Which to choose? Mini Skid Steer

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hllcLawnSite Member

from Peyton, CO

Messages: 160

I drove all the major brands recently, most time on the sk750 (very similar to the 752, dealer had one left) and mt85.

These two brands for me personally outshined everything else. Frankly I liked the ditch whitch the most but dealer support was 2 hrs away vs a excellent bobcat dealer that services my other equipment and very close. I love the bobcat controls, really nice fit for me. Ditch whitch is greaseless while bobcat is grease, pros and cons to both. I feel the bobcat dug better, but really liked the high reverse speed of DW. Don't get confused and think the mt85 is anything like the mt55 BTW.

The thing is they are all very powerful and capable machines now. Most have great controls (bobcat mt85 and vermeer are the best I think), similar lift capacities (dw850, sx850 and Toro 1000 highest) similar speeds (ditch witch is fast in both directions). I've seen and heard many issues with the Toro 1000, and the vermeer guys here (5 that I know of) are heading to ditch witch and bobcat. Mainly complaining about down time issues, slow to get parts.

Do you have dealer support for all the major brands?

Ryan

Apr 28, 2016

 

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"I am here because the largest use for the mini market is tree guys."

Wow. Say it like a marketer.

Somehow I knew you would pounce on that phrase. ..let me reword it....tree guys are the only other profession that uses the mini as hard as I do. Hence the only ones really talking about them like I do. Simple as that. And again... I don't sell any products...just run my minis and my mini mini excavator.

 

[Oroboros]

And yer trying way too hard. It's not adding up for me.

 

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And yer trying way too hard. It's not adding up for me.

I'm not sure how or why you have a problem with me? I have done only what you asked? I provided proof to backup what I said.
Also.. I started out with ALL toro equipment. I had a 323 wheeled...a 413 tracked, a 420, and then another 420..
I loved them...when I got them....then I started asking way too much of them on a daily basis...ie: run a snowblower attachment on aprox 7 miles of sidewalks.. was breaking the dingos left and right...bought a Bobcat s70 with a blower then a mt52 with a blower ...way way way more heavy duty...
Attachments are ALOT more heavy duty also...so I eventually sold all of my dingo stuff little by little until I have 1 attachment left now and i cut off the plate and welded on the mt plate.
Was pissed at the time that bobcat didn't have the same plate as the rest of the industry, but I got over it, and now of course they do offer the cii or toro style Plate...
And yes I do run a saw from time to time.

 

[Merle Nelson]

TLS are you taking Oroboros seriously? It's a 12 year old girl pulling your chain.

 

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I guess what I'm saying Is

TLS are you taking Oroboros seriously? It's a 12 year old girl pulling your chain.

Bahahahahahaha! I about fell outta my chair!

 

[Oroboros]

I guess I'm overly cynical. I apologize.
Now I'm going to look for that thread where the hinge pin ripped out.

 

[Jasonk]

Bobcats attachments are great, so are there full size loaders etc. I have a great relationship with my local dealer. That said, the Ditch Witch is a better mtl. I have honestly never even been to the ditch witch dealer so I can't say too much about service etc. We order parts and have them delivered. The salesman comes out when I need it etc. All positive for me so far. You will find that Ditch witch doesn't make many attachments so you can pick and choose what you use. We bought our 750 when it was discontinued for the 752, so we saved some coin. Not sure what the cost from 752 to 850 is but if its close Id go that route...

 

[AmericanArborist]

View attachment 42583

whats the deal with the rake here? looks like it would get beat up located there.

 

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whats the deal with the rake here? looks like it would get beat up located there.

That is the cleanup rake that bmg offers... it is removable. ..it was cleanup time.

 

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I guess I'm overly cynical. I apologize.
Now I'm going to look for that thread where the hinge pin ripped out.

Thank you! I believe it was oasis tree? That had that happen? Said he didn't have time for warranty so he had it welded...I will look now too.

 

[AmericanArborist]

That is the cleanup rake that bmg offers... it is removable. ..it was cleanup time.

How about that mount though? Wouldn't it be prone to bending since it can't articulate? What is the advantage to that?

 

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Found it!


OasisTreeActive Member

Just over 400 hrs on our machine. I have found a weak point. The welds holding the back pins on the loader arms are not beefy enough, and the pins on both sides have broken out. I had them re-welded at a local welding shop, as I didn't have the time to deal with warranty. But I agree, it is an awesome machine! I tell folks that it is the kingpin of our operation! Not much gets done without it.

 

[Tread Lightly Services]

How about that mount though? Wouldn't it be prone to bending since it can't articulate? What is the advantage to that?

I believe this is the first Gen? Rake has a receiver style hitch...also has 2 braces on either side added by previous owner...works great but a pain to install and uninstall.

 

[hseII]

Merle Nelson, thanks for the welcome! I have "test drove" a Boxer. It was the 320 model. Its all they had in stock at the moment. Although this was my virgin voyage on a mini, and was fun, as well as only being $15.5k for a 7 hr machine, I can tell it is going to be too light of a machine for my landscaping needs. Went and looked at the Toro's. The thing that turns me off about them is the lower pin hight specs and also the additional operators platform you have to purchase which is smaller than Boxer, Vermeer, and Ditch Witch. I am going to test drive the Ditch Witch for sure. I think Vermeer is out of my budget range, although high quality like the Ditch Witch. What are your Thoughts?

A friend of mine up north owns a boxer & loves it: they are now supported by Morbark, & seem to have less electronics than the competition.

I want to run a comparable sized Boxer before writing them off.

 

[Merle Nelson]

Bailey's Logging Supply sells Boxer/Morbark for price comparison.

 

[hseII]

$27, 268 for a new MT85.

 

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$27, 268 for a new MT85.

That is above list...

 

[dmorse68]

Bobcats attachments are great, so are there full size loaders etc. I have a great relationship with my local dealer. That said, the Ditch Witch is a better mtl. I have honestly never even been to the ditch witch dealer so I can't say too much about service etc. We order parts and have them delivered. The salesman comes out when I need it etc. All positive for me so far. You will find that Ditch witch doesn't make many attachments so you can pick and choose what you use. We bought our 750 when it was discontinued for the 752, so we saved some coin. Not sure what the cost from 752 to 850 is but if its close Id go that route...

Was quoted $25,311 for SK752 and I believe the SK850 is 6 or 7k more than the 752. Interesting note, the 752 will become an 800 series this year. Sales rep told me yesterday that the 752 gets 800 stickers on the 2017 year models.

 

[dmorse68]

Found it!


OasisTreeActive Member

Just over 400 hrs on our machine. I have found a weak point. The welds holding the back pins on the loader arms are not beefy enough, and the pins on both sides have broken out. I had them re-welded at a local welding shop, as I didn't have the time to deal with warranty. But I agree, it is an awesome machine! I tell folks that it is the kingpin of our operation! Not much gets done without it.

Which make and model had the faulty hinge that failed?