Why a Mini Skid Steer is Better than a Tractor... and Why It's Not

[@Will-tm5bj]

I've been looking into getting a tractor for so long. Ended up getting a little mini excavator for my first piece of equipment. I am so happy that's what I did. My next purchase will be a stand on skid loader for sure.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for the comparison, Brock.

[@anthonymartin9672]

I'd choose the CUT first every time. There is so much versatility. I love my 1025r. It's not very big, but can do allot of things that I can't do by hand.

[@wildbill23c]

That's why I have a sub-compact tractor. Its not great at everything, but it does a good job, and does the heavy lifting so I don't have to. I moved my tool chest today, took me 2 trips, top chest separate from the bottom, but got the job done and I didn't lift anything, I just slid the top chest off the forks back onto the lower chest and was done. What I run into problems with is lift capacity, with my small tractor I only have about 400 pounds of lift capacity with the pallet forks....I need a ballast box as even with my heaviest 3 point attachment I still don't have enough rear weight. One of those mini skid steers would be cool if they didn't cost so much.

[@Cowboy_Steve]

Howdy Brock! Nice comparison! If I had the funds... I think a mini skid would be perfect for my needs. Easy to maneuver around in the barn for cleaning stalls and such. Perfect for digging post holes for fencing. Plenty of lift capacity for the majority of my uses. Cheaper and easier to haul around than a full size skid steer. At the same time I sill need a bigger tractor than my 25hp Mahindra if I ever have more acreage than I have now. Man... now you are costing me even MORE money! C'mon PowerBall... 😁 Thanks for sharing 🤠

[@jimmerrithew453]

The safety message of being aware of your surroundings, the capabilities and limitations of the equipment and the operator are important elements in preventing incidents.

[@TripleLRusticDesigns]

Great video! Thank you for making this!

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Thanks. The longer I have it the more I like that little machine.

[@TripleLRusticDesigns]

We should be adding one to our channel and operation this weekend!

[@RockhillfarmYT]

I use it to put logs on the sawmill and as a forklift inside my shop building I enjoy your channel by the way

[@TripleLRusticDesigns]

Heck yeah! I think it will be very useful! Thank you for the support! Keep up the great work on your channel as well!

[@TheRustyGarageandHomestead]

Brock. Very informative video. Thank you

[@ThePleasedDoge]

If you own livestock and have cattle or hog pens to clean that little Baumalight would be the only thing that can get into many of them, though they might not appreciate you using that demo unit to record a video of it. Good comparison of the 2 machines. Thanks!

[@genewilliams7497]

I’m really liking the mini SS. It’s a real work horse in the right situations. The same reason that I use a 40hp hydro tractor to cut out all my pasture inside corners and fence row edges before I get out the 15’ batwing. Easier to trim with and faster then I can just roll cutting pasture at 7-8mph and not tear up any fencing. Everything has it place for sure. But for small acreage Mini SS is well work a hard look! 👍👍🔥🔥

[@andrewanderson1436]

Good discussion

[@jimmcknight3021]

One thing that i might add is the small articulated loader by several brands including Bobcat. A lot of landscaping pros have gone with them, because of their maneuvering in tight spots and they can lift a lot.

[@hagak1679]

Said before but check out Hydrosplus, the upgraded pump for the 2R gets you over 10gpm, he even has an auger for the CUT that mounts to a fork frame. That extra flow is how these tractors should come from Deere.

[@projectswithjw]

Tractor is superior 😎😎

[@KUBBI7488]

Tractor is better for open fields but i figured my l2501 is so clumsy in the woods and between! since i dont do brush cutting im thinking to switch to mini skid steer with same attachments!

[@davidsmathers5621]

Brock you can change that hydraulic flow or pressure in your valves my friend did on his tractor 😊

[@co1838]

Totally off topic but I wasn’t sure how to ask a question via PM. I’ve been watching for quite awhile now and have seen you use the BXExpanded mechanical thumb. I know Rock Hill Farm is loaded with rocks. Do you think the mechanical thumb allow me to pick up 24” or a bit larger granite boulders? I’m using a 1025R w/factory backhoe. Really, an answer from all interested would be fine as well. Thanks!!

[@projectswithjw]

The 260B backhoe boom can barely lift itself at full extension with about 200 lbs in the bucket. Maybe if the boom cylinder is replaced with the hydrosplus one, you could get a bit more lift capacity.

[@thedoitalldad765]

I like my backhoe on my 2025R even though I don’t use it that often. Along with the other attachments that I use more often. I would say the ultimate setup would be a mini skid steer, mini excavator and standup mower.

[@thedoitalldad765]

I wanted a backhoe is why I went the route I did.

[@makingawesome8730]

Nobody mentions the safety factor from the lower center of gravity. I have some steep trails through the woods and I'm assuming the mini skid steer would be far superior when my whole property is on a slope? I have a subcompact tractor for mowing, now I need something to power a logging winch, forks, bucket, stump grinder, and wood chipper. I just don't know if this thing weights enough for using a logging winch or if I should get a heavier tractor that can't go down the smaller trails...

[@puddlejumper3534]

Good morning Brock yeah I agree 100% a person really needs to look at what type of work they’re going to do. I bought a property that was 5 1/2 acres with four rental units. I had a skid steer that didn’t really meet my needs with a lot of research I bought a subcompact tractor, like you said most people, the subcompact would make the best first choice. overtime I’m doing a bigger variety of work and have just purchased a mini excavator. thought about a bigger, tractor or skid steer, but I can do a lot of work with my subcompact, and the mini excavator has really up my game. I had a backhoe for my subcompact anybody that use the backhoe on a tractor there’s limitations, so I sold that and upgraded to a mini excavator. It’s not something that everybody can just go out and buy between the two pieces of equipment. I’m well over $100,000. Don’t tell my wife but I do a lot of side jobs And these two pieces of equipment bring in an income. Now just recently I purchased a Ford F450 not a new one but it has a dump and it has the capability of pulling my equipment. I’ve just had my excavator for a little over a month and I’ve been straight out with it, glad I did it. This gives me the ability to grow my channel with different pieces of equipment and different type of work which is awesome Great video keep up the good work.

[@dustdevl1043]

I saw something that I didn't know existed on another channel. The man owns a compact JD tractor, and he put a front mounted brush cutter on, powered by a 3 point hitch mounted hydraulic pump powered by the PTO.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

I know it exist, but it probably cost more than the tractor

[@dustdevl1043]

​@@RockhillfarmYTHe didn't give any specs on it and it had no visible badges, so I couldn't look it up. It consisted of a frame, a hydraulic reservoir, and a pump. The channel has over a million subscribers, so he can probably afford it!

[@RockhillfarmYT]

@@dustdevl1043 Halverson makes those that you can run a firewood processor off of. The box that goes on the PTO I think was around $4000

[@dustdevl1043]

@@RockhillfarmYT Not a bad price really, considering how much hydraulic pumps cost.

[@barelystablefarm7151]

A mini ride on skid steer like shown is more of a specialized tool IMHO. A tractor is the Swiss Army knife of everything.

[@jimmcknight3021]

That's exactly what I was thinking. That is the best analogy to make on a compact tractor.

[@scottsteele1908]

You actually have that backwards. The miniskids are far more versatile and are more of a Swiss Army knife than the tractor.

[@blondeguy08]

@@scottsteele1908exactly the mini skid is the Swiss Army knife tractor was your grandpas Swiss Army knife

[@jimmerrithew453]

Hi Brock. After watching the video of you almost doing a headstand with the mini skidsteer, I would be concerned about safety and stability. I like my JD 2025 for the jobs I work on. It is not perfect, but I am very pleased with what it can do.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

I’m definitely more comfortable in a compact tractor, but people tip those over all the time and they don’t just stand themselves back up

[@Not_So_Weird_in_Austin]

Building use a skid steer. Maintainning/growing use a tractor. The mini articulated loaders are on the horizon too.

[@PinkFZeppelin]

I have 3 acres. For me I think it makes more sense to get a skid and a riding mower. The only benefit I really see of a tractor is doing mowing and farming. I don’t see the point of putting a ton of hours on a tractor to mow when I could use a cheap riding lawn mower for that.

[@kdegraa]

A little tractor should have better hydraulic flow. Once we hired a little wheeled loader. It was powered by a 20HP Honda V twin petrol engine. This machine could spin an auger to dig into the ground. A little skid steer is probably the ultimate contractor’s machine. If it has attachments like a mower deck, trencher, forks etc then it will do a lot. Combined with a mini excavator you’d have something useful wherever people are doing outside work.

[@davidsmathers5621]

Brock you can preach about all the equipment out there it's what fit's the person's need's 😊

[@mattmoser6848]

Why not a 1025r with hydro plus cylinders on the loader then it’s the same lifting capacity as the mini but still more forgiving on grass when turning.

[@billp3995]

I have a Kubota kx033 excavator, I’m building a MTB trail, so digging stumps and piling brush in a corner, it’s best. I had a bx25d and it was ok, a box blade is really good. I have 10 acres to mow, I use a ride on mower. I think a mini excavator is the best tool of all. Tractors are boring. Just to be different, I’d choose the mini skid steer over a tractor and figure something out as to not own another tractor, they’re too big. Maybe rent one once in a while.

[@greatmoose17]

Tractor all the way over a mini skid steer any day. Dump the wood into your dump trailer and deliver it. No need to bring anything on a delivery. That’s how wood is delivered here in New England.

[@SetitesTechAdventures]

Are mini skid steer attachments comparable in price to tractor attachments. I think of how a tractor can do everything well enough, but nothing is done best but for a normal skid steer all the hydraulic versions of a PTO attachments add up really fast. I'm asking from a single piece of equipment perspective. As an aside, for people not buying new I rarely see used mini skids. Or maybe I just never notice them.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

yeah I would think they are going to be more expensive, but I’ll have to do some research to find that answer. I’m going to be wanting to add some more partners for it.

[@laneboucher509]

Brock, have u had a chance to mess around with a Chinese mini excavator or mini skid steer ? I see Ritchie Brothers auction flooding the market with them and now they are showing up here in Billings MT area. The mini skid steer "allegedly have a Honda" engine in them. I for one doubt that as anyone can print up a bogus label. Any way I have seen them priced in the 6-10 range for a mini skid steer and about the same for a mini excavator. I get you get what u pay for but for a small time acreage I can see one as a possibility for the guy tinkering on his own land . I was curious if you have had a chance to evaluate them

[@RockhillfarmYT]

It’s intriguing, but I don’t have personal experience

[@kennethanderson1685]

❤

[@marcomanes3967]

You keep referring to "this machine" or "that machine" instead of "tractor" or "mini skid" it makes it difficult to follow along for those of us who just listen not watch.

[@carlj3515]

👍👍❤️👍❤️👍👍❤️❤️❤️

[@rb2530]

Mini Skid Steer = $80K, Tractor = $30K, ba ding ching

[@RockhillfarmYT]

I don’t know what you’re talking about. Mini skid steer is not gonna cost anywhere near that much. My full-size skid steer wasn’t even that much. The mini skid steer shown in the video cost almost exactly the same price as the tractor

[@jefffrancis6824]

👀