Considering a skid steer...thoughts

[Farmall 656]

I am considering a skid steer. I have tractors with loaders but it might be time to get rid of one and get a skid loader. Things I would be using it for would be to light duties around the farm site, use an auger to plant trees and dig fenceposts, I already have a pallet fork for moving and hauling things, move a little snow in the winter, and eventually get a tree spade to dig out trees. I will need auxiliary hydraulics, 50hp+/-, and stay away from tracks. People tell me you will find more to do with it. I am looking for your thoughts on brands to seriously look at and brands not to spend time looking at, what to look for when testing a used skid steer, and any other things to consider when buying a used skid steer. Thank you in advance

 

[RCP]

My suggestion is to make sure you can easily enter and exit the skid steer; this becomes increasing difficult with attachments or when the boom is in a partially raised position.

 

[JWA]

My suggestion is to make sure you can easily enter and exit the skid steer; this becomes increasing difficult with attachments or when the boom is in a partially raised position.

And as you age.

 

[rrlund]

Only advice I'll give, don't buy a Bobcat with foot controls until you try to run one. Running the bucket and boom with your feet is totally counter intuitive. You sure don't want to get in a situation where you panic a little.

 

[Masseyharrisnut]

I am considering a skid steer. I have tractors with loaders but it might be time to get rid of one and get a skid loader. Things I would be using it for would be to light duties around the farm site, use an auger to plant trees and dig fenceposts, I already have a pallet fork for moving and hauling things, move a little snow in the winter, and eventually get a tree spade to dig out trees. I will need auxiliary hydraulics, 50hp+/-, and stay away from tracks. People tell me you will find more to do with it. I am looking for your thoughts on brands to seriously look at and brands not to spend time looking at, what to look for when testing a used skid steer, and any other things to consider when buying a used skid steer. Thank you in advance

I’ve owned two skid steers. First one was a Melroe bob cat skid steer and it was a good machine. Even with the foot controls. I bought a new JCB last with the side door entry single arm and the extendible arm. They call it a teleskid. It’s an excellent machine. When I bought my first one 20 ish years ago I found it to be so useful and handy that I wished I would have bought one years before.

 

[cjunrau]

I’ve owned two skid steers. First one was a Melroe bob cat skid steer and it was a good machine. Even with the foot controls. I bought a new JCB last with the side door entry single arm and the extendible arm. They call it a teleskid. It’s an excellent machine. When I bought my first one 20 ish years ago I found it to be so useful and handy that I wished I would have bought one years before.

I agree with the side getting in. Those skid steers where you have to back in is getting harder for me and I’m only 54 years old. Will help if I can loose 50 lbs I am sure. Problem is the job that I sit hours in the thing doesn’t give exercise to loose weight.

 

[Bob Bancroft]

I am considering a skid steer. I have tractors with loaders but it might be time to get rid of one and get a skid loader. Things I would be using it for would be to light duties around the farm site, use an auger to plant trees and dig fenceposts, I already have a pallet fork for moving and hauling things, move a little snow in the winter, and eventually get a tree spade to dig out trees. I will need auxiliary hydraulics, 50hp+/-, and stay away from tracks. People tell me you will find more to do with it. I am looking for your thoughts on brands to seriously look at and brands not to spend time looking at, what to look for when testing a used skid steer, and any other things to consider when buying a used skid steer. Thank you in advance

I was working at a NH dealer when NH introduced their skid steers. We went to a field day where they had competing brands and you could run any of them. The only negative I remember, and I don't even remember the brand, was boom and bucket controls on the top of the ground drive levers. So you would twist your wrist to control the boom and bucket. I found myself moving the boom or bucket when I didn't intend to. I got along fine with the foot controls on the NH, and that's all I knew for many years.
I now have a JD 317G compact track loader for farm use- mainly picking rocks with a tine bucket. I would be hard pressed to go back to foot controls now. And I couldn't do with a skid steer what I do with this CTL. My observation is a skid steer is made for a hard/level surface, and a track loader is better on a soft/uneven surface. So I'm curious as to why you don't want tracks.
The bucket pivots down at the bottom/front of the boom are right down in the crap on any of them, and will be worn out first.

 

[Tony in SD]

Only advice I'll give, don't buy a Bobcat with foot controls until you try to run one. Running the bucket and boom with your feet is totally counter intuitive. You sure don't want to get in a situation where you panic a little.

I respectfully disagree! "Counter intuitive" is more of a personal issue with a select group of operators. It is like any machine controls, it is what you are trained to use. I am proficient on several brands. Some have feet controls, some have joy sticks and some have T handles. One day, I had the opportunity to use all 3 within a few hours.
As my uncle said in the 60s when he had 3 tractors, MM 5 Star with a foot clutch, a JD A with a hand clutch on the right side and Case DC with a hand clutch on the left side. He said in a panic, he had to remember which tractor he was on.
I know many backhoe operators that can run a joy stick, 2 lever or 4 lever hoes with equal proficiency .

To answer the OP;
Things I would consider looking at used machines:
Safety; some of the way older machines had little safety built in to them, they can be considerably dangerous to some operators
Comfort; you mentioned snow, believe me when I tell you that a cab with a heater is a necessity.
Also the cab door will keep the snow and manure off of you and out of the cab area.
Condition; Id look for a machine that has been used by a single owner/operator.
Id stay away from machines that have been used by multiple operators in a construction environment
Parts; Consider how far you have to travel to get parts and service
Wheels vs Tracks: Track cost more but offer more floatation. I personally like tracks better but some don't.
You will want 2 loader buckets; one with a grapple and one without a grapple. Manure/straw/hay/wood chips are more efficiently handled with a grapple. Straight loader buckets allow you to get right up to doors and buildings without the grapple punching holes in the buildings when you are moving snow and spreading gravel. I expect that after you have had a skid steer for a while, you will reconsider purchasing other attachments that will make your life easier in the future.

I have a Bobcat 763H that I bought new nearly 30 years ago, Still can get parts and it still works fine but only my family has operated it since new and I have been the only one to work on it besides a Bobcat dealer. I have after market Grosser Steel tracks on it.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

They all make good machines and they all have their pluses and minuses. Kubota, Takeuchi, Bobcat, John Deere, Case, JCB, in no particular order. Like Ford vs. Chevy/GMC vs. Dodge/Ram.

Get in them and see what feels good to you. Brand preference is very personal and subjective. Honestly I thought the Deeres felt the most comfortable to me, but that's me.

 

[gmccool]

A lot of good reviews here. Be sure to set in every machine and check visibility. I can see best while in a Case or NH. John Deere or Bobcat not so much so.

 

[oliverkid]

Having ran both a skid steers and compact wheel loaders unless you absolutely need the tight quarters maneuverability of a skid steer I would never buy one. Compact wheel loader beats them at pretty much every task except grading. Entry and exit from the cab is 10 times easier. 360 degree visibility is light years better. Better lifting capacity in the same hp machine. Stability isnt even a worry. Zero ground disturbance. Overall operator comfort and ride is so much better. So far of everything I’ve used the 2 for about the only thing a skid steer does better is grading but that’s about it. I’ve run a Willmar wrangler and a JD 204g quite a bit and enjoyed them both a lot more than any skid loader I’ve ever been in. I would put a loader on your search list and see if you can find any in comparable price range to the skid steers your looking at.

 

[rrlund]

I respectfully disagree! "Counter intuitive" is more of a personal issue with a select group of operators. It is like any machine controls, it is what you are trained to use. I am proficient on several brands. Some have feet controls, some have joy sticks and some have T handles. One day, I had the opportunity to use all 3 within a few hours.
As my uncle said in the 60s when he had 3 tractors, MM 5 Star with a foot clutch, a JD A with a hand clutch on the right side and Case DC with a hand clutch on the left side. He said in a panic, he had to remember which tractor he was on.
I know many backhoe operators that can run a joy stick, 2 lever or 4 lever hoes with equal proficiency .

To answer the OP;
Things I would consider looking at used machines:
Safety; some of the way older machines had little safety built in to them, they can be considerably dangerous to some operators
Comfort; you mentioned snow, believe me when I tell you that a cab with a heater is a necessity.
Also the cab door will keep the snow and manure off of you and out of the cab area.
Condition; Id look for a machine that has been used by a single owner/operator.
Id stay away from machines that have been used by multiple operators in a construction environment
Parts; Consider how far you have to travel to get parts and service
Wheels vs Tracks: Track cost more but offer more floatation. I personally like tracks better but some don't.
You will want 2 loader buckets; one with a grapple and one without a grapple. Manure/straw/hay/wood chips are more efficiently handled with a grapple. Straight loader buckets allow you to get right up to doors and buildings without the grapple punching holes in the buildings when you are moving snow and spreading gravel. I expect that after you have had a skid steer for a while, you will reconsider purchasing other attachments that will make your life easier in the future.

I have a Bobcat 763H that I bought new nearly 30 years ago, Still can get parts and it still works fine but only my family has operated it since new and I have been the only one to work on it besides a Bobcat dealer. I have after market Grosser Steel tracks on it.

I only used my brother's. He was in the excavating business and had it for a lot of years. He said that even for him, getting off a dozer or loader and in to it, he'd do something wrong. If it works for you, fine. If the OP tries one and is OK for him, great, but it's just not natural to go from using a clutch and brake pedals with your feet and levers to run a loader with your hand, to the Bobcat is totally azzbackwards and will mess with your mind. It just doesn't come natural, unless maybe your job is to spend 8 hours a day every day on it. Just cautioning him to try one before blindly spending money on it.

 

[urbancase]

I have a case 1845c older Bt4 Cummins. Good machine it’s wheeled, I also want one with tracks looking at cat 289 or 299. That said the 3 as I talk to people with parts support depending on age is a big thing. The 3 I look at is bobcat, case and cat, I know there are more out there but for me that the 3 good luck

 

[Ultradog MN]

I am considering a skid steer. I have tractors with loaders but it might be time to get rid of one and get a skid loader. Things I would be using it for would be to light duties around the farm site, use an auger to plant trees and dig fenceposts, I already have a pallet fork for moving and hauling things, move a little snow in the winter, and eventually get a tree spade to dig out trees. I will need auxiliary hydraulics, 50hp+/-, and stay away from tracks. People tell me you will find more to do with it. I am looking for your thoughts on brands to seriously look at and brands not to spend time looking at, what to look for when testing a used skid steer, and any other things to consider when buying a used skid steer. Thank you in advance

I'm also thinking about one and have been looking around. Posted about it here a week or two ago. As always, you'll get good- even if conflicting - advice here.
I have rented them several times but never got that good - or attached to either foot or hand controls. My theory is you would get used to whatever you buy pretty quickly and that would be that.
I would like tracks too but they add a pretty big chunk of $ over a wheel model and I've read more than once that for snow a wheel model will do better than tracks but that is hearsay and not my own experience talking there. I do see that Kubota is building the engines for several of the major brands and from reading good reviews about Kubota products in general I will at surely have a look at those.
Keep us posted on what you find.

 

[Masseyharrisnut]

I'm also thinking about one and have been looking around. Posted about it here a week or two ago. As always, you'll get good- even if conflicting - advice here.
I have rented them several times but never got that good - or attached to either foot or hand controls. My theory is you would get used to whatever you buy pretty quickly and that would be that.
I would like tracks too but they add a pretty big chunk of $ over a wheel model and I've read more than once that for snow a wheel model will do better than tracks but that is hearsay and not my own experience talking there. I do see that Kubota is building the engines for several of the major brands and from reading good reviews about Kubota products in general I will at surely have a look at those.
Keep us posted on what you find.

The tracks on ice and snow is not hearsay. They are not as good as wheeled.

 

[rustred]

i agree any track on ice is not great, the cat tracks are corked so they dont slip. but i have run tracked kubota's in winter and tires would be the no show jones in that department. them tracked machines are like a little crawler. i would never even think of getting tires for winter use, i guess in a few inches of snow they would work , but definitly not in deep snow. kubota would be my choice of skid steers also. i like them way better than the cat model. i know loading snow with a track machine will out do tires anyday. i was loading snow trucks in town and cleaning driveways and ditches.

 

[Fred Werring]

My theory is you would get used to whatever you buy pretty quickly and that would be that.

Hoping that's the case, (looking at skid steers myself) been a while since I had a stick shift vehicle, I still occasionally try to step on a clutch.

Got a friend with a NH LS170, very low hours, more than I was looking to spend but the hours and knowing who owned it......

 

[cleddy]

I’ve owned two skid steers. First one was a Melroe bob cat skid steer and it was a good machine. Even with the foot controls. I bought a new JCB last with the side door entry single arm and the extendible arm. They call it a teleskid. It’s an excellent machine. When I bought my first one 20 ish years ago I found it to be so useful and handy that I wished I would have bought one years before.

I don't know how much the JCB with the side door costs compared to regular Skid Steer but that getting On and Off is a big problem with the big attachments and various uses? I bought a NH Ls-190 and like it but moving Junk, Machinery, or anything where you have to get out to position chains, blocks or anything with the boom up is downright dangerous. Crawling under arms is scary and over the top is really up there(4-5feet) Sometimes you have to be watching so branches don't come in the cab and get you. You really need a helper with some operations. I had mine 13 years and still have trouble controlling the foot pedals-Make a point to keep far away from any thing I don't want to crush. I think the JCB has more sensitive controls? I still think I would miss the old loader tractor as crappy as it is???

 

[MeanGene1]

Since I was 17 I ran graders, up to the 14G, H and M models and did well thanks to 20/10 vision. Got into big excavators in the early 90's starting with a 235 and later a lot of time on 345's and Komatsu 400's, so the joystick deal was intuitive. I used to hate the old Bobcats with the foot controls, hardly ever ran them and they were just alien to me. First time I got on a newer skidder (CAT 289) with joysticks, just to move it, boy howdy this is pretty cool. I have since put a lot of time in on both CAT and Bobcat machines of all sizes (CAT 299 is a beast) and one can get going ridiculously fast on them and toss them around pretty good. Recently I had the charge of a T-650 Bobcat, a pretty nice machine with a cab and A/C and a 6-ft rotary mower to do cleanup and fire prevention mowing on a couple ranches. It was fine for a while, and then started locking up when it got hot- engine kept running, but driveline and hydraulics locked up. If you shut it off and let it set for about 10 minutes, it would come back to life and be good for another hour- repeat, repeat. Into the dealership shop, can't find anything. Back to work, SOS. Got the dealership "ace" wrench out so he could see what it was doing, and he very methodically tracked the hole system down, and finally pulled out the fusebox by your left foot, and found a loose connection on the back of one of the terminals, a factory defect. This whole deal was a good reminder that with an enclosed cab, when anything happens and the loader is elevated, you can't get out, unless the loader is very high, and then it is a long step down.

 

[Masseyharrisnut]

I don't know how much the JCB with the side door costs compared to regular Skid Steer but that getting On and Off is a big problem with the big attachments and various uses? I bought a NH Ls-190 and like it but moving Junk, Machinery, or anything where you have to get out to position chains, blocks or anything with the boom up is downright dangerous. Crawling under arms is scary and over the top is really up there(4-5feet) Sometimes you have to be watching so branches don't come in the cab and get you. You really need a helper with some operations. I had mine 13 years and still have trouble controlling the foot pedals-Make a point to keep far away from any thing I don't want to crush. I think the JCB has more sensitive controls? I still think I would miss the old loader tractor as crappy as it is???

Really hard to compare the prices of skid steers because no other manufacturers offer the extendable side arm. Without that option the JCB was less than a comparable new holland and the John Deere. Did not price out a cat because there is no dealer close to me.