Opico Skidster or sherpa mini loaders

[Dilz]

5 minutes ago, doobin said:

So easy. You just push down with the bucket, and the front comes up. Keep pushing and the back platform comes into contact with the ground, keep pushing and then that lifts up too! 17mm socket and a medium extension bar on a battery impact gun and you'll change them all in under five minutes.

No need to set something so the front wheels don't spin?..they get their drive from chains via the back right? Would figure you need to lock something to keep them from turning once they are off the ground??   Or does the machine have a parking brake that takes care of this?  

[doobin]

Just now, Dilz said:

No need to set something so the front wheels don't spin?..they get their drive from chains via the back right? Would figure you need to lock something to keep them from turning once they are off the ground??   Or does the machine have a parking brake that takes care of this?  

Front wheels are chain driven so attached to the rear motors. As wheel motors are hydraulic nothing will move when the machine is switched off.

[Ben Pinnick]

Just now, doobin said:

But you mentioned the Sherpa and WorkyyQuad, which are the same class as the Opico!

 

If transport or space are not an issue then you could get a proper compact loader, not a pedestrian loader. A secondhand Avant or similar.

Ha yes thats true 🤣 Just freewheeling through the options in my head I guess, I think the avant is too big though (and too pricey) - storage is an issue a little, hence why I don't already have a digger.

I shall continue to look at the options

[Dilz]

Sounds simple enough then! 

[doobin]

3 minutes ago, Dilz said:

Sounds simple enough then! 

Well I can manage it, put it that way! 🤣

[Frod]

Excellent read, lots of good info for sure.

Does anyone have experience with the cormidi c85 loaders as well? Obviously that’s moving to tracks rather than wheels, plus it’s an extra 100+kg so I’m guessing ground impact would be worse? It’s also 4” wider than narrow wheels…but seemingly that generally is less of an issue.

On the plus side, it can move more, but still might struggle moving a full ibc of fresh firewood?

Sadly I don’t have the space for an articulated loader, but need something to help around the yard and on jobs (mostly domestic but some small commercial)

[dumper]

50 minutes ago, Frod said:

Excellent read, lots of good info for sure.

Does anyone have experience with the cormidi c85 loaders as well? Obviously that’s moving to tracks rather than wheels, plus it’s an extra 100+kg so I’m guessing ground impact would be worse? It’s also 4” wider than narrow wheels…but seemingly that generally is less of an issue.

On the plus side, it can move more, but still might struggle moving a full ibc of fresh firewood?

Sadly I don’t have the space for an articulated loader, but need something to help around the yard and on jobs (mostly domestic but some small commercial)

I doubt a c85 will lift a full ibc no matter what the importer says. Talk to djb or molson for a demo well built loaders with a good undercarriage, if your thinking small look at the micro bull as well

[treevolution]

On 14/01/2022 at 08:57, doobin said:

  

Pretty easy- you need to work out what the weight and wheelbase is of the largest item you will want to load, and then use their charts to check what model you need. Obviously the longer the ramp the heavier it needs to be so check carefully with a bit of wood first to make sure you are happy with the ramp angle of a particular length.

 

I wouldn't go less than 10' for loading into a Transit type vehicle, and even that is hairy if you don't work out how you are going to approach it. For instance, you can tilt the bed to reduct the breakover height for light things like a ride-on- just drive them straight up. However, something heavier like a micro digger could cause serious damage if you attempt to drive it onto a tipped body. So for the micro digger, I track it up forwards and 'ride the bump'- however, I find it much safer when reversing off to just stand on the blade and carefully feather it over the breakover point. With the Sherpa, it's very twitchy and you also want to keep the weight to the front, so don't stand on the platform as you load or unload (unless you have a reasonable weight in the bucket for some reason). Folowing me so far? 🤣

 

I got lucky and picked up a set of 12' heavier alloy ramps from the same manufacturer locally for cheap- however I tend to use the lighter 10' ramps as they fit in the bed of the Iveco no trouble. But the 12' are far easier to use safely, so if you are of a cautious/nervous disposition you might want to sacrifice a bit of convenience for safety!

 

Whatever you get, make sure to drill your tipper body to accept the pins supplied. I have one hole on the left, and then three on the right to accomodate differing wheelbases, on both my tipper trucks, and keep a set of pins in each. Loading something, especially tracked, without pins is a recipe for death and disaster.

 

Photos attached of the spec stickers for both my ramps, both made by the same company but different dealers. 

Just about to order a set but one last question. 

 

Does you rumps have sides or just flat. 

 

Thanks 

[Will C]

Flat, sides will make it harder if you ever want to parbuckle timber up them. 

[dumper]

28 minutes ago, treevolution said:

Just about to order a set but one last question. 

 

Does you rumps have sides or just flat. 

 

Thanks 

My rump and that of my Mrs are both well rounded and paid for !!!