Skid Steer suggestions

[tucker]

I have enough work lined up that it probably warrants purchasing a skid steer instead of renting or subbing.

We usually build homes sizing from 1500-3000 ft2. We aslo do a number of garage and living space additions on existing homes. There is no pavement around these parts.

I will primarily be using the skid steer for moving gravel around foundation/basements/driveways, some smaller backfill work, minor perimeter foundation grading, and moving jobs site lumber around and onto subfloor.

My budget would probably be 15K max...I'd like to be closer to 10K. In that range I know I am going to be looking at a used skid steer w/ hefty hours on it. I have a trailer that will hall it already. I am going to need forks, a bucket w/ it, tracks if it is rubber tire.

Any suggestions? Size suggestions? Tracks vs. wheels w/ the add on tracks? Anyone have a model/size they like or would suggest?

[BThomas]

If you have an excavator that you regularly use, talk to him/her.
All the excavators I know are very knowledgeable about equipment like this.
They probably know where you can get the best machine for the best price also.
It might be good to have them look at and test the machine for you also.
BillT

[Ted S.]

I bought a Bobcat 753 for $7500 with 2200 hrs and it was a beater, then a 751 for $9400 with I believe 1800 hrs, it was in better shape. These were older machines but were just fine. My father in laws buys them all the time at auction for $5k, he has his own mechanics keep them going. Most of them shake like dogs.

Around here there is a good Bobcat presence and the mechanic can be onsite the same day to get things fixed. I used to rent mini excavators, so everything was dealt with one company. I needed forks, and they found a used set and sent them my way.

Having said that I heard Case and New Holland make great skid steers. Thomas make some ones that always seem to sell cheap.

As far as I'm concerned, when a machine goes down it can be a real costly event, so have one with very strong service support is essential.

One other thing, I always looked for the Kubota diesels in the Bobcats. I think that's the way to go.

[Ohiobuilder]

I have a Case 1845 with hand controls. I can operate one with foot controls but I am not as efficient. I am happy with it, no trouble in 10 years other than a new muffler but I don't use it everyday either.

If I did it again today I would deffinetly get a skid steer with rubber tracks like a T190. If it rains here and gets muddy I am all but done.

Ted brings up a good point, local support would be important. We have a good Bobcat dealer as well as a Case dealer local.

[Greg Di]

If you can get a machine with hand controls versus foot controls, they are much less fatiguing to use in my opinion. Some of the foot controls can be tough to operate delicately because the pivot points are high and require you to lift your heel off the floor and basically mash down above the pivot with a heavy foot.

There's a lot more finesse with the hand controls in my opinion.

Tracks all the way if you can swing it.

But, whatever you do, make sure you can get dealer support because my dealer is an hour and half away and it's a pain in the neck going there to drop off the machine for silly repairs.

[wyattg]

I own 3 Bobcat's & I would get one with operating wt. of at least 3,000 lbs. that way you can move pallets of block around. I would get a tire machine, because gravel tends to mess up rubber track machines. You can always add steel over tire tracks when your budget allows it. You are in WV I would definitely get a bucket with teeth. I would also get a snow plow from CTI they make one that is built like a tank & you can use it as a dozer blade too. I would wait until spring to shop for one, because there has not been much snow this year & you will find some guys trying to unload their machines. I know one contactor that has already started to sell off their equipment. I've had Bobcat's for over 20 yrs. ,so I would stay with them. Give Mike @ Metro Bobcat in Gaithersburg a call he should be able to help you out.

[wyattg]

I would also get one with Cab & Heat.2 years ago I plowed snow for 39 hrs. straight in just a shirt & pants got so hot I had to turn the heat down, but I had to put a coat on when I had to stop to fuel up. The 2-speed option is also nice.

[Bob scott]

I've had one for about 10 years. It helps if you are machanically inclined.
My machine is a Bobcat 843 with a Perkins diesel.The lifting capacity is rated at 1800 lbs.
Hours I think around 4,000.

I know I've lifted 2500 lbs of roofing shingles with it. The heaviest thing I've lifted is probably my 24" powermatic planer. I'm guessing closer to 3000lbs. Don't try that until you know all the tricks of running one of these. They have enough power to easily flip you over!

If you go with the older machines, an 800 series is much more comfortabe than a 700 series.

I have over the wheel steel tracks for mine. Put them on and it's a whole different machine. I definetly recommend them. They are great for working on the wet days but they also make spreading loam so much nicer. You float over the top better and when one of your tires goes over a low spot the track supports the machine instead of tipping up and down ruining your grade.

I second the tooth bucket. It's my favorite and it's on there 90% of the time. Combined with the tracks the machine becomes a bulldozer.

Obviously get the forks.

When looking at a machine, check all the fluids.

The hydraulic fluid should not be black like used motor oil. It should be clear to light brown (no darker than the color of BRAND NEW motor oil) It should not smell burned.

If it was maintained by a dealer ask for the records. also some people (myself included) write the date and hours on the filters when they change them. This could give you some insight as to how well it was maintained.

If you don't know your way around running one of theses ask a friend to look it over.

The pedals should not be sticky. This could be a sign of a bad spool.

Show up early when you look at it. You want to see it start cold. My machine does not like to start cold without ether. Perkins are known for this.

There's alot more to know but I'm getting tired of typing and need to go back to my office work. If you don't have anyone you know to help and you want more of my advice P.M. me and i can send you my number.

Good luck
Bob

[hammerone40]

all the above is good info, I would stongly second (or fith) the strong dealer support. I have run cat, gehl and bobcat. IMO the Cat is the cadillac version in user comfort. We use Gehl at the farm and they are pretty darn tough machines. The Gehl dealer will actually bring out a loaner machine if one needs to go into the shop, free of charge. I was shocked to find that out and very impressed. Cat has great service as well, but you pay for it.

Tracks are awesome for soft conditions, but are very pricey to purchase, repair, and replace. With the tire units, you could just run a rim into a tire shop and be done with it. In your price range, I would definately get a tire unit, and add tracks only if you really need them.

Along with the oil, as discussed above, try to find out if the unit has been used extensively in manure or with a breaker attachment. Those two things are pretty hard on skids between the acids and the vibrations.

happy hunting
andy

[tucker]

thanks! All info has been very helpful. I am in coal country here in wv...so ther are lots of equipment service outfits in the immediate area. I'll go by and talk to some of those guys as well.

[Jeremy]

I'm also looking for a Bobcat, 700 or 800 series. I too prefer hand controls. A friend of mine has an old 643 that has 'arm' controls for drive and foot pedals for bucket. It feels like you are operating an exercise machine.

The last few winters I helped an excavator friend with snow removal and he has a Cat 257 with rubber tracks. That machine is great, cab heat, pilot controls, radio, it is built really solid. But it is very expensive to maintain.

My GC neighbor has a Case 75xt that has 6k+ hours on it. I'm not sure how much he has had to put into it over the years but it still starts and runs fine. He has the steel over-the-tire tracks for it and like said before, it is a completely different machine. He has had to weld in new lugs 3 times over the years but other than that he's had them for over 10 years.

Forks, a toothed & toothless bucket, maybe an oversized bucket for transporting lighter materials & trash around the jobsite, and an auger are must haves.

As far as size, what can you transport yourself? Make sure to add the weight of attachments as well as the weight of the machine. There is one excavator in town that has a rack built across the front of his trailer to hold his buckets, the forks slip into the side of the trailer and when the machine is loaded he has the backhoe attachment on the machine. He does pull this setup with a single axle dump though.

[ThingOfBeauty]

We own a New Holland which has held up reasonably well.
It's a tire machine and we have the add-on steel tracks. They are supposed to beat the machine up, I've been told, but haven't seem to cause us too much trouble and have lasted pretty well.

[BeachBoy]

Try to find something around 1000 hours or less if you can afford it. You're not likely to have significant maintenance costs that way, at least in the short term.

Tracks are better for traction and if you get tires you will spend half your life changing and repairing flats. If you get tires, at least get a couple spare rims with tires and an impact gun and keep it with the loader. You can lift the front tires up to change with the bucket (or forks) and the rear tires by putting blocks under the back and lifting the same way. It goes without saying to never, ever put any part of you under any part of the loader when changing a tire.

As mentioned, one of most useful things that a loader can do is to move pallets of stuff so get one big enough to move whatever you deal with.

If you can get a loader that keeps the forks parallel to the ground that helps too and minimizes accidents.

Some cities in CA give out really big fines if you don't have the loader chained down correctly with four separate chains so be wary of that. Also be sure your vehicle is tagged to haul the trailer and loader. The fine for getting that wrong is $2000 to $3000 here (as my contractor neighbor found out).

[baileywoodwork]

IMHO, I think that the most important thing to has been mentioned about maintenance and your access to it. Tucker Co. is not an easy place I bet for that though. You don't want to be dragging something down to Oakland or Elkins for work. Gehl machines are popular with farming communites so that might be worth looking into. I chose a bobcat machine because the dealer promised to give me a good deal with onsite maintenance and they have come through on this. I've only had to truck the machine in once, they've fixed every other thing on site. And they do this at the same rate as the shop for me also. So I'm a forever customer for this.

I have a T190, I think it's a great machine. Except it won't quite move a cube of block-I can scoot it though. I would like to have a bit more lifting power, but I find even the 190 to be a bit big for city work which is 85% of my work.

Some things I've learned this year in our WV climate.

-Tracks are easy to freeze to the ground in our muddy jobsites. I try to have a parking area that is sheltered or something so we can move it early. I hate to dig in the teeth to pry up the tracks off the dirt. I'm sure it's not healthy for them.
-You may get a lot of water in the fuel, or we do anyhow. I need to drain it weekly or more. Even with only a few hours of use.
-I use mine mainly to move timbers or stone so I really like to stability of tracks, if I had to "drive" a lot the tracks would suck. Or on my machine at least.
-Keep an eye on the drive belt.
-I was using a big dump trailer to move machines around, but that was a drag and to invest in a machine and not be able to move it when we needed it. I bought a dedicated trailer that tilts and it was a great investment to keep us moving. 4' of it stays flat for the attachments.

Shameless plug, Jeffords Corp in Clarksburg, WV has been great and more than kept their word. Good Luck.

[timberwrestler]

I have a Takeuchi track machine and love it. I bought it used from a dealer. I did a bunch of research before buying and they seem to built like a tank, and very simple, not a lot of electronic controls.