It’s become a given. Compact loaders and mini skid steers are a godsend for the tree care industry. They come in several configurations – ride in or on, stand on, perhaps articulated, wheeled or tracked. But as with a computer, which without a “killer app” may be useless, it is the attachment (or implement) that turns this equipment into an indispensable workhorse.
“Sometimes I wish I had a warehouse full of equipment to pick from for the day of work,” says Shawn Emmons, president of Emmons Tree & Landscape Service, an 18-year TCIA member company based in Milford, Connecticut.
How many options are there? A quick search of the internet reveals at least 100 attachments: augers, buckets, grapples, booms, brooms, tree forks, brush cutters, dozer blades, stump cutters – even a mini concrete mixer. Where does one begin?
A hypothetical question
We asked a handful of TCIA members experienced with the compact/mini technology a hypothetical, thoughtful and, frankly, a bit of an entertaining question or two. “If you were buying your first compact loader or mini skid steer (or advising someone who was), which attachment would you buy first? And why?”
The answer was a universally agreed upon, “It depends.” By that, the group means to say that the first and most important implement depends on your business model. What you will be doing most to generate the greatest revenue will determine which implement is at the top of your list.
The brands and models of specific equipment have been edited from the responses in this article to instead focus on the features, and so as not to favor – or neglect – any one brand.
What is its greatest purpose?
“When buying a compact machine, you really need to understand what you want to achieve,” Emmons says. “For us, it started with getting the brush to the chipper without the added labor. So we chose a grapple for our loader.” (Both Emmons and Tyler Burkett, interviewed below, took part in an April 2021 TCI Magazine feature article, “Best Practices for Compact Loaders and Mini Skid Steers.”)
“The tricky part was deciding what kind of grapple – stationary grapple or a full rotating hydraulic grapple,” Emmons continues. “We chose the full hydraulic rotating grapple simply so we weren’t beating up the machine, knocking the grapple around to get it to turn. Also, we didn’t have to move the machine a lot on the lawn in order to get the brush in the grapple.”
Emmons explains, “We simply can pull up and rotate the grapple (not the machine) into position to grab the material. When we bring the material to the chipper, we can influence the direction of the brush so we can avoid structures or landscape material. We wanted ease (of operation) and less stress for the machine, and we achieved that.”
Runners up
“When we bought the grapple, we also got a broom and a set of forks,” says Emmons. “The broom is so phenomenal when it comes to cleaning the roads and lawns of tree debris. It speeds up the clean-up time. It also helps with getting snow out of the work area in winter so we don’t have to walk through it, all while protecting the lawn.
“We use the forks for the larger wood that the grapple can’t get around. Also we use them to carry the yard protection mats in order to help us lay them out. We just drive along and a crew member spins them off the forks in front of the machine.”
Emmons concludes his thoughts, stating, “When it comes down to purchasing an attachment, you want one that is easy to operate, is safe, has great dealer support and can produce for the business, because this attachment is going to be the one that takes the (physical) abuse away from your team.”
The grapple rules
Similarly, Andrew Jones, CTSP, owner of Rooted Arbor Care, a first-year TCIA member company based in O’Fallon, Missouri, says, “It definitely would be a rotary grapple.” To him, the answer was simple and obvious.
“We do a lot of difficult tree jobs, such as ornamental removal and planting. This can be nasty stuff,” he maintains. “We do all kinds of traditional work, but we do mostly large-scale hazard work and a lot of planting,” which makes the rotary grapple indispensable.
“It has to be a hydraulic overhead grapple. (At least one manufacturer) makes one that locks into position so the load doesn’t rotate. With a 1,000-pound capacity, the machine and grapple can pick up a 4-foot-long, 30-inch oak log no problem, plus brush as well as logs.
“The big thing is that it’s not free spinning, therefore you have more control,” Jones adds, noting that a lot of overhead grapples are free spinning (continuous rotation).
One of the advantages, Jones explains, is that when the grapple is locked into one position and cannot rotate freely, you can better maneuver around what he terms “targets you can’t move” while working. “You get repeatable results every time and better protect fences, gutters, fence posts – even vehicles. You don’t have to worry about the load shifting.”
Different strokes
“We have two mini skids,” says Tyler Burkett, CTSP, co-owner of Burkett Arbor Care LLC, an accredited, 9-year TCIA member company in Boerne, Texas, northwest of San Antonio. “The first one we bought around 2018 or so. We mainly use this mini in a traditional general tree care scenario, mainly to help our crew members out on tree removals. We have a grapple on it, and it is used for moving logs and brush to the chipper.”
Fast forward, Burkett adds, “We bought another new mini skid late last summer, in preparation for a tree-planting contract we won.” They bought the newer, heavier-duty model from the same manufacturer. “We have a 24-inch auger on this machine. It is a big help when planting trees,” he observes.
How so? “Digging one hole by hand is one thing, but having 20 or 30 trees to plant in a day, every day, you start to see the value of machinery very quickly. We tried out a 36-inch auger, but the 24-inch works better for us in our area. We were worried we would need a skid steer for this contract, but the mini skid is easily able to dig these holes – as long as it’s not bedrock,” Burkett reports.
On the financial side, Burkett notes, “To purchase each machine, we were able to take advantage of special promotions the dealers had at that time for 0% financing for 24 months. The payments are higher with a short-loan term, but, in my opinion, it’s the best deal we could get our hands on,” he concludes.
One for each crew
Jennifer Hause-Wood is owner of Walker Tree Care, an 11-year TCIA member company and an established woman-owned company based in Chittenango, New York, east of Syracuse.
“Yes, we use mini loaders,” she states. “Each crew uses a mini track loader utilizing forks, root grapples, rotating grapple heads, augers, buckets and mulching heads. We use four loaders daily. The mini track loader has been a wonderful tool for all our crews, and we have outfitted each crew that leaves our yard with one and the implements necessary for the day’s tasks.”
As an aside, Hause-Wood makes it clear that, “Each operator goes through mini-skid-use safety training, including the very important message, ‘If you turn it over (flip it), shut off the engine immediately and do not restart it for a minimum of 24 hours. Protect the engine – right the machine and let it sit 24 hours where it rolled, usually in your client’s yard!’” She says this can be a humbling experience for even the most experienced crew, “but a safe one for the machine and operators when handled properly.”
Getting back to “implementation,” she states, “The tool we use most is the log grapple,” adding that the next purchase for them will be a larger bypass grapple with a 3,000-pound lift capacity.
Hard to pick just one
Richard Almstead, a seasoned veteran in tree care with more than six decades of experience, sheds light on the complexity of selecting the right attachment for various tasks.
“It is very difficult to pick one out as the most important one.,” he says. Almstead is founder of Almstead Tree, Shrub and Lawn Care Company, an accredited, 48-year TCIA member company based in New Rochelle, New York. Now semi-
retired, he still actively works as a consultant in the industry. “It’s like trying to determine which of your teeth is more important. They all serve a different and important purpose.
“If you’re doing tree removal, one of the most back-saving tools would be the grapple. It will go through a garden gate carrying a 4-foot log, then bring it to the driveway, where you can end up cutting it up and loading it onto the truck. In some cases, you even can lift the log over a fence, all the time saving money and workers’ backs.”
Pruning Considerations
However, for pruning activities, Almstead suggests opting for a smaller skid steer to avoid ground damage and to streamline the process. “I would also recommend getting something to pick up brush, so you do not have to drag it along the ground, tearing up a lawn and leaving an added mess,” Almstead states. “Instead of needing four on a crew, you can have only three. Implemented together with the compact loader or mini skid steer as a tool carrier, it can significantly reduce fatigue,” Almstead notes, reflecting on how it was all done manually a generation ago.
Almstead crews primarily utilize rotating grapple attachments for both pruning and takedowns as well as forks for moving trees in planting projects. But Almstead acknowledges the usefulness of specialized tools like augers for planting and stump grinders for inaccessible areas. “A stump cutter is fabulous, because there are so many times you can’t get a full-sized grinder into position,” he says.
Conclusion
Almstead advises making informed decisions based to the objectives of the job, emphasizing that the right attachment selection can significantly impact efficiency and cost-effectiveness in tree care operations. “Takedowns are one thing, pruning another and planting still another.” He adds that one needs to know the areas where one is working and take into consideration the width of the attachment and the tool carrier. Checking for a quick connect for hydraulics is also something he recommends.
“Good decisions save money,” Almstead adds. “Right now, there may be more money in planting, pruning and saving trees. The selection of the attachment should be based on what you are trying to accomplish in terms of your job and your business.”
Rick Howland is a veteran newspaper reporter and editor, former national magazine owner and editor and retired international consultant in public relations, advertising, merchandising and training. He lives in the upper Hudson River Valley of New York.
