What skid steer to get.

[bc]

First thing, don't even think tracks if you are on rocky ground!! Contractor rented 2 new JD 333 track machines and they were ruined in less than 2 weeks. They ride much worse than a rubber tired machine. You must have hi-flo to run a good mulcher. If you are in good clean soil with no rocks, tracks will work great, just be prepared to put them back on the rollers when they slip off. My personal machine is a Cat on rubber (rocky ground), and it is a beast. There was a good suggestion made to rent a couple and see which best fits your needs. Cat, JD, Kubota, Case, NH, are the best IMO. Ingersoll Rand sold Bobcat in 2015 and since then they are not near as good. One feature the Kubota has that I really like is the overhead door.....I wish my Cat had that option.

Watched a utube video this morning of a guy with a gravel drive. Gravel was getting into the tracks and into the sprockets and bearings.

 

[Fixingfarmer]

So one other thing ours was actually a 4 year old rental unit from the caterpillar dealer. So when I worked there they had a rental department and every machine they had was also for sale. They have gps trackers (when bored at work no terragators broke I’d actually go around updating them) and this gives them hours and location since cat dealer was in charge of maintenance the oil change guy would go out and service them. It still was somewhat expensive but if it has the 500 hour service interval and the dealer has taken care of maintenance there’s a limit to what can go wrong. It’s still a skidloader and most will have a hard life but a lot of the stupid is taken out by having the mechanics follow them around a bit. It works pretty great actually. The only thing mentioned above a bit on the yellow ones is you will need some of the correct small attachments if you do certain things since there is actually steel in the boom they can be difficult to hook up and a walk through bale fork honestly is needed for dad that’s his main complaint. He has been stubborn and adapted and overcame and wouldn’t spend the money on it mentions how he likes the bobcat better in conversation but has came up with a way to use his bale fork he has.

 

[Fritz Maurer]

I really appreciate all the output and information I have already received. One question? Most of these responses are 'I believe' dealing with new machines.

What should I look for in terms of a used machine, what wears out first, tell tale signs of being abused and such?

They're all abused. Ever see anyone run one less than full throttle?

 

[Bill in Colo]

If you are looking at Cat consider Terex, only difference is the cab. Cat owns the track system, Terex builds the track system for Cat. motors and pumps are the same.

 

[urbancase]

Everyone post good info, I have a case and been a good machine. Only thing I can add is we’re I had some work done to my case, I have been looking for a second unit that bigger and talking to the mechanic he said only ones he would buy is case, cat and bobcat. I myself want a cat 299 with tracks, my case is wheel.

 

[THinAl.]

I’ll add one more thing, regardless of which machine you purchase the first thing to do when you get it is to learn how to get out of it if the engine quits with the arms up.
‘This could mean the difference between living or dying if the machine is under water or on fire.

 

[jm.]

First thing, Tracks. Don’t even think of wheels. You will be a lot happier. Floatation on mud, traction, and less of a foot print on sensitive areas. Second, high flow hydraulics is always a nice option to have. Third, get the quick tach locks option to engage and disengage the attachments. It is a real time saver and a lot less wear on you. Fourth, brand is more of a personal preference. I have used Bobcat, Cat, Case, John Deere and a few others. The 2 most popular in our area are Bobcat & Cat. The Cats I have used have 2 joy sticks. One for the loader the other for driving. Bobcat has two hand levers for driving and two foot pedals for the loader. I’m tall so both work well for me as long as I remember which one I’m using. If you are short, I’m told the the joy sticks will work better than foot pedals. I think there is a joy stick option for Bobcat but I have not personally used or seen one. The "quick tach" is standard on most all brands. So using other brands of attachments should work most of the time. Bobcat has an electrical plug to operate some of their attachments. I don’t know if that is a standard plug among other brands.

Last year KUBOTA was the number one selling skid steer in the us followed by cat and Bob cat. You will love the front entry door on the Kubota lots of dealers and geared toward farmers, check them out.

 

[Farmall m farmer]

We have two late 90s and early 2000s NH and I like them with the foot controls but that is personal opinion tires vs wheel if you are going on the road concrete or general work tire would work better although if you are doing a lot of forestry work cleaning fence rows or running a bushhog or any other heavy attachments tracks are better

 

[Frankmn]

It all comes down to what you want to spend. ANY SKID STEER IS BETTER THAN NO SKID STEER..You need t\o decide how big you need and then shop what's available in your price range. Wheeled machines can do a lot of work. Tires are cheaper and you can replace a couple at a time.

 

[[email protected]]

They're all abused. Ever see anyone run one less than full throttle?

The hydraulic pumps are designed and require full throttle. It's hard on the pumps if they aren't turning at capacity, if you're at 1/4 throttle, something isn't going to be happy. Either lugging the engine or killing the pumps.

 

[Fritz Maurer]

The hydraulic pumps are designed and require full throttle. It's hard on the pumps if they aren't turning at capacity, if you're at 1/4 throttle, something isn't going to be happy. Either lugging the engine or killing the pumps.

That's hog wash. You don't need 2800 rpm to finish grade a yard.

 

[randyrenfro7]

Guess I will just have to make do with my 1845C CASE.

 

[Brendon-KS]

The hydraulic pumps are designed and require full throttle. It's hard on the pumps if they aren't turning at capacity, if you're at 1/4 throttle, something isn't going to be happy. Either lugging the engine or killing the pumps.

If the machine was designed correctly then running at reduced engine speed will not cause any harm to the pumps. As long as the charge pump is large enough to maintain full charge pressure in the hydrostat at the reduced engine speed the pumps will be perfectly happy running slower than the maximum. But, as you indicate, it is also perfectly acceptable to run the machine at full engine speed - that's where you'll get the greatest capacity and performance. It's not abusive to run the machine at the capacity level it was designed for. All pumps, both open- and closed-loop have minimum and maximum speeds set by the manufacturer and with the typical skid steer design layout (pumps driven directly at engine speed) you're a long ways from either end of the range.

 

[Fixingfarmer]

If the machine was designed correctly then running at reduced engine speed will not cause any harm to the pumps. As long as the charge pump is large enough to maintain full charge pressure in the hydrostat at the reduced engine speed the pumps will be perfectly happy running slower than the maximum. But, as you indicate, it is also perfectly acceptable to run the machine at full engine speed - that's where you'll get the greatest capacity and performance. It's not abusive to run the machine at the capacity level it was designed for. All pumps, both open- and closed-loop have minimum and maximum speeds set by the manufacturer and with the typical skid steer design layout (pumps driven directly at engine speed) you're a long ways from either end of the range.

If it’s new enough there is a nice green line to put the throttle on to keep the exhaust temp up for the dpf about 1950 rpm.

 

[Welding man]

Not sure if this is the right spot to post this, If not let me know.

I would like peoples opinions on skid-steers. What brands, models, flow rate, years old VS hours, tires VS tracks.

We are looking at purchasing one for farm work and possibly some work for hire.

Would like to be able to run a forestry mulcher, I believe 25+GPM are needed for that.

Any input is appreciated.

You didn't say if you were looking at new or used. I hate working on skid steers, but we do occasionally. Talk to the mechanic, not the salesman. The older New Hollands are getting tough to get parts for, especially if they have an Iveco engine. We just rebuild the engine in a 2006 model and it took weeks to get gaskets for it. Most of the Bobcats have Kubota Engines, why not just buy a Kubota? Some of my customers like a Deere, some don't. My favorite used to be a Case with the 4BT Cummins, until Fiat came into the picture, no more 4BTs. Takeuchi is becoming very popular in my area. The highway department is using them and United Rentals has a lot of them to rent. They also use Kubota engines. Most of the contractors in my area that depend on their equipment to make a living, owns CAT. Look at warranties and dealer support before you buy. Repairs are expensive. A bargain is not a bargain, if it breaks down and you can't get it repaired.

 

[Bob Bancroft]

If you are looking at Cat consider Terex, only difference is the cab. Cat owns the track system, Terex builds the track system for Cat. motors and pumps are the same.

My first CTL was an ASV, which I think is the TEREX now? I liked it. It was tiny, as it was my initial machine to see if it would do what I wanted. So I went bigger, and a JD is what I found.

 

[Texgasser1]

I know I haven't said anything recently But I have read all your comments and have been doing extensive study.

I am looking at a new machine or a dealer machine a year or two old. Also we are going with tracks.

Personally I believe it comes down to New Holland or Kubota for me.

Or local Case is known for terrible customer service, and they own all the dealers for 300 miles around. Knowing Bobcat changed hands and having researched that, a lot of people say they are not the same quality. John Deere is frankly too expensive compared to the others, as is Terex and Takeuchi.

I like the options New Holland has to offer, and the local Kubota is known far and wide for it's great customer service.

Hopefully this coming week, I will be able to go and examine the two in person.

 

[Texgasser1]

One important thing I forgot to ask, I have not been to the dealer yet to ask them, Do these modern diesels require DEF?

 

[Welding man]

It's your money and it is your choice, but as I said, I work on this stuff daily and New Holland anything is getting a really bad name in my area. it is well known that Fiat is trying to unload New Holland. Parts are hard to get and really expensive. Kubota is just the opposite. Good parts service and a good reputation. New holland would be my last choice.

 

[Fritz Maurer]

It's your money and it is your choice, but as I said, I work on this stuff daily and New Holland anything is getting a really bad name in my area. it is well known that Fiat is trying to unload New Holland. Parts are hard to get and really expensive. Kubota is just the opposite. Good parts service and a good reputation. New holland would be my last choice.

That's pretty much verbatim what my 70 year Ford dealer said when they dumped New Holland. Dealer had to eat warranty claims and fight with NH later. You sell a kabota skid and you never see it again, he told me. Icing on the cake NH said he had to sell only NH skids or they were going to pull the dealership. He said that was an easy choice but sad because they were a really sharp Ford dealer that had been in the family for generations. But Kabota made his life so much easier, support wise.

Needed a crankshaft for LX665 ... was $4500 and like six month wait time.