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Mike, to offset those negative comments that you don’t care about, I want to say that I’m very happy that you have been able to get this new machine. You work hard everyday for everything you have, and I for one am here to celebrate your success. I wish you success 10 fold in the future.
We have 3 of the 160’s, 3 of the CTX 100’s and 1 of the 925’s. That 160 is an absolute beast!! The biggest thing to watch out for on those is the undercarriage. Make sure to keep the mud and dirt cleaned from the tracks. Especially from behind the drive motors. What happens is that dirt gets forced behind the sprockets and through the seal to the bearings. Once the bearings are out of the drive motors there done. We have yet to find anyone that can rebuild them. It is so common that we keep 2 extra drive motors on the shelf at the shop. In case your wondering there 3600.00 each. Other than drive motors we haven’t had any issues and ours get the hell beat out of them.
Melissa, while my wife was watching some shorts about gardening this morning she showed me a video about keeping stones in place. We use rubber mulch in some of our beds and she thought it would keep the mulch along the edge from blowing out. I instantly thought of you. The product came in a gallon size bottle called mulch glue. At your 27:00 mark you were looking for something like this. Saw Home Depot sells something called gravel stabilizer also. Hope that helps
You did a solid! These are an absolute powerhouse and can lift an impressive amount for their size. They get around very well. We have two now for hardscaping/landscaping. You’ll find you’ll be using that thing more than you thought you would and you’ll love the compact factor! Very low maintenance and nimble machines! The trailer hitch plate is a must! Enjoy and keep us updated!
Melissa was asking about gel or glue to keep the rocks from moving. I have not, BUT I saw a video the other day where someone was using clear resin, like you would use for an epoxy table or similar. The guy talking about it was really proud of it and saying it worked really well, you'd have to time it right to make sure it didn't get a bunch of dirt stuck in it, but should work fine. I've seen it done for resin pea-gravel driveways, and those were pretty slick.
I am looking at a machine that used inside a building to stack lumber or anything that is high and close tolerances for placement may really shine. That safety factor is high in my thoughts as well. A umbrella and cupholder is now the only thing useless needed things to add
great looking machine. I could really use one of those myself if it were in the budget. You mentioned getting a trailer moving attachment for it. I would cut a hole in the end of one of those pallet forks and screw a trailer ball onto the end of it when I needed to move a trailer. No farther or faster than you would be moving with it just repositioning it around the property, the ball wouldn't have to be screwed on super tight. Another option would be to get someone to make an attachment to fasten to the end of the fork for the hitch ball if you don't want to drill/cut into your pallet forks. An experienced welder/fabricator should be able to build a usable attachment for you in a couple of hours or less. This would probably be a much cheaper option than getting something like that from the company, and the pallet fork should easily handle the job. Just an Idea I thought I would mention to you
These little machines have their place! We love using them for patio and hardscape jobs. This looks like you could fit this machine, and 3 firewood baskets on that new trailer, that'll make delivering those baskets much easier!
..........G'day Mike, dear oh dear; I have watched and listened to your words and actions for years now. I think you are a smart and thoughtful person. It seems to me that many comment before understanding what you are saying or even watching the video, and they vote? May the Lord help us! Cheers and God bless, Malcolm.
Hey Mike, I have been doing business with the Vermeer family for several decades now, mostly with their directional drill line of equipment. They are a very wonderful group of folks, Their level of integrity in the way they do business is over the top. And their product is top of the line. You can expect many years of service and quick resolution to any issue.
Their is a reason tree guys use them. I love mini skids because you can see very easy. A normal skid steer has many blind spots. At the end of the day, I am less tired using a mini. Even in the heat and cold and rain and you know, outside stuff. I bet Mike falls in love with this little yellow and black machine.
I think this will be a great addition to all the work flow or household projects. What May don't see or know is the get a similar lift capacity or auxiliary hydraulic flow in a tractor changes the footprint of the machine, in comparison I would imagine you would be into a 85 plus horsepower tractor. Less chance of breaking drive components as you are driving low and slow carrying 2 tons ( rated to pick up 1650 full height). Front axles on tractors may not take the extra stress. The only negative thing about that style of machine Is getting into a muddy situation where you bottom out the operators presence platform and it disables your functions because the ground is not allowing you to activate the switch. Some have put a switch inline others make different changes to the machine. I love a good 4in1 bucket with teeth as a starter attachment, in my opinion it adds enough options in most cases to be able to handle the task or two without having to change to a special purpose attachment, keeping the purchase fees lower as well as maintaining and storage costs and space.... maybe it's just my luck, there is always a chance it didn't fit on the transport, or it is 10 minutes each trip to get it for a single pick. I would much rather have a mini skid over my sub compact tractor, it was double the investment, not in my budget at the time. I don't think Mike will sell (at least in the near future )the other skid loader. It was purchased for a task and purpose, as stated the lil guy is there to support and reduce operations costs. There may be some elements that aren't published that generate a need for the original skid or maybe just sound business practices, if it sits in the shed and is used for a few hours a year what is the cost of ownership? An oil change? It's paid for, it can be transported to either property and stay there for a month with out disrupting things at the other, with no rental fees.
Interesting purchase. I knew it was going to be Vermeer by the huge hint you gave us on the last video. LOL. (the vermeer baseball cap was a thoughtful idea on your last video especially when you even touched the brim of your hat to kind of draw attention to it. loved it). But, I can't wait for a brush cutter to be purchased. We have farm land with pasture that has some tight spots for mowing that a 10ft brushhog won't get into. So, multi-flora rose bushes grow next to trees and fencerows or on hillsides I don't trust a 10ft brushhog pushing a tractor downhill. This would be a nice trimming machine.
I say your points won me over, but the standing, outside & no longer climate controlled & dry is going to be tough to do without, tractor cab comfort will be missed, but very good points made Mike!... The use in the wood yard and deliveries - very positive!👍
These little guys are handy indeed . Ive never looked at what the cost is and that would have a ton to do with just how handy I think they are because honestly these are only smart if you have a larger machine on hand for items that get heavier and thats just life. But if you have something that will pickup 5-10K around just incase , this little thing is small and easy to move around on a crowded yard. Nice indeed... I would think invaluable for the guys that have saw mills that need a way of moving logs.
We have tried a lot of different brand mini skid steers. Vermeer is our favorite. No other brand has the double hydro circuits. Big advantage when we use our Ryans rotating grapple. Don't need an electric solenoid to activate the other function which makes it super fast. Only negative about the radiator fan blowing out is it makes your legs cold when its below freezing outside. Best part is being able to jump on and off quickly and the visibility around the machine.
Good choice on the stand on mini. I have had a couple and they are real work horses. I actually now have the sk 1550 with the weight kit and it will lift and transport like crazy. I think the sale person stretched on the 2500# lift and transport. I lifted a pallet of 50--50 pound bags of potassium. I had to have an extra person on the platform so it would travel and it was still squirrelly.
You may have already thought about this. You may do an exposed aggregate look around the flagpole where the rock gets displaced. I have the Vermeer 925 absolutely love it easier for me to use it versus my skid steer, etc. I built a grading attachment for the front of mine that tilts left and right most useful. Couldn’t find one for some reason that had the tilt feature.
Congrats on the new machine Mike. I can see where it will be very useful, and the compact size makes it a perfect fit for your equipment needs. Will really shine with a brush cutter down at the WV property since the tree spacing is so tight. Concerning Melissa's rock question, I have seen people use clear epoxy poured across rock surfaces to make like a stone walk path. Looks pretty cool when done.
Hi Mike. Been watching your videos for years now. Can i suggest that you put a counter in the corner of your screen to indicate how many running cords of wood you have have - on hand and sold. It looks like you have a large inventory currently. Include baskets, wood shed and wood pile. Much appreciated.
The mini skid looks like a great addition to your equipment arsenal. I think it will be so handy for you. Especially in those tight spots. Very enjoyable video Mike and congratulations on your purchase.
Hey Mike, I just saw a Vermeer machine and it is had an awesome forest muncher in front of it! I see you cleaned up the dead trees and stuff! 🙏🏻💯👊🏼 thanks, Philip from Charleston South Carolina
I have found Worksaver attachments for mini skids to fit the bill. I have their pallet forks, trailer mover, power landscape rake, and the very awesome mini sarge grapple. They also make an adapter so you can use full size skid steer attatchments
Mike I just watched a video of a man with the 160 having a problem with the lift arms rubbing on the hydraulic cylinders on both lift arms. The man in the video suggested checking the machine to see if the arms are rubbing. This happened at about 50 hours of use. Can’t hurt to check.. by the way love all your videos Hope your Vermeer doesn’t have that problem. Good luck😊
Morgan’s: DeepRoots Landscaping guys & CanopyTree guys, here, have the 160 and 2 Toro Dingos. All work fine but the 160 is mainly for the tree division but used by both divisions. There are several products to apply to the River Pebbles but I just use simple dry Portland Cement sprinkled on top of pebbles, worked down into them with rake and applied 2nd & 3rd dusting. Later sprayed lightly with mist and let set. Next day check to see if another dusting is needed and mist to seal the top. By using a rake to get the powder down into the stone; the Portland won’t be seen. I do gravel driveways the same.
It’s great to see all the new things y’all have bought over the years. When a person works hard to get it just makes you feel good keep doing what is best for your family
Melissa keep up the hard work to make Mike smile and laugh lol. Thank you for the two of you and letting us into your lives. May God bless you and your family.
You bought the best of the bunch. Vermeer makes superb machines. It will outlast you Mike with normal care and maintenance. Of course like any new machine, it will take many hours to learn the "Feel" of the machine.Sidenote: A year ago I had a huge sugar maple taken down. It was at the corner of the house and some distance from the road. They had a Bobcat stand on. It was good but they really fought the low lift capacity. Saw him a month ago and he sold it. For Melissa's stone issue look into a clear pour polymer or perhaps clear epoxy.
I said a long time ago the Mechack I don’t know if I said that correctly is the machine that is so versatile for everything you only need one machine for everything you wanna do. It has a function on it that is like a suspender and you can put pallets from 10 feet away into place with the forks attachment to me is the greatest machine I’ve ever seen. You are great operator of everything. I think you would’ve done well with that machine again I don’t know if I spelled it right but I think you know what I’m talking about.
Its looks as though you have a keeper there. It will really come in handy if you ever need something like that at the cabin. Plus it will probably use a lot less diesel. But you can get the Vermeer in tighter places. I do wonder though, true it picked up the basket of green red oak. But will it pick up a basket of wet green red oak. Stay safe!
Welcome to the club! I run a ctx160 as part of my side hustle and that machine does some incredible work. One of the issue I had was two hydraulic fitting on the motor (located under that black front cover) come loose at 275 hours and another one and another one at 377 hours. So double check to make sure those stay tight. Also, there’s always lots of dirt building up around the hydraulic fill tank, so that usually needs cleanup.
Vermeer invented the modern round baler. We always think of stump grinders, chippers, and mini-skidsteers. But it was the round baler that made it all possible.
I've had the opportunity to run a couple of them moving some dirt in some tight places and i love them, i whish i had one cause at times i dont need my bobcat in tight areas or doing smaller things!. I ran the bobcat and the ditchwitch both are good machines, but Vermeer makes top qaulity equipment we had several rock trenchers at work. I can see your point of saving hrs, fuel, and wear on the larger equipment along with the saftey part of it. I think its a positive addition to your operation!. They make a polyurethane to hold that stone in place but it will be slick on top, i would try a heavy rubber floor mat to cover the stone with some sod staples if need be.
You will fall in love with that machine, we have one and use it more than I ever thought we would, and they beat out all the competition , ride, just ease of using;;;;;;;
We went to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons a few weeks ago. I remember you guys went recently. No words can adequately describe what we saw and experienced. Stayed in an AIRBNB in Island Park, Idaho. Missed your photography shop. Love your channel and always look forward to your next video.
I’m about 3 years into the mini skids. If I could only have one piece of equipment the mini skid is it. I’ve had 5 different ones. I have an sk800 now and love it. I like your CTX over the SK 1750 because less electronics to break. I’m gonna look into the CTX 160 now.
Mike, that'll be a new thing - pouring clear epoxy into a bed of creek pebbles to solidify them. Probably the same with mulch too. It would be SO easy to blow leaves off of them!
Morning Morgan’s! I was so hoping you were going to get a stand up loader - we’ve been looking at them, but there isn’t much real world work done on the tube to reference…….I know you’ll put it through its paces, so thank you! 6:55
That thing will be awesome for you there and your delivery’s. The easiest thing to do is just put a hole in 1 of the forks for a ball of any size that works great for me for moving anything around.
In my previous job I supplied design software to Vermeer and they make a lot of well designed, reliable speciality equipment. Privately held American company...The industry issue is low flow on small to mid sized tractors compaired to front end loaders and skid steers. End of the day its the tool you need for the jobs you have. Besides it's Melissa approved...
Yes! Hoppy is safe! I would stack & attempt a double lift , , , Just to see! & check out logs maybe 2 or 3 at one lift. Ya never know if you don't check it out. Looks like the operator gives some counter balance? I think you have a winner!
Awesome mini skid. I’ve always thought they would be really handy around the sawmill, especially when cutting live edge slabs and moving them off the mill. I love my skid loader but ever since your wheel loader videos I been thinking hard about going in that direction once I finish the bulk of the work on my land. The skid loaders really tear everything up.
I've seen a video of these Vermeers before it was guys lifting and putting down a new driveway, it tore the old one up with no problem, I think you'll love this machine.
Smart purchase. We have had the Vermeer since they came out. The 800 (800 lb lift) the CTX 100 (1000 lbs) and the CTX 160 (1600 lb lift) . The 160 is the bomb. We run them for our tree service. Great machines. Service at the Cranberry Vermeer is awesome. Eric and his team are the best. We have 1200 hours on them with no drive motor issues. Also check out the CID brush cutter. They dont disappoint.
Hi Mike, One feature that a lot of people may not appreciate is how tiring it can be to climb on and off of a skid steer or excavator, all day long. You and I do. The vermeer is much easier. Also , beside the fact that ingress and egress are easy, you don't have to walk under a raised load, a definite no-no. I think you're going to like it a lot. good luck and have fun with the new toy. Shalom/gw
Seems like the perfect machine for the wood yard. The lift capacity was amazing,looked very stable. Two sets of hydraulics. I like the ease of stepping on and off, a huge plus when you get a few more years on ya. Great visability, versatility. I think you knocked it out of the park with this choice. Looking forward to see how all the attachments work.
We own two Vermeer 925s mini skidsteers for our swimming pool business. They are great little machines. Only drawback is Vermeer customer service is not that great. We purchased the second one last year, even after test driving a Kubota, ditch witch and Boxer I went back with Vermeer
Hey Mike, I watch every video but rarely comment. I wanted to tell you I use that machine at work for a tree company and absolutely love it. It has so much power for the size machine. I would also recommend getting a grapple from Ryan's equipment. That is what was recommended by where we bought the machine. It is a wonderful attachment! Best wishes, Bob
Great choice Mike Vermmer has a quality product! I see contractors making the same choices quite a bit.the mini equipment market is expanding due to the weight and size as well the applications that become very apparent once you have used the mini on the job.the amount of applications is huge! Adapt to propane for interior work in commercial construction opens up many applications, sub surface applications as well. Again great choice great content good luck!
I rent mini-skids roughly every year for various jobs and I love them for moving dirt and concrete. They are certainly very capable machines and would love to have one in the arsenal. Maybe one day!
It's called Fong Schwa (sp) symmetrical, symmetry, balance......you are of the chosen few who want this and understand life harmony ......Nice rig and don't let the decal ruin your fun..........great video. Mike
I didn’t see it coming but I could see you getting rid of the skid steer now and getting another tractor. As someone with stand on mowers the stand on so convenient for hopping on and off.
Smart man Mike...getting machines that Melissa can easily operate too...mower, mini skid w/various attachments. Vermeer needs to get on that "free" matching handbag. 😊 You do think things through, won't have a strong need for that dump truck, or at least for a little while anyway. The mini skid will be nice to use at cabin to brush cut & w/ratchet rake maintain driveway/ woods too. Can't wait for the upcoming content!
We live on the coast , hot is hot , humid is humid . We are a little more conditioned to the heat and the humidity . However we need our AC in our home , our automobiles and if we could afford it ,our driveways !!! I can see this machine being very useful !👍
We just got a Vermeer vactor trailer. Very good quality and built very well. We use it for vacuuming out water gate boxes and small dig jobs around utilities like gas and electric lines. Has an on board water tank and high pressure spray wand.
Hi the Morgans. I enjoy your videos even more because we get to see more of your family, we know they do lots of work behind the seen. About the mini'skid...no need to worry about getting used to handling it because you're a natural operator. You attack the work at hand according to the size of machine you operate. Unlike some people that want to fill every square inch of the bucket. You know what I mean. I hope that you can pass that skill down to your grandkids. I'm sure Levi and the girls already have some of these skills. Keep up with the great videos. Oh oops I forgot to mention Melissa in the previous group. Mike, I like your outlook on life and the people that run the country.
Really like the new machine> Vermeer CTX 160> I call it the "Mini Beast" Skid Loader the "Beast". Very handy time saver, with all the attachments can do lots of work, probably good on fuel, and can maneuver in Wes Virginia Pines really well. It fits the trailer with the Can Am, and some attachments - its a WIN WIN WIN to me.. good job Mike! 💯🙏
My son has a bobcat mini skid he uses for his tree cutting/ landscaping business. Works great. I'm always amazed at the logs it will lift to put in the dump trailer
I had a couple trees taken out in my back yard. The tree guys had a Vermeer and he handled all the materials out of the yard to their chipper. He negotiated the narrow walkways around the house with no problems. It looked like a great machine.
This machine seems to make the most sense for your operation. Good purchase Mike. Wish I had one back in '90 when I cleared a couple of hundred trees to build our forever home. I had a Ford 8N and later, a DR Power Wagon, which, for what I was able to do with it, was a great back saver. But lots of manual labor.
I like the Minnie Pearl look with the tag hanging on the fork attachment. Hope this machine does you well Mike. You and your family have a great day and stay safe.
Excellent idea for firewood delivery. Given a choice between a dump truck load of firewood that the customer would have to move and stack and clean up or getting it neatly stacked in a container placed exactly where it’s wanted. Well that’s really no choice and I bet most would be glad to pay a premium for that service.
I am familiar with the Vermeer line of equipment and it is way ahead of the Ditch which & other brands you mentioned. You have done well with your choice.👍
It will take me sometime getting use to seeing you out in the elements instead of an air-conditioned cab...but I see all the advantages you pointed out... It's been HOT as heck here too in SE PA...its a burner for sure.... Good Luck with it.........
With all th fiber optic cable going in the ground in Wisconsin these past years, Vermeer equipment is used to "plow" FIber cable in the ground. Vermeer is used in many functions of cable underground installation for broadband
Mike, our cat was focused on my TV when you were operating the Vermeer like it was another cat. It does look like a cat with the pattern on the pallet forks, especially to a cat lol. The trailer mover attachment will really come in handy at the WV Cabin.
Hi Mike. Great looking Vermeer. Melissa is " full of mischief" that day. Melissa & Mike. How about flat stone walkway behind the flagpole? Or. River stone pathway? It will be very easy to do. It will be less messy too. Well. Good luck Mike w/ The Vermeer. Say Hi to Eva & Hunter. 🥰😊😉👍❤️💜🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Happy for ya bud. Id nvr get one here cause i need something like the avant for our hobby farm and my firewood buisiness, and im in northern canada so we need to clear snow ❄️ 😊
You can go to home depot and get A. It's kind of like A. What do you call it fiberglass? That stuff that goes on top of the fiberglass. The total boat makes it. I think and check into it. You can just take a sprayer, put it in a sprayer. And you can just spray over it and let it see, pin and come back and spray it again
Intrested in seeing how this works out. I have rented Dingos in the past and they steer terrible. Guessing the Vermeer is a better machine. Love your channel Mike.
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Remember people Dogs can't take this heat! So treat them with kindness and keep them cool and hydrated! Wake up America!
The new Vermeer is excellent
Mike, to offset those negative comments that you don’t care about, I want to say that I’m very happy that you have been able to get this new machine. You work hard everyday for everything you have, and I for one am here to celebrate your success. I wish you success 10 fold in the future.
I appreciate that
😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜
Motor mike does not care about comments, any comment draws attention to his pay check. $$$$$
We have 3 of the 160’s, 3 of the CTX 100’s and 1 of the 925’s. That 160 is an absolute beast!! The biggest thing to watch out for on those is the undercarriage. Make sure to keep the mud and dirt cleaned from the tracks. Especially from behind the drive motors. What happens is that dirt gets forced behind the sprockets and through the seal to the bearings. Once the bearings are out of the drive motors there done. We have yet to find anyone that can rebuild them. It is so common that we keep 2 extra drive motors on the shelf at the shop. In case your wondering there 3600.00 each. Other than drive motors we haven’t had any issues and ours get the hell beat out of them.
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😘😘❤❤❤❤❤❤
Melissa, while my wife was watching some shorts about gardening this morning she showed me a video about keeping stones in place. We use rubber mulch in some of our beds and she thought it would keep the mulch along the edge from blowing out. I instantly thought of you. The product came in a gallon size bottle called mulch glue. At your 27:00 mark you were looking for something like this. Saw Home Depot sells something called gravel stabilizer also. Hope that helps
You did a solid! These are an absolute powerhouse and can lift an impressive amount for their size. They get around very well. We have two now for hardscaping/landscaping. You’ll find you’ll be using that thing more than you thought you would and you’ll love the compact factor! Very low maintenance and nimble machines! The trailer hitch plate is a must! Enjoy and keep us updated!
Melissa was asking about gel or glue to keep the rocks from moving. I have not, BUT I saw a video the other day where someone was using clear resin, like you would use for an epoxy table or similar. The guy talking about it was really proud of it and saying it worked really well, you'd have to time it right to make sure it didn't get a bunch of dirt stuck in it, but should work fine. I've seen it done for resin pea-gravel driveways, and those were pretty slick.
I am looking at a machine that used inside a building to stack lumber or anything that is high and close tolerances for placement may really shine. That safety factor is high in my thoughts as well. A umbrella and cupholder is now the only thing useless needed things to add
great looking machine. I could really use one of those myself if it were in the budget. You mentioned getting a trailer moving attachment for it. I would cut a hole in the end of one of those pallet forks and screw a trailer ball onto the end of it when I needed to move a trailer. No farther or faster than you would be moving with it just repositioning it around the property, the ball wouldn't have to be screwed on super tight. Another option would be to get someone to make an attachment to fasten to the end of the fork for the hitch ball if you don't want to drill/cut into your pallet forks. An experienced welder/fabricator should be able to build a usable attachment for you in a couple of hours or less. This would probably be a much cheaper option than getting something like that from the company, and the pallet fork should easily handle the job. Just an Idea I thought I would mention to you
Melissa I have used Bondtech Mulch and gravel spray, using a garden sprayer. It says it will last for 2 years and prevents weeds also.
These little machines have their place! We love using them for patio and hardscape jobs. This looks like you could fit this machine, and 3 firewood baskets on that new trailer, that'll make delivering those baskets much easier!
👌👌👌👌👌👌
..........G'day Mike,
dear oh dear; I have watched and listened to your words and actions for years now. I think you are a smart and thoughtful person. It seems to me that many comment before understanding what you are saying or even watching the video, and they vote? May the Lord help us!
Cheers and God bless,
Malcolm.
Hey Mike, I have been doing business with the Vermeer family for several decades now, mostly with their directional drill line of equipment. They are a very wonderful group of folks, Their level of integrity in the way they do business is over the top. And their product is top of the line. You can expect many years of service and quick resolution to any issue.
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
Their is a reason tree guys use them.
I love mini skids because you can see very easy. A normal skid steer has many blind spots. At the end of the day, I am less tired using a mini. Even in the heat and cold and rain and you know, outside stuff.
I bet Mike falls in love with this little yellow and black machine.
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
I think this will be a great addition to all the work flow or household projects. What May don't see or know is the get a similar lift capacity or auxiliary hydraulic flow in a tractor changes the footprint of the machine, in comparison I would imagine you would be into a 85 plus horsepower tractor. Less chance of breaking drive components as you are driving low and slow carrying 2 tons ( rated to pick up 1650 full height). Front axles on tractors may not take the extra stress.
The only negative thing about that style of machine Is getting into a muddy situation where you bottom out the operators presence platform and it disables your functions because the ground is not allowing you to activate the switch. Some have put a switch inline others make different changes to the machine.
I love a good 4in1 bucket with teeth as a starter attachment, in my opinion it adds enough options in most cases to be able to handle the task or two without having to change to a special purpose attachment, keeping the purchase fees lower as well as maintaining and storage costs and space.... maybe it's just my luck, there is always a chance it didn't fit on the transport, or it is 10 minutes each trip to get it for a single pick. I would much rather have a mini skid over my sub compact tractor, it was double the investment, not in my budget at the time. I don't think Mike will sell (at least in the near future )the other skid loader. It was purchased for a task and purpose, as stated the lil guy is there to support and reduce operations costs. There may be some elements that aren't published that generate a need for the original skid or maybe just sound business practices, if it sits in the shed and is used for a few hours a year what is the cost of ownership? An oil change? It's paid for, it can be transported to either property and stay there for a month with out disrupting things at the other, with no rental fees.
Interesting purchase. I knew it was going to be Vermeer by the huge hint you gave us on the last video. LOL. (the vermeer baseball cap was a thoughtful idea on your last video especially when you even touched the brim of your hat to kind of draw attention to it. loved it). But, I can't wait for a brush cutter to be purchased. We have farm land with pasture that has some tight spots for mowing that a 10ft brushhog won't get into. So, multi-flora rose bushes grow next to trees and fencerows or on hillsides I don't trust a 10ft brushhog pushing a tractor downhill. This would be a nice trimming machine.
I say your points won me over, but the standing, outside & no longer climate controlled & dry is going to be tough to do without, tractor cab comfort will be missed, but very good points made Mike!... The use in the wood yard and deliveries - very positive!👍
These little guys are handy indeed . Ive never looked at what the cost is and that would have a ton to do with just how handy I think they are because honestly these are only smart if you have a larger machine on hand for items that get heavier and thats just life. But if you have something that will pickup 5-10K around just incase , this little thing is small and easy to move around on a crowded yard. Nice indeed... I would think invaluable for the guys that have saw mills that need a way of moving logs.
We have tried a lot of different brand mini skid steers. Vermeer is our favorite. No other brand has the double hydro circuits. Big advantage when we use our Ryans rotating grapple. Don't need an electric solenoid to activate the other function which makes it super fast. Only negative about the radiator fan blowing out is it makes your legs cold when its below freezing outside. Best part is being able to jump on and off quickly and the visibility around the machine.
Good choice on the stand on mini. I have had a couple and they are real work horses.
I actually now have the sk 1550 with the weight kit and it will lift and transport like crazy.
I think the sale person stretched on the 2500# lift and transport.
I lifted a pallet of 50--50 pound bags of potassium. I had to have an extra person on the platform so it would travel and it was still squirrelly.
You may have already thought about this. You may do an exposed aggregate look around the flagpole where the rock gets displaced. I have the Vermeer 925 absolutely love it easier for me to use it versus my skid steer, etc. I built a grading attachment for the front of mine that tilts left and right most useful. Couldn’t find one for some reason that had the tilt feature.
Congrats on the new machine Mike. I can see where it will be very useful, and the compact size makes it a perfect fit for your equipment needs. Will really shine with a brush cutter down at the WV property since the tree spacing is so tight. Concerning Melissa's rock question, I have seen people use clear epoxy poured across rock surfaces to make like a stone walk path. Looks pretty cool when done.
Hi Mike. Been watching your videos for years now. Can i suggest that you put a counter in the corner of your screen to indicate how many running cords of wood you have have - on hand and sold. It looks like you have a large inventory currently. Include baskets, wood shed and wood pile. Much appreciated.
The mini skid looks like a great addition to your equipment arsenal. I think it will be so handy for you. Especially in those tight spots. Very enjoyable video Mike and congratulations on your purchase.
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Hi Melissa, about sealing stone-rock walkways, Google rural construction/ sealing walk areas smooth. You should ask Tom from the Hauses
Hey Mike, I just saw a Vermeer machine and it is had an awesome forest muncher in front of it! I see you cleaned up the dead trees and stuff! 🙏🏻💯👊🏼 thanks, Philip from Charleston South Carolina
I have found Worksaver attachments for mini skids to fit the bill. I have their pallet forks, trailer mover, power landscape rake, and the very awesome mini sarge grapple. They also make an adapter so you can use full size skid steer attatchments
Mike I just watched a video of a man with the 160 having a problem with the lift arms rubbing on the hydraulic cylinders on both lift arms. The man in the video suggested checking the machine to see if the arms are rubbing. This happened at about 50 hours of use. Can’t hurt to check.. by the way love all your videos Hope your Vermeer doesn’t have that problem. Good luck😊
Morgan’s:
DeepRoots Landscaping guys & CanopyTree guys, here, have the 160 and 2 Toro Dingos. All work fine but the 160 is mainly for the tree division but used by both divisions.
There are several products to apply to the River Pebbles but I just use simple dry Portland Cement sprinkled on top of pebbles, worked down into them with rake and applied 2nd & 3rd dusting. Later sprayed lightly with mist and let set. Next day check to see if another dusting is needed and mist to seal the top. By using a rake to get the powder down into the stone; the Portland won’t be seen. I do gravel driveways the same.
Vermeer makes good stuff man! Looks like fun to run...love to have on on the farm to build mountain bike trails!
It’s great to see all the new things y’all have bought over the years. When a person works hard to get it just makes you feel good keep doing what is best for your family
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Melissa keep up the hard work to make Mike smile and laugh lol. Thank you for the two of you and letting us into your lives. May God bless you and your family.
Would not have guessed another “track machine” given the comments on how nice the wheeled machine was on gravel - nice addition to the fleet.
Right with ya Bull. Would not have thought a track machine or one you stand up on all day.
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connsider rigging ball hitch on vernee's tacch that you can turn your longer trailer on your homestead
You bought the best of the bunch. Vermeer makes superb machines. It will outlast you Mike with normal care and maintenance. Of course like any new machine, it will take many hours to learn the "Feel" of the machine.Sidenote: A year ago I had a huge sugar maple taken down. It was at the corner of the house and some distance from the road. They had a Bobcat stand on. It was good but they really fought the low lift capacity. Saw him a month ago and he sold it. For Melissa's stone issue look into a clear pour polymer or perhaps clear epoxy.
I work for a excavation company and I love our Vermeer mini definitely think you’ll be happy
I said a long time ago the Mechack I don’t know if I said that correctly is the machine that is so versatile for everything you only need one machine for everything you wanna do. It has a function on it that is like a suspender and you can put pallets from 10 feet away into place with the forks attachment to me is the greatest machine I’ve ever seen. You are great operator of everything. I think you would’ve done well with that machine again I don’t know if I spelled it right but I think you know what I’m talking about.
Its looks as though you have a keeper there. It will really come in handy if you ever need something like that at the cabin. Plus it will probably use a lot less diesel. But you can get the Vermeer in tighter places. I do wonder though, true it picked up the basket of green red oak. But will it pick up a basket of wet green red oak. Stay safe!
Few years ago we had a vermeer machines at work. We kept the mechanics truck near at all times. Good luck.
Ha, I was right. Vermeer hat you wore when you went to the cabin was a clue. Congrats!
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Welcome to the club! I run a ctx160 as part of my side hustle and that machine does some incredible work. One of the issue I had was two hydraulic fitting on the motor (located under that black front cover) come loose at 275 hours and another one and another one at 377 hours. So double check to make sure those stay tight. Also, there’s always lots of dirt building up around the hydraulic fill tank, so that usually needs cleanup.
Good info
Vermeer invented the modern round baler. We always think of stump grinders, chippers, and mini-skidsteers. But it was the round baler that made it all possible.
I've had the opportunity to run a couple of them moving some dirt in some tight places and i love them, i whish i had one cause at times i dont need my bobcat in tight areas or doing smaller things!. I ran the bobcat and the ditchwitch both are good machines, but Vermeer makes top qaulity equipment we had several rock trenchers at work.
I can see your point of saving hrs, fuel, and wear on the larger equipment along with the saftey part of it. I think its a positive addition to your operation!.
They make a polyurethane to hold that stone in place but it will be slick on top, i would try a heavy rubber floor mat to cover the stone with some sod staples if need be.
Matt Cremona always impressed me with what he could do with his Vermeer. It is a little powerhouse.
You will fall in love with that machine, we have one and use it more than I ever thought we would, and they beat out all the competition , ride, just ease of using;;;;;;;
I noticed the Vermeer cap the other day and should’ve guessed, but anyway it looks like a nice machine, I hope it suits you well, all the best 😊
We went to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons a few weeks ago. I remember you guys went recently. No words can adequately describe what we saw and experienced. Stayed in an AIRBNB in Island Park, Idaho. Missed your photography shop. Love your channel and always look forward to your next video.
I’m about 3 years into the mini skids. If I could only have one piece of equipment the mini skid is it. I’ve had 5 different ones. I have an sk800 now and love it. I like your CTX over the SK 1750 because less electronics to break. I’m gonna look into the CTX 160 now.
When I load/unload things on/off a trailer I use the jack and raise the front end to reduce the angle of the ramp so it isn't so steep.
Mike, that'll be a new thing - pouring clear epoxy into a bed of creek pebbles to solidify them. Probably the same with mulch too. It would be SO easy to blow leaves off of them!
Morning Morgan’s! I was so hoping you were going to get a stand up loader - we’ve been looking at them, but there isn’t much real world work done on the tube to reference…….I know you’ll put it through its paces, so thank you! 6:55
That thing will be awesome for you there and your delivery’s. The easiest thing to do is just put a hole in 1 of the forks for a ball of any size that works great for me for moving anything around.
Looks good, only advantage on skid steer is. Fall protection cage, hope you move fast if needed
In my previous job I supplied design software to Vermeer and they make a lot of well designed, reliable speciality equipment. Privately held American company...The industry issue is low flow on small to mid sized tractors compaired to front end loaders and skid steers. End of the day its the tool you need for the jobs you have. Besides it's Melissa approved...
Yes! Hoppy is safe! I would stack & attempt a double lift , , , Just to see! & check out logs maybe 2 or 3 at one lift. Ya never know if you don't check it out. Looks like the operator gives some counter balance? I think you have a winner!
I like my blue diamond mower from my mini skid good for brush up to 2.5” anything bigger and you have to mow it over several times.
Hi Mike, you could put winch on your new trailer. And winch tree logs slowly up onto trailer.
Mike, you probably thought of this but you can get a trailer ball that fits on those forks, just clamps on
It’s called mulch glue and works good for pebbles. You could put a ball on your fork to move stuff instead of switching attachments
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Awesome mini skid. I’ve always thought they would be really handy around the sawmill, especially when cutting live edge slabs and moving them off the mill.
I love my skid loader but ever since your wheel loader videos I been thinking hard about going in that direction once I finish the bulk of the work on my land. The skid loaders really tear everything up.
I've seen a video of these Vermeers before it was guys lifting and putting down a new driveway, it tore the old one up with no problem, I think you'll love this machine.
Smart purchase. We have had the Vermeer since they came out. The 800 (800 lb lift) the CTX 100 (1000 lbs) and the CTX 160 (1600 lb lift) . The 160 is the bomb. We run them for our tree service. Great machines. Service at the Cranberry Vermeer is awesome. Eric and his team are the best. We have 1200 hours on them with no drive motor issues. Also check out the CID brush cutter. They dont disappoint.
Hi Mike, One feature that a lot of people may not appreciate is how tiring it can be to climb on and off of a skid steer or excavator, all day long. You and I do. The vermeer is much easier. Also , beside the fact that ingress and egress are easy, you don't have to walk under a raised load, a definite no-no. I think you're going to like it a lot. good luck and have fun with the new toy. Shalom/gw
Compact, great visibility, powerful. Should be a great addition. Thanks Jake. No 'Hoppy'.
Seems like the perfect machine for the wood yard. The lift capacity was amazing,looked very stable. Two sets of hydraulics. I like the ease of stepping on and off, a huge plus when you get a few more years on ya. Great visability, versatility. I think you knocked it out of the park with this choice. Looking forward to see how all the attachments work.
We own two Vermeer 925s mini skidsteers for our swimming pool business. They are great little machines. Only drawback is Vermeer customer service is not that great. We purchased the second one last year, even after test driving a Kubota, ditch witch and Boxer I went back with Vermeer
The new machine looks great as I get older getting on and off is a big advantage of it for your wood yard I see a lot of uses
Its nice to Levi in videos. Greetings to Melissa, Hunter and Eva. Enjoy your new machine. God Bless
Hey Mike,
I watch every video but rarely comment. I wanted to tell you I use that machine at work for a tree company and absolutely love it. It has so much power for the size machine. I would also recommend getting a grapple from Ryan's equipment. That is what was recommended by where we bought the machine. It is a wonderful attachment! Best wishes, Bob
Great choice Mike Vermmer has a quality product! I see contractors making the same choices quite a bit.the mini equipment market is expanding due to the weight and size as well the applications that become very apparent once you have used the mini on the job.the amount of applications is huge! Adapt to propane for interior work in commercial construction opens up many applications, sub surface applications as well. Again great choice great content good luck!
I rent mini-skids roughly every year for various jobs and I love them for moving dirt and concrete. They are certainly very capable machines and would love to have one in the arsenal. Maybe one day!
It's called Fong Schwa (sp) symmetrical, symmetry, balance......you are of the chosen few who want this and understand life harmony ......Nice rig and don't let the decal ruin your fun..........great video. Mike
I didn’t see it coming but I could see you getting rid of the skid steer now and getting another tractor. As someone with stand on mowers the stand on so convenient for hopping on and off.
Nice little machine! That will serve you well in the Wood yard, and all over the place for that Matter. So adorable 😄
Smart man Mike...getting machines that Melissa can easily operate too...mower, mini skid w/various attachments. Vermeer needs to get on that "free" matching handbag. 😊 You do think things through, won't have a strong need for that dump truck, or at least for a little while anyway. The mini skid will be nice to use at cabin to brush cut & w/ratchet rake maintain driveway/ woods too. Can't wait for the upcoming content!
We live on the coast , hot is hot , humid is humid . We are a little more conditioned to the heat and the humidity . However we need our AC in our home , our automobiles and if we could afford it ,our driveways !!! I can see this machine being very useful !👍
We just got a Vermeer vactor trailer. Very good quality and built very well. We use it for vacuuming out water gate boxes and small dig jobs around utilities like gas and electric lines. Has an on board water tank and high pressure spray wand.
Perfect machine for the woodyard and the cabin. Will look great on that trailer as well.
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Hi the Morgans. I enjoy your videos even more because we get to see more of your family, we know they do lots of work behind the seen. About the mini'skid...no need to worry about getting used to handling it because you're a natural operator. You attack the work at hand according to the size of machine you operate. Unlike some people that want to fill every square inch of the bucket. You know what I mean. I hope that you can pass that skill down to your grandkids. I'm sure Levi and the girls already have some of these skills. Keep up with the great videos. Oh oops I forgot to mention Melissa in the previous group. Mike, I like your outlook on life and the people that run the country.
Really like the new machine> Vermeer CTX 160> I call it the "Mini Beast" Skid Loader the "Beast". Very handy time saver, with all the attachments can do lots of work, probably good on fuel, and can maneuver in Wes Virginia Pines really well. It fits the trailer with the Can Am, and some attachments - its a WIN WIN WIN to me.. good job Mike! 💯🙏
My son has a bobcat mini skid he uses for his tree cutting/ landscaping business. Works great. I'm always amazed at the logs it will lift to put in the dump trailer
I had a couple trees taken out in my back yard. The tree guys had a Vermeer and he handled all the materials out of the yard to their chipper. He negotiated the narrow walkways around the house with no problems. It looked like a great machine.
This machine seems to make the most sense for your operation. Good purchase Mike. Wish I had one back in '90 when I cleared a couple of hundred trees to build our forever home. I had a Ford 8N and later, a DR Power Wagon, which, for what I was able to do with it, was a great back saver. But lots of manual labor.
Compact 👌 & strong & useful 💪 😉 great choice Mike 🏆
I like the Minnie Pearl look with the tag hanging on the fork attachment.
Hope this machine does you well Mike.
You and your family have a great day and stay safe.
Excellent idea for firewood delivery. Given a choice between a dump truck load of firewood that the customer would have to move and stack and clean up or getting it neatly stacked in a container placed exactly where it’s wanted. Well that’s really no choice and I bet most would be glad to pay a premium for that service.
I am familiar with the Vermeer line of equipment and it is way ahead of the Ditch which & other brands you mentioned.
You have done well with your choice.👍
I can’t wait to see the new machine in action. My brother and I went together and bought a used Toro.
Ok I'm impressed. All round visibility is one major plus for that machine. Respect it's limitation and it will do an adequate job .
It will take me sometime getting use to seeing you out in the elements instead of an air-conditioned cab...but I see all the advantages you pointed out...
It's been HOT as heck here too in SE PA...its a burner for sure....
Good Luck with it.........
Sounds well thought out. I like the use cases where you can take it and other stuff on the trailer.
With all th fiber optic cable going in the ground in Wisconsin these past years, Vermeer equipment is used to "plow" FIber cable in the ground. Vermeer is used in many functions of cable underground installation for broadband
suggestion consider double stacking full totes mainly for creating space in wood yard
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He knows what he is doing and doesn't need recliner professional ideas
My experience with Vermeer was all positive. Their chippers and vac trailers are great machines, I am sure the skid machine will work great for you.
Mike, our cat was focused on my TV when you were operating the Vermeer like it was another cat. It does look like a cat with the pattern on the pallet forks, especially to a cat lol. The trailer mover attachment will really come in handy at the WV Cabin.
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Hi Mike. Great looking Vermeer. Melissa is " full of mischief" that day. Melissa & Mike. How about flat stone walkway behind the flagpole? Or. River stone pathway? It will be very easy to do. It will be less messy too. Well. Good luck Mike w/ The Vermeer. Say Hi to Eva & Hunter. 🥰😊😉👍❤️💜🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
You'll love it Mike, it's a swiss army knife, use it so much more than our 2 tractors
There has to be something coming soon that you can run the land plane with. Looking forward to that and to seeing how the mini-skid works out.
Happy for ya bud. Id nvr get one here cause i need something like the avant for our hobby farm and my firewood buisiness, and im in northern canada so we need to clear snow ❄️ 😊
You can go to home depot and get A. It's kind of like A. What do you call it fiberglass? That stuff that goes on top of the fiberglass. The total boat makes it. I think and check into it. You can just take a sprayer, put it in a sprayer. And you can just spray over it and let it see, pin and come back and spray it again
Intrested in seeing how this works out. I have rented Dingos in the past and they steer terrible.
Guessing the Vermeer is a better machine. Love your channel Mike.