Anyone here deal in, or have experience with heavy equipment?

[bcoop]

I'm looking to purchase a skid steer some time this year. The problem is, I have zero experience with this type of stuff. I don't know what to look for, what options I need, etc. Will be buying used.

Tracks would be preferred as opposed to wheels.
It must be able to run a Turbo Saw, non negotiable.

http://turbosaw.com/rotator.php

-A cab with heat and a/c would be nice, but not a deal breaker.
-How many hours are too high?
-What brands to look at, and what brands to stay away from?
-What year did all manufacturers go to the universal "quick connect" style attachments for the front end?
-A brand new Kubota with tracks, A/C, and warranty would be fantastic, but at $30k used and 60k+ new, is much more than I want to spend.
- This is for non commercial use for the time being. I need to cut down a metric shit ton of trees, will also likely buy a tree grapple to move them around once they are down. Will also likely get a grader blade and do some light maintenance on the roads with it as well.
-May possibly do some clearing work on weekends for extra cash when the work on my place is complete, so it could possibly see more duty beyond personal use.

[fordracing19]

Snacksnack or Stephen

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

[Treybiz]

I searched for one for my boss for personal use for about 3 months... After looking at plenty of junk he ended up with a new holland that probably fit under the "certified pre-owned" category as it was a year old and had fairly low hours.

One thing I found is that you certainly have to pay to play with those things. Anything inexpensive is a well worn turd.

He uses it weekly and I've run it about 3-4 times this year and its a beast. I'll look for the model number and what not when I get back to my office later tonight or tomorrow.

[bcoop]

Snacksnack or Stephen

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

I'll look for the model number and what not when I get back to my office later tonight or tomorrow.

Thank you both.

I'm not opposed to a well worn turd, really. I don't know shit about them, but I'm able to wrench on it if I need to. The internet is a pretty useful place these days.

Also - There are usually benefits to buying something like this. Tax or otherwise. If anyone knows where to find info on that, it would be greatly appreciated as well.

[4EyedTurd]

I'm curious as well.

[Treybiz]

Photos I have the day I picked it up at the dealer and took it to the ranch....

It's an L218. I don't remember the exact hours when we picked it up but it was low for a skid steer. They slapped new tires on as a part of the deal. We had generally looked for something without tracks due to tight spaces and very un-even terrain at the ranch. My boss uses it to clear ATV trails, resurface ranch roads, move stuff etc. I've used to build a parking pad for my carport, clear off the boat ramp after the flood, and smooth my driveways. So far we haven't been able to break it.. I would say that an inexpensive one started out as our goal but, these things require a whole different set of skills and certainly tools to wrench on them. At some point we will have to learn to work on it but for now it's been nice to just hop in and turn the key.






And the obligatory OSHA approved first operation photo with bloody mary in hand... Deleted.... Forgot to wipe out the license plate.

[Treybiz]

Oh yea... If you are transporting yourself they can be heavvvvvyyy. I borrowed my buddies F250 in the photos after I pulled it 26 miles or so to my house in NRH with my half ton silverado. The 6.2 in my truck got it going fine but good grief it didn't want to stop and rode solidly on the bumpstops. Granted that blue trailer weighs a metric shit ton by itself and the brakes don't work all that well.

[Sleeper]

Friend has a l175 it's a good unit. I just hate the seat belt shit.

[TexasPyro]

I own a three Bobcat Skidsteer's and am somewhat bias to the Bobcat brand. A few of the positives for me is that there are Bobcat dealerships all over the place, parts are easy to find. My machines have for the most part been completely maintenance free, admittedly they're newer machines but haven't been down for an extended period of time. Bobcat pretty much writes the book when it comes to skidsteer's, their line of accessories are bullet proof and work extremely well. My second choice would probably be a Cat, I've heard parts can be difficult to get if they go down, they seem to be solid machines. Deere or Kabota would be next and are more or less a toss up, any other brands would be last. Whatever you do stay as far as you fucking can from Case. The price will look good up front, you'll pay for it later.

Any machine you look at you'll need to make sure the flow of your machine matches the GPM requirements of that tree saw. The two larger ones look like they'll fall in the "high flow" category. Personally I'd only buy a "high flow" machine. Most mower attachments need it, from the sounds of it, that may come in handy for you.

For personal use, I'd also lean towards a cab machine, they're so much more comfortable. You'll find that the saw you mentioned throws a metric shit ton of dust in the air, the mower and tiller attachments will too.

I also personally prefer hand controls versus foot controls, in fact, I fucking loath foot controls. I'm 6'4" and have a very difficult time comfortably running a foot controlled machine. I don't know how big you are, they certainly aren't built for us husky guys.

Quality second hand machine are out there but can be a diamond in the rough to find. I'd stay away from a rental machine unless it has seriously low hours, <3000hrs. I plan on turning my machines over every 4000hrs, at that point they'll still be solid machines, we take extremely good care of them. A well taken care of machine should last 7k-8k hours with relatively light maintenance, after that they can start to developed big problems.

I can get you in contact with my Bobcat guy if you like, they usually have some pretty good deals on second hand lease machines and trades. If you choose not to go that route, try to find a rich rancher who is selling his low hour machine for the latest greatest. They do it all of the time, you do have to pounce, they don't last long.

Feel free to shoot me a PM if you have any questions

[bcoop]

All very good info. Thank you very much. Shoot me a pm with your guy's info if you don't mind.


It appears that you can't get a lease or loan on one if you don't own a business. So, that will definitely limit my options. Dammit.

[stephen4785]

Let me know when you're ready to look at one and Ill come out and check it out. I know a guy that leases cab air heat/ac bobcats for $1100/month. It's expensivene that way but you get a brand new machine.
I personally dont like Bobcats. They're easier to work on but the lack power and replacement parts are expensive for no reason. Im looking at buying one myself and will probably get a Cat. Cats are expensive but the resale is always higher and they dont bog down as much as the Bobcats. Id rather own a Cat, John Deere, Case, ASV, New Holland(in that order). Stay the hell away from a Mustang brand. But I would rather work on a Bobcat because everything is easier to access. Depending on what you're planning to do with it make sure the pin height is high enough to load a dump truck. the older Bobcat 673, 773, 873 can barely clear a new dump truck side of the bed.
Skid steers are easier to flip over than track steers.
Bobcats will bog down and die constantly if you're not careful.
A track steer is a more versatile machine then a skid steer.

[stephen4785]

And to answer the topic question- Yes. I deal with heavy equipment all day every day. Check my sig or look at the banners. Im an authorized board advertiser. I have a customer selling a clean Bobcat 843 for $8000. Let me know if you're interested.

[DamonH]

Obviously you know your situation better then I do, but I'd probably skip the turbosaw/skid steer and just pay someone with a dozer to clear the trees. Unless you are just thinning a wooded area, I think that's a better approach. I looked at the TurboSaw for one of our fields that has a honeylocust problem and that's the conclusion I've come to for us. It would take forever and a Dozer could knock it out in a day or two.

I think I remember you are planning on cattle, I believe a tractor would be a better investment and easier to work on when the time comes. Just my 0.02!

[stephen4785]

-How many hours are too high?

If you're only wanting to spend around $20k then you're gonna be stuck with hrs around 3000. 3500hrs+ is too high unless they have meticouls maintenance records. Equipment maintenace goes like this
250hrs-oil change, air filters, adjust tracks if equiped
500hrs-oil change, all filters and strainer,adjust tracks
750hrs-(same as a 250hr service) adjust tracks
1000hrs- all fluids, all filters, check valve clearance, check anything that has adjustments.

-What brands to look at, and what brands to stay away from?

Stay away from Mustangs. All of the major brands seem to be fine.

-What year did all manufacturers go to the universal "quick connect" style attachments for the front end?

1998

-A brand new Kubota with tracks, A/C, and warranty would be fantastic, but at $30k used and 60k+ new, is much more than I want to spend.

--You can find a used cab air track machine for around $15000 at an auction(Ritchie brothers, etc...).

- This is for non commercial use for the time being. I need to cut down a metric shit ton of trees, will also likely buy a tree grapple to move them around once they are down. Will also likely get a grader blade and do some light maintenance on the roads with it as well.

Id skip on the grader attachment and just use a tooth bucket. Graders are great if you're gonna be leveling pads for a living but I think their a waste of money just to maintain some roads. Even the guys that I know that level pads for a living dont use grader attachments to level. If it was the only thing you would ever use the skid steer for then investing in a laser guided grader attachement would be the way to go but you;re talking $10-12k. Grader blades will level loose dirt but they are worthless to try and level a dirt road thats been compacted down by traffic.

-May possibly do some clearing work on weekends for extra cash when the work on my place is complete, so it could possibly see more duty beyond personal use.

A 2500-3000lbs lift capacity machine can push down tree's bigger then you would believe. I just used a Bobcat T650 to cut new trails on my buddies hunting land. Took me about 12hrs but I cleared 2 miles of trails and made clearings. I up rooted everything other than larger oak trees with it. I pushed over/uprooted every Mesquite tree I came across with little issue.
Bobcat is the only brand to have the engine driving the hydraulic pump with a large belt so the engine sits in the machine sideways. The rest of them have a direct drive to drive the pump. Neither one is superior to the other from what Iv seen but the belt and tensioner are an added cost on maintenance.
If anyone of you guys ever buy one have me(or any mechanic that has machinery experience)come check out the thing first. Dont think that just because you're an ace with cars gives you the experience that you need. There's a lot of hacks out there looking to offload junk. A customer of mine just bought one not realizing that it was gonna take $8000 worth of work just to get it usable.

[no4njnk]

^^^^^^^^^What this man says, he knows his stuff which is why I send customers using equipment like this to him.