The (Chinese) mini skid steer thread.

[Gatorgrizz27]

We have the tractor, mini excavator, and other equipment threads, I haven’t seen much on these things yet, but they seem to be getting increasingly popular.

Pretty sure I’m leaning towards getting one, we have two bays in the same building, one on the uphill side (2nd floor) and one in the downhill side (1st floor). Mostly need something to haul pallets of cut plywood panels back uphill and milled face frame material downhill, average load would be ~ 250 lbs, thing will probably be running 15 minutes a week.

I’ve looked at forklifts, powered pallet jacks, and skid steers, these seem the most compact and can actually help with some projects around the yard at the house also. Most have tracks but I know tires are typically better for use on concrete and seem like less stuff to break, who owns one of these things?

KATOOL New Mini Skid Steer Track Loader 23 HP RATO Engine EPA Electric Start | eBay

If you can go to MI warehouse for pick up,after you order it,I will send a pickup invoice to you.You go to warehouse for pick up with invoice.

www.ebay.com

NEW!! Mini Skid Steer Stand-on AGT KRT/KTT23 Loader Crawler 23HP | eBay

This machine features a RATO 23HP gasoline engine. See pics below for more details on the RATO engine. 17.1KW(23HP)/3600rpm. AGT KRT/KTT23 Stand-on Mini Skid Steer. Mini Skid Steer Stand-on EG380C Loader Crawler 23HP.

www.ebay.com

 

[Lbhsbz]

I’d pick up a quad and a harbor freight trailer for what you describe

 

[Landslide]

The video I watched of them building these things look a lot like chaos. No organization going on at all.

 

[Benny]

The video I watched of them building these things look a lot like chaos. No organization going on at all.

No video or link? You are slacking.

 

[Gatorgrizz27]

This thing looks reasonably handy.



I know you can expect for things to be poorly assembled and fluids need to be changed, wondering if some models are substantially better than others, and if you can find parts “universally.”

If this is the video Linkslide is talking about, it doesn’t look that bad to me. Better than the Jayco video for sure

 

[BUCKLAND]

If you can’t pick up a sheet of plywood by your self, you definitely need two of these.

 

[Gatorgrizz27]

If you can’t pick up a sheet of plywood by your self, you definitely need two of these.

Thanks, not the problem or question. Our big CNC is being moved to the downstairs shop. Pieces come off and stacked on pallets. For smaller jobs those pallets will be moved to the upstairs shop for assembly.

 

[BUCKLAND]

Thanks, not the problem or question. Our big CNC is being moved to the downstairs shop. Pieces come off and stacked on pallets. For smaller jobs those pallets will be moved to the upstairs shop for assembly.

You asked, they look like dog shit. Buy a tractor with forks and get more attachments for it as required.

 

[bgaidan]

If this is the video Linkslide is talking about, it doesn’t look that bad to me. Better than the Jayco video for sure

FWIW that guy is 100% a paid shill and that company has been doing a LOT of social media marketing in the last couple months. Not saying they make a bad product, but I've dug in to them a bit and a good bit of their reputation right now is derived from their marketing and not organic real world reviews.

I actually have two of their "V1000" machines on order and they're probably being assembled right now. They're the largest of the Chinese mini skids and have some of the best specs I've seen. So far the reviews have been pretty good. They're definitely not the $4-5k ones that you'll find at the auctions....these run more like $12-14k delivered, but their specs put them on par with a $40k similarly sized bobcat. 1k lbs rated lifting weight, over 3k tipping weight, 27hp kubotas with 3 pumps. Hoping I'll have a hands on review in about 6 weeks.

 

[Benny]

I actually have two of their "V1000" machines on order and they're probably being assembled right now. They're the largest of the Chinese mini skids and have some of the best specs I've seen. So far the reviews have been pretty good. They're definitely not the $4-5k ones that you'll find at the auctions....these run more like $12-14k delivered, but their specs put them on par with a $40k similarly sized bobcat. 1k lbs rated lifting weight, over 3k tipping weight, 27hp kubotas with 3 pumps. Hoping I'll have a hands on review in about 6 weeks.

Definitely keep us updated on those units. I would love to have a Kubota or Vermeer mini skid to go with my Hitachi 17 mini excavator, but I can't justify the $40k-$60k price tag.



Being a taller person, how are the controls on any of the mini skids gonna work for me? I used a toro dingo a few years back and had to lean down to run the controls 😔

 

[Gatorgrizz27]

FWIW that guy is 100% a paid shill and that company has been doing a LOT of social media marketing in the last couple months. Not saying they make a bad product, but I've dug in to them a bit and a good bit of their reputation right now is derived from their marketing and not organic real world reviews.

I actually have two of their "V1000" machines on order and they're probably being assembled right now. They're the largest of the Chinese mini skids and have some of the best specs I've seen. So far the reviews have been pretty good. They're definitely not the $4-5k ones that you'll find at the auctions....these run more like $12-14k delivered, but their specs put them on par with a $40k similarly sized bobcat. 1k lbs rated lifting weight, over 3k tipping weight, 27hp kubotas with 3 pumps. Hoping I'll have a hands on review in about 6 weeks.

Nice, will be glad to hear it. I understand they probably aren’t the way to go for full time commercial use like a landscaping company, but was looking for real world feedback.

Stuff like “my neighbor has one and the tracks pop off whenever you turn on uneven ground, I’d go with a tire model.” Or “My cousin has a tire model and it gets stuck going uphill in wet grass, get one with tracks.”

Same with “The AGT ones seem to have some modicum of QC, while the other brands are welded by blind 10 year olds”, or “They are 100% the exact same parts, some companies just spend more on marketing and double the price.”

 

[bgaidan]

Nice, will be glad to hear it. I understand they probably aren’t the way to go for full time commercial use like a landscaping company, but was looking for real world feedback.

Stuff like “my neighbor has one and the tracks pop off whenever you turn on uneven ground, I’d go with a tire model.” Or “My cousin has a tire model and it gets stuck going uphill in wet grass, get one with tracks.”

Same with “The AGT ones seem to have some modicum of QC, while the other brands are welded by blind 10 year olds”, or “They are 100% the exact same parts, some companies just spend more on marketing and double the price.”

I've imported a few loads of the Chinese mini excavators and looked in to the various brands pretty deep. There are only 3 or 4 major manufacturer for any of these machines. They're all just rebadged and maybe have a little different trip or options that make them different. Most of the base components are the same....but there is a difference in the quality of parts in the bottom of the barrel base machines and some of the higher priced ones. There's nothing really special about the AGT machines. They do have have a physical warehouse or two in the US, but they're also dumping their stuff at every equipment auction in the country. From what I've heard they have like one person running the warehouse and never answer their phone and it's impossible to get parts or support from them

I haven't read about a ton of problems with any of them in particular. There are the usually track tension issues and lots of idler bearings going out, but with what you'll be doing, I doubt you'll have any problems with that.


For what you're looking for, I'd probably go with a wheeled model over tracks. Briggs or Honda over the Rato engine. Or just got with Rato and know you can always throw a predator 420 in it if it dies.