All these cheap skid steer loaders about…….

[Stihl123]

34 minutes ago, Treetom15 said:

That is basically exactly what I’m after-if I could spend 10k plus vat (ish) I’d much prefer to take a gamble on an old machine 

keep an eye on ibidder, that's where i found it

and watch ebay

some are scams though, so watch those.

 

1st base plant do have some older/ cheaper ones 

 

it's very much a case of waiting for one to come up, older ones do. just not every day 

 

👍

[Treetom15]

After looking at the options I think I’m most suited to something along the lines of a Worky Quad/Sherpa/MicroBull-simply because it will go in the back of the tipper, and the lower weight/cheaper cost is a big bonus!

 

@Mark Bolam I seem to have it that you own a WQ? Pros/cons? I know there’s a TON of threads on the mini loaders, what’s the general consensus? I’d like something I can potentially run a few attachments on, maybe a topper/mulched in the future-is that feasible with these small units?

 

And lastly….anyone selling a decent 2nd hand one?😂

[Mick Dempsey]

You won’t have the flow for a mulcher, though it’s likely someone will try to sell you one 

 

Use it for lifting and shifting, that’s it’s forte. 

[Mesterh]

On 07/08/2025 at 17:31, Mick Dempsey said:

My brother bought one to help his son in his tree work business. 
 

I’ve seen videos, it’s ok, lumpy and jerky, beats lifting by hand. 
 

In the absence of enough money to buy a decent brand, it’ll do. 

 

Is that about the best of its capabilities or can it lift more weight than that?

 

 

[Mick Dempsey]

It’ll lift more for sure.  
Not crazy weights of course 

[Mark Bolam]

1 hour ago, Treetom15 said:

After looking at the options I think I’m most suited to something along the lines of a Worky Quad/Sherpa/MicroBull-simply because it will go in the back of the tipper, and the lower weight/cheaper cost is a big bonus!

 

@Mark Bolam I seem to have it that you own a WQ? Pros/cons? I know there’s a TON of threads on the mini loaders, what’s the general consensus? I’d like something I can potentially run a few attachments on, maybe a topper/mulched in the future-is that feasible with these small units?

 

And lastly….anyone selling a decent 2nd hand one?😂

The thing is Tom I decided I wanted a machine that I could use on as many jobs as possible.

We can whistle up Telehandlers etc.

on the big farm jobs, and the amount they can shift is unreal.

My WQ is a dwarf in comparison, but it’s the best choice for me.

You can’t get a Telehandler through a 3’ gate!

Remember the grab adds about 85kg.

 

Ball hitch on mine means it can take the chipper places that were a no-go before.

 

Basically I’d say go for the biggest machine that will fit your business model.

 

You’re welcome to come down and have a play whenever you want.

 

[Mark Bolam]

Also, as Mick says, the smaller machines haven’t got the flow to run a flail or mulcher effectively.

 

I might look at a quad flail with a donkey engine and reverse mount it though, £2k experiment!

[Mark Bolam]

The big sticks at the bottom are 20” dia and 10’ long.

That’s pushing the WQ’s limits picking them end on.

It will piss them all day side on.

[Mark Bolam]

[AHPP]

56 minutes ago, Mark Bolam said:

side on

 

The four principal orientations of manual rotating grabs on skidsteers are:

• Scorpion
• Battering ram
• Bulldozer
• Claw machine

Amen.

Edited 1 hour ago by AHPP