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Steer me on a skid steer

Animalmother

Animalmother

Flexed cracker
Joined
May 20, 2020
Member Number
685
Messages
409
Loc
GA
Im kicking the idea around on buying one. I have some property to clear that having one would come in handy and is the prime reason that has perked my interest. Nothing crazy. What would be the minimum machine for a white boy in the woods with a chainsaw to clear about 2 acres?

Im sure I could find some other uses. I have a long driveway to maintain. Plus I would just like to have one.

Is it worth buying new? I see the 0% interest rates being advertised.

What to look out for on used? What manufacturers to check out?
 
So, I have very little time on them.. but..

They tear up the ground something terrible and heavy one with tires (not tracks) will bust up un-reinforced concrete by driving over it.

Climbing in and out will get old quick.

Seem to make a shit load of dust in the dry season.

Surprisingly capable off road despite having zero articulation.. but will will be basically doing a burnout everywhere you go unless it’s straight ahead.

I bought a regular tractor for my needs, but I’m not trying to use it as a bulldozer.
 
Check out the local dealers. When you find one that you can tolerate buy that brand. The skid steer snobs will tell you to buy a track machine but the wheeled machines seem to me to have less moving parts. So cheaper to own and operate.
 
cj3a said:
Check out the local dealers. When you find one that you can tolerate buy that brand. The skid steer snobs will tell you to buy a track machine but the wheeled machines seem to me to have less moving parts. So cheaper to own and operate.
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Having owned both wheeled and tracked…. I’d probably stay wheeled. I don’t dislike tracked, and I’m definitely not selling it anytime soon, but wheeled is a smoother ride and less maintenance.

100% agree on local dealers. I went with Deere because the local dealer is <10 miles and has a great service dept. bobcat’s closest dealer is 40 miles
 
Yeah seems like getting tracks or not is one of the biggest choices to make.
 
Have foot and hand controls. Big feet get in the way at times. Put tracks over tires, rocks get in/on track make for interesting situation at times. If tires are wore out on machine and you are going to get new,highly recommend going flat proof/solid. The fucker can not ride any rougher...
 
Animalmother said:
Yeah seems like getting tracks or not is one of the biggest choices to make.
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Outside of maintenance, my biggest complaints have been:
Feeling every rock under the track
Driving the 1/2 mile to my neighbors place to do work

Both are much nicer on a tired skid.

Having said that… I’m on clay and a lot of hills… so tracks have benefits in the wet
 
Stay away from a Bobcat with foot controls for the loader, that sucks.
If you buy a nice machine and do all your work with it and keep it around for years when you go to sell it you’ll get all your money back.
 
Gdogg said:
Stay away from a Bobcat with foot controls for the loader, that sucks.
If you buy a nice machine and do all your work with it and keep it around for years when you go to sell it you’ll get all your money back.
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Having had hand/foot and EOH… hand/foot with better. Electric over hydraulic doesn’t seem to have as much force or responsiveness
 
tires vs tracks depends on what you use it for. most of what I do in mine can't be done with a tire machine.
I also have two sticks and foot pedals in my bobcat t300, but thats all I've run, and they are much less complicated and don't really tear up compared to the bobcats with joysticks. if the electronics screw up on this I can pretty much make it all manual.
 
V30crewcab said:
tires vs tracks depends on what you use it for. most of what I do in mine can't be done with a tire machine.
I also have two sticks and foot pedals in my bobcat t300, but thats all I've run, and they are much less complicated and don't really tear up compared to the bobcats with joysticks. if the electronics screw up on this I can pretty much make it all manual.
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What do you use yours for mostly?



jpmassey said:
Want a mini ex instead? :grinpimp:
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I would like to have both :laughing:
 
Here's my wheeled version trying out the new tree puller I just bought. I picked this skid steer up for $4k with no compression, put $3k into a rebuild of the block and injection pump and it runs awesome. We are clearing trees for a driveway and I normally use it around the shop with forklift forks on it. I'm constantly replacing seals and whatnot, curl cylinder started leaking last week. This one is 80 HP Perkins and it's almost to much for the dumb shot I do with it.
 

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Gdogg said:
Stay away from a Bobcat with foot controls for the loader, that sucks.
If you buy a nice machine and do all your work with it and keep it around for years when you go to sell it you’ll get all your money back.
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Machines with Bobcat controls are still sold now, cause tons of people like them.

I've run both, doesn't bother me either way.
One my hands and wrists start hurting a bit after a while the other my toes. That's usually only if putting 6+ hours of seat time a day like plowing snow.
 
cervelorod said:
Here's my wheeled version trying out the new tree puller I just bought. I picked this skid steer up for $4k with no compression, put $3k into a rebuild of the block and injection pump and it runs awesome. We are clearing trees for a driveway and I normally use it around the shop with forklift forks on it. I'm constantly replacing seals and whatnot, curl cylinder started leaking last week. This one is 80 HP Perkins and it's almost to much for the dumb shot I do with it.
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How have those hydraulic lines way out in the breeze not been ripped off yet?
 
I purchased a brand new Bobcat S450 skid steer about 15 months ago. Got 0% financing for 24 months. Big payment, but she'll be paid off quickly.

Local dealer is important. That's who is closest and we have the best relationship with.

I actually went with about the smallest one I could find, based on my uses, size of dump trailer, etc. Tracks might have been nice, but way more $$$. What I really wanted was a four-wheel steering version, but they have stopped making them and used ones are as much as new practically.

I've only put about 140 hours on it in fifteen months, but like you; I just wanted one, particularly to use as a forklift. I got a regular bucket, rock bucket, forks, and receiver hitch attachments for it.

If you really want both a skidsteer and mini; I'd consider getting the mini first. I've had one of those for eight years now and use it regularly.
 
Rent by the day the machines you believe you would be interested in. The newest controls are steer with your left and boom/bucket control on your right. They work nice. I have ran every control on a skid steer they make and the new controls are the best.

Longer tracks on the bigger frame machines ride better than tires any day.

I’m a Cat snob. Case would be my second choice.:stirthepot:

I bought one instead of a 6 series John Deere tractor and we can’t believe how much we use it.
My wife uses the forks and bucket to move stuff for her yard and garden. I even trust her enough now to lift me up on a platform to trim trees.
 
Our Bobcat dealer will just send you home with a machine to demo, if you're a serious buyer.
 
AKnate said:
How have those hydraulic lines way out in the breeze not been ripped off yet?
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Only took 30 minutes to blow out the Chinese hose end. I will have them shortened this week and both crimped with new fittings. Wanted to make sure it would be worth putting any money into before I mod'd it.
 
Fil bought a kubota tracked skid steer. I've run it quite a bit and it's not as smooth hydraulicly as a cat in my opinion. The steering seems like it binds up too.


Now, for the mini ex. I like the kubota. Maybe not as much as a cat but that's just cause I'm partial to yellow iron. But it was cheaper.
 
Animalmother said:
What do you use yours for mostly?






I would like to have both :laughing:
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I do dirtwork, land clearing, retaining walls(2200lb blocks). most of the time I'm on some slopes that a wheeled one can't go up. guy used to work with me in a wheeled new holland. I was constantly pulling him out of stuck situations with the excavator. I doubt a wheeled machine could handle the blocks on any of the hills either.
 
We bought a 331G Deere at work, I like it. Other then the Def. Dealer is pretty good. Has a 320 before that and it was good as well. I prefer the ISO controls, short legs.

Neighbor bought a Kubota last year, doesn't like it as much as the previous Deere. Dealer is one part of it but he feels the hydro cuts out sooner then the Deere does. Like it's sensor limited vs the Deere will power out when it's overloaded.

Nice having high flow hyrdos for attachments. Check rear and side visibility.
 
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