Thinking About Getting A Mini Skid...

geraldooka

Hello,

I run a one man show right now building fences, decks, porches, access ramps etc. Previously I did general renovations but have been leaning more towards outdoor projects.

Right not I sub hole digging to either of two excavating businesses. One fellow runs a mini Kubota K008-3 (use his services where we need the 28" width), the other a Bobcat with auger equipment.

This generally works fine for most jobs. I wonder though if I could do the same thing myself with a mini skid (dingo, ditch witch, ramrod, whatever) and also use the unit to expand my outdoor service offering, with the addition of more attachments.

Are there any deck/fence/outdoor building contractors out there that have done this. Has it been advantageous to do this for your business? I know that our overhead/mark-up and profit numbers will all be differenent. I don't expect specifics just generally...

Thanks,

Michael

tnmtn

i have a toro dingo and like it very much. it helps make it easier to do lots of things by yourself and doesn't get tired. i would suggest renting a few diffrent models with the attachments your will be using the most. if you find you are saving money ond time doing it yourself go for it. they have very few downsides for what they are.
good luck

dirt diggler

a Bobkitty?

tgeb

I have rented the little MT-50 that Bobcat makes, it's a pretty handy little loader. I have considered buying one but we don't quite have enough of that kind of work to justify owning one.

geraldooka, I would say that if you need one, and use it often enough that your rental costs would be more than what the payments would be, make the purchase.

I don't know about the other brands, but the bobcat loaders of that size seem to hold their value. New they run about 12-14K and I have not seen one for sale used for much less than 10K.

__________________
Tom

www.gebcon.com

geraldooka

I hadn't actually thought of a brand or model yet. Cursory research seems to indicate that they all have similar capabilities. I suspect it will come down to local availability and support. The Toro Dingo, Bobcat MT series (and possibly the 463), Ramrod (heard bad things) appear to be locally available and servicable. The Ditch Witch is here but about 6 hour drive away as far as I know, they may have a closer distributor though. Pretty much everything else is south of 50. But again I'd need to do more research.

Part of the interest goes beyond purely cost. The units just seem like fun to operate and I may just want to look at offering the various services one could offer with a tool like it (so much for focussing my business

I know the fellow that runs the Kabuto is constantly busy. He's the only one in town with an excavator that will fit into a 28" door way... Its too bad there doesn't appear to be any mini skid available that narrow...

Michael

Earth and Turf

I am also looking at a mini skid What I have found is Toro makes lots of attachements for the dingo so they are all over the rental yards especially sunbelt. Anyway the bobcat will not hook up to the dingo stuff. I have demoed a Vermeer and a dingo both are very good I liked the Vermeer a little better it seems to be built beefier. It is a little more money because it only comes with a diesel where the toro you can get either. For me the dealers for both are about a mile apart so dealer service is not an issue. But it maybe for you. I have never been a big fan of bobcat machines in general. I was looking at buying just a couple of attachments and then renting other attachments as needed.