I Bought the CHEAPEST Mini Skid Steer on Earth 

For the broke, ie, me!, I would love to have one of these. It is my only option! That being said, I would love it, and be better off with ot, than with none! THANK YOU! Let's get this process started!

@@wordswritteninred7171 I hear ya ... having "the best" machine would be great, but I had to do what actually made sense and was possible

Why would you add a weight to the operator platform? You are the weight you say the grapple bucket is too heavy. Well you can do what you did by pushing down on the bucket on a Vermeer you are the counterweight the tracks are not a Eliot they are a low track versus a high track and it doesn’t increase your ground clearance, the major difference is it gets your drives out of the dirt doesn’t increase your clearance what that cost 6 to 8 grand versus 40 to 80 for a brand name and only a select few are less than 36” my Vermeer is 54”or 48 with narrower tracks but then it cuts ruts from lack of flotation I guess I just don’t understand what you think you were buying as far as everything being drenched that’s on you from leaving it in the rain for as long as you did

@@jkmcp45 Yeah it's been a good machine so far for daily use, and the price was right. No more fish in the bucket these days :)

Awesome machine. Hopefully uncle Sam will buy me one in a month or 2.

hahaha ... I still like those AvE mini chainsaw moments :)

@@dynoranch1205 At the port I had to pay the shipper about $800 and a agent another $900 ... everyone gets some money in a deal like that

So am I reading you got this thing delivered for under 5k? With attachments?

Closer to $15k in the end. Machine is $9k

Thanks for checking it out man. That business of yours sounds interesting and exciting. I get a lot of good logs so have plans (dreams?) of getting a saw mill together. Still don't have the time for it but it's a hope.

Get something bigger. You'll need the strength

Whats the price for this thing?

Cool to hear! Yeah, it's been an interesting piece of daily-use equipment so far.

Thanks for that! Yeah it's been a fun and interesting tool so far ... we'll see how it endures over time

@@metaspencer Welcome fellow Tree life member

Those look pretty amazing though I haven't tested one yet. Great lifting power and mobility

Cool to hear that you remember that chainsaw! Yeah it's an odd marketplace these days with so many cheapo/knock-off products ... Thanks man

My same strategy

I like that strategy man! Some guys are all about going into debt on fancy equipment and new stuff ... I got my work truck for 3k (it had been wrecked and wouldn't run) but some wrenching and TLC and it's been great. So keep those bills down and the money coming in! haha ... good stuff man

I literally just bought my first saw, hoping over this winter to get some climbing gear an ropes an in the spring hopefully get a easy job or two an get that hands on experience. Iam 40yrs old an been a janitor since i was 18, my resume is basically blank so applying for jobs kinda sucks so hopefully come spring I'll make my own "destiny" lol

@@wolverinebear5357 You can do it man! Take things slow and get a feel for it. I always advise A LOT of practice climbing without a saw before cutting

@@wolverinebear5357 Go for it. You'll find so much fulfillment working for yourself, even if it is more work.

that D1 is a beast! I didn't know the military used ride-behind equipment: thanks for the info. It's cool that you got that mechanical experience

@@metaspencer Looks like the one in this video is a ride-behind .

It can be a torture test to work on the small machines!

Not bad for 13 k but the tipping weight is a bit low, glad it’s getting the job done!

Any idea what they were called in case they're in a surplus sale

Yeah it’s a machine I use daily… can’t beat the ease of use

@@sherman207 We use every single thing we have, plus local government pays a fraction of the price as your average joe. State bid pricing.

@@sherman207 Teamsters baby 🥳 #Union4life.

I was out hauling logs with it today and could have used those weights you describe -- great idea. Thanks man

It sure would be nice to be able to take them on-and-off like that. Someone else recommended a thick piece of plate back there that could come on-and-off. Either way it's MUCH NEEDED unless I can manage to gain 100lbs real quick :)

​@metaspencer not going to lie man I was dying laughing at your description on the price of comparable skids. "Many many monies" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 so true

Just replace the stand with a heavier plate of metal

Maybe figuring out how to add a 20 gallon or so water tank made of thick plastic, should give you about 160 pounds and not be too hard to fill/drain as needed.

Kubota and bobcats mini skid steers the weights go in the track area towards the rear. one of them has an alternate mounting location but haven't seen it used . One thing that has me hesitant about pushing for counter weights for our Kubota is these little things throw you around quite a bit. You can hit a good bump and lose a large rock out of the bucket and the machine will react in a way you probably won't expect other than part of the reaction is the machine going backwards almost teetering. It is so much worse when traveling backwards. The common reaction is to step off which is a hard reaction to not have but if you do you'll be hurting if you don'tb catch yourself quick enough. More counterweight just makes me think the reaction will happen that much quicker and more violent. And if you do find yourself between the machine and the ground that's even more weight pinning you in place. I think that's why Kubota and bobcat opt for the weight within the tracks, in order to make it more predictable and limit it's want to roll backwards. Both the Kubota and bobcat (with the taller tracks in the rear) aren't any better with the platform bottoming out. Only difference really is the way it drives the tracks. Only occasionally does the sensor read that you are no longer on it, then you just need to override it to get going again.

Yeah in this case the "best" mini-skid can run over $60k ... which is the price of about 5 of these yellow devils. I like a tool that lasts a lifetime, as a general rule, but that simply doesn't always work out. Good hearing from ya man

speaking of harbor freight, maybe they should get in on selling these things.

These days,too much is made in China used to be made in japan( which i hear is a better product!),so if you beleive in paying more for ,or to get a better product,forget that idea,I have a Dewalt skill saw,cost me 175$ Canadian,and the blade doesn't follow a straight line,everything made today is either way overpriced junk,or just low quality, use it a few times and fill up the land fill. For example, Sany sells excavators from China,for around 5 grand ,but won't sell to just one person,but to American brokers,who tack on 45000$ to a cheap Chinese machine .8 or 1 ton minidigger, maybe the higher end stuff is better? So,that 5000$ machine is being sold over here for 50,000$ for a small minidigger! Add taxes,shipping,freight and freight forwarders,and then how much is it? When I grew up,RCA record players and tvs had a reputation for quality, but the sold to Toshiba.So did a lot of product,but not now ,make it,bake it,and toss it out the door! That hammer you buy at home depot costs less to make in China,then your cup of coffee at your local restaurant! Yet you'll pay 12$ or more for it,so because we're basically getting crappy stuff these days,if you think paying 100$ for a hammer that costs .01 cents worth of scrap,is a quality product,your highly mistaken! Not to mention,your jobs are going to China,but as the bible says," In last days the dragon shall rise!" China's symbol is the dragon,and we're feeding it money for junky products. My neighbour has a small john deer tractor,he says it costs him 28000$ but the engine is made,guess where,China! I will say they are good machinists,but your low budget equipement definitely has its drawbacks,poor quality fit and finish. I just saw a youtube about a tractor convention,the sales guy ,says big name brand excavator companies are shipping there parts to China for assembly, but I bet you'll still pay big bux for that machine over here! If you check the price of there wages,it about .14 cents to the US dollar, I personally think China is screwing us,and think we're stupid to pat there prices for there min diggers,a min excavator going to Africa costs less according ti one Chinese broker because it doesn't need an Epa engine,but I think he was lying..maybe! And why do we need an epa lawn mower engine, with supposedly a catalytic converter?

@@davidrussell8795 very interesting... so basically what I'm hearing you say is that for most/many things/tools, etc. the difference that the harbor freight chinese stuff and the brand name chinese stuff is (almost) exactly the same quality and that the higher price of the brand name stuff is WAY out of line with the small difference (if any) of quality.

@@davidrussell8795 That entire JD is made in Asia as is every other brand of sub compact tractor. Not just the engine. Only the larger machines have enough margin to be made in the US. However I would rather support India and So. Korea vs China. If China doesn't have a civil war/revolution soon we are going to end up at war with them.

That crunnnnnnching sound. Yeah, it's a pretty good masher

That Powersplit sounds awesome. I use a traditional hydraulic splitter for our firewood and it tips over to do big rounds vertically. You definitely need a system for those big ones. Maybe a conveyor belt or chain hoist? Good hearing from ya!

Yup you said it! All it needed was a tarp but I guess I got busy with too many things. Oh well, it survived :) Thanks for checking it out man

Blue tarps don't work you need red ones 😜

Why blue?

Prolly because they're pretty common at H Freight.@@danielmelcher5310

@@danielmelcher5310 There's kind of a color code, followed by most (but not all) manufacturers; the color suggests the thickness. Blue's thinnest, then yellow or orange, then green, then silver, and brown is thickest.

I’ll have to start looking… thanks for the tip

Yep, you said it man. Thanks

Thanks Loren!

My thoughts exactly on the repairs: some aspects of the machine are common around here, and others not so much. So repairs and maintenance may be the biggest challenge

@@metaspencer Like you said, sometimes you have to take a chance and hope you get lucky. Whatever the future brings, I'm here for the ride! Have a great weekend.

From what I've seen, parts for these Chinese pieces of equipment shouldn't be hard to find and tractor supply or northern tool. I bet 98% of it is off the shelf parts

@@Will-tm5bj So far it looks that way with most of what's available in NA made in China.

Sounds like a good unit! I have a similar grapple on my other mini skid now, but that spring doesn't always do the job ... looking for a better hose holder

Yeah it'll fit back into backyards without much access, so that's nice. Thanks for checking it out

So far so good ... it's got more power than me so I'm happy :)

It kinda feels like that once you get a feel for it ... easy to jump in and out of the exoskeleton :)

I've heard a few other guys call it a manure grapple. That's kind of funny but it works okay. I've still gotta mod that thing to make it better :)

thanks for having a look

The ground crew is applauding:)

I like my larger Ford tractors too ... tractors are just SOO versatile, can lift more, etc. So I see whatcha mean. This is a pretty small little loader compared to a tractor ... looks like a new Kubota l2501 these days can get up around $20k, so more monies but you get what you pay for. Those are great machines.

Sounds like a good change. Too much weight up front is a no go with these smaller machines

Yeah that was one of the things I really liked about the machine, as I'd heard good things about the engine. So far so good!

Yeah a good shipping agent helps. It’ll work out!

Did you get it ? Thinking of going this route.

@@j.p.fabrications Yes I did, the process was pretty easy, they practically did everything included the custom agent. The only problem was the fact that the forklift get some cosmetic damages during the shipping process, not a lot of them but quite disappointing, they have insurance and I am still dealing with them.

Yeah it’s gentle on the lawn as long as you don’t turn too fast …. That 8k beast can pull on a top I bet!

8,000 pounds is pretty light, I would say try plywood, but I can't imagine how you would use a mini-excavator on a tree job...

@@jacobcarter5923 I use it in tree work all the time. Moving 14 foot 3,000 pound logs to the dump trailer is a lot faster than bucking them into small enough pieces to maneuver by hand, or down to a size a mini-skid can lift. Like Spencer, a lot of us aren’t far enough along to afford a chipper big enough to eat the stem wood, so hauling it off is the name of the game.

How much did you pay for it

@@jermaineglover4043 I bought nearly new for just over $40k. I do more small excacation jobs than I do tree work, and it’s the most used tool on our homestead.

2 ton! that's awesome man ... yeah, can't beat the price ... I hope it works out great for ya!

I also have some clamp on forks -- not perfect but they usually get the job done. That Rounder sounds great

Bummer to hear about that story -- but I'm not surprised. All equipment fails at some time, some sooner than others. Time will tell with this one

@@metaspencer do you buy it directly form that website in your link

@@jackson6.083 Yep, that link takes you to the sales guy I worked with. Just gotta pay through Alibaba then pay another $3k or so for customs and importing stuff

I hear ya man ... every machine is its own potential money pit and also a way to get divorced from the work itself. Absolutely :)

Thanks man

I've used it to haul logs up hill a few times now, and it's done great. You can see it in this vid: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-NH9irkUnJwI.html ... with that said, I'm always careful not to go sideways on a hill and tend to back up the hill for safety. Not a perfect machine by any means, but it gets the job done

Good idea on having the hoses shortened: that's the way to go. Thanks for the tip man

@@metaspencer The longer hoses may be for a different attachment and would possibly affect the resale value.

hahahaha! I showed Melissa that part and she said something like "Oh boy if they ONLY knew how much" :)

Sounds like a good setup you have and that winch will do wonders for ya. I have one in the back of my trailer and one on the front of the truck: winches save soooo much work.

You bet man ... I'm still using it daily that the thing will do some LIFTING for sure

I didn't know B & S was part of Toyota -- it's interesting how so many seemingly distinct brands are related. I run some different chainsaw brands that are made by the same company. Thanks for the info!

@@metaspencer that's because it isn't "part of toyota" B&S is owned by KPS, a capital investment firm (who also owns Taylormade golf equipment and AM General). At one point Vanguard engines were built in Japan in a partnership with Dihatsu, but as of 2017 that's no longer the case. They are built in the US. Now that machine being made in China, ill almost bet that isn't a real Vanguard engine, rather a counterfeit

Interesting! Thanks for all the info

Ooooo, I like that idea of creating a Franken-skid-steer by adding a Toro grapple. I think there's a way to make it work ... just gotta find one on the tree-guy black market. thanks for that idea! :)

You should be able to since it same mounting system but honestly I spend the money on a branch manger grapple and forks

And oh branch manger make a 38 hp stump grinder that hooks up to your machine and uses the low flow hydraulic system to swing for roughly 6k

@@kennethvanduzer5828 Those branch managers look pretty cool

@@metaspencer got one with power rotate makes life so much easier

Now wait a second, I need to tell the ground crew about this one? :)

Big thanks!

Hiya lots of good thoughts and questions there. Time from order to delivery was several months but that was also at a time when the Chinese government locked down the port of Shanghai, so ya never know how it would be in the future. Added costs was a few grand for sure with customs and whatnot. We'll have to see about the drive sprocket, tracks, and other elements over time -- only time will tell, really. Getting new parts may be tricky; again, time will tell. YOu mention leg pads: on this one your legs are up against the engine is you stand close! I stay back to keep the weight back LOL The domestic skids I''ve priced are well over $50k without attachments and I've had dealers not get back to me. Used machines are in the 20s and 30s where I am.

Few grand for customs???? Sorry.. Say what?

@@yogi799 Seems like customs and port officials want about 25% above what the machine cost from China, so be prepared to be slapped with fees galore especially if you are a rookie at the paperwork.

Oh man sounds like you got a deal!! I’ve been looking for a used mini for 2 years now but haven’t found the right one so thought I’d try something else … we’ll see how it goes

I will buy every running machine of a quality brand you can sell me to that kind of money. A worn out pos unit still sells for about the 13-15k something like this currently sells for in my area. I say you either got the you bought from your dad deal or you are full of it. You would not belive the crap folks think is worth 20k+. 7k for 250 hours would only be if the 250 hours were at the bottom of a lake.

@@johnhogan3810 are you familiar with the 25g? It’s 18k brand new today max.

@@jasonjordan88 Where is that Thomas 25g made?

@@asusreviews think Canada

I've got a few more videos on here about the machine and buying process -- nice to have LIFTING POWER out there on the jobs for sure

Yeah the crew will be happy when they find out :)

That's great to hear! I don't know anyone else with this kind of equipment so was a bit hesitant ... so far so good man. I'll look up those dealers you mention as I'd like to get some more equipment in the future if possible. Thanks!

@@metaspencer Great video! Id really like to know more about your import experience and the vetting process for purchasing overseas. I'll try and send you a message on social media. Thanks for making this content!

@@jerrysaunders3672 Sounds good ... I'm happy to discuss it and as others have asked I should probably post a vid about it

How do I obtain one

@@jimgingericj9438 here's a link to the machine I bought ... www.alibaba.com/product-detail/skid-steer-loader_1600391587866.html?spm=a2747.manage.0.0.3b4171d21Akio2

Big lifter!!

I hear ya -- saves the back and gets A LOT done

Good choice man -- I've hears sooooo many good things about that beast of a machine. If you've got those big bucks, it sounds worth it for sure.

Haha exactly! Backweight needed!

@@metaspencer Perhaps it needs two operators to keep it a lightweight machine.

Gotta keep that crew happy and their work gloves unused :)

Thanks buddy

Hey look, another comment and chance to reply! Much appreciated and thanks for checking out the machine

yeah not the perfect machine but the price was right

Thanks for checking it out

My man got the Cougar! Awesome to hear ... it's gonna be a great tool for ya I bet :)

@@metaspencer It was an uphill battle from port to port and shipping charges for each leg and with the help of the customs clearance agent I had to hire! But it’s here in Hawaii! Thank you again!

Hey buddy, that land sounds like it's gonna be great! This machine is 23 hp with pretty good lifting power (around 500lbs). Paid 9k for the machine and 3k in shipping and fees, but prices have come down since then. I'd estimate 10k total these days with the chinese currency down

I agree with you about the weight ... a little bit would go a long way (like 50lbs)

that sounds like a pretty good setup ... they're pretty good in the snow with those tracks

good to hear! yeah it's a cool little machine

I'm not too worried about the parts -- it's a pretty simple machine and the engine is Briggs and Straton. The tracks can be ordered, and everything else looks pretty standard. But if you're looking for a machine you can take back to the dealer for repairs, this definitely isn't it!

Great point man

Interesting to hear. In North America the machines are more unusual but seem to be catching on a bit. Thanks for the info

What was the shipping and import costs into Australia?

@@mickjoebills I didn’t have to import one into Australia, there is a distributor that owns the “Hysoon” brand here in Australia that sells them direct to the public

Forestry and Wales -- two great things together. Excellent

@@metaspencer absolutely. ✌🏼

Yeah it's running strong and appears in many of my other videos. Prices fluctuate over time but in all it ran me about 13k ... they're much cheaper now

I have really liked the machine -- it's one heck of a lifter. With that said I did end up getting a second heavier and more powerful machine because I lift a lot of heavy logs. I haven't used the snow blower but sounds awesome

It's been fun to use on the job -- different, but fun

That Kubota sounds terrific ... way to go man!

Yeah it runs standard mini skid attachments

Hey man -- I didn't mention exact price in the video because prices change over time and videos last a while. This machine is about $12k right now, but with taxes and fees and freight and customs and all of that probably closer to $15k. If you can't pick it up at a coastal port shipping would be another charge. The name brand machines from dealers are over $50k ... as for lifting capacity it can lift right around 450 lbs. Vermeers and Toros are up over $50k last I checked

Sounds like you've had some good experiences and developed some real wisdom about what works for you out there. Great to hear man.

Thanks for checking it out. Shipping, customs, all kinds of wacky fees and all that came to about $3k. That was with picking it up at the port and no storage fees at the warehouse ... you can also get it delivered if you work that out with the shipper

I've had that request from a few others, so have gotta put it together when a get a free second. Thanks for the encouragement

I didn't mention exact price in the video because prices change over time and videos last a while. This machine is $12k right now, but but taxes and fees and freight and customs and all of that probably closer to $15k. If you can't pick it up at a coastal port shipping would be another charge. The name brand machines from dealers are over $50k ...

yeah that's definitely an option for added weight

I didn't mention exact price in the video because prices change over time and videos last a while. This machine is about $12k right now, but but taxes and fees and freight and customs and all of that probably closer to $15k. If you can't pick it up at a coastal port shipping would be another charge. The name brand machines from dealers are over $50k ... here’s a link to the loader I got so you can see the specs and all that: www.alibaba.com/product-detail/skid-steer-loader_1600391587866.html?spm=a2747.manage.0.0.3b4171d21Akio2 ... as far as time it took a few months to arrive but that had to do with China shutting down the port of Shanghai. But it's not a super quick process for sure ... as for parts I'll just have to see how it goes! it does run on a Briggs and Stratton engine :)

@@metaspencer Thanks. I wonder where I could get a good used one from. Do you know anybody? Just kidding. Again great video, thank you for posting and thank you for responding.

@@4notwithouthope haha :)

I'm working on a full video about the shipping process, but in a nutshell you've got about $3k extra to spend on shipping, customs, and a shipping agent (depends on which port you use)

That weight would be nice -- thanks for the idea!

It has a Vanguard engine from Briggs and Stratton and I haven't had any trouble with it, but cold starts take a bit of cranking for sure. Always fires up tho

those weights would be nice -- easy on-and-off

This "tarp" you speak of -- sounds like a brilliant invention! :) Yeah I'd buy it again ... it's not the best mini skid steer out there by a long shot but the price was right for me and I use the dang thing just about every day. You're right about the weights for sure

@@metaspencer yeh I've seen the equipment sticker shock of the real ones.ive often felt like doing just what you did.

good idea -- you'll see the machine in several of my other videos

Hey Buddy, I knew NOTHING about the process so you'll do great at it. Yes it was pre-cleared before leaving. I think Homeland security requires that now or something like that. The shipper took a fee at the port (I think it was about $800 for all kinds of weird stuff) and then my shipping agent took about the same amount of $$ for whatever they did. So there are some fees built in but still waaaaaay cheaper than a high-end machine. Email or message me with any other questions. I'm happy to share my experience. Cool that you're getting one!

@@metaspencer Cool man! Thank you for the info. I appreciate you!

I do a lot of metal and fabrication work so your ideas make sense -- anything to lighten it would be an improvement. Thanks for the ideas

Check out my more recent vids and you'll see that it's still going strong. I recently bought a bigger, heavier machine for jobs -- but I was torn because this little mini skid has been great. Very simple and saves a lot of work

Yeah it's a pretty powerful lifter -- capable of lifting about 500lbs depending on what your terrain is, like uphill or downhill. Prices have come way down on these machines for sure!

@@metaspencer Oh wow, that's great! Mostly flat here. Darn, I see one for 1000.... plus 800 shipping. Almost seems too good to be true... Dang

Thanks for the tip! I've been getting a little better at it this week. My first few really flailed but they're getting more compact. thanks man

Could you imagine trying to return this if it didn't work when you got it home, seems very inconvenient going to a pier to pick anything up

Yeah no returns for sure!

That's my plan but I haven't found the right one yet. I know a few other guys who use their mini skids for drilling holes ... obviously not as much power and torque as a full size skid steer, but I'm thinking it'll get the job done