Mini-Skid Steers - Are they good or bad?

[flienlow]

Lately I have been looking at Mini Skid steers to be bridge some gaps that I have between my Kubota BX25 tractor and Excavator. I have never operated one, and would like to hear from those that have to see if they are work pursing.

 

[boggen]

what are you doing? as in...
--getting down into a basement / crawl space?
--having to deal with narrow width gate?
--drive through home to get to the back yard?
--smaller acreage 1 to 2 acres. and wanting to do some landscaping with smaller size concrete blocks to timbers and smaller size rocks?, (what ever helps to remove shovel from hand)?

 

[flienlow]

Basically everything you have a said there. I need something that can go up and down steep slopes to carry wall block and haul material. I also like all the attachments ( harley rake, trencher, auger ect.)
It seems like these are easy machines to use, and have quite the capacity for their size. I imaging that if you were on the thing all day just standing an moving material that would be become fatiguing, but if you need to do a lot of jumping on and off I imagine they are great.

Looking for general positives and negatives about them.

 

[Norm W]

With most of the minis, if you are on steep ground, you need a good seat belt, hard hat and roll cage. This is even if you carry loads low.

 

[flienlow]

With most of the minis, if you are on steep ground, you need a good seat belt, hard hat and roll cage. This is even if you carry loads low.

Norm- Sorry, I was referring to the stand on type. Like a Toro Dingo.

 

[Norm W]

Those (Dingos) are a bit more stable because they don't have to have a place inside for an operator. I've seen more than one person do a face plant with the small Bob Cat with the single cylinder, I think a 10HP engine. They were used mostly for cleaning stalls etc. but they would go through a doorway and were handy within their limitations.

 

[4570Man]

I know they're cool as heck and I want one. Based on what I've seen they're stronger than the loaders on a sub compact tractor.

 

[Industrial Toys]

They can be very unstable in difficult terrain. I would say, most non-tracked skid steers are out of their element in steep terrain. Varying makes carry their loads much different from the next one. I for one, hate getting in and out of one. The exception being the ROBOT by JCB with the side entry.

 

[Xfaxman]

For those that have never seen a TORO Dingo:

 

[motownbrowne]

I've seen several tree services that use dingos or the one that Vermeer makes. They seem super handy, and having worked for a few tree services (none with a dingo, though) I can say that if it'll stand up to that kind of work, they must be a pretty solid machine.

 

[geteh]

Basically everything you have a said there. I need something that can go up and down steep slopes to carry wall block and haul material. I also like all the attachments ( harley rake, trencher, auger ect.)
It seems like these are easy machines to use, and have quite the capacity for their size. I imaging that if you were on the thing all day just standing an moving material that would be become fatiguing, but if you need to do a lot of jumping on and off I imagine they are great.

Looking for general positives and negatives about them. I got myself into a pickle with the eighties Wheel Horse that Hydro units cannot be located. I'm afraid with these older machines I'm going to encounter the same thing. I understand that 371 is from the seventies and has mechanical Drive clutches Etc. What do I need to look at all these Boleo mini skid steer models or should I stay away from them. I'm just deathly afraid I'll end up with an expensive boat anchor.

I have been looking at some small or mini skid steers for use around my acreage mainly snow removal little dirt here and there I won't be making a living with it. I have come across a nice little Bobcat 371 and a couple case 1825 that seem to be reasonably priced. I have questions about the parts availability for these machines. I got myself into a pickle with the eighties Wheel Horse that Hydro units cannot be located. I'm afraid with these older machines I'm going to encounter the same thing. I understand that 371 is from the seventies and has mechanical Drive clutches Etc. What do I need to look at all these models or should I stay away from them. I'm just deathly afraid I'll end up with an expensive boat anchor.

 

[Hay Dude]

Norm- Sorry, I was referring to the stand on type. Like a Toro Dingo.

They are the absolute bomb for tree work

 

[RandyT]

Nephew runs a Ditch Witch SK600 with his stump business to clean up wood chips. It has its limitations but really speeds up progress on the job site for loading excess chips and leveling off after grinding. Part of the draw for that model was the price and it will fit through a backyard gate.

 

[2manyrocks]

I've read the opinion elsewhere that mini skids that have a narrow width to fit through a backyard gate can be tipped if the operator isn't careful.

 

[4570Man]

My dad bought a mini skid last year. It’s great for working in tight area’s obviously. It’s also great for work where you need to get on and off a bunch. It’s super easy to just step on and off. It’s strong. It will lift a literal ton which would take a tractor with a drastically bigger footprint to match. The biggest downside is it’s hard on the operator. I hate to run it over an hour or 2 because it’s so rough. It’s absolutely not a tool I’d want to work 8 hours straight.

 

[RandyT]

I've read the opinion elsewhere that mini skids that have a narrow width to fit through a backyard gate can be tipped if the operator isn't careful.

All can be tipped if not careful. Most machines up to 1000 pound ROC are 36-42 inches wide. Above that they are closer to 46-48 wide. So all are narrow for rated capacity so are side tippy and have to be careful while climbing slopes because of their design they are rear heavy and will tip over backwards.

 

[KenBike]

Have a year owning a Dingo TX 1000 wide track (42")
Also have a Kubota L6060 with loader.
Love the Dingo for all kind of tasks.
Have the following attachments
48" Harely rake
std and light material buckets
Auger with 36" and 12" bits
Forks and I can move 1200 pallets of horse bedding
Dingo Power 180 lb weight kit
Tree forks
land leveler
2" receiver on a mini skid quick attach plate. Use this to move trailers around farm in close quarters.

I find it the handiest and most versatile power equipment I have ever owned.
They do ride rough, top speed is 4.9 mph but getting on and off is so fast'
Last year I planted ten trees with 3" trunks and 1200 lb balls in 5 hours. Used the auger for the holes and drug the trees to the edge of the trailer and picked up the balls with the tree forks and det in plave.
used the light bucket to haul mulch and pushed the T-post in the earth to tie off the trees.

The dingo is used a lot, the tractor only for mowing with the 12ft bush hog or spreading compost.

 

[scootr]

I have a Bobcat 773, a SS is the best wheelbarrow you will ever own. Getting in and out is a PIA and rearward and side visibility is not the best. I wouldn't recommend it as a solo tractor. It's a supplemental tool for specific tasks.
OP's application sounds perfect for a stand up machine.

 

[Fixastuff]

The minis are awesome if you need one. My problem with them is the cost is too close to a real CTL.

Any tree people I know are switching to Avant or bobcat mini loaders.

 

[2manyrocks]

The minis are very close in price to a full size skid steer. They have a use case for fitting in back yards that are only accessible through small gates. But for that kind of money, it might be possible to buy an articulating tractor from Power-Trac. I understand the PT-425 is popular with some tree guys and landscapers.