I had a kanga wheel loader first and a shop built grapple, used it for 3 or 4 years then repairs became too frequent. Replaced it with a mini excavator for a few years and decided to get a boxer tl220 and changed the grapple mount over so I've got about 5 years on a homemade grapple. Everything has its place, the mini excavator can pull straight in and rotate to pick about 500 logs and still come out a gate but it's very slow, the boxer has the variable width tracks but seems slower than the older wheel loader. I've run a Thomas mini and a Gehl advantage for past employers. The Gehl was great on grass but I disliked the reverse swing of the articulating machine for loading the chipper whereas the mini wheel machines tear up a muddy yard and won't go in the snow without chains. The bigger mini track loaders seem to be the ticket but only if they can fit through a gate or you're back to dragging everything to the fence like you would with a big skid loader. I would love to trade my Gehl 5635 for nice compact excavator and keep my 6635 to run the logs to the truck and run mowers and the grinder for lot clearings.
