Ready to Buy a Toro Dingo...wich one?

[Evan528]

Hi guys, I will most likly be placing my order for a new dingo this week. I cant decide between the traked model and the one with the tires. What are the advantages for each? I will be using this machine for mulching, topsoil and lanscape installations primarily on residential properties. Id love some feed back as I dont want to spend all this money and then regret getting the model that I did.

Ps. Im leaning towards the wheeled model only because it have a platform to stand on. Yeah....im getting lazy :l)

[AssistSuper]

Well Evan......would you be using it in places that you'd be risking getting it stuck in the mud? If not, I think the wheeled one with the platform will fit your lazy behind just fine.

Tracks are primarly so you can go through mucky stuff.

[Dusty]

when i talked to the bobcat dealer he really put down the tracked dingo saying that the tracks fall off on some side slopes
i think he was trying to make a sale but it may be worth looking to
i like the wheeled vershion myself what kind of numbers r they offering u

[Evan528]

Not even sure what the exact prices are for the diffrent models. Im meeting with the rep on thursday and I will find all that out and hopefully place an order. One of my biggest concerns is turf scuffing..... Which will be more gentle to the turf? tires or tracks? I have rented the wheeled model serval times and love everything about it..... The tracked model I have run once for a short period of time. I like the controls better on the wheeled models and the entire machine seems more compact. Decisions....decisions....

[AssistSuper]

It sounds like you answered your own question, Evan.

"I have rented the wheeled model sevral times and love everything about it"

I'm pretty sure the tires would be easier on the turf. Bobcat's website has the pros and cons of having a wheel vs. track loader....I'm sure they'd be pretty much the same. I'll IM you a link here in a few minutes.

http://www.bobcat.com/loader_compare.html

Maybe that comparison can give you a little better idea, I know it's a different machine and make, but just helping. :l)

[Lawngodfather]

Not even sure what the exact prices are for the diffrent models. Im meeting with the rep on thursday and I will find all that out and hopefully place an order. One of my biggest concerns is turf scuffing..... Which will be more gentle to the turf? tires or tracks? I have rented the wheeled model serval times and love everything about it..... The tracked model I have run once for a short period of time. I like the controls better on the wheeled models and the entire machine seems more compact. Decisions....decisions....You got it, I have run all their models, and the 3xx series with indutrial tires is the one I like to run, I like the tracked model but $1800? for new tracks makes you thing hard.

The control on the wheeled ones are so much easier to work, but the tracked ones will climb into areas the wheeled one can only dream of.

Get the tracked one for mobility, get used to the rest.

Here's a pic from SPC.com of what a tracked loader can do, and a wheeled loader even with over the tire tracks cannot do.

[AssistSuper]

Geez......that's amazing. Also looks like a lot of fun. Cool pics, Mike.

[AltaLawnCare]

I was told the tracked model will climb curbs a lot better.
I rented the tracked one, and it felt "jumpy" to me, and like the tracks were pulling it too hard.

I was also told that with the back hoe attachment, you can reach back from the seat on the BH, and reach the controls on the wheeled models, but not the tracked models...so you could stay on the seat,and "crawl" it backwards.

[Evan528]

Im definitly leaning much towards the wheeled model 322. I do not work in overly muddy areas. The 322 I rented climbed curbs with ease and meanuverd quit well. I know the area rep fairly well as he works out of a rented ofice at the nursery I buy all my stock from...Im there about 4 days a week in the spring. I will get his opinion and test them all on thursday and then make up my mind for sure. Been planning on this purchase ever since my first year at the expo in Kentucky (2001). Bout time I part with the money and buy one already!

[Lawngodfather]

One consideration Even, the tracked one will let you work on those days the wheeled one can't. In those few days, you are behind anyways, so why put yourself in that position.

I couldn't think of the model number and did type 322, but x ed the last 2 out, the machine is awesom, but, like a skid loader, the traction a rubber tracked loader has over a hweels is sooo much better, it's well worth the extra money.

I also played with a Thomas, Finn, Kanga, Case, Bobcat, Ramrod, and other off named brands, all were nice, but the Toro and Ramrod had the oomph most others did not.

That one time you have to cross a mulch bed, that a rubber tire one will mar up, or get stuck in, you will regret it, all these little one time regrets add up.

[AltaLawnCare]

Evan,
You'll just have to buy both.. a wheeled one, and a tracked one, LOL

[Evan528]

If money wasnt an issue............
;)

[GLAN]

Do you do most of your work over a lawn?

Then wheels.

[GLAN]

actualy.............would you prefer not to do much repairing of the turf....:)

[MikeGamb]

i like the tracked ones but i think your better of with the wheeled model for what your going to do.i would demo both before buying either one

[G&S LANDSCAPING]

:l) Love my brand new toro tx-420 tracked dingo, A new set of tracks will cost about $600.00 , and you can easly install them your self, Thay have a life of around 700-900 hours depending on the surface conditions. Find out what a set of rubber tracks will cost you for your wheeled unit, Also you do not have to spend $399.00 for a counter weight.

[Evan528]

Ok, just made the order. After speaking to a owner of the model 220 today I decided to go with that one. Says his is going on its 4th year and loves it to death. I orderd the unit, counter weight, light materials bucket, high torque auger power head and a 18inch auger and the total came to about $14,700. I just couldnt jsutify the extra $4500 for the 322 to get 4 wheel hydrolic drive. Since I wont really be using it in muddy situations the 220 should be perfect for me and at more of a reasonable price. There is so many neat attachments for these machines but I just got the most important ones for now. Most likly ill add a new attchment or 2 to the arsenal every year. Im pretty exited as this should reduce my man hours on install jobs greatly besides that fact that it will save my bad back. He said 2 weeks tops untill its in but he will be loaning me a demo to use untill mine comes in. The season just started and I think im done buying toys for the year.......time to start replenishing the savings.... :D

[AssistSuper]

Sweet! You had better get us some pictures of it......congrats on the new purchase.

[MikeGamb]

you can buy a used one of these for that price,but hey not everyone needs a skid steer for there type of work.your going to get alot of years out of it good luck

[Evan528]

Mike, that bobcat would be just about useless for my operation. We do primarily all of our work on high end residential properties. I could just amagine running that machine around on Mrs. Jones beautiful front lawn and through her flower beds. ;)

I hear this comment alot about being able to buy a fullsize skid for the same price. People who say that dont realize they are 2 diffrent machines for completly diffrent reasons.

[MikeGamb]

Mike, that bobcat would be just about useless for my operation. We do primarily all of our work on high end residential properties. I could just amagine running that machine around on Mrs. Jones beautiful front lawn and through her flower beds. ;)

I hear this comment alot about being able to buy a fullsize skid for the same price. People who say that dont realize they are 2 diffrent machines for completly diffrent reasons.

Very true but Mrs Jones never bothered me for using it so thats why i use them.people around here don't seem to mind them. as long as the job cost is cut down they don't care. i do more digging and excavating type jobs where the dingo would be a total waste.just this week i started doing excavating for above ground pools.it takes about an hour to an hour and a half to do.i can see the dingo taking all day.

but as far as moving a small shrub or tree off your truck and driving it over to where you wanna plant it. or doing small lawn installs and mulching is better suited for a dingo.

so theres good and bad to both.i think the best way to fix that problem is BUY both:e)


we want pictures when you get her!!!

[yardpro]

i am also looking into buying a compact loader.
i have used the dingo 413 (tracked) and the lift height was way too low. I have also used the ditch witch 300 and the bobcat mt52.
i will only buy a tracked model for a few reasons, first i am at the oast of NC and in sandy soils the wheels get stuck. also the track models leave no depressions on the ground, so you can travel across lawns with no marks

[yardpro]

also mike,
you would be supprised what the 425 dingo can do. i have had a 763. the dingo with the large material bucket will move dirt as quickly as the bobcat around a small jobsite. the tipping capacity of the 425, and the boxter is about 1600 lbs, that is the same working capacity as your 753. the best thing about the mini loaders is that when you are alone and need to get on and off your machine frequently there is no crawling out of the cab and over or under the bucket.
if the machine is to be used only for dirt moving then the full sized is the way to go. But the smaller units are much more versatile