Vermeer Mini skid steer

[climbhightree]

what do you think about the mini and bmg? would you prefer a rotator grapple?

Never used a power rotating grapple, so it is hard to compare.

I personally love a mini skid and the free floating bmg, and added benefit of the scoops/rake. I have never had a issue where I was thinking a power rotation grapple could do this better...more often I'm like how would a power do this.

 

[Patriot Arborist]

Never used a power rotating grapple, so it is hard to compare.

I personally love a mini skid and the free floating bmg, and added benefit of the scoops/rake. I have never had a issue where I was thinking a power rotation grapple could do this better...more often I'm like how would a power do this.

Thanks! I am thinking of a mini -sk150 or vermeer ctx100. How do you push logs around the trailer with the bmg? I have seen the rotators have what I think is a pusher on top

 

[VenasNursery]

Never used a power rotating grapple, so it is hard to compare.

I personally love a mini skid and the free floating bmg, and added benefit of the scoops/rake. I have never had a issue where I was thinking a power rotation grapple could do this better...more often I'm like how would a power do this.

We’ve never used a power rotator but free flowing does all the work for you by allowing everything to go the easiest path Of resistance
With a power rotation you are putting a ton more stress on your whole machine and whatever your coming in contact with
Chipper Back of truck. Any personal property on the job lawn fences etc
And your machine and undercarriage
So with the power rotation you have to operate your machine to make the least amount of resistance

power rotation
More money
More maintenance
More work for the operator

 

[southsoundtree]

Power rotate...must stay clear of ground/ solid objects...dangle grapples adjust themselves around turns.


You lose capacity to lift as high. Slightly less weight capacity, more hoses.

 

[Serf Life]

Thanks! I am thinking of a mini -sk150 or vermeer ctx100. How do you push logs around the trailer with the bmg? I have seen the rotators have what I think is a pusher on top

There are spikes just forward of the saw scabbards for pushing logs or small trees over. You can grab the grapple to the bottom spikes (by the QA plate) so it doesn’t swing around or mess up the trailer when pushing logs around. Hope that makes sense.

 

[southsoundtree]

Yes, you can grab the heel plate, but must not grab the loader arms with the grapple.
That also allows you to roll logs on the ground with the typically-horizontal square-tube, while not dragging the grapple.

You can roll huge cylindrical logs compared to what you can drag or lift.

 

[Jehinten]

Never used a power rotating grapple, so it is hard to compare.

I personally love a mini skid and the free floating bmg, and added benefit of the scoops/rake. I have never had a issue where I was thinking a power rotation grapple could do this better...more often I'm like how would a power do this.

I second this, and all of the other comments after this regarding power rotate and free swing. My only time I wish I had the rotation or locking pins (which is all I'd use the rotation for in this instance) is firewooding logs as having to use the heel plate to stabilize the log leaves you with a few feet of log that you cannot cut in the air, out of the dirt. Then also loading rounds onto the splitter that are bigger than I want to pick up by hand. Being able to set them down in the correct orientation without having to spin the round with the free floating would save time and effort.

Otherwise free floating is great for on the jobsite use and maybe a fixed or root grapple is better for the firewood pile.

 

[southsoundtree]

I cut logs held crosswise, some bucked from the R, some from the L, some R, Some L, sometimes...getting all the way down to one round.

If you are holding it the log out front, cut what you can, then pivot it. Don’t grab at an increment of firewood length (typically 16/32/48” locally).