I think the mini skid steer is the perfect complement to the whole Urban Logging concept. Small footprint and extremely versatile with an abundance of attachments. Plus with most tools, as you become proficient with its capabilities, you discover more things you can do with it.
Matt: I have a small preservation carpentry business in NH, and do some of my own timber harvesting for stock and material. You really helped me with the thorough and informative review of your 800. That’s just about the size and capacity I need - and appreciate your honesty and candor...a craftsman speaking to craftsmen and women. You have a swell operation there and seem proficient in all of it, and lucky to have a son to play with and teach! He’ll be doing the snow blowing soon. My daughter was a woodsmen’s team member at university, and son now in MT so I need the extra lifting and moving help. You’ve inspired me and given me confidence! Many, many thanks for taking the time to share your experience. Greg
First, last summer built a 1,000 sq ft garage workshop. While doing that I rented several pieces of equipment and the favorite was the ditch witch mini skid. Got the big one and it was impressive, totally blew me away with the strength and versatility. Your comment about ease of accessibility is tops, getting in and out of skid opposed to stepping on and off the mini is essential, working by your self that is going on all day. Spending $20k is a ton of money but in the long run, having equipment to do the work that will break down the human body is priceless.
Matt, love the new toys (justifiable if called tools). Your fuel problem could be water in your cross over line. The line is at the low point between the tanks and thus the water collects and freezes. I have had this problem with a gravel truck. Cheers
thank you Matt for being transparent about the price on your big boy toy. I really appreciate you. And, I love that you love wood like me! I too think the distress that comes naturally from the inside is just as amazing as you do. Keep on doing what you do. you are quite the inspiration to me.
Great video! As I watched the video I kept thinking I wonder what that would cost because it would be so handy to own. I stopped the video at one point and started Googling what a used unit would cost. Then when I started watching the rest of the video you told us you paid for yours and all the extra attachment. That was so cool as most people would not furnish that info. Thanks Matt
That was the hardest part for me was figuring out what this stuff was going to cost. Figured it would be helpful to anyone else in the market for something like this. Thanks!
@@mcremona About the sales tax: Aren't businesses exempt from this? In Norway we have 25% value added tax for consumers, but businesses don't pay this...
I bought a forklift 2 years ago, and als use it only 10-15 hours per year, but it just saves me days and days of work and has improved my workflow a lot! Was a bit cheaper then 17k though 😅
Your Vermeer reminded me of a machine I drove in the mid 80’s when I was working at the Colliery, it was a 943 Skid-steer Bobcat. I wasn’t given any instructions on how to drive it, thankfully driving forklifts and mobile cranes put me in good stead and picked it up very easily. Great little machine. Thank you for making these videos Matt. Stay safe, stay healthy. 👍🏻
Great video Matt, I'm a woodworker and I have tools that are dedicated to the specific task I'm doing. So what you did makes total sense, and your back will thank you down the line.
Matt, you had mentioned at one time putting hydraulics on your mill. Now that you have the skid steer are you not planning on the self contained hydraulics system for the mill? Im curious, as I plan on building a mill based off your plans, that was a video I was looking forward to seeing from you. Thanks Matt - Love your channel
Thank you Matt for being so clear and concise about thru the entire video. that was probably the most informative video I have ever watched. Everyone should give you a like on this.
I bought a 2004 SK500 Ditch Witch in 2007 with 27 hours. Over 3000hours. 3 prs. tracks. 3 prs. Front rollers. Replaced the motor. I'm not a big maintenance person. My own fault. I'm a carpenter. Didn't use it much. Mostly as a labour.
Matt, I borrowed one of those from my 6'4 buddy, he included a milk crate for me to stand on. nice investment. never need the snow blower though here in GA. Cheers
I love your videos. I mill on the Oregon coast very temperate and my man I do not want to think about warming up to 27 degrees burrrrrrrr. I learn a lot here thank you for taking the time.
I was glad see you bought that machine to spare your back and that it has worked out for you. I know when I bought my first tractor with a front end loader I wondered how I ever got along without it. Enjoyed the video.
Matt, excellent choice bought a 15 year old 36HP diesel Cub Cadet compact tractor made by Mitsubishi 4 years ago with all the attachments you that you have except for the demolition hammer with only 525 hours on it, the advantage is that it lifts 1500 pounds and has a heated cab it set me bach $17,600 and the seller thru in a 8 ton capacity dual axle trailer; I'm more than twice your age glad to see that you learn quick to work smarter than harder.
Man Matt really stepping it up! That looks like a awesome machine you got there 👍 having equipment around really is a back saver, I have zero regrets buying my old gray market 4x4 tractor.
I rented a ditch witch mini skid steer and it was fantastic. the ability to get into tight places through gates without having to remove my fence made it worth while. the visibility and ease of getting on and off are also other plusses. I rented a bucket and an auger to bore holes for concrete pillars for a deck. I loved the video.
Second. Bought the Kubota BX tractor with loader, bucket and forks. Spent about the same amount but the BX has a mower deck and that was how I sold it to the wife, now she has a riding mower. Also we are on an acre lot and it fits. Best investment I have ever bought, gets used daily, should last my lifetime.
An interesting video as it covered something totally different on the channel and seeing it being worked gives an appreciation of what these little machines are capable of.
I was hoping that you did this video as I went through the library, I know how heavy allot of the work you do is and you have some amazing inventive ways of getting them done which shows great resourcefulness and great to watch, at some stage you need to look after your back and body and the lifting heavy things is a toll everyone pays eventually, plus productivity just ends up demanding it, you can't spend half a day moving heavy slabs around when you can do it all in 1 hour and still walk after it. Great videos as usual and thanks heaps for making them. Cheers from Garry in Australia, stay safe and well Matey
I did wonder about this Vermeer skid steer loader. I saw you using it blowing snow this past winter and now I know all about it. It's a great tool carrier for sure.
The snowblower is really nice. I turned my old 1997 Isuzu Rodeo into a full sized snow plow and now I do my neighbors driveway area 🤣. Just the nature of owning cool things that make it super easy to help others.
Matt, I’m just glad you got something to help you out it the log/lumber yard!! I’m getting older and feeling my younger escapades (lets call them). Your lifting all that weight will show up Looks like you got what you wanted and then some in that deal. Hope everyone is well and keeping safe??!
Excellent idea to get the skid steer. I'm glad now it will be less likely for you to rupture vertebrae. I've rented them before when I was rebuilding my stone wall. the way it was it had huge rocks that I wanted to get rid of, so it worked out great. Good luck with yours!!
Great machine for tree work and moving logs. Get smooth tracks for not messing up lawns. The S800tx diesel is the machine to get. The gas version does not have the same pushing power as the diesel.
Matt, solve two problems at once by installing a tank of some kind to act as a step and fill it with fuel or water to add additional well-placed ballast to increase both the carry capacity and line of sight. Maybe you could weld-up a custom shaped water-step? Even a custom shaped step-box with a water bladder (or tree watering bag) inside would work. Water weighs a bit over 8 Lbs per gallon.
I work for a company who used to make the Boxer line of skid steers. Our operator platforms on big machines like this were made from 5 slabs of 1/2" steel welded on a tiered shape. It made it heavy as can be to move around, but it worked well to add weight ballast to the back. There were also 2 heavy duty springs mounted to the frame that acted as a shock absorber to the operator platform which also helped. Don't know much about the Vermeer equipment, but that is how we approached the issue of counterbalance with the operator platform.
Papps: the operator platform is spring-loaded, designed as a kill switch, and boom arm and track drive won't work if you step off. So with weight constantly on the platform , that gets defeated. I'm no Nanny State lover, but just sayin'. If the ballast could be side mounted it would preserve the safety feature? Whaddyathink?
And you rubbished my post last year when I suggested a skid-steer! LOL ..... So congratulations on your purchase - it looks like that one is a good fit for your needs and the space you have available. :) To your point about them sitting around - most used skid-steers seem to only have _at most_ a few hundred hours usage per year, and often a lot less. ETA That snowblower is a beast! It's hilarious that it eat's 2x6's!!!
I enjoyed the video. Love the snow blower and grapple buying used is always a gamble but we all can't buy new equipment . Vermeer has build eguipment a long time so good for you
Thanks! Yeah I couldn't justify spending 35k on just the machine. I figure with the low amount of hours I put on, I should be good for a few years. thanks!
I ended up buying a small fork lift , the main thing putting me off was I wouldn’t use it enough but it’s been a game changer being able to get stuff done on your own . Great video as always :)
I used to live in St Louis Park and then I was a commercial truck driver with routes covering MN, ND, SD, NE, IA, WI. A possible explanation to your fuel problem is an ice plug in your crossover line. With your spring weather that situation may shortly resolve itself... We can only hope. Water condensation in fuel tanks in the deep-freeze states is a big problem. Thru the worst of the winter you should run at least a 75%-25% blend of #2, standard diesel, and #1, lighter diesel (kerosene), and up to a 50% - 50% mix for bitter cold. But you should also buy a top quality diesel additive that will keep water from freezing and buggering up your fuel system. The blending of #1 and #2 will prevent the fuel from gelling and the additive deals with the water condensation issues. So BOTH gelling and freezing need to be addressed. If you can park your muscular lil buddy in a warm garage overnight you'll find out if your fuel flow issue is due to icing.
What a cool little machine....perfect for your needs and a 1/4-acre lot! Not only that, but it comes with a built-in welding job! LOL An add-on counterweight and 'Matt lift' platform (to raise you up an extra 6" or so and make it easier to operate)! Your videos never disappoint, Matt! Thanks again. :-)
I add a bracket to add “suitcase” weights that tractors use. Worth every cent. My dad was thrown when the machine hit a rut. Add the weight. It’s worth the safety improvement
Problem is it's a ride behind, if he put .a traditional weight bracket on it then it would be a safety Hazzard being in his way. He's also using it in his yard so extra weight will just make a bigger unwanted mess.
For his use (15 gallons in 6 months) and given his fuel trouble he could pull the fuel tanks and replace them with 1 or 2 smaller or higher and put big suitcase weights where those big fuel tanks are now. 15 gallons of steel would add close to 1,000 lbs...
I think you made excellent choices for the skid loader. I'm not into them but it seems ideal for you. Idk if I would get rid of the old trailer. Even if it sits alot. They can be too handy somedays. When you have a rough place and are afraid of damage, or get stuck and could use the skid loader to get out etc. Consider what you will sell it for vs. The jam it can get you out of. Thanks for sharing
Sooner or later I suspect you'll end up rearranging your slab stack so they can be more easily accessed with the mini skid steer. That snowblower must be sweet to use when there is a decent amount of snow to clear from your driveway.
Great video! You should think about renting it out when you don't need to use it. Homeowners will love it for moving stone, mulch, dirst, compost, etc.
Excellent video of your mini skid steer, really like your attachments for it. Like the jack hammer, forks and smooth bucket. Keep up the great work with the videos. Wish I could get one today at that price point lol.
That snow blower is Minnesota Gold. As a sailor I’ve been there, done that with the Diesel engines. My boat has a Perkins 4-108M and is a real b.tch to bleed when changing fuel filters. In my case the boat had a 55 gallon fuel tank with a lift pump on the engine feeding a water separator with a 30 micron filter that fed the secondary filter at 10 microns. I almost always had to crack the injectors after bleeding it at the injector pump.
Somebody may have mentioned this already Matt, but check the vents on your fuel tanks. They probably work like a tractor trailer with duel tanks. One is the main tank that feeds the injectors and the other siphons over to it. If the vents are plugged you’ll pull vacuum and you’ll suck the main tank dry. Good luck!
Hi Matt, It's like a lot of "extras" you wonder how you managed without it. Mini's are expensive, but they have the same bits as a big one, just in a small package, and none of that sort or equipment is cheap.I have had a forklilft of decades, and although I don't put on lots of hours, it just makes life a lot easier and safer. Plus you can stack stuff on racks so maximise storage space. I have recently bought a mini excavator, and have saved days of physical labour work and owning rather than hiring means you can do it at your liesure. Just make sure you change oils and replace filters and grease the various lubrication points according to their schedules and you will extend the life substantially, particularly on the hydraulic side of things and the drive motors for the tracks. That snow blower certainly is a beast, and makes light work of that job. I am in Queensland Australia so don't get snow, but have a hectare (2.5 acres) of grass to mow, and when I bought the property purchased a 34 hp Kubota tractor with a 72" under belly mower, it has paid for itself compared to a ride on mower. The only attachment I don't have is a 4 in 1 bucket, which would make moving wood chips and compost around very easy. You have to have the tools to do the work economically and safely. Regards Dennis
Having had plenty of dual fuel tank machines, I'd say it MUST have a valve to switch it! (find it!) AND NOBODY can see the bucket tip on ANY front loader! lol! Believe me! You'll be a pro in no time Matt! Congrats on the new toy! JW
The biggest benefit of having exactly the right tool is that it makes any job more enjoyable and your time more productive. Just like your dually truck and the new trailer. I am retired and have a "hobby" of renovating homes with a good friend. My friend has the money to buy whatever tools we need, and job-specific tools make a world of difference. In the case of your skid-steer, it will improve your safety and well-being in moving those slabs and logs around. Also, twenty years from now, will you still enjoy this kind of manual labor?
Great video Matt! Really enjoyed all the detail you included here. It was also nice to get an idea about the costs of this type of equipment. Very informative.
Very cool machine. I know your up to something. You have said many times you just saw mill as a hobby. But now your making this giant trailer, you bought this expensive machine. You have this deal going on to kiln dry your lumber. Your up to something :) Enjoy following along with all your adventures.
Matt, for additional counterweight you could just add plate steel to where you stand and i would improve your viability as well. Also i'm not sure if the grapple is really necessary because you have the forks, maybe a little handier at times but for $2500........... i would have just stuck with the forks, or maybe got a more traditional root/brush grapple. Just my opinion. The machine looks super handy, a real work saver, and i'm sure you will find more and more uses for it.
Great video Matt. Thanks for taking the time to go thru with explanations of the how's and why's. I was curious about the reason for the style of skid steer, but had surmised it was all about size. I own one of the larger wheel models and what they excel in lifting capacity they are limited by mobility. Any your buffet of attachments are all
Glad you finally got something to help you move those slabs by yourself. Back injuries are no joke. The next step is obviously to lay a big slab under the wood piles and slabbing area, and install outdoors pallet racking. :)
Hi Matthew, regarding you fuel tank problem, there is a Y hose connector block that hook the two tank together and in that connector block there two ball bearing plus two small spring. One of the ball bearing much be stuck, that block come apart and serviceable. Just take it apart, clean it and put it back together. I'am sure it will fix your problem. Moe
In the winter when you first start the machine let it idle for 10 to 15 minutes to warm up as hydraulic oil moves very slowly when it’s cold and believe me you don’t want to find out how much a hydraulic pump is. This is why you always see the excavator operator show up an average of one hour before he’s scheduled to start working so he can warm up the hydraulic oil. Was working a site in February and the operator was late ( overslept ) fired up the excavator ice cold and immediately started loading trucks. 35 minutes later he crawled off the pile of loam and shut it down. He had burned out the hydraulic pump. That was the end of our day hauling loam. Counting travel time it was a 3 hour day instead of the expected 10 hour day. Food for thought
If you're interested Muriatic Acid will clean that concrete off of the bucket. You can pick that stuff up at your local pool supply place. Spray it on, let it sit and you might need to scrub a little then rinse it off. Make yourself a riser box to stand on if you need the extra height. Make it out of 4" thick plate, if you need extra counter weight. I also like the idea one of the other commenters said about using it for a portable hydraulic source.
Oh HI Matt, For what you are using it for It seems to be a good size , however for you to be able to muscle the bigger logs it could use some counterweight added to the backend near where you stand.
Matt have you considered putting an automotive camera on they front / rear of your kid steer. Mounting need not be permanent, heavy duty Velcro would likely do and for battery service a 12v battery starter works. I use this method for my mobility scooter. Regards from Australia
Before you made the switch from a full time RU-vidr what was your "day" job? I've seen your fabricating work, build a counter weight step and add 6" - 8"
I like it. thx for going over the prices of all the goodies as well and the machine itself. I want one and i live in a condo. Maybe weld on a couple of flip down foot pads, one for each foot, six inches above where you normally stand.
You could make a concrete block to stand on, just a thought. great video and a good investment it will definitely make your work easier and faster. Thank you for sharing your videos. cheers Thor
Hi Matthew, With your skills, maybe you could add a raised operators platform to your skid steer. You could design it to be easily removed if someone taller uses it. Have a good day. I Enjoy your videos.
I don’t care what the cost, if it saves your back it’s worth every penny. I’m retired now but I was in the vending business and moving equipment up and down the stairs was a killer. When i eventually could afford a stair climber it was a god send.
Cast a hunk of concrete that fits on the operator platform. It can increase your counter weight and your height. You can make the concrete the exact size to fit the platform. At 150 pounds per cubic foot, you can affordably satisfy your needs.
Matt, hope you and your family are doing well on the new property. I recently bought 40 acres of mostly mature woods (hunting, fishing, sawmilling). I'm looking into a tractor (or other piece of equipment) for general property work, moving logs and loading them on the manual sawmill (currently thinking HD38 from Norwood). Do you have any guidance, advice, recommendations? I love your mini skidsteer but, thought it looks perfect for your yard, I think I'm likely to need/want something bigger. Thanks again and hoping to get out to MN soon. I'll be sure to visit if possible. Ben
As usual, great video. I've often wondered why you do not build and sell furniture. You have talent and seem to enjoy building, could be a decent boost in income.
Hi Matt, love the skid steer with summer coming your way it should be very handy as you get back into milling (hopefully) With your stacks of slabs you have a camera so why not take a picture of each slab as you cut it, then on the end facing the visual side you see assign a number or code to it and then enter all the revelent info into a database so for advertising or id purposes you can provide a customer with several id pictures and, length, width, type of timber etc you could even give yourself the location in the db For quick retreaval Just an idea to make life easier for you Last idea Why not use a camera (gopro like) on your boom and either put your phone( or a retired phone or a small monitor from AliExpress or Banggood ) near the controls on a mount to see what your implements are doing when you can't see them? You can also use the footage for inclusion in videos. Just my 2 cents worth grin Take care Tony from Western Australia.
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