Mini Skid Steer

[shooterdon]

Looking at getting a mini skid steer. Anyone have any experience with the cheap ones from China?

The unit will be used with a grapple to load logs onto the deck of a firewood processor. Estimated maximum weight of logs 700 lbs.

 

[groundcover]

Had my fill of cheap Chinese after trying a 3pt chipper ! Have a couple of Ditch Witch mini track loaders, couldn't be happier.

 

[4570Man]

I’ve never owned one but I’ve driven them around auction lots. I wouldn’t pay $500 for one. The controls are so bad that they really aren’t even usable.

 

[SiteEngineer]

I’d go for a brand that at least has a UK dealer or someone you can actually ring if something breaks.

 

[Runner]

Looking at getting a mini skid steer. Anyone have any experience with the cheap ones from China?

The unit will be used with a grapple to load logs onto the deck of a firewood processor. Estimated maximum weight of logs 700 lbs.

Mike Morgan on Outdoors With The Morgans YT channel has both a Vermeer and an cheap Chinese mini-skid. He has had a couple of issues with the Vermeer (covered under warranty) but hasn't said much about the Chinese unit (and also hasn't shown it much). Might want to look up those videos on his channel just to see what he has to say.

 

[Carl_NH]

Bison Equipment has some nice videos of mini excavators and mini skid steers with lifting, and flow rates and is pretty objective reviews. Bison Equipment, Inc.

 

[2manyrocks]

I looked into them. There is a chinese mini skid steer group on FB. Looked like a lot of posts where people bought them cheap at auction and then soon ran into issues that they didn't know how to diagnose or repair or there were common issues like having track bearings that failed due to not being well sealed and/or tracks coming off.

The grapples for these are not inexpensive even though they don't appear to have as much stoutness as the ones designed for skid steers, IMO.

I bought a chinese mini dumper at auction June, 2025 thinking it might be just enough to help clear out an area infested with thorn trees. It kept stalling on me when I tried to back it up. Started a thread about it on TBN, but basically suspect the hydraulic relief valve pressure may be set too high. It will reverse if I go full stick instead of feathering the controls. Didn't want to mess with it much when it was so hot outside so it's waiting for me to deal with.

 

[TORQUIN]

I'd suggest you keep an eye out for a better brand, used. I suggest tracks, not wheels, and just waiting for a right deal to come along.
Every now and then, you can get something of decent quality from China, but this is an awful big purchase to take a chance on.

Chris

 

[D'oh]

Looking at getting a mini skid steer. Anyone have any experience with the cheap ones from China?

The unit will be used with a grapple to load logs onto the deck of a firewood processor. Estimated maximum weight of logs 700 lbs.

I have a Tracked and a Wheeled Machine. Both 2 Pump 739cc Rato powered.

Track macine is better on Soft Ground, and pushes better, Wheeled is faster, smoother but Hard Ground.

Lifting 700lbs is achievable, if you (the counter weight) are 350lb bit 500=550 is more realistic.

There are 3 basic sizes, 14hp 6" track/wheels, 23hp 7" track'wheels, then like a Diggit 850 which would likly lift your logs, nut expect to replace the Hydraulic Pump very quicklu

As for price, 3 Home Depot Rentals 1000-1500hrs sold for 4Xs what I paid for these Brand New. You judge, How much are you going to use this?

 

[RickfromPaso]

I bought a BTTL st28h-6 Mini skid steer. Incredibly well made. I love the thing but it has some design flaws. The biggest being the track design. It is flat instead of triangular. Most of the commercial mini skids are triangular with the drive sprocket at the top of the triangle which keeps the drive sprocket out of the dirt/rocks. Very important. I have had problems jamming the tracks turning in soft dirt and gravel. The debris get between the drive sprocket and the tracks which force the whole floating frame to jam against the body and stopping the drive sprockets. Then you have the loosen the track tension and clear the jam. Other than that I love the thing and use it all the time to unload and stack hay and move my engine welder around. It fits in very small spaces that I can't get my tractor. I bought a set of pallet forks and 4 in 1 bucket, works great.
The other thing to watch for is on hills. It has a very short wheel base and is unstable on steep slopes. It almost killed me unloading it when I brought it home. My fault of course. They loaded it on the pallet on the back of my flatbed truck facing forward. I went to back it off the pallet down a steep ramp without the bucket mounted so it was VERY back heavy. As soon as I hit the ramp, the whole thing flipped over on top of me. God was watching out for me once again and I ended up on the ground with the mini skid on its side, resting on my foot. Don't do this! So it has it's limitations but it is incredibly useful. Also their customer support is great, when I flipped it it destroyed the pilot controls, lights and throttle on the top. They sold me all the parts to repair it and talked me through all of my problems.
As far as lifting 700lbs, although as D'oh said, if you put enough weights on the back it would pick it up, but I would chose a full size skid steer. I pick up a pallet with 4-6 bags of concrete at a time and my forks weigh 300lbs. I think there are lighter forks out there.