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What is a Ramrod Mini Skid?
Ramrod Mini-Skid Loaders have been the industry leader for 20 years! They are a powerful jobsite platform that drive 40+ attachments. Ramrod Mini-Skid's are capable of much the same performance as small full sized skid-loaders, except they excel in confined space situations where you need a smaller machine.
(1) Ramrod Mini-Skid's operate much like a full-sized Skid Steer
Loader. (2) Ramrod Mini-Skid's can perform most of the same jobs as a full-sized Skid Steer Loader. There are differences and similarities between a Mini-Skid and a full sized Skid Steer Loader. The most apparent difference is that the Mini-Skid is a lot smaller than a Skid Steer Loader and the operator stands up to drive it, rather than sitting on a seat in a protective cage. The greatest similarity is that the Ramrod Mini-Skid is rated much the same as smaller full sized Skid Steer Loaders: Ramrod 900 series Mini-Skid's are rated at 900 lbs lift capacity, and have a full 3000 psi (206 bar) hydraulic system with up to 11.4 gpm (43 lpm) flow. Technically, one difference is in the hydraulic drive system. On a Mini-Skid, the wheels are driven by a pair of hydraulic motors. These are powered by a fixed displacement pump, and controlled by a control valve. This pump also powers the lift arms, bucket, and auxiliary hydraulics through the same control valve. On a Skid Steer Loader, the wheels are also powered by hydraulic motors. However each of these motors is driven by its own variable displacement pump. The lift arm bucket, and auxiliary hydraulics are powered by a separate fixed displacement pump. So what is the difference, and why no seat? For two basic reasons: Size and Cost The "mini" in Mini-Skid means it is small! One of the main reasons for the unit is that it can go places where larger machines can not fit and do things that they can not do. They have to be as small as possible, yet still get the job done. So why can you not sit on it? Again, for size, speed and ease of operation. The unit is much shorter and can manoeuvre in tighter spaces with the operator standing up. There is, however, another factor - safety. As long as the operator is standing and free to step off the machine at any time, they are considered safe. Once seated, they can no longer freely exit. With full sized Skid Steer Loaders, operators require a seatbelt, operator bars, and a roll-over protection structure keep them safe. Statistics show that over 60% of accidents involving skid steer loaders happen as the operator is getting in and out of the machine. To summarize, Ramrod Mini-Skid Loaders offer the following
Better for confined space access. Ability to maneuver in tight spaces Easy and faster operator on/ off. Powerful hydraulic work platform drives 40+ attachments. Originally, this was what the Mini-Skids were meant to be: small, compact loaders that could fit into small places and move material when the bigger Skid Steer Loaders could not get through the door or gate. They can still do this, but they have evolved over the past 15 years to be something more. Evolution of the Mini Skid Over the years the role of the Mini-Skid has changed as people came to appreciate the size, flexibility and powerful capabilities of the unit. Hydraulic power is hydraulic power, no matter what kind of package it comes in. A hydraulic system putting out 8.5 gallons per minute (32 litres) of oil flow at 3000 pounds per square inch (206 bar) of pressure will do exactly the same job, whether it is in a Mini-Skid with a 23 H.P. engine or a 400 H.P. tractor. Once the engine is large enough to reach the maximum pressure of the system, without dying, additional power has no value. Early model Ramrods were powered by a 10 H.P. engine which was enough to operate the loader and wheels for a small loader unit. However, as they spread into more and more uses, increased numbers of people found that they could think of more uses for them. Increased demand for more hydraulic attachments that could expand the usefulness of the Mini-Skids meant that in some cases the engine would power out before the hydraulic relief valves would cut in. The original 10 H.P. Honda was soon replaced by a 14 H.P. single cylinder gas, which in the present models was in turn been upgraded to a 16 H.P. Briggs & Statton "Vanguard" twin cylinder gas engine and the present 23 H.P. Kohler units. In order to power more attachments, hydraulic pump size and pressure were increased with the engine size, which resulted in increased power for the wheel motors - more tractive ability. The same requirement for increased ability resulted in the unit's lift capacity slowly being increased from the original 500 lbs (230 kg) to the present 550 lbs (250 kg), 750 lbs (341 kg) and 900 lbs (409 kg) lift capacities. Additional attachments were added, further expanding the Mini-Skid's range of uses, slowly bringing the unit to what it is today. Today's Ramrod Mini Skid The modern Mini-Skid is a self-propelled hydraulic power pack, designed to meet whatever demand is placed on it. The key word is multiple-use felxibility. The present day Mini-Skid is a "Jack of all trades" and a "real taskmaster".
A Mini-Skid can haul lots of material, rip soil, blow snow, and perform almost any task. However, how many machines are there that can do all of the above jobs
and still fit into the confined areas that a Ramrod Mini-Skid can? None!
Who uses a Mini-Skid? Almost anyone can find a use. Ramrod Mini-Skids are used all over the world for a variety of tasks. Fencing Contractors, Landscapers, Rental Companies, Nurseries, Sanitation Companies, Bee-Keepers, General Contractors, Demolition Contractors, Home Builders, Acreages, Ranchers, Farmers, Dairy Farmers, Horse Barn Operators.
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Ramrod Equipment Sales & Rentals Vancouver Island, B.C., Canada Telephone Dennis @ 1-250-720-9179 or Derek @ 1-250-954-8984
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