{"id":3728,"date":"2019-04-24T06:00:09","date_gmt":"2019-04-24T10:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/?post_type=features&p=3728"},"modified":"2021-12-30T17:49:58","modified_gmt":"2021-12-30T22:49:58","slug":"small-but-mighty","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/features\/small-but-mighty\/","title":{"rendered":"Small but mighty"},"content":{"rendered":"

The physical demands of a career in landscaping can be challenging at times, but it makes the job a whole lot easier when you have powerful tools and equipment. Mini skid steers and compact loaders are tough little machines that serve as a valuable part of a landscape team, helping your crews accomplish superhuman feats in record time.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s safe to say that landscape contractors rarely regret buying a mini skid steer or compact loader. In fact, it seems like the only regret they have is not getting one sooner. Maybe you\u2019re considering investing in one for the first time or are simply looking to upgrade.<\/p>\n

The landscape pros featured in this story share what their purchasing processes were and how these machines have helped their operations. Their experiences show why mini skid steers and compact loaders have become a must-have for many in the landscape industry.<\/p>\n

Getting more work in<\/h2>\n
\"mini
The tracks on these machines allow you to operate in a variety of site conditions and navigate tricky terrain. (Photo: Mulder Maintenance and Services)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One of the biggest draws to using these machines is their ability to operate in a variety of site conditions and navigate tricky terrains thanks in part to tracks that offer stability on soft terrain.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you have a track machine, you\u2019re able to get anywhere on a job site at any time no matter what kind of conditions there are,\u201d says Andy Mulder, owner of Mulder Maintenance and Services in Crown Point, Indiana. We\u2019re able to get more productive days in the season because of this machine and with it being tracked.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 2018 Takeuchi TL10V2 compact track loader he bought in late 2017 has become essential to his business. It\u2019s allowed his crew to work in any type of conditions. Mud, rocky ground, sand, you name it.<\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, it just helps us do more work,\u201d says Mulder. \u201cIt helps our company be more efficient and more profitable, and we get more workable days because of the equipment we own.\u201d<\/p>\n

Simple and safe<\/h2>\n

Mulder did his research before investing in this workhorse and shopped around for six months before ultimately making his choice. While working at other companies, he operated a couple of other machines from different manufacturers, so he had a few ideas about what did and didn\u2019t like.<\/p>\n

While price was a factor, scoring a bargain wasn\u2019t what Mulder was after. He was more concerned with things like horsepower, lift capacity and other features.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not going to stay in this business for only a couple years. I\u2019m in it for the long haul, so I knew that I wanted to purchase something that was going to last,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

He liked the hydraulic system and controls of the Takeuchi unit. For him the machine provides precision and wasn\u2019t as jerky of a ride as some of the others he\u2019d tried. \u201cOverall, one of the reasons I went with Takeuchi was the ease of operation and how smooth they are to drive,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s also a big fan of the how the door works. \u201cIt comes up over your head, and it doesn\u2019t swing out,\u201d Mulder explains.<\/p>\n

That functionality allows operators to open the door with the arms in any position. They can get in and out of the machine even if the arms are up slightly. This was a critical safety feature for Mulder, knowing that his crew members can get out of the machine quickly if needed.<\/p>\n

Needless to say he doesn\u2019t have buyer\u2019s remorse.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just overall a great machine to run, especially when you\u2019re using attachments,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Of course many other makes and models are available, and just like buying a truck or picking out a new outfit, nothing is one-size-fits-all. Luckily, there are many sizes, styles and manufacturers out there to accommodate varying needs.<\/p>\n

Moving mountains<\/h2>\n
\"mini
Landscape contractors like how easy mini skid steers are to operate and maneuver even in the tightest of spaces. Being able to lift heavy material with these machines saves time and can reduce risk of injury and fatigue. (Photo: So-Cal Ponds)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So-Cal Ponds Inc. in Los Angeles understands the power and lift benefits that skid steers and compact loaders can provide. The company specializes in designing and building koi ponds and water features, as well as the occasional design-build of landscapes.<\/p>\n

Its owner, Dominic Carone, says that for a long time he and his crew were doing pond repairs and maintenance. But now that they\u2019re working on bigger projects, they needed the ability to lift more weight easily.<\/p>\n

The company got its first mini skid steer last fall, a Vermeer S925TX. With the rate the company has been growing, Carone says that he either needed to hire two more guys or buy a machine. Simply put, the machine won.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re using large boulders that weigh up to 1,000 pounds, so having that piece of machinery onsite just makes us way more efficient,\u201d says Carone.<\/p>\n

Their average project has 10 to 20 tons of large boulders, and moving them by hand just isn\u2019t practical or safe. \u201cIt\u2019s a lot more fun to use a machine moving a 1,000-pound rock than our backs,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

The mini allows his team to move material with less risk of injury, fatigue and pinched fingers.<\/p>\n

Solid support<\/h2>\n

Because the yards in LA are on the small side, finding a mini skid steer with a compact design was key. On average, the yards they work in are 10,000 to 15,000 square feet. \u201cI needed to be able to get into backyards that have 36-inch-wide gates, so anything bigger or wider wouldn\u2019t have worked,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

The mini skid steer allows them to quickly get around sites without destroying the yard, as well as better position rocks around the landscape or pond.<\/p>\n

But it was the good dealer support that sealed the deal for Carone. When he reached out to Vermeer, he says a rep promptly responded and answered all his questions. \u201cBecause they called me and provided a quote right away and then followed up for two months before I actually bought the machine, I felt like they were going to take care of me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carone adds, \u201cIf there\u2019s any issues with it, they come pick up the machine and do the service. If there\u2019s any problems with it for more than a day or two, they give us a loader for free, so I really like that support.\u201d<\/p>\n

A mighty team member<\/h2>\n
\"mini
Landscape contractors like how easy mini skid steers are to operate and maneuver even in the tightest of spaces. Being able to lift heavy material with these machines saves time and can reduce risk of injury and fatigue. (Photo: Auman Landscape)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Just about every contractor who uses mini skid steers or compact loaders talks about the incredible efficiency they offer. Caleb Auman is no exception. \u201cIt\u2019s been a huge labor saver and labor replacer. It\u2019s allowing us to get more productivity out of our guys.\u201d Auman owns and operates Auman Landscape LLC in Carroll, Ohio, together with his wife, Brittany. He says the biggest gain they\u2019ve had by using these machines is they\u2019ve allowed their company to grow without adding staff. Even moving a small pile of dirt, using a mini skid steer is a whole lot easier than doing it with a shovel and wheelbarrow. \u201cIt\u2019s helped us be more productive with less labor and less strain. I just can\u2019t even understate that. It\u2019s just such a layer of efficiency, it\u2019s incredible,\u201d says Auman.<\/p>\n

Three years ago they upgraded from their well-worn starter machine, a Ditch Witch SK500. Looking for a newer, lower-hour machine, they purchased a Ditch Witch SK750, which is what they use now. \u201cThe 750 was a total game changer for our company because it was so fast and reliable.\u201d While Auman also has a Bobcat T595 skid steer, he says the mini is great for certain projects, like small residential backyard patios, where you physically can\u2019t use a full-size skid steer.<\/p>\n

Purchasing considerations<\/h2>\n

\u201cWhoever\u2019s offering the best warranty is a big consideration,\u201d says Auman. Machines today are very complex with intricate mechanical parts and electronics. Long gone are the days of playing mechanic and fixing issues yourself. Auman says that just about any issue you have today requires going to the dealer, and nobody wants to pay a dealer to fix a problem if it\u2019s not covered by the warranty.<\/p>\n

When it comes to buying used or new, Auman recommends buying new, if you can afford it. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t make sense to buy used machinery right now, because we looked at used machines and the hours on them were sky high. They were a couple of years old, and they were only 20 percent below the dealer price of a brand-new similar model,\u201d says Auman. \u201cIt makes zero sense to buy a machine for that many hours when you could buy it brand new with a warranty.\u201d<\/p>\n

But, with that said, Auman says that when you\u2019re getting your first mini skid steer, it doesn\u2019t matter too much the exact brand, model or year you go with. Why? Because it\u2019ll get the job done and \u201cthe efficiency gains are just insane.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Takeuchi, Vermeer and Ditch Witch mini skid steers and compact loaders are just a few examples of what\u2019s available on the market. Just remember, no matter what you decide to go with, you\u2019ll most likely be satisfied with the power and efficiency these machines add to your team. It\u2019ll have you wondering why you didn\u2019t start using them sooner.<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared in Irrigation & Green Industry magazine.<\/em><\/h6>\n
Sarah Bunyea<\/strong><\/a> is digital content editor of Irrigation & Green Industry.<\/em><\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mini skid steers and compact loaders may be small, but the advantages they add can make a huge difference to a landscape business.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3960,"parent":0,"template":"","main-categories":[32],"class_list":["post-3728","features","type-features","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","main-categories-equipment"],"yoast_head":"\nSmall but mighty - Irrigation & Lighting<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Mini skid steers and compact loaders are tough little machines that serve as a valuable part of a landscape team.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/features\/small-but-mighty\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Small but mighty\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Mini skid steers and compact loaders are tough little machines that serve as a valuable part of a landscape team.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/features\/small-but-mighty\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Irrigation & Lighting\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-12-30T22:49:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/small-but-mighty.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"700\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"467\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Irrigation & Lighting\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/\",\"sameAs\":[],\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/#logo\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Irrigation-and-Lighting-LogoNoTag.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Irrigation-and-Lighting-LogoNoTag.jpg\",\"width\":1117,\"height\":178,\"caption\":\"Irrigation & Lighting\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/#logo\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/\",\"name\":\"Irrigation & Lighting\",\"description\":\"The business and technology magazine for contractors\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/features\/small-but-mighty\/#primaryimage\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/small-but-mighty.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/small-but-mighty.jpeg\",\"width\":700,\"height\":467,\"caption\":\"Mini skid steers and compact loaders are tough, dependable machines capable of lifting, hauling and transporting just about anything. Coupled with the right attachment, they can accomplish many tasks. (Photo: Ditch Witch)\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/features\/small-but-mighty\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/features\/small-but-mighty\/\",\"name\":\"Small but mighty - Irrigation & Lighting\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/features\/small-but-mighty\/#primaryimage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2019-04-24T10:00:09+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-12-30T22:49:58+00:00\",\"description\":\"Mini skid steers and compact loaders are tough little machines that serve as a valuable part of a landscape team.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/features\/small-but-mighty\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/features\/small-but-mighty\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/features\/small-but-mighty\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Features\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/features\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Equipment\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/main-categories\/equipment\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Small but mighty\"}]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Small but mighty - Irrigation & Lighting","description":"Mini skid steers and compact loaders are tough little machines that serve as a valuable part of a landscape team.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/features\/small-but-mighty\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Small but mighty","og_description":"Mini skid steers and compact loaders are tough little machines that serve as a valuable part of a landscape team.","og_url":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/features\/small-but-mighty\/","og_site_name":"Irrigation & Lighting","article_modified_time":"2021-12-30T22:49:58+00:00","og_image":[{"width":700,"height":467,"url":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/small-but-mighty.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/#organization","name":"Irrigation & Lighting","url":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/","sameAs":[],"logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/#logo","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Irrigation-and-Lighting-LogoNoTag.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Irrigation-and-Lighting-LogoNoTag.jpg","width":1117,"height":178,"caption":"Irrigation & Lighting"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/#logo"}},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/#website","url":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/","name":"Irrigation & Lighting","description":"The business and technology magazine for contractors","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/features\/small-but-mighty\/#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/small-but-mighty.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/small-but-mighty.jpeg","width":700,"height":467,"caption":"Mini skid steers and compact loaders are tough, dependable machines capable of lifting, hauling and transporting just about anything. Coupled with the right attachment, they can accomplish many tasks. (Photo: Ditch Witch)"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/features\/small-but-mighty\/#webpage","url":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/features\/small-but-mighty\/","name":"Small but mighty - Irrigation & Lighting","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/features\/small-but-mighty\/#primaryimage"},"datePublished":"2019-04-24T10:00:09+00:00","dateModified":"2021-12-30T22:49:58+00:00","description":"Mini skid steers and compact loaders are tough little machines that serve as a valuable part of a landscape team.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/features\/small-but-mighty\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/features\/small-but-mighty\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/features\/small-but-mighty\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Features","item":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/features\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Equipment","item":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/main-categories\/equipment\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Small but mighty"}]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/features\/3728","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/features"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/features"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/features\/3728\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6624,"href":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/features\/3728\/revisions\/6624"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3960"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3728"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"main-categories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innovativepixel.com\/IGIN\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/main-categories?post=3728"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}