Dingo thoughts??

borrowed my buddies dingo the other weekend to mive some logs around, amazing little machine, I was thinking about a skid steer but I think this little machine is more that capable for what I need, you guys have any long term experience with them??

 

Calling leoht

 

BTW Andy8850 , sorry to be so glib, it's my natural state.


I'm not familiar with the dingo's you're referring to.

Obviously some type of quad I would assume.

 

I wanted one until I seen the price...even used ones are rediculous imo

 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...Vaw0O4RCaFES-msvT9gmkUdf_&cshid=1558913541254
Dingo

 

You can find them relatively reasonable

 

I don't see a price there, but in this neck of the woods even clapped out ones were spendy...

 

Try to keep your eyes peeled for an old Thomas unit they are usually cheaper and simple to work on.



The mini skids are incredibly useful. The wheeled ones are usually cheaper used as well.

 

there are two tree companies that store their equipment in the storage lot by my house, the both use them. I had a huge pine removed and the guy that did it had one, very impressive little machine.
If you keep watch on CL you might get as lucky as me and find a JD 125 skid steer for $3000.

 

There's where the hammer gets put to the idea for home use. If you don't need to squeeze a machine through a 36" gate you might as well grab a tractor or full size skid steer. You're paying for the power in a small package with the Mini.

 

Something like it...

 

Mine is a Ramrod Taskmaster wheeled unit.

Mine is probably 15 to 20 years old.
Back in 2008, when the economy took a chit, my son and I were driving by and saw it for sale in a front yard and stopped. The man was wanting $1500 and continually complained about needing money to make payroll. Now my son is a real wheeler dealer. He could sell a bag of horse chit to an Amish man and make him think he got a good deal. He told the man we would give him $1000 cash for it. Sold. Went to the bank to withdraw the cash.
11 years later, I have around $1400 in repairs in it. You would have to offer $5000 before I would even begin to hear you.
Wonderful machine for processing rounds. I load rounds in the bucket, drive them around to the splitter, split and put the splits back in the bucket. Off to the stack I go. If I am not close enough or not at the correct height to roll them off onto the beam of the splitter, I don't have to climb up into the machine to correct the problem. Just stand beside and operate the levers to correct it.
With only 750lb capacity, I am not going to lift any large logs, but it sure saves on bending over.

 

This ^ ^ ^
An older skid steer is cheaper and have more lift capacity...easier to buy/rent/borrow attachments for too...

 

Easy on off. This is why tree services, concrete contractors, landscapers, etc. etc. really like these machines. Until you use one it's hard to imagine. Step on and send it. Step off and work by hand. It's pretty fluid.

You really have to think about your philosophy of use though. Handy for sure but harder to find a gooder deal on them Andy8850 . What's your budget?

I'm not sure I'd say easier. Maybe 10 years ago. Their pretty popular now. Most dealers that sell these things also sell/rent attachments. Blue Diamond, spartan, CID, cangini, etc. All sell quality attachments for them. Often times at cheaper prices vs. The larger skid steer version.

 

The older wheeled units from thomas/ramrod, vermeer, ditch witch, and Toro are where folks will likely find the best deals. These machines are dirt simple to work on. I'd be on the look out for one with a blown up engine. Be real easy to throw a big Chonda clone into one for a cheap repower. Not unheard of for these little guys to go 3000 hours or more.

 

That’s what I’m looking for, one that needs work, hydraulics or engine issues

 

They are pricey! Didn’t think they’d fetch those kinda dollars

 

I have a Bobcat MT55 right now and use to have a dingo tx425. Great machines and not understood how useful they are till you run one in person. I won’t be doing tree work forever, but i’ll always have a mini skid. They have a small footprint and quite frankly they can handle 90% of lifting/odd ball jobs most homeowners find themselves tackling. I loaded these walnut logs with my bobcat. It barely did it, but got it done!

 

I have a TX 425
Useful but limited.
Main reason I bought it was I purchased a large commercial building with only double man doors at dock height. The building was full of scrap and crap. Machine about paid for itself on the clean up just in time savings and the $ return on scrap. I also knew at some point I was going to fence in 10-15 acres and @ $20/hole it was a no brainier.
I use the post hold auger , forks and cone splitter the most.
They suck in mud and are heavy so it takes more than a lawn tractor to get them out.
As mentioned if you don't have a narrow gate or doorway to get through look for a skid steer.