For people with too much money?

[dstig1]

I used a version of one of those to paint my house and do a lot of early construction like window installation. You do need to get used to the fact that they do wobble but they still keep you vertical. It does give you the willies until you are more used to it. But yeah, just like Mossroad I cannot get near edges like I used to. Even 5 yrs ago I could handle it better than I can now. Only in my case I think it made me drink more, not stop :laughing::drink:

 

[two_bit_score]

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200712426_200712426

I can't imagine what that would be used for over a tractor with FEL.

I suppose maybe a landscape contractor to move blocks, pavers or sod, but for a homeowner or farm? You can't even sit down ... it's a stand-up ride on. One of the pictures shows it pulling over a fairly large tree trunk (which conveniently has all the roots cut away).

Several years ago I rented one like it with a post hole auger attachment to build a fence at my house in town. It wasn’t that much and it was worth every penny.

 

[BrokenTrack]

R G LeTourneau said, "There are no big jobs, just small machines." But in his day, they were going from moving dirt with mules, to equipment, and so sizing up was the way to go. But in his lifetime, other then big mining companies, bigger is no longer where it is at.

It is doing more with less.

Myself, I marvel at what I have compared to my Late-Grandfather. He would be AMAZED at our little Kubota tractor, and what it can do. Four wheel drive. Posi-traction. Limited Slip-Front Differential...these are small things now, but he never had that on his old Ford 900.

Now I have a Wallenstein Log Trailer and it swings logs up to 30 inches using a lawnmower engine. We used to have to load wood onto the truck BY HAND, with us putting the bigger sticks up high so that people thought we had a log loader. Now I do it effortlessly with a 6 hp lawnmower engine. Who would have thought it would be possible?

It is the same with the backhoe attachment it has. A person laughed at me and said "a shovel is bigger", but I also noticed as I was digging, he never picked up a shovel!

It really is all about doing more with less now.

 

[wcampbell47]

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200712426_200712426

I can't imagine what that would be used for over a tractor with FEL.

I suppose maybe a landscape contractor to move blocks, pavers or sod, but for a homeowner or farm? You can't even sit down ... it's a stand-up ride on. One of the pictures shows it pulling over a fairly large tree trunk (which conveniently has all the roots cut away).

I just finished a for pay project where a mini tracked skid steer would have been perfect. Two 12 yard loads of dirt is more than I want to do with shovel and wheel barrow. Having owned 3 kubota tractors and now 2 skid steers in my mind this would outperform a tractor with FEL hands down. You can make moves with a tracked machine you just can't do on a rubber tired tractor - like do a zero turn in your own tracks. Thanks I will stick to my tracked skid steer.

 

[groundcover]

I sure wouldn稚 sign up for the Northern Tool one but I would replace my Ditch Witch today if it disappeared !
It is absolutely one of the handiest most versatile machines I have ever run. I also have a Stumper 220 Stump grinder for it, amazes me everyday what 25 Kubota diesel horsepower can do.

 

[houstonscott]

Those are used in neighborhoods where there is little to no room to get into the back yards for pool installations and landscaping.

 

[shaeff]

Well I don稚 really care what the rate for anything was 35 years ago since we?*e not paying rates for 35 years age. I don稚 think there was much in the line of mini skids 35 years ago either.

There was the JLG LJ500. I picked this sucker up for free from a friend. I'll be giving him money for it, though... probably $300ish. I feel bad taking it for free even though it needs work.

It's slow, it only pumps about 9gpm, but it's all hydraulic, 4x4, came with a bucket, and forks. Back when it was built, a post hole auger and trencher were available, along with a slew of other attachments. It even has hydraulic remotes on it. Check the thread linked below, Gordon posted an original brochure for it. Too bad they ceased production after just a year or two. I was on the fence about keeping it (sloowww) but it'll probably be much better with the correct oil in the hyd. reservoir. After it sat in the sun a few hours it sped up nicely, still not fast by any means, but certainly more useful.

Edit: more info on it here:
https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...-jlg-lj500-little-john-stand.html#post5730150

Edit2: I just read the specs on that Northern Tool stand-on skid steer. Wow. It lifts more than mine, (I've got a max of 500lb load vs NorTrac's 750lb) Mine has tires vs NorTrac's tracks, top speed is about the same. Mine is 11hp 1-lung Wisconsin Robin engine vs NorTrac's 25hp 3 lung diesel. But other than the lift capacity and HP, the ratings on paper aren't that much different. I KNOW the NorTrac is much more machine than mine, but I could buy my LJ500 every week for 53 weeks for the cost of that sucker.

I know this is a huge leap forward in tech, but it makes me really feel like I got an awesome deal. I mean, it was given to me in non-running form. I've got like $20 into it (spare motor for parts/ gas tank, score!), but I'll give my buddy some cash for it because it has value.