Vermeer 725TX vs Toro TX1000 vs ??

[tree-fancier123]

You could buy a cheap tractor unit with a big crane for not much money and use that instead. Would be a lot easier than whatever contraption you are envisioning.

ok - just thought if it was doable - like scaffolding type effort, up in under 30mins, would save taking the extra vehicle

[Billy]

got me thinking - when arb companies spend say 20k on a mini skid steer, 10k to 30k on a grinder, plus all the other bits - for how many thousand pounds could you build a good ramp system with supports to simply drive up and over hedges and walls? I was thinking something like 4 off 20ft alloy ramps (2 each side) a six foot centre platform and suitable supports. I suppose if it was worth it people would already be doing it.

 

 

Much cheaper and more practical to lift kit over with a crane. You'd need a crane to get the pile of stuff back over a fence from a garden with no access anyway.

[Domino]

Thinking of getting a mini skid steer and can't decided whether to get a Vermeer 725TX or a Toro TX1000

 

Anyone got any experience of either machine or is there another make that I've over looked.

 

Not really interested in Avants etc as want it to be able to go through a standard pedestrian gate!

 

While important I wouldn't get too caught up about width, as suggested. Nothing against the skid steers, fantastic bits of kit, but make a mess of the ground compared to articulated loaders. The 500 series will comfortably get through a 4ft gap.

 

I did go for an Avant, for me the reasons being - sturdy ROPS roof increases safety around falling objects. Telescopic boom which greatly increases lifting, loading, pushing, placing ability. Oh, and I like sitting down

[Jonny69]

While important I wouldn't get too caught up about width, as suggested. Nothing against the skid steers, fantastic bits of kit, but make a mess of the ground compared to articulated loaders. The 500 series will comfortably get through a 4ft gap.

 

I did go for an Avant, for me the reasons being - sturdy ROPS roof increases safety around falling objects. Telescopic boom which greatly increases lifting, loading, pushing, placing ability. Oh, and I like sitting down

 

Sitting down is always a bonus! However stepping on and off easily to grab the saw and the tracked machines stability, pushing/pulling power had the edge for me. I pondered for a while over a wheeled machine and bought the vermeer. Of course having both would be the ideal solution the ground damage vs pushing/pulling power problem.

[Ian C]

I'm thinking of an avant as well, have had the vermeer on demo and it was good, fast,easy ro use but the ground damage would always worry me, the avants just seem more capable from an around view.

 

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Edited November 6, 2016 by Ian C

[Mick Dempsey]

Domino, that first picture of the avant, are you carrying that tree?

[Domino]

Domino, that first picture of the avant, are you carrying that tree?

 

Yep. That is the tree shear attachment, but on that one I grabbed it, then did a step cut beneath to be able to lift it away.

[Mick Dempsey]

Impressive. I know it's a half dead elm but still...

[Old Mill Tree Care]

Yep. That is the tree shear attachment, but on that one I grabbed it, then did a step cut beneath to be able to lift it away.

 

 

I didn't know that you can get a tree shear for the Avant!

[Domino]

Yep, the shear is a great bit of kit. Makes for an extremely powerful grab with the blade folded away. Really good for breaking unions in, and cutting up brash ready for chipping. As the pincers come to a point, it easily penetrates wood enough to pick up sections greater in diameter than the grab opening, which I was relieved about, as it only opens to 77cm.