nice looking! Now to improve on that inclose it and add a attic over the cab for gear and saw storage. @islandedge really had a sweet set up on a F450 or 550. That’s where I saw the dovetail first.
Fivepoints
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- East of Huntsville, AL
Man you guys have some nice setups for hauling a mini. I really like that orange one with the dove tail. I have a Fuso FH with a flat bed that's in really bad shape. I'm thinking about doing the mini platform in the front and a chip box on the back. I have an F550 with a bed we built on it. I really should take some pictures of it. It's got an attic storage box above the cab. It works out fantastic for storing pruner poles, helmets, and our BR700. I've got some not always used ropes up there as well. It's nice that it stores all that stuff but doesn't take away from hauling room in the actual bed.
We recently purchased a grapple truck. I've been thinking about how to carry our SK650 on it. I'm thinking about doing a removable divider wall to put the mini right at the front of the bed. If I had that divider, I could use it for the front of an enclosure so I could chip into the bed. We commonly fill up the 12ft chip box on our F550, especially if we're doing crane work.
We recently purchased a grapple truck. I've been thinking about how to carry our SK650 on it. I'm thinking about doing a removable divider wall to put the mini right at the front of the bed. If I had that divider, I could use it for the front of an enclosure so I could chip into the bed. We commonly fill up the 12ft chip box on our F550, especially if we're doing crane work.
Another idea was just a giant enclosed trailer that could fit all the machines together stumper mini and track lift it'd have to be pretty heavy duty definitely 3 axel with bogey wheels but I think that would be a great setup two trucks chipper tandem axel roll off. Dump truck with the enclosed trailer and machines I don't think it gets better
monkeylove
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Roslyn, Pa.
I actually just priced a custom enclosed with 5ft doors on the sides and a Ramp door on the back.. Was thinking "Bed Slide" or "Lazy Susan" upfront and machine in the back.
Jehinten
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Evansville
I often operate by myself and have recently bought a mini skid, and decided I never want to work without it 
currently in order to do that I must deliver the mini to a jobsite with my pickup and then go back for the bucket truck (forestry package) and chipper. I do have a dump truck that I will be using on jobs that do not require the bucket, my question is can I haul it similar to how @rugger01 @climbhightree do, but without refabbing the bed? This would mean that when I dump the bed, the mini will go up with it (chained down of course). My thought here is I could remove the divider for more capacity if I need it on a bigger job. If that's a viable option then I would only need to put in a divider at the front of the bed to protect the mini from chips and logs and build a ramp setup on the side. Another option I am considering is extending the tounge of my chipper (woodchuck wc17) and adding a platform there. I did test out my chipper chute at this longer distance and it made a bit of a mess, so I believe it would need to be an adjustable tongue length and a fold up platform. Extend the tongue and lay out the platform for towing and raise the platform and retract the tongue for chipping.
Are either of these ideas a good idea, or must I cut the front of the dump bed off and make it a solid platform? My mini is a vermeer s600 and currently gets transported in the bed of my half ton pickup.
currently in order to do that I must deliver the mini to a jobsite with my pickup and then go back for the bucket truck (forestry package) and chipper. I do have a dump truck that I will be using on jobs that do not require the bucket, my question is can I haul it similar to how @rugger01 @climbhightree do, but without refabbing the bed? This would mean that when I dump the bed, the mini will go up with it (chained down of course). My thought here is I could remove the divider for more capacity if I need it on a bigger job. If that's a viable option then I would only need to put in a divider at the front of the bed to protect the mini from chips and logs and build a ramp setup on the side. Another option I am considering is extending the tounge of my chipper (woodchuck wc17) and adding a platform there. I did test out my chipper chute at this longer distance and it made a bit of a mess, so I believe it would need to be an adjustable tongue length and a fold up platform. Extend the tongue and lay out the platform for towing and raise the platform and retract the tongue for chipping. Are either of these ideas a good idea, or must I cut the front of the dump bed off and make it a solid platform? My mini is a vermeer s600 and currently gets transported in the bed of my half ton pickup.
Merle Nelson
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- SF Bay Area, CA
If you shot chips over a longer tongue and if your chipper can throw them hard enough one part of your solution might be to shoot them through a pipe. I have been shooting chips through about a 12 inch light weight black plastic culvert that mates on the end of my Bandit 90 XP chute while I test out the configuration I want a chipper box built in for my hooklift truck.
This gets them all in the back of the box, up and over doors that are 8.5 foot off the ground for me. I have an adjustable chute on my chipper. Six foot culvert section weighs about 20 lbs I would guess.
This gets them all in the back of the box, up and over doors that are 8.5 foot off the ground for me. I have an adjustable chute on my chipper. Six foot culvert section weighs about 20 lbs I would guess.
Jehinten
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Evansville
I haven't tried extending the chute yet, but without an extension it made quite a mess. I will give that a shot and see how it does, as that would allow the chipper tongue to be permanently extended, and a stronger build.
southsoundtree
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Olympia, WA
I often operate by myself and have recently bought a mini skid, and decided I never want to work without it
Are either of these ideas a good idea, or must I cut the front of the dump bed off and make it a solid platform? My mini is a vermeer s600 and currently gets transported in the bed of my half ton pickup.
How often do you have to haul chips? Do you always haul them home or do you dump them near jobs/ at a greenwaste recycler?
You're considering a lot of complicated options that take time to convert (chipper platform) or lose chip space without major fab for some removable divider. A platform, unfortunately always eats up chip box space.
Its not bad to just haul your mini in the dump bed, and dump chips before reloading mini and ramps into the dump bed.
The 10' discount ramps are probably 75 pounds each. I don't have a scale. I let the ground or truck hold half the weight or more, as possibly. Very managable.
Its not bad to have a 1/2 ton to tow or haul the mini.
I have a small trailer that can haul the mini, that functions a portable, 5 yard chip box. The BMG's towing hitch, or a dedicated hitch plate for the mini, can open up places for me to move in the chipper and trailer, where I would never get my chip truck. The mini can move the trailer to places that the customer may like (to pay you for the service of) you to put chip-mulch, either for you (paid) or them to spread.
The trailer has a rearward axle and is short (converted from something else, previous to my ownership) so I can lift it pretty high for quick unloading (tricks to that, too).
I have a lot of 5 acre parcels, and landscape gardening is gangbusters, in my market, so its different that many people's market.
Educating people about nutrient cycling and other benefits of mulch means a lot less hauling off, IME.
Jehinten
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Evansville
In the last 4 years I have had maybe only one job that wanted me to chip, but to leave the chips. All other jobs were no cleanup at all, or haul everything away. I don't mind using the 1/2 ton to haul the mini, the issue being that it takes me an hour to get to a job that is 20 mins. away because I have to unload the mini and then drive back for the other truck and equipment.
I don't mind loading the mini into the back of the box, once I get new ramps, my current ramps are about 7 feet long and rated at 3,000 lbs (1,500 each). Just a heads up for anyone else looking at ramps, these work for the short term for a pickup, but I can see that they are starting to bow after just a few months use.
Would you consider 10' ramps to be the minimum length? my box is roughly 48" high
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