Ok, 15 years ago i went with a bobcat 7753, it has the kubota engine. I like there dealer network and there ability to get parts on the older machines. Still get parts for mine with no issues. I agree with others in staying away from the electric over hydraulic controls. Not a fan of the deutz engine, so that takes a lot of skid steers out of the picture. JCB, question getting parts they are made in England(i think). When I looked at mine my concern was parts. If I had to replace it today I would look long and hard at a Cat! There pilot controlled hydraulics for there hand controls sounds real good. However, I have hand controls that are cable and I am told i have real good control. They say cat's pilot control is not as accurate/touchy. Have not tried myself.They are running a Mitsubishi engine. Don't think it is as good as the Kubota. There are a lot of good used Cat machines out there because the rental market and construction has tanked. Low hours decent price. You will be able to get parts, but the down side is it is, well.... Cat. The Clarke machines with the 4bt looked long and hard when I bought mine. Didn't have the dealer network and I was concerned about parts. I know a guy that has one and he likes it and has little problems.
As for skid steer doing what your doing. I looked and thought about a tractor. Went skid steer and I am glad I did it. I have trees I need to clear, I am looking at a tree shear. Shear off right at ground level and leaving the stumps. Put tracks on a skid steer and you would be surprised what it will do.
My machine goes for right around 6,000 lbs, they are heavy. I use it instead of a fork lift, they are not the same thing, When I am pulling pallets off a truck it is hard to look through the SSQA to see what the forks are doing. Fork lift will have higher lift capacity. I can lift 2,000 just off the ground, I can get 1,500 up to the roof of shingles. With tracks on it that machine can move a lot of dirt. You can eat an elephant, as long as you do it a bite at a time. I back filled our house with mine. Took me a month every night after work, but I did it. That it my :2cents: good luck
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