Everybody tells me how wonderful the mini-skid steer machines are for tree service; I don't have one, and cannot afford it, either. Someday, maybe...
I do have a Kubota KX41-2 excavator, which might work very nicely for some things. I am thinking about adding a thumb attachment (about $1100 total) which would allow me to pick up logs and load them into trucks. Granted, it won't be handy for other cool mini-skid attachments, but it will work great for getting through 48" gates and picking up 400lb logs.
We tested it's tipping strength today; it takes about 450-500lbs to tip the machine with the excavator fully extended to it's maximum reach, 6' up in the air. (We kept adding people on the tip until we could pull it down; it took 3 of us. Two hanging, and the third guy pulling.) Furthermore, I believe I will have a much higher loading height than any mini-skid, so I can load my trucks better.
I imagine that the travel speed is a bit slower, and the machine is no doubt heavier than a normal mini-skid. [3710lbs "operating weight"] On the other hand, it will be able to do a lot of moving and handling of brush and logs without even moving the tracks. Tearing apart brush piles and feeding a chipper comes to mind.
Has anybody got any experience or comments on this plan?
I do have a Kubota KX41-2 excavator, which might work very nicely for some things. I am thinking about adding a thumb attachment (about $1100 total) which would allow me to pick up logs and load them into trucks. Granted, it won't be handy for other cool mini-skid attachments, but it will work great for getting through 48" gates and picking up 400lb logs.
We tested it's tipping strength today; it takes about 450-500lbs to tip the machine with the excavator fully extended to it's maximum reach, 6' up in the air. (We kept adding people on the tip until we could pull it down; it took 3 of us. Two hanging, and the third guy pulling.) Furthermore, I believe I will have a much higher loading height than any mini-skid, so I can load my trucks better.
I imagine that the travel speed is a bit slower, and the machine is no doubt heavier than a normal mini-skid. [3710lbs "operating weight"] On the other hand, it will be able to do a lot of moving and handling of brush and logs without even moving the tracks. Tearing apart brush piles and feeding a chipper comes to mind.
Has anybody got any experience or comments on this plan?