if you have not bought already i would try out some others.
we are currently demoing all the compacts. the bobcat is towards the bottom of my list.
the sk500 is to me a better machine. i will also be trying the bokter and the tx425

 

take a look at a eagle finn i loved renting that machine. plus it has a CAT diesel

 

We just got done renting an MT 52 for augering. I love the fact that it is only 36" wide, which, will get us into tight gates. However, as a work tool it failed miserably. With the tracks, I expected it to be able to side slope as well as our 257B. Fact is, this thing does not have the power to pull a booger out of a wet bucket of snot. We had to take the 257B and tug it out of its own ruts 3 times, and the hydraulics stalled with a 24" auger.

The way we are going is to install an auger attachment to a 301.8 excavator. We are also running a trencher on it as well.

I would be interested to see how a Finn and a Toro Dingo compare to the MT-52, but this far, my opinion....TOYS...Get a real machine for real work.

 

i have used the ditch witch sk500. it turned a 36" auger with no problems. They make two different power heads. one is high speed low torque, the other is high torque, low speed. sounds like you had the high speed.

one problem woth the mt52 is the tracks are way too narrow. also it's only an 18hp diesel. the sk and dingo425, etc are 25+hp.

i had the sk500 today at our stone distributers. had 1300lbs on the forks ( he had scales). it was close to the tip, mut not too much of a problem. if you put on the aftermarket platform it should be able to handle 1500 easy.

also the stone was distributed evenly on the pallet.
if stacked closer to the unit i'll bet you could get almost a ton off the ground.

 

if you have not bought already i would try out some others.
we are currently demoing all the compacts. the bobcat is towards the bottom of my list.
the sk500 is to me a better machine. i will also be trying the bokter and the tx425

Exactly.. I think the SK500 is a much better machine than the BC, but that's just me. We recently got two in at our rental yard here in town, and I have been using it so much, I am looking a buying a new one come spring. I had trouble with stalling the Harley Rake on the MT 52, but not on the DW. I like the DW controls / feel , a lot better, and it definitely has a higher reach than the BC. It replaces 2 men on installs, so the labor savings alone will offset the cost of the machine next year....I also have tried Mertz's Boxer, but it has been 2 years ago, so I can't really offer any comparison now. I do remeber liking it, and the expanding track system.

 

here are the prices i have been getting.
sx-$18K
toro$16K
boxter$18K (but that's with perkins 26hp diesel, and track widening).

 

That track widening is a cool feature on the boxter. Only thing I like about the toro and BC is closer and more service areas. SK (at least on paper) looks like a great machine. 1500# is a lot for a mini.

 

That track widening is a cool feature on the boxter. Only thing I like about the toro and BC is closer and more service areas. SK (at least on paper) looks like a great machine. 1500# is a lot for a mini.

yea, i am very impressed with them.
the SK500 cas close to the same capacity as the asv rc30.

the boxter with the diesel has a tip weight of 1750#.
it has the same capacities as the rc30, the only drawback is the dump height is not as high.
but we don't need that. for us the versatility of the mini's are more important.

 

Know anything about the reliability of the boxter? Will it last longer than the payments?

 

I am also trying to decide which way to go as well. I have demoed the Bobcat Mini Skid and looked at the ASV RC 30, and Toro Dingo

The main reason I will be getting a Bobcat MT52 is because of the trencher attachment. I do mainly Irrigation / Sprinkler installs and occasionally will do some SOD, Landscaping I also subed out my grading work which is about $150- $300/month.
I have rented Ditch Witch Trenchers 1020, 1230, and 1330 several times per week rental cost between $110 and $148 per day. what I paid for rental I can own a machine for a lot less per month. After several months of research finally I will be getting a new machine in about two weeks.

1 Like the fact it has a diesel engine Kubota 18hp
2 The dealer is close about 15 miles
3 The controls are easy to handle
4. The machine fits in the back of my truck ( Isuzu NQR with a fold up hydraulic ramp no PIA trailer to back up )

Some options I will be getting are
1. Ride on Plat form
2. 36" mini construction/ industrial bucket
3. Trencher
4. Stump Grinder ( We recently had four hurricanes here in Florida)

My wish list

1 One Auger power head 9" , 12” , 18" , 36" auger bit
2 Pallet forks for transporting material
3. Anbo 35" Grapple Rake Grapple Rake for moving difficult materials

4. Rotadarion for preparing the ground for seeding and beds and for mixing fertilizer into the soil

5. MT52 Mini Track Loader Utility Blade Attachment for back filling trenches.

I welcome any suggestions however the salesman already tried to talk me into a bigger machine such as S130 S160 and a S185 with HVAC sweet machine which I am seriously considering its about the same price as the MT52 with attachments. Thats why I come to this board to get some unbiased input from the PRO'S.

pokemon

I have the LS180 New Holland and really wished I had a track loader. tracking is a real problen on installs of trees. I am looking at an after market true tracks system that bolts on the the hubs, no wheels. They are $ 15,000.

Now my question to you is will that small of a Bobcat be able to handle wet sod????? My i80 handles St Aug with out a weight kit but wet Bahia would be out of question without a weight kit. I looked at the RC 85 but it was $ 43 K My 180 had High Flow and two speed but no air conditioning. I love everything about the 180 except the tracking.

Now I have a very friendly competitor and he loans me attachments when I ask him. I find the auger is a little dangerous to use in homeowner yards. Too much underground stuff to tear up. Besides our soil it so sandy it is easy to dig in. I do use a Dyno-Digger but my guys prefer the old fashion root cutter round head shovel.

BTW where in Florida are you??

 

Know anything about the reliability of the boxter? Will it last longer than the payments?

it's a perkins diesel, and the same pumps and motors as all the rest.
i don't see why it won't hold up.

 

If you are looking for something small, like a Dingo-type machine I would move up to the RC-30 at 47" Wide. I used Dingo's sevral times and once I used the RC-30 it was far better for that type of work and alot more.
Don't think I would ever go smaller than a 3,000 LB machine.

 

If you are looking for something small, like a Dingo-type machine I would move up to the RC-30 at 47" Wide. I used Dingo's sevral times and once I used the RC-30 it was far better for that type of work and alot more.
Don't think I would ever go smaller than a 3,000 LB machine.

depends on what you want the machine for, and which dingo you used.

the tx425 has a working load almost the same as the rc 30 and can fit through a 4" gate (the rc will not)
also there is 100% visibility on the dingo type machines.

The boxter with the diesel has the same capacatied as the rc30.

the ONLY difference is the lift height.

we do alot of smaller jobs where only one person will be on site. having to climb in and out of a skid is a real pain.

The boxter is also 2500 lbs

 

You get much more with a RC-30 than with a Dingo.. Stability, Horsepower,
Tractive Force, Speed, Ground clearance and safety are just a few. Dingo's do have a unique niche in the market and they work for many. U went that route for light landscapeing, Sod, Grading, and dirt moving and there is no
comparison to the RC-30 for light work. The Rc-30 will fir through a 48" gate and if I need to do serious work back there I will just remove a panel of fence.

 

I have the LS180 New Holland and really wished I had a track loader. tracking is a real problen on installs of trees. I am looking at an after market true tracks system that bolts on the the hubs, no wheels. They are $ 15,000. I have the LS180 New Holland and really wished I had a track loader. tracking is a real problen on installs of trees. I am looking at an after market true tracks system that bolts on the the hubs, no wheels. They are $ 15,000.

Now my question to you is will that small of a Bobcat be able to handle wet sod????? My i80 handles St Aug with out a weight kit but wet Bahia would be out of question without a weight kit. I looked at the RC 85 but it was $ 43 K My 180 had High Flow and two speed but no air conditioning. I love everything about the 180 except the tracking.

Now I have a very friendly competitor and he loans me attachments when I ask him. I find the auger is a little dangerous to use in homeowner yards. Too much underground stuff to tear up. Besides our soil it so sandy it is easy to dig in. I do use a Dyno-Digger but my guys prefer the old fashion root cutter round head shovel.

BTW where in Florida are you??

I am in South East Florida The Treasure Coast Palm Beach County area and I also service Martin County.
After many months of research, I finally settled on Bobcat S185 with HVAC because of dealer proximity and pricing. That means learning to back up a pia trailer I demoed the RC 30 sweet little machine just ask strawbridge but dealer was too far. Also the same goes for Toro Dingo
So Far I have done about 5 jobs with my S185.

 

You get much more with a RC-30 than with a Dingo.. Stability, Horsepower,
Tractive Force, Speed, Ground clearance and safety are just a few. Dingo's do have a unique niche in the market and they work for many. U went that route for light landscapeing, Sod, Grading, and dirt moving and there is no
comparison to the RC-30 for light work. The Rc-30 will fir through a 48" gate and if I need to do serious work back there I will just remove a panel of fence.

not true
the sk, boxer and tx425 are as stble as the rc 30. the rc is only 5 inches wider that the others, and has a much higher center of gravity. stability is not an issue. the RC has a higher center of gravity than the mini's

it only has 5-6 more Hp than the 27hp perkind diesel in the boxer.

there it only weighs 600 pounds more than the boxer with the diesel, so i don't buy the lots more tractive power thing it has more, but i'll bet not much.

they are about the same speed (4mph)

they have the same hydrualic capacties (14gpm and 3000 psi).

the rc will not fit through a 48 inch gate ( with hinges most 48" gates are only 46"

and yes, you can remove a panel of the fence, but if you do that what's the benefit of a smaller machine. Why not have the rc 60????

also with the time involved in removing the panel, small jobs are not worth using the machine. if you're hualing 7-8 yards of mulch/soil into a back yard, or installing a few large trees, you'd be better off wheelbarrowing the stuff if you have to remove the fence.

another big problem with the rc is the $700 fiberglass rear end.

it's just waiting to be broken if you back into anything.

the last drawback to ANY skid steeer is if you're a single operator you have to climb in and out of the cockpit alot on a job, that gets old very quickly.

I am dot downing the rc 30 at all. it's a good machine, but i just can't see the justification of of buying it over the rc 50 or 60

my friend has a 60 and it's an awesome machine.

 

The rc-30 will outwork any Boxer or Dingo faster and with less fatgue. Spend 3 hours straight on one of those moving dirt then come talk to me.
You got to remember those slight differences mean alot when you are talking compact machines 600lbs makes a big difference, same with horsepower, tractive force and ground clwearance.
Why I didn't get and RC-50 or 60?
I paid 16K for my ASL300..(RC-30) and that was with a universal Quick attach Plate and an ATI 54" bucket with a bolt-on Grapple (Tax Incl). It was a no brainer.. I drove an RC-50 for a month last December clearing Debris from a lot. I really liked it, but would go with an RC-60 next for it is more than the 50 in many ways. A whole different line of work as well.

 

I got on Mertz boxers web site yesterday and it is pitifully inadequate.

27hp perkind diesel in the boxer

The web site only shows a honda gas burner www.boxerok.com

 

Dump the 36" mini construction/ industrial bucket and get the "Combo Bucket" they have. It is well worth the extra few $$$

 

I got on Mertz boxers web site yesterday and it is pitifully inadequate.

The web site only shows a honda gas burner www.boxerok.com

they also have a 27 hp perkins diesel
it has a whole different frame, much wider.

i demo'd both last week
i was very impressed with the diesel

 

The rc-30 will outwork any Boxer or Dingo faster and with less fatgue. Spend 3 hours straight on one of those moving dirt then come talk to me.
You got to remember those slight differences mean alot when you are talking compact machines 600lbs makes a big difference, same with horsepower, tractive force and ground clwearance.
Why I didn't get and RC-50 or 60?
I paid 16K for my ASL300..(RC-30) and that was with a universal Quick attach Plate and an ATI 54" bucket with a bolt-on Grapple (Tax Incl). It was a no brainer.. I drove an RC-50 for a month last December clearing Debris from a lot. I really liked it, but would go with an RC-60 next for it is more than the 50 in many ways. A whole different line of work as well.

ii have spent the day on the dingo.
i agree that the rc is better if you're just moving dirt.
it all boils down to what and where you're using it.
we can put a dingo/boxer etc in the back of a truck, or on our 4X8 single axle trailer. It easially fits through gates, and only takes up the room as a mower (important for us becuase we have very limited shop space).

the other MAJOR issue is the need to crawl in and out of any skid steer and the lack of visibility.
The RC is cheaper than the sx ot the boxer diesel, but for us the versitility is paramount

 

I have said it before, I'll say it again. Until Dingo or other micro mini migets are capable of loading a dump truck from ground level, they will never work well in our operation. They are too wide to fit in most gates, and the only thing we have that will work is the 463 Bobcat, which, costs no more than a Dingo, and, will load a dump from ground level. If you trench alot, then buy a dedicated trencher, much more effective than a Dingo. If you Auger, an RC-30 is far more stable than an MT-52.

On a 2-1 slope, the MT-52 will walk sideways. An RC-30 will stay planted strong. There is also a big problem with even power being distributed between the tracks. the left side always drives. The right side is barely moving.

You need to fit a machine to yor operation that most suites the application you need it for. In ours, this and other micro minis are too specific, and won't werk.

 

uni

the mt sucks plain and simple.
i would NEVER buy one

the boxer has hydrualically widening tracks, from 32-42 inches, so it can fit through a 36 inch gate.

no they will not load over the sides of a dump truck, but they are not intended to be used primarily as loaders.

the track trenchers are head and shoulders above the wheeled ditch witches, also that's $9K for a trencher alone.

the boxer, sk500 and tx425 all have more capacity than the bobcat 4 series.


it all depends on what you want the machine for.

if you need a more versatile machine that will eliminate the need for extra labor, the mini's may be just up your alley.

if you're primarily loading dirt, or digging, or moving HEAVY loads then the larger machines are the way to go.
a dozer or articulating loader operator will dog out the skid steer's and call them weak, and not effective.

it all depends on the work you do with them.

for us we need a light maneuverable, nimble machine that we can use a variety of attachments with.

they have pressure washers, log splitters, concrete mixers, sod cutters, harley rakes, and more by the month.

ditch witch has over 50 attachments for thier machine.

 

I have found some more info on the Boxers, thought I'd update everyone...

The Perkins is actually listed as a 26 hp, not a 27. Picking nits, I know.

Here's the Boxer site:
http://www.boxerequipment.com/
And the site for the parent company (they apparently also make Kanga and Powerhouse):
http://www.cpiequipment.com/index.htm

I'm currently working on a spreadsheet to compare several of the tracked mini-loaders. Once everything is "on paper" I'll post it.

Dan

 

I posted that link before I had looked at the site much...

Here's a little more info than what's there, at least about the diesel model.

Dan