The Major Problem with Mini Skid Steers

mini skid steer review

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[cesarsaenz]

Stop crying about stupid stuff, making up dumb reasons to down talk these machines, it's just like with any machine, you need to know it's limits.

[jimallen]

Your honesty in evaluating things is a very fine trait. Keep up the great work. Not many people give simple, honest reviews like this with both the pros and the cons.

[RobertBrothersJr-dcnr]

Brock, I’m glad you pointed out how tippy and unstable a mini skid is on undeveloped ground or when driving over obstacles. I can’t imagine how that feels when standing on the back of one . Some people wouldn’t recognize that before seeing your video. Thanks for showing us. Mini skids work best when on level ground with no obstacles. Informative and enjoyable video Brock. Thanks

[jeffkearney]

Another honest video. My favorite part was being the tallest dwarf. That was pretty damned funny😂!

[scooter]

Every machine has certain tasks that it is designed for. Know your machine and it's limitations. Remember, safety and common sence goes a long way. Great video Brock.

[susanj]

I spent a lot of time on one of the first Dingos to come to America. At that time, I could stop work at a construction site by showing up and planting a tree with it. Nobody had seen such a small skid steer and were ready to laugh at it. Then I put the 30" auger on it, drilled holes quickly and efficiently, then took the auger off. Put tree forks on, grabbed a balled and burlaped tree, and set it perfectly in the hole. I did so much with that machine. We did add a 200 pound weight plate on the operators platform to help balance the load we were putting on the front. It was a wheeled machine so acts a bit different from a track. I usually unloaded it off the trailer by walking beside and keeping the bucket low. I do agree that running it smoothly on rough ground was a challenge. Running it across the nursery where shrubs had been dug made you look like a drunk driver. Ground speed wasn't great either. But the things I could accomplish with that machine were outstanding. I also liked the fact that if things got dicey, I could just step off. I'm really not comfortable in the cage lol.

[stevestock]

Probably one of my favorite vids that you have produced. Honesty and transparency are abound in this vid.

[ApexFabrications]

I use mini skids a lot. Inclines, rocky areas, grading, demo, building walls, yadda yadda. If you think driving one off a pallet is a big deal or putting it on a trailer, that says all anyone needs to know about your limitations as an operator. I mean a curb is 6"+ lol. Dig the tractor videos and all that but there is a point where the user is the problem, not the machine. Every machine has its limits, but its usually the operator who fails first.

If you were on someone elses property and worried about ground damage i could maybe see you taking the approach you did. But on your own place, doing what you're doing, you could've went at that much different. But that's just my opinion.

One of the first tips about moving a skid of any size, mini or 12k +, around in uneven/rough terrain is putting weight in the bucket to offset the designed counter weight. Helps digging, grading, pushing rocks, as well.

[JonsDailyHustle]

Thanks for demonstrating this for us. Im looking to get back into more work with skid steers and focus on skid steers

[kencroft]

Great video. This is one of the many reasons I watch your channel. Keep up the great videos.

[Tri-Lobe]

Very nice machine for the right situation. It has lots of power and does a lot of work in the right place. Thanks for sharing!

[jeffrogauge]

This video is helpful to anyone planning to operate their mini skid like a lil puxxc

[sailpac]

I never would have guess those issues exist. I dont have rocks, but lots of uneven ground that I now know would be a major issue with that machine. Thanks Brock.

[OurLifeInTrees]

Good video. So true! Glad I don’t have.Hills and rocks! Haha.
Unloading off the pallet is terrifying!!! Lol

[lyleharkness-rvvf]

Good demonstration video 👍 Just like any other tool, you have to use the right tool in the right situation.

[UncBru]

Hey Brock! Great video, and very helpful to see a mini skids limitations. Thanks!

[AaronTurnwald]

Im pretty sick today but when u said having the biggest mini skid is like being the tallest dwarf, that got me laughing!😂

[WilsonAve-qr]

Great video (one of my favorites). While the mini-skids have their place (especially in landscaping/hardscape companies working in tight quarters)...FAR to many people are falling for the YT hype around these things as general replacements for larger equipment...like full size skidsteers. What people don't realize, is that companies are subsidizing the reviews with lower priced or free equipment (like Greg at Our Life in Trees, or Tim at Tractor time), so you're really never getting a fully unbiased review - and - those reviewers are pretty opaque about it as well. People see videos of stump grinding and mulching, thinking these little things will work just like their bigger brethren and not realize that isn't the case. I'll repeat, these are great little machines for the people who can utilize them for what they are intended...they are not great machines to replace a skidsteer. In most/many cases, people would have been money ahead to get a used skidsteer over a Chinesium miniskid (despite the biased YT reviews put out by some channels). Overall great video!!!

[Cowboy_Steve]

Howdy Brock! Great idea for a video. Showing the limitations is some dang good information. Appreciate the effort but don't get yerself hurt! Thanks for sharing 🤠

[MyClutteredGarage]

Yeah I’ve been going uphill backwards so the bucket will catch the machine when it tips forward.