I’ve never felt either of my mini’s are tipsy at least side to side only front over loading
I'd have to ask which models of each brand are you referring to? I've owned an SK850 and now a CTX100. A tier 4 Ditch Witch is much more complex electronic wise. Ironically I'm also gonna have to say my DW platform was much better and more comfortable than the Vermeer. They are also of equal build quality. I hear a lot of people dogging Vermeer because of experiences (or usually some buddy's second-hand experience) with an older unit. I've never been around the older units but the new ones within the past 5 years are right there with Ditch Witch on everything. Both great machines. Reason I bought the CTX100 over a new SK1050 was more power with the same machine size and footprint. To my surprise the undercarriage is actually a little easier to work on than a Ditch Witch as well.
DW and Vermeer are neck and neck build quality wise. I'd advise anyone to do good research on the design of each machine outside of anecdotes from others. Both great machines. Both also have different strengths and weaknesses.
For sure! Great thing to have to choose between a couple badass machines. Would be stoked with either one. Vermeer will cost the most by far with their higher interest. I haven't talked price on forks, brush guards, or haggled with DW yet either. Brush guards sound like they would be worth it.
I dont pay attention to interest on anything like that unless it were over 10%. I'm not going to keep any unit for 5-7 years to pay the entire interest and if I did, it would easily pay itself off well before the end of the term. From a maintenance/downtime perspective, it's not worth it. You can make enough money with a mini in a year or two to have plenty of positive equity when sold to put down on a new one and start over. Buy a marketable unit, take good care of it and sell between 1000-1500 hrs.
I’ve run primarily Vermeer 925TX and CTX100, and Ditch Witch SK 650 and SK850, although I’ve run other models over the years as well.
Yeah the CTX100 has a DOC engine. No regen or DEF and no computerized management of the emissions. The entire wiring system is only 4 small modular bundles so you can just replace the segment that's giving issues. To be honest though my 850 never had computer/emissions issues. It was in great shape at 1300 hrs. when I sold it. Vermeer undercarriage is about as solid and easy to work with. Those two aspects are the main items anyone should be concerned about on any unit. Engine, pumps, and drive motors on both units are premium quality industry standard stuff. If they go bad, it's because you neglected them or got a lemon and it usually happens within the year warranty. I've never found anything but positive reviews on both units even though theyve been around several years.
That all sounds good. I can’t say too much bad about either one, they both are great machines and have their fan base, and their detractors. I did forget to mention though that we broke a loader arm on a 925 once, it just snapped down near the bucket pivot where they usually break. It was repaired and reinforced so it won’t happen again, but I have heard that machine has a weakness there. The CTX100 does not have that weakness, nor does any DW that we’ve run.
I'd buy either brand again. And if some other brand one ups them in the future I might buy theirs as well. Not very brand loyal. Oddly enough, that CTX has a lifetime warranty on the loader frame.
You've got that right. As a rule of thumb I dont buy any attachments from dealers. Their prices on any brand are super inflated. I try to warn guys not to let the salesman talk them into these big machine "packages". I xont know how many guys I've seen do that thinking they're getting some kind of deal when they're actually paying top dollar. I've seen a few salesman throw a bucket in for free but they usually make you pay every penny no matter how much you've already spent with them.
Been running cat skid steer since 01 and Vermeer since 13 both with pilot controls
Thank you! It seems like most of the people that bring the subject up to begin with are guys that like joysticks, reminding everyone else that joysticks are better. Other than the fact that I don't really get the sentiment to begin with.... the only way that you could come to that conclusion is if you never ran a dual lever. Yes... the joystick is more "ergonomic" and easier to hold on to but that's exactly what she said too. As someone who currently owns a joystick unit (Vermeer), my dual lever Ditch Witch had a bit more finesse without a doubt. Love the Vermeer...miss my dual levers and platform on the Ditch Witch.
Did you turbo it? How was the outcome?
No, we ended up running it for a year and then purchasing a 1050.
Why couldnt you turbo it? That D1105 in the 800 was outfitted with a turbo for years in the SK650 and SK755. I agree on the 1050. You can't hardly lug it down.
