Any one tried a Mertz Boxer Mini Skid?

[landproscapes]

Let me know what you think about it if you have one or have tried it. It looks pretty awsome.

[landproscapes]

go to www.boxerok.com

[impactlandscaping]

I demoed one last year at the Expo in Louisville. It was a really well built unit IMO.High flow hydraulics, and really serviceable. I liked it better than the Kanga, Dingo and and Bobcat MT 50,( but that is another machine in itself) I demoed as well. They all have their respective uses and applications. It is one we are still considering for this fall. The Power Trac unit is another, but different unit I am considering buying to bring some more versatility and outsourcing we currently do all in - house.

[BoxerTD327owner]

You betchem landproscapes. Just bought extra set of tracks and am ordering second set of sprockets. Build roads, trails, ponds. pull a brush cutter and purchased the backhoe (non-pivoting) that doubled the usefulness of the TD327. Widening tracks very useful for pivoting with the backhoe and a full bucket. If I go straight the grass is not damaged. Unit is a bit temperature sensitive so if cutting trail uphill in high temperatures, must watch the guage carefully. Bearings on the bucket piston were first to wear but they are connex, so pound them out and pound in new ones. TOP-OF-THE-LINE machine.

[Littlea]

Boxer has two sites that are much better then the one listed.

www.boxermeansbusiness.com and www.boxerequipment.com. I got both of them from a promo email they sent me. Good financing rates too. I may pick up another Boxer if the business keeps coming in. This year is definately looking better then last year. I have one of the 118 trenchers and this thing is a beast.

[Bigred350]

ive got one with about 700 hours and run the hell out of it every day. Its a very nice machine.

[mzgloves20]

How long did it take to get used to the controls...? I demo'd two and didn't like the sticks. I am used to pilot controls in my skid and the vermeers controls.

[Bigred350]

I didnt take me long. I like the controls better cause you can control the tracks independly. And you can hang on the the handle bars better while operating the controls unlike the others

[mzgloves20]

Did you have trouble operating the tracks and the loader arms at the same time? Say if you were moving backward and wanted to smooth something off (w/o using the float). It seemed to me like I was working against myself. Maybe your have more dexterity then me...lol...

[Bigred350]

I have no problems what so ever.




http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y41/Bigred350/Work%20pics/IMG_1851.jpg

[mzgloves20]

ahhh ur sticks are different then the machines I had demo'd!!!!

[Lawnworks]

Can you say finger cramping after a day of harley raking?

Glad boxer works for some of you guys, but it will always be a second tier machine.

[Focal Point Landscapes]

Ditto Lawnworks - the controls are ergonomically unfriendly , imo

[Bigred350]

I have never had a problem. I guess im just tough:weightlifter:

[Lawnworks]

I have never had a problem. I guess im just tough:weightlifter:

Tougher than me!! I had a guy running my dingo efficiently in one day. No training required!

So you don't ice your finger every night?

[Littlea]

I totally agree with Bigred350. It took me about 10 minutes to become proficient on a BOXER 427. Not to mention it ran circles around the dingo we rented from Hanley's. Basically we had to install 40 trees at a local elementary school construction site in NC. I'd guess we put 25 in with the 427 and 10 in with a dingo throughout the am. The dingo pooped its pants by lunch and we finished with the Boxer. Clearly better suited unit for auging 36" holes in the NC clay soil.

[pikewillis1]

I totally agree with Bigred350. It took me about 10 minutes to become proficient on a BOXER 427. Not to mention it ran circles around the dingo we rented from Hanley's. Basically we had to install 40 trees at a local elementary school construction site in NC. I'd guess we put 25 in with the 427 and 10 in with a dingo throughout the am. The dingo pooped its pants by lunch and we finished with the Boxer. Clearly better suited unit for auging 36" holes in the NC clay soil.

If you could only put in 10 trees in the morning with a Dingo you should check the auger bit because its bad. You should have no problem putting in 75 -100 trees with a 36" bit in a day.

[Lawnworks]

If you could only put in 10 trees in the morning with a Dingo you should check the auger bit because its bad. You should have no problem putting in 75 -100 trees with a 36" bit in a day.

yeah or maybe fire the incompetent operator. I have owned a boxer before and rented several times and will never consider owning one again.

[pikewillis1]

yeah or maybe fire the incompetent operator. I have owned a boxer before and rented several times and will never consider owning one again.


You know, everyone has an opinion and different preferences with there equipment. If someone prefers the boxer to the Dingo for whatever reason, I respect their opinion. But when I hear statements like the boxer ran all over the Dingo, I feel compelled to say something.

I am a Dingo dealer. When I set up Demonstrations for customers I ask the customer to call the local Boxer rep and have them come up and demonstrate the boxer right next to my machine. The Boxer rep never shows up when he knows im coming.

The boxer will never "run all over the Dingo" when someone semi skilled is operating the Dingo (This is a strong statement but is absolutely true)

[Littlea]

You know, everyone has an opinion and different preferences with there equipment. If someone prefers the boxer to the Dingo for whatever reason, I respect their opinion. But when I hear statements like the boxer ran all over the Dingo, I feel compelled to say something.

I am a Dingo dealer. When I set up Demonstrations for customers I ask the customer to call the local Boxer rep and have them come up and demonstrate the boxer right next to my machine. The Boxer rep never shows up when he knows im coming.

The boxer will never "run all over the Dingo" when someone semi skilled is operating the Dingo (This is a strong statement but is absolutely true)

The Dingo we had was definately not new. I think the problem was in the powerhead anyhow. I just know the poor bastard we ran on the Dingo got schooled.

[Littlea]

That would be an interesting challenge. Head to head mini-skids. Where is your dealership?

[pikewillis1]

That would be an interesting challenge. Head to head mini-skids. Where is your dealership?


My dealership is in northern Va. Just recently, we had a boxer dealer cold call on one of my big clients. This particular client specializes in the installation of big water gardens. One of the things he uses the Dingo for is moving around big boulders that go in or around the pond.

The boxer guy shows up at his office and wants to demonstrate how good his machine is. My client gives him the oppurtunity. My client grabs his TX 425 (2004) with 1350 or so hours on it, puts the adjustable forks on and picks up a big boulder and moves it 100 or so feet.

The boxer guy grabs his brand new 427 with his new adjustable forks and goes up to the same boulder and could not even budge it. He tried for like ten minutes at every angle possible. He even tried to push it to no avail.

The boxer guy embarrasedly put his machine back on the trailer, said his goodbyes. and went on down the road in hopes to find a customer who has never used a Dingo before.

[Lawnworks]

You know, everyone has an opinion and different preferences with there equipment. If someone prefers the boxer to the Dingo for whatever reason, I respect their opinion. But when I hear statements like the boxer ran all over the Dingo, I feel compelled to say something.

I am a Dingo dealer. When I set up Demonstrations for customers I ask the customer to call the local Boxer rep and have them come up and demonstrate the boxer right next to my machine. The Boxer rep never shows up when he knows im coming.

The boxer will never "run all over the Dingo" when someone semi skilled is operating the Dingo(This is a strong statement but is absolutely true)


That is one hell of a sales pitch.

[pikewillis1]

That is one hell of a sales pitch.

The best part of my job is when I go to trade shows like MANTS (Mid Atlantic Nursery and Trade Show) in Baltimore. My customers will come up to my table and tell others how they love their "Dingo", and how the machine has increased there bottom line, saved their back, is a high quality machine, etc.

When you sell a product that everyone loves and will go to bat for it makes my job worthwile.

Word of mouth advertising is the best form of advertising and is also the hardest to attain.

[Lawnworks]

The best part of my job is when I go to trade shows like MANTS (Mid Atlantic Nursery and Trade Show) in Baltimore. My customers will come up to my table and tell others how they love their "Dingo", and how the machine has increased there bottom line, saved their back, is a high quality machine, etc.

When you sell a product that everyone loves and will go to bat for it makes my job worthwile.

Word of mouth advertising is the best form of advertising and is also the hardest to attain.

I honestly cannot understand why any true landscaping company would NOT have one.

You hear the phrase "for the price of a dingo I could get a fullsize skid." That statement is usually from someone that has never even been on a dingo. Try trenching for irrigation in an established your with a full sized tracked loader and see what happens. Try to fit a full sized skid on a 2500 square foot sod install. I have a full sized skid and it honestly sits at the shop 4 out of 5 days of the week. I guess if you only use a full size skid, you better have a couple of damn good wheelbarrows!

[pikewillis1]

I honestly cannot understand why any true landscaping company would NOT have one.

You hear the phrase "for the price of a dingo I could get a fullsize skid." That statement is usually from someone that has never even been on a dingo. Try trenching for irrigation in an established your with a full sized tracked loader and see what happens. Try to fit a full sized skid on a 2500 square foot sod install. I have a full sized skid and it honestly sits at the shop 4 out of 5 days of the week. I guess if you only use a full size skid, you better have a couple of damn good wheelbarrows!


I can not agree with you more

[ropinghorns]

I have a 224 Boxer and use it mostly for areas that require a narrow interance. It goes inside a 29 inch opening with room to spare. It has its drawbacks too. I made an adapter that changes all my many attachments over to be used with my Bobcat 553 and S130. I can see how dingo could be better too. I paid $9500.oo for it 3 yrs ago with 3 attachments. I now have 8.

[PerfiCut L&L]

We just baught a 427 2 weeks ago. Used it last week on its first job.

I never had the opportunity to demo one so it was a gamble jumping from a known performer (dingo) to something we have never used, but I have to say, it performed extremely well.

Couldnt beat the $5k off either.

[capetrees]

Try to fit a full sized skid on a 2500 square foot sod install. I have a full sized skid and it honestly sits at the shop 4 out of 5 days of the week. I guess if you only use a full size skid, you better have a couple of damn good wheelbarrows!

You need a mini for $18,000 to move 5 pallets of sod? Forcing ones self to use a piece of equipment to feel it's "worth it" makes no sense.

[pitrack]

You need a mini for $18,000 to move 5 pallets of sod? Forcing ones self to use a piece of equipment to feel it's "worth it" makes no sense.

I don't think that is the only reason he has a Dingo. In his quote he even gave another example that you failed to include in your quote.

[EVM]

You need a mini for $18,000 to move 5 pallets of sod? Forcing ones self to use a piece of equipment to feel it's "worth it" makes no sense.I would use an $18,000 mini just to move 5 yards of topsoil. Screw humping that with wheel barrels, even with my own guys. Been there done that, tired of it. The only thing that is keeping me from getting a mini is that I have to buy a new enclosed trailer to haul it.

[capetrees]

5 yards of load can easily be wheelbarrowed by one guy in an hour, even if it needs to be spread and raked. Comparison, 1 hour of labor costs or $18,000 machine payments.

Grab the wheelbarrows.

[EVM]

Bring me one of those guys that can wheel 5 yards of topsoil in an hour. Where is the guy moving the soil? 3 feet next to the original pile?

How energetic are you going to be moving that pile when it is 95 degress outside and you have to move the soil a good distance, maybe uphill a bit.

I guess you really like WORKING when you work.

[mzgloves20]

$500 a month machine payment is still less than Id be paying a human for a months work. Ill be sipping my gatorade on the back of my SK650 while that guy is shoveling for the trophy t-shirt that says "10 years landscaping... two back surgeries, 4 carpal tunnel operations, torn rotator cuff, one knee replacement and skin cancer... because I could"

I can too, but why kill youself when you can be three times as productive and expend less of your body.

[capetrees]

If you have a number of guys working for you then yes, you could cut a guy or not need to hire for the season if you have a mini but if you have a small company, you still need people to drive vehicles and trailer the equipment and help. One guy with a mini doesn't do the job any faster if he's alone.

And yes, I'm not afraid to do sweat and I DO like working, regardless of the temp.

[flairland]

If you have a number of guys working for you then yes, you could cut a guy or not need to hire for the season if you have a mini but if you have a small company, you still need people to drive vehicles and trailer the equipment and help. One guy with a mini doesn't do the job any faster if he's alone.

And yes, I'm not afraid to do sweat and I DO like working, regardless of the temp.

One guy with a mini doesn't do a job any faster if he's alone?? How does that make ANY sense?! I can operate my small business very efficently because I treat my mini bobcat as my labourer. I do majority of my work solo, and I rarely come home exhausted. If I come to a site and need to spread 20 yards of mulch, I can go around and dump everything with an hour or two, and spread it within another 2 hours. 20 yards of mulch in 4 hours.. explain to me how thats not faster than one guy wheel barrowing 20 yards??? If you're moving ANY type of material a few times a week, it will more than pay itself off in a year. It never comes in sick, complains about the heat, slows down after lunch, etc. A mini is the best equipment investment and residential landscape company can make.

[esnipe8]

One guy with a mini doesn't do a job any faster if he's alone?? How does that make ANY sense?! I can operate my small business very efficently because I treat my mini bobcat as my labourer. I do majority of my work solo, and I rarely come home exhausted. If I come to a site and need to spread 20 yards of mulch, I can go around and dump everything with an hour or two, and spread it within another 2 hours. 20 yards of mulch in 4 hours.. explain to me how thats not faster than one guy wheel barrowing 20 yards??? If you're moving ANY type of material a few times a week, it will more than pay itself off in a year. It never comes in sick, complains about the heat, slows down after lunch, etc. A mini is the best equipment investment and residential landscape company can make.

And the crowd goes silent......

Great post...

[flairland]

haha, thanks :) I thought I'd get all kinds of responses to that post! What happened to you capetrees??:cool2: