Toro Dingo

[cpel2004]

Can someone please tell me what & how a box blade rake works (Pro's and Con's). I'm trying to find a more efficient way to remove existing turf, grade/level etc for turf installation. I'm sick of using a sod cutter. Toro's box rake looks very interesting but Im not sure exactly what it does. I've checked with other landscapers any they keeping telling the only way is with a skid steer or sod cutter

[Lawnworks]

If you are talking about a harley rake... mine is irreplaceable. I have one for my Dingo and my Cat. The 48" harley for my dingo has the absolute best finishing capability of anything I have ever seen. You don't have to touch a hand rake. It is great for jobs less that 5k sq feet and patch jobs.

Another guy on here swears by the Toro cultivator... I have never used one of these but they are supposed to bury the spoils so there is nothing to haul off.

[cpel2004]

Lawnworks, can I use it for sod installation. I dont know how they work? What does it do to the existing turf. Im looking for something that will remove the turf. I looked at the Toro's website and it seemed like it would remove the turf and do minor leveling. Is that the case? Max. removal would be 7k-10k

[Lawnworks]

Yes that is right on. They are great for sod installation. You make your first pass just tilling the ground. The roller with carbide teeth will till about 4-8" down depending on your soil conditions. Then on your second pass, you put some weight on the front caster wheels and just skim the surface of the soil removing all of the grass, rock, etc that you just tilled up. Kind of acts like a box blade, but with the roller spinning you are leaving the dirt and just pulling the spoils. You might have to make one more finishing pass to get everything level. I usually just pull all of the trash to one side then scoop it up in the bucket.

I paid 6k for my 48" harley rake... the smaller harley rakes are nearly impossible to find used. But I would do it over agian if I had to.

[P.Services]

i have been looking at at 425 tracked dingo with 123hrs. comes with a bucket,forks, brush grapple, brush hog, and a harley rake. all for 23k, i bet i could get it for 18 or 19k. after reading the great things you have to say i want it even more.

[cpel2004]

Hey Lawnworks thanks for all the good info. Its amazing that more guys down here dont use them. I think I will rent one for my next job. I appreciate the feedback.

[Lawnworks]

i have been looking at at 425 tracked dingo with 123hrs. comes with a bucket,forks, brush grapple, brush hog, and a harley rake. all for 23k, i bet i could get it for 18 or 19k. after reading the great things you have to say i want it even more.

18k would be a good deal... the bush hog and the harley are hard to find used. My 425 gets used practically everyday. They are very easy to maintain as well.

[Lawnworks]

Hey Lawnworks thanks for all the good info. Its amazing that more guys down here dont use them. I think I will rent one for my next job. I appreciate the feedback.

Rent one and let us know what you think. In GA, harley rakes are a necessity for sod jobs. Sod cutters just seem like they would take forever.

[P.Services]

i dont know what they are called but i also would like to get a pair of tree grabbers, they hydraulically hold and place a balled and bagged tree. i think they would be alot better then a ball cart.

[Lawnworks]

When I do bnbs, I just use a tree boom. Much cheaper.

[TPnTX]

I just did a 12k sod job and I rented a skid loader and a Harley Rake. I guess is was 60". The black gumbo clay dirt was hard for it to till but eventually after several passes it did the job. I don't know how long I would have been there using any other means.

I was looking at an implement that home depot rental has for the powerhouse pro (dingo) unit. Pic (http://www.cpiequipment.com/images/drive_unit_pics/protillerlg.jpg)

It looks like it would do a pretty good small jobs. But 12k sqft using that would have made a long long day.

[TPnTX]

thats just a tiller though.

Here is toro's box rake. Pic (http://www.toro.com/professional/sws/images/dg22307_bxrake_34r_184508_lg.jpg)

[topsites]

You know my problem with the dingo is everything, the only thing the dingo has going for it is skid steers and that it is unique and loads of fun to use. But the price is high, the shovel is limited to 800 lbs (and that's the power model), I can walk faster than it moves, it eats a ton of fuel and takes forever getting things done IF the weight limitation doesn't stop it entirely.

So I've been checking into slightly used (aka very nice looking ones) compact tractors instead, by compact I mean they're only slightly bigger than a riding mower, they're still not cheap but for way less than 23k I could get all that and then some, minus the skids.

The compact isn't that much hotter in the power and lift department, the most powerful ones can lift 1,300 lbs. which is still a light weight but it's sure more than a dingo, and the reason I want one is because of single axle trailer transportation (any bigger units won't haul). Now to get a decent compact you're looking at 6 -8,000 dollars (but really 8), maybe a little more, but that should come with up to 1-2 attachments out of: shovel / auger / backhoe / yeah I'd guess harley rakes / etc, etc. Of course to get a loaded one you'd have to find some more attachments, each one's likely to run you another 1,000 plus possible modifications labor hours.

The brands that I found appear to specialize in these miniature tractors are Yanmar, Hinomoto, and Shibaura, thou Kubota and Mitsubishi make them as well and I'm sure there are others. Compacts is what they're called, thou even that doesn't always narrow it down 100%, but that is the correct term.

Here's a picture of one:

[topsites]

Actually I made a mistake on the lift and weights...
The most powerful ones that are still light enough for a single axle trailer can lift 1,300 lbs :laugh:
They go up in size and of course bigger lifts more, as a rule.
This then translates into what else it can do, as in how fast the job gets done.
As for true compacts, the bucket's about the same size as the dingo, but you can have more power.
And yes, most should have a PTO drive.

I also forgot to mention the brand name Iseki, and yes New Holland makes them, I'm sure there's more.
You can get them for as little as 4-5g, but for a nice one 8.
Like that Shibaura in the picture is probably at least 8g, maybe 10-12 and that one might be new but you can find them slightly used in about that condition for around 8.

Here's a couple more pics, that shibaura was actually kinda big, here the blue one is a true compact, the red one is almost a standard size but you can put attachments on the blue one all the same:

[topsites]

Ok I'll lay off after this one I just gets excited ...

Here's a Kubota someone paid 15,000 for with the two attachments and shipping included:

[J&T Kiev]

I have the TX 425 , purchased in 2005 for 15800$. I’ve operated a lot of equipment; I feel that the dingo is the most versatile machine out there. My Dingo is defiantly one of my best investments, makes landscape installations go so much easier with less back breaking work. I use mine with much time devoted for sod prep, Moving materials like mulch, sod, dirt, tilling and prepping.
Dingoes have high maneuverability around corners and into tight spaces; it will squeeze into remarkably tight spots. The controls are a breeze; with a Dingo you can be Harley raking like a champ within a few hours. You can become competent with a Dingo after one day; I think the versatility of the Dingo can’t be beat. I overwork mine verging on the extreme-- and it just keeps taking a licking and coming back for more.

[cgaengineer]

I have used both a Dingo and a tractor, and I must say Dingo would be my choice if I had the money. The power of hydraulics is the reason for the Dingo. PTO driven attachements are old school IMHO. Both units have their negatives and positives, but for the price, a small tractor cannot be beat.

[Lawnworks]

Topsites do you know what the hell you are talking about??? Tractors are for the birds! A mini-skid(any brand) will be more a versatile machine for landscaping. It just doesn't get any better than a dingo for trenching, augering, harley raking small jobs... and no footprint w/ the tracked models.

And your right tractors, can't lift a damn thing. I mean you have to have one badass tractor to even pickup a pallet of sod. I just see no use in compact tractors unless you are a homeowner. I used to borrow/rent a Kubota 4340 w/ a harley rake, but I bought a Cat 248 this summer. I can say w/o a doubt the Cat skid is more productive and efficient than the tractor.

The perfect combo is a mini-skid and fullsized skid... there isn't much as far as landscaping that you cannot do b/t these two machines.

Anther comment... who is going to work on your ishiberu or isekoi?

[paolaken]

just won't go with out my dingo. it goes everywhere i go. i sold my deere tractor years ago. i'll be adding a second dingo before long.

[Focal Point Landscapes]

I am totally with lawnworks on this - use the Dingo every day and can run circles around any tractor , regardless of size . I don't know any landscapers who use a tractor over a mini - skid . We never use a sodcutter to prep , the harley rake has made that technology obsolete . We are doing a job now where we are using the trencher , leveler , bucket , auger and harley rake . You can change attachments in minutes , the ultimate in productivity . When the job is finished , it all fits neatly on the trailer . We are using a tractor on another job - heavy bush hogging a 20 acre field - it takes a 30 foot radius to turn the unit around . The assertion that a tractor is better for landscaping doesn't even merit a response.

[ProLandscapes]

Could you give me the contact info for that package? I'll give you $100 finders fee and I only want the attachments not the machine.


i have been looking at at 425 tracked dingo with 123hrs. comes with a bucket,forks, brush grapple, brush hog, and a harley rake. all for 23k, i bet i could get it for 18 or 19k. after reading the great things you have to say i want it even more.

[Mgardner]

The last two wall jobs we finished were done with our 35 HP compact. Anything smaller would have cost in hours bigtime. The walls were 6.5 foot plus using Keystone compacs (85lbs ea. From the truck flatbed to the wall the loader holds 9 units. To backfill the walls we couldn`t have even come close with a mini. The amount of dirt moved and excavated to make room for geo ... was an afternoon using the compact fitted with an 8`backhoe . Each his own but the next peice of iron will not be a mini skid, it will be a mini X. The finish grading on one job was 8 tandems of black dirt and moving down a very steep grade ,I`ll guarantee you wouldn`t want to be (unless you have a whole season)using a mini- skid. Then when its time to mow fields, drop the hoe and hook up the rotory mower. Four wheel drive is a must with a compact tractor plus you can load a tandem. Bobcat is coming out with a compact after polling Bobcat customers on what they need or want. Wev`e had our compact down in ravines ,moved truck load after truck loads of timber ,after excavation getting site ready. I can`t see a mini skid even so much as digging out a small tree by the roots ,let alone dragging a huge root ball up steep grades.

[cpel2004]

Boss talking about the "mini X" what is that exactly?

[YardPro]

topsites.

you don't have a clue.......
the miniskid is no comparison to a tractor. it is SOOOO much better. I thought they were overpriced until i bought one... They are worth every penny.

We also have a bobcat t200 (skid steer with tracks). It has a 5700lb tip weight. I would give up the bobcat before the dingo without any hesitation.

mgardner.

the miniskid is not best suited for every job. but it is the best all around tool you could have. It will lift more than a 42hp kubota tractor, has the same sized bucket, but will not lift as high or travel as fast.

It will dig as well or better than the tractor, and has tons more attachments.

[TPnTX]

I have a Kubota 7500hsd There could not be a more useful small tractor. The hydrostatic transmition is way easy to use one pedal moves you forward another moves you backward. In low gear you can inch it around with great precision.

Still to use a power rake I would have to go with something else. If you don't need a tractor I would go with a used skid loader before I'd buy that to finish grade.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c105/tpntx/P1010139.jpg

[Canon Landscaping]

What about the ASV RC30? It looks like it might be more versatile than the Dingo I have used a Dingo many times and they are by far the best mini skid made very handy machine but I was wondering how it would compare to the ASV RC30?

Anyone using one of these?

[Lawnworks]

I had an rc-30.... I think the dingos are a better machine. The track system on an asv is a much more expensive system. The dingo is much easier to operate in tight areas, easier to get in/out, easier to transport.

I could see the advantage of an rc-30 if you had miles of trenching to do or other cases where you had long transports.

[topsites]

Ok but then again I can run circles around the dingo and loads of mulch with my pitchfork and a wheel barrow, trust me I know.
Now that to me is just the epitomy of horsecrap when I decide to use an expensive piece of equipment that is slower than me doing it by hand, you can bet your tail I'll make my body do the running long before I run up the cost like that.

The one really good use I found for the dingo is light brush clearing, and that's where I constantly ran into that 800 lb. limitation.
Maybe it does ok with rocks or gravel, but that small shovel is hardly the size of my barrow, and it is the slowest thing even at full tilt it hardly seems to get up and go, my Wb's are faster and they're made by the same company.

topsites.

you don't have a clue.......
the miniskid is no comparison to a tractor. it is SOOOO much better. I thought they were overpriced until i bought one... They are worth every penny.

We also have a bobcat t200 (skid steer with tracks). It has a 5700lb tip weight. I would give up the bobcat before the dingo without any hesitation.


I am sorry but that's either a large compact or a small skidsteer, I said compact tractor, and by compact I'm talking 3000 pounds max, anything over that isn't really a compact to me, regardless of what they call it. Even the rc-30 is too heavy, POS for that kind of weight I can see where the dingo's better.

That Kubota is pushing things, might be just about right thou, it's just that thing when the dingo hits that 800 lb limitation you are finished. The dingo will not trench or level clay soil, not even loose clay soil, it sure won't move no piles of debris and even pushing over trees it is constantly running out of power, 800 lbs...

You won't find the right compact easy thou that's for sure.

[mrusk]

Ok but then again I can run circles around the dingo and loads of mulch with my pitchfork and a wheel barrow, trust me I know.
Now that to me is just the epitomy of horsecrap when I decide to use an expensive piece of equipment that is slower than me doing it by hand, you can bet your tail I'll make my body do the running long before I run up the cost like that.

The one really good use I found for the dingo is light brush clearing, and that's where I constantly ran into that 800 lb. limitation.
Maybe it does ok with rocks or gravel, but that small shovel is hardly the size of my barrow, and it is the slowest thing even at full tilt it hardly seems to get up and go, my Wb's are faster and they're made by the same company.



I am sorry but that's either a large compact or a small skidsteer, I said compact tractor, and by compact I'm talking 3000 pounds max, anything over that isn't really a compact to me, regardless of what they call it. Even the rc-30 is too heavy, POS for that kind of weight I can see where the dingo's better.

That Kubota is pushing things, might be just about right thou, it's just that thing when the dingo hits that 800 lb limitation you are finished. The dingo will not trench or level clay soil, not even loose clay soil, it sure won't move no piles of debris and even pushing over trees it is constantly running out of power, 800 lbs...

You won't find the right compact easy thou that's for sure.



Stick to cutting grass buddy.

[Lawnworks]

Ok but then again I can run circles around the dingo and loads of mulch with my pitchfork and a wheel barrow, trust me I know.
Now that to me is just the epitomy of horsecrap when I decide to use an expensive piece of equipment that is slower than me doing it by hand, you can bet your tail I'll make my body do the running long before I run up the cost like that.

The one really good use I found for the dingo is light brush clearing, and that's where I constantly ran into that 800 lb. limitation.
Maybe it does ok with rocks or gravel, but that small shovel is hardly the size of my barrow, and it is the slowest thing even at full tilt it hardly seems to get up and go, my Wb's are faster and they're made by the same company.



I am sorry but that's either a large compact or a small skidsteer, I said compact tractor, and by compact I'm talking 3000 pounds max, anything over that isn't really a compact to me, regardless of what they call it. Even the rc-30 is too heavy, POS for that kind of weight I can see where the dingo's better.

That Kubota is pushing things, might be just about right thou, it's just that thing when the dingo hits that 800 lb limitation you are finished. The dingo will not trench or level clay soil, not even loose clay soil, it sure won't move no piles of debris and even pushing over trees it is constantly running out of power, 800 lbs...

You won't find the right compact easy thou that's for sure.

lol... do you even do landscaping? Lets put 30" bnb in your wheel barrow! The dingo w/ the right bucket will carry 8-10 square feet same as your wheel barrow! Here is a list of things a tracked dingo will kick little tractor ass at: augering holes, harley raking, trenching, picking up plant material, hauling mulch on turf, hauling anything on turf, vib plowing, digging walkways, etc etc!

Seriously topsites, have you ever even used a tracked mini-skid?

I agree w/ yardpro my full size skid sits 80% of the time... the dingo is on the truck virtually everyday.

[Mgardner]

On lighter jobs a Dingo would be nice but we have managed to squeeze the TC 35 DA in anywhere we needed. Talking to one owner early this year, turned me away ,he has two and at the time ,both were down with major stuff. Like I said, if Bobcat is coming out with a compact ,there must be a huge market in the landscape world. Our compact lifts 1400. lbs and with quick tach loader/ pallet forks ,nursery jaws it unloads and loads what we need and has plenty of reach. Sure it won`t handle a pallet of pavers or block . Thats what a heavier skid steer is for. Iv`e demoed the TCS 30 ,Vermeer mini skid, and at this point I`d rather stick with our compact fitted with a Woods 8 ft hoe . Then you have a loader on site and still able to get anywhere you need, if not ,excavate it out . Plus New Holland have been good to us on the financing end. 4.9% on 84 months. No one else was even close .

[Mgardner]

Now , are we talking about a trac Dingo or or wheel ? To me a track would destroy less lawn when ,say you are installing pavers in the back and want to haul all your base,sand , pavers...Oh yeah, we started at the bottom,wheel barrowing everything (sometimes still have too). Had we had a Dingo today, the job would have been cake. Instead we had to do sod prepping BY HAND. And wheelbarrowed the sod off the back of the truck. [/FONT]I know one of ,if not the largest landscaping firm in this area, has no Dingos nor track loaders. And they do many or most of large installs, trees, hardscapes.... They auger their trees in with a JD skid steer or Case. Then for the heavy trees or boulders, a 310 C JD Loader backhoe. They run no Dingos on their sites, never have. I could upload 300 pages of very nice res and com projects these guys have completed ,from hostpitals to vet clinics. All top of the line. The comparison here is just a case in point that I have always considered over the ten years in the biz. What is the iron that will make me money for the long haul ? It don`t hurt to see what the most successful companies use daily and why they prefer methods that still work 45 years down the road. If a Dingo makes it go that much easier why wouldn`t these guys add a few to their arsenal ? These are the big boys in this area,and they cover a big area.Could it be when your F-600 bed is ,what 40 " from the ground and you have a load of materials including a few 6" caliper evergreens, I mean, would the Dingo even reach that high ?

[tjsquickcuts]

It all depends on what type of jobs you are doing. I would be NUTS to use a mini anything on the project we are working on. Wouldnt be pretty trying to grade 3/4 to 1 arce lots with anything smaller then t200. But I will say on landscape installation on exsisting home is much easier and less stress on the turf. But what I have started to do is just figure in the cost of 2 pallets of sod into most large installs that we use the t3 on and just make me a way in and out, and re sod once finish. Most homes here are Bermuda, and I am paying around 60 bucks per pallet. As for handling, a t3 IMO is just as good as a mini t. Plus on slopes, the t3 sticks like a fly on the wall. I might be way off point, late and cant sleep and didnt read thru all the post...

[Lawnworks]

Now , are we talking about a trac Dingo or or wheel ? To me a track would destroy less lawn when ,say you are installing pavers in the back and want to haul all your base,sand , pavers...Oh yeah, we started at the bottom,wheel barrowing everything (sometimes still have too). Had we had a Dingo today, the job would have been cake. Instead we had to do sod prepping BY HAND. And wheelbarrowed the sod off the back of the truck. [/FONT]I know one of ,if not the largest landscaping firm in this area, has no Dingos nor track loaders. And they do many or most of large installs, trees, hardscapes.... They auger their trees in with a JD skid steer or Case. Then for the heavy trees or boulders, a 310 C JD Loader backhoe. They run no Dingos on their sites, never have. I could upload 300 pages of very nice res and com projects these guys have completed ,from hostpitals to vet clinics. All top of the line. The comparison here is just a case in point that I have always considered over the ten years in the biz. What is the iron that will make me money for the long haul ? It don`t hurt to see what the most successful companies use daily and why they prefer methods that still work 45 years down the road. If a Dingo makes it go that much easier why wouldn`t these guys add a few to their arsenal ? These are the big boys in this area,and they cover a big area.Could it be when your F-600 bed is ,what 40 " from the ground and you have a load of materials including a few 6" caliper evergreens, I mean, would the Dingo even reach that high ?

Obviously for new wide open contruction a full size skid would be better, but for doing any kind of work on existing landscapes... the full-size skid sits at the house. In my area, EVERY major landscape company has at least one mini to complement their fullsize.

[YardPro]

topsites....

as said earlier... stick to cutting grass, this is yet another instance of you saying things that you know nothing about.

mgardner.

i would NEVER buy a wheeled dingo. the track units only put down 3psi on the ground, and have a lot more lift capacity. also the t bar controls of the track machine are way better than the twin stick thumb operated controls of the wheeled units.

we use our dingo to plant palm trees. it will pick up a 10-12ft palm no problem....
we have two guys working, we use the auger the holes , then switch to the tree boom, and plant away. we can set 50/day.


of course for new construction and large lots large machines would be better....that's a no brainer.

as said earlier, our dingo gets used multiples more than the t200.

another nice feature is that we have a big roll sod attachment, and we can lay 25sqyd rolls of sod. this allows me and a helper to lay 1000 sqyds (9000sqft) in a day without a tremendous effort.
in a large open area we can lay it is about 5 hours.

[mrusk]

The thing is, the dingo will save man hours. Once you have one, you will use it for so much more then you though. I have a full size skid, but i am still going to buy a dingo next year. its cheaper then hiring another full time guy. I used to think dingos were a joke, until i started to talk to people that have them.

They are defiently NOT just for people who do small projects or can't afford a real skid. Its for people who watch every single man hour and know the true cost of adding employees.

[J&T Kiev]

I own both a Dingo TX425 and a Bobcat, and for me the dingo is used 10 times more hours than the bobcat. However, when I need the Bobcat, the Dingo just won't do the job. If the Bobcat is too big for the job, the Dingo will make it easy. I do lots of small jobs, where the skid would be overkill and sometimes not fit, as well as create additional repair work. A Dingo will get in and around the landscape with minimal lawn damage (the tx425) auger holes all day like a champ. The full size skid will handle pallets of pavers without working up a sweat .
For larger residential/commercial jobs with multiple pallets of pavers/block that need to get moved around and/or stacked, and the need to move tandem loads of modified around the site...I use the skid . When I need a versatile machine to perform other services (landscape installs, mulch installations, etc.) that’s were the Dingo shines. Especially if you are dealing with existing landscapes where you really want to minimize damage by the machine.
In the right application, the Dingo can be far more efficient than a skid.

[LB1234]

The thing is, the dingo will save man hours. Once you have one, you will use it for so much more then you though. I have a full size skid, but i am still going to buy a dingo next year. its cheaper then hiring another full time guy. I used to think dingos were a joke, until i started to talk to people that have them.

They are defiently NOT just for people who do small projects or can't afford a real skid. Its for people who watch every single man hour and know the true cost of adding employees.


you hit the nail right on the head. The dingo saves man-hours...big time.

Not to mention the dingo doesn't complain about shoveling QP or getting tired after one hour of wheelbarreling up a hill, down a hill, and through a small fence.

[greenoasis]

Yes. It's very nice for digging trenches and planting trees as well. I can't believe all of the attachments that you can get for it.

[topsites]

topsites....

as said earlier... stick to cutting grass, this is yet another instance of you saying things that you know nothing about.

Ok but the 8-12 thousand I'm saving is not buying a dingo when for half that money I can get a compact tractor, is all I'm saying, you can have your dingos I have rented the stupid machine enough to know I don't want to pay no 20g for it. And maybe you consider me a noob but then I have spent hours and hours researching the subject and doing the math, and I am telling you the dingo is SO specialized you can only get the attachments from a dealer for one, hope to find them used fine but they still have to be made by and for Toro, unlike a tractor where the attachments can be made aftermarket you don't have to spend another 8 thousand on top of the cost of a used machine just so you got yourself a few things you can use, don't forget these machines by themselves are nothing.

ONE attachment is a thousand dollars, easy, used!
That's for any machine, but you want an attachment for what?
Ohhhh teh toro dingo you say?
Ohhh yes yes step right over here sir hehehe yesss we have that for you uh-hmmm.
You first pay too much for the machine, then you pay more for each attachment, because it is SPECIAL.

Of course you can use it for 'everything,' that's just like the guys who buy Ztr's and then use it on every yard... They don't stop to think that they're running up their costs, all they're thinking is they spent a LOT of money so by God we're going to put it to use!
Yeah so you spent 13g on the machine and at least another 5 on attachments, you're out 18g in an optimal situation, or you can spend 8-10g on a compact tractor, either way it's a hard beast to find, but how do you justify the cost?!

It is that mentality I'm arguing about, when you spend so much money your mind becomes tunnel-visioned because now you self-justify the expense, and of course you say it was worth it... For one you can't bring it back, and maybe you'll buy another but it is not the machine for me, it is too specialized.

And it is a specialty machine, it is only good for certain specific situations, a specialized machine can be used here and there, if you have jobs of this nature every day then the dingo should make a fine addition to your arsenal of loaders so that every once in a while when that situation comes around you have the tool for the job, but don't preach to anyone that the dingo should be the only machine to have!

That's like telling a new race car driver to go out and buy themselves the latest F1 McLaren.

Thank you

[Lawnworks]

lol... you think attachments for tractors are cheap??? If I am not mistaken you will get reamed for a harley rake, trencher, or auger on either tractor or mini-skid. A small tractor is going to take specialized(smaller) attachments as well.

I bought my toro 425 for 5k w/ 400 hours. I got my auger including a bit for 3 gallon/15 gallon, for $1500. I got my trencher, 36" tree bit and trench backfiller for free(bought another machine w/ attachments and sold just machine for what I paid for it). I did get reamed on my harley rake though... paid $6k for it new. You can get a fair deal on ebay for attachments. I barely have 12k in the machine!!

The real landscapers(not you) gross 100-200k off of a crew using a mini-skid. Even if you buy it new, it makes that 20k price seem much smaller when you look at the big picture.

The truth is a dingo can run rings around a dinky tractor like you are talking about... especially one of those off brands you mentioned... dingos are specialized my ass... THE ONE THING DINGOS SPECIALIZE IN IS MAKING MONEY!

[paolaken]

lol... you think attachments for tractors are cheap??? If I am not mistaken you will get reamed for a harley rake, trencher, or auger on either tractor or mini-skid. A small tractor is going to take specialized(smaller) attachments as well.

I bought my toro 425 for 5k w/ 400 hours. I got my auger including a bit for 3 gallon/15 gallon, for $1500. I got my trencher, 36" tree bit and trench backfiller for free(bought another machine w/ attachments and sold just machine for what I paid for it). I did get reamed on my harley rake though... paid $6k for it new. You can get a fair deal on ebay for attachments. I barely have 12k in the machine!!

The real landscapers(not you) gross 100-200k off of a crew using a mini-skid. Even if you buy it new, it makes that 20k price seem much smaller when you look at the big picture.

The truth is a dingo can run rings around a dinky tractor like you are talking about... especially one of those off brands you mentioned... dingos are specialized my ass... THE ONE THING DINGOS SPECIALIZE IN IS MAKING MONEY!

5 k was a great price. i use my dingo almost everyday. couldn't function without it. mine is a wheeled unit which i really like. i use a tracked unit sometimes but like the wheeled unit much better. i paid $3500 for mine with 1200 hrs on it. i ran that up to 2564 hrs then put on a new engine.
like i said before, just won't go without my dingo.

[Lawnworks]

5 k was a great price. i use my dingo almost everyday. couldn't function without it. mine is a wheeled unit which i really like. i use a tracked unit sometimes but like the wheeled unit much better. i paid $3500 for mine with 1200 hrs on it. i ran that up to 2564 hrs then put on a new engine.
like i said before, just won't go without my dingo.

Wow you got a great deal as well. I actually bought a 220 about a year ago w/ a trencher for $3600... then turned around and sold just the machine for $3500. That $100 trencher did about 10 irrigation systems! From what I hear that 220 w/ chain drive is nearly indestructable.

Then I came across a boxer tracked skid w/ trencher, auger w/ 36" bit, bucket, and McCullough trench filler all for $3000. Supposedy the engine was blown, but I sold it w/ my old $100 trencher, the auger and an 18" bit to my buddy for $3500. Turns out the engine wasn't blown and just had about $1000-1500 in miscellaneous repairs(track, bogie wheels, etc). So there is deals out there... you just have to make offers and be ready w/ cash in hand.

It is a good feeling have 0 overhead.

[YardPro]

lawnsites....

as i said stick to cutting grass......

first you are totally wrong about the attachments. The dingo plate is the industry standard. Every manufacturer (bradco, long, ditch witch, rotodiaron, etc.) makes attachments for them. So that blows your claim to having done your homework out of the water.

the dingo is the exact opposite of being a highly specialized piece of equipment. It is more like the swiss army knife of equipment.

You don't do enough landscaping to know squat about it. you are only a grass mower that occasionally does landscape jobs. Lawnworks is exactly right.

We will gross over $500K this year with ONE installation crew and ONE dingo.
We just recently bought a large skid, and only use it for moving large amounts of dirt or lifting heavy pallets.

the dingo will work circles around your dinky tractor. you really have not the slightest clue what you are talking about.

[AintNoFun]

i agree.. the only thing it cant do is lift heavy loads and if you consider that a specialized machine your nuts... after i got our dingo i got rid of our skidsteers. plan on purchasing another dingo this spring.. it goes out probably 4 out 5 days a week whether with the harley rake, auger, trencher etc. guys can throw it in the back of one of our trucks with a lift gate dont need a trailer! one of the few things i ever regret doing is not buying a dingo years ago....


buying a dingo when for half that money I can get a compact tractor, is all I'm saying, you can have your dingos I have rented the stupid machine enough to know I don't want to pay no 20g for it. And maybe you consider me a noob but then I have spent hours and hours researching the subject and doing the math,

if you did so much research hours on end and doing math it doens't take a genius to figure out that one guy with a dingo can do the work of two guys, does one less laborer + oh add up to anything in your math???

[YardPro]

lol,

We bought ours new, and have over $10K worth of attachments for it...

it is the best investment i have EVER made......without a doubt.

i used to think it was too expensive until i bought one, now i feel stupid for thinking that way and not buying it sooner.

[Lawnworks]

The truth is topsites... you have got the hunger for a new toy not a new tool!!

500k w/ one crew and a dingo ain't two shabby!

topsites... you said you do 35k worth of work a year... come on man don't tell me you have all this experience w/ that little of a workload. Then you are saying guys on this site that do 50k worth of landscaping a month they don't know what they are talking about???:confused:

[YardPro]

lawnworks

thanks for the support.

I have been doing this for 18 years. As a company maintenance, pool service, and construction we bill almost 100K/month. I guess i have no clue what i am talking about.

It really doesn't matter. Let guys like topsites think it is not money well spent. That will make it easier for those of us that have seen the light to keep the unfair advantage that the mini skids provide.

and by the way i am VERY jealous of the deals you have come across on the dingo, boxer, etc......LOL.. good finds for sure.

[LB1234]

Some people just aren't worth responding too.

[Focal Point Landscapes]

Yardpro and Lawnworks are two of my favorite guys on this site - both successful co's that run Dingos and understand the importance of proper machinery and its effect on the bottom line . But I don't choose to debate whether mini skids are the best thing going for the landscaper when I know damn well that they are. I prepped a yard for sod today by MYSELF with my 425 and attachments while the crew worked on other jobs. I own a small company and want to keep the number of employees to an absolute minimum . Imo , this is simply taking advantage of automation and technical advances , similar to what happened in my former career in manufacturing. If others prefer some different type of equipment , I consider it a competitive advantage for me. Yardpro - if you think its rough hearing the deals that Lawnworks finds , he always calls me and I have to look at them , too. Luckiest guy that I have ever seen ..........

[YardPro]

LOL,

I almost cried when he gave those figures.


You are right about the statement about having the right equipment.

I will agree that the dingo is not the best at everything. Larger pieces of equipment are better for larger jobs, absolutely....BUT the miniskid is good enough at everything that it is the overall most useful tool i have ever used.
If you can only buy one machine, and are a general landscaper that does a wide variety of jobs, then it is more than likely the best toll out there.

If you only grade, dig, and move dirt, it is not the machine for you.

also here's a tip for all the dingo users here......

For finish grading try this...

we take a 8-10" 2x12 (or 8x8, etc..)and grab it in the middle with the multipurpose bucket (4 in 1). work backwards using it as a "dozer"BLADE. we usually float it. this gives you a 8-10 foot straight edge to grade with. works awesome.......
this also works great with paver base..

[lawnpro724]

Just out of curiosity what does a new Dingo 425 cost?? I have been renting Dingo's for the last several years and have been thinking about buying one. I will have to agree with most that they are a very useful tool and one that can get into very tight spaces.

[YardPro]

they list for about $19,000.00

we paid a little over $14K for ours.

but get to know lawnworks and he will find you one with an auger, cultivator, and a trailer for $500.00. :)

[Focal Point Landscapes]

Keystone Sales and Rentals is our Toro rep - they regularly sell low-hour 425 units for 12-14 k

[jrdean62]

I own a Dingo 525 and I love it. I have used the box rake which is more like a harley rake for a while now and it works great. However I have just recently purchased the soil cultivator attachment for my Dingo and I think it is the best attachment ever. If you have not used it before I suggest you give it a try. I will take a 8000 sq ft lawn that is full of weeds and patchy grass and turn it into perfect topsoil in about 2 hours.

[Keystone]

Different contractors have different needs. Thats why there are so many types and sizes of great machines out there. The current Dingos are lifting 1,500 lbs with the stand plate and laying 240 square foot sod rolls plus adding new things all the time.Every machine and attachment has a place in the world and a person who needs to use it.As for deals how about $10k for a 425 with 500 hours and $4500 for a new Harley rake.

[Focal Point Landscapes]

Those are the best prices I have seen - just waiting until you guys start selling your used 525's :) By the way , I recently visited Keystone , my first visit since Robert generally brings what I need on his trips through Macon - I felt like a kid in a candy store . Its worth the time to visit these guys just to see their inventory.

[jrdean62]

Have you seen the new finance rates being offered by TORO. THey use Western FInance and if you are approved you have until September 1, 2008 with no interest and to make your first payment. You have almost a year to make money with the machine before making a payment. Most companies will make more then enought to pay for the machine in that amount of time and be able to pay it off without paying interest.

I have a few 525's that have been demo units for sale and these can be financed with the above deal. 443-623-0170

[Keystone]

Can you sell a demo unit out of state?

[jrdean62]

I can only sell new units in my terratory, but I can sell a demo unit anywhere. The only problem I run into is the delivery.