Anyone have experience with skid steers?

[4570Man]

I was focused on the A300 Bobcat for a while. Skid steer or conventional steer. Good thing I test drove that thing after a snow storm and realized how useless it was in snow.

I looked at those and liked the idea because I was doing quite a bit of work on yards and the ground destruction of a regular skid wasn’t acceptable. But I quickly decided wheeled skids sucked.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I am also leary of heavy duty components controlled by delicate electronic sensors and miles of wiring and connectors. Call me old fashioned.

I don't like tearing up turf, ever, so the conventional steering mode seemed very appealing though.

I think I also test drove an older one with the Deutz, and it gave me a splitting headache that lasted the rest of the day. I never get headaches!

I love my small wheel loader with the turf tires! Barely ever a mark anywhere.

 

[buck12]

I seriously considered a tracked steer a little over a year ago. My plan was to keep my Mahindra 2615 with loader and get a tracked skid steer. I have used a friends and for loader work they are awesome. Visibility and loader specs are so much better than a tractor. But then I talked to a buddy that has owned all sorts of equipment and uses and maintains all sorts of equipment in his job. He is a former JD mechanic. His advice was that unless one is a good mechanic and has deep pockets to stick with a tractor.

I wound up buying my current tractor. I think I made the right choice. While a tractor is not the best tool for every job, it is a very versatile tool and given enough time I can accomplish about anything I need to on my property.

 

[4570Man]

I seriously considered a tracked steer a little over a year ago. My plan was to keep my Mahindra 2615 with loader and get a tracked skid steer. I have used a friends and for loader work they are awesome. Visibility and loader specs are so much better than a tractor. But then I talked to a buddy that has owned all sorts of equipment and uses and maintains all sorts of equipment in his job. He is a former JD mechanic. His advice was that unless one is a good mechanic and has deep pockets to stick with a tractor.

I wound up buying my current tractor. I think I made the right choice. While a tractor is not the best tool for every job, it is a very versatile tool and given enough time I can accomplish about anything I need to on my property.

I’d feel fairly certain the CTL would beat the tractors work done cost even without paying an operator. Sure they cost more per hour but they do more work.

 

[airbiscuit]

For construction and landscaping, it's a skidsteer, hands down. My skidsteer was an older model, and engine, pumps, hoses, etc. were all crammed into areas verrrry difficult to access. I had a steel hydraulic line develop a rust hole in front of the engine. There was an access slot cut into the frame that only allowed one eighth of a wrench turn before it bottomed out. Lots of time on my back and a lot of curse words. To start the threads of the new line, I had to reach my arm in blind as far as I could and try to turn the fitting with just the tips of two fingers. Mercifully, it "took" and then back under the machine turning the wrench 1/8 of a turn at a time.

Then a hose for the bucket went. Same tight quarters, no room to turn a wrench. I wondered what happens if something needs repair on the front of the engine? That's when I decided to sell it and buy a CUT.

 

[seville009]

I have a tractor (MF 1540) and a skidsteer (ASV PT50 - tracks). The tractor would be a much better choice. Would be much more stable (can have foam filled tires for added weight and also be puncture proof), many cheaper implements, easier to jump off and in while working, better visibility, more operator room, easier to access the engine and components, etc.

I purchased the skidsteer mainly for snow removal - heated cab and front blower. Use it for some landscaping work - judt have a bucket and snowblower for it.

 

[Rustyiron]

Steep, rocky and Farming? There's a problem with that for any machine.
Each machine has its strong points and one will work circles around the other at certain jobs. I have both and there's only a very small list of tasks that they overlap on. 2 different tools entirely.

 

[Sebculb]

Thanks everyone for the insight. The main reasons I'd gravitate towards a skid steer is that they're way sturdier than a comparable size garden tractor, and the availability here in Costa Rica. There's plenty of skids, very few little garden tractors. Only big sugarcane tractors. After my experience between the little Kubota and the deere backhoe I decided I only want to mess with construction grade equipment even if it's old as the hills.

In the case of a wheeled skid steer, I'd definitely make some over the tire tracks for it. I'm confident that would fix the traction issues but I'm leary of the overall tipiness of the thing. Not really considering a tracked machine because everything about tracks is more expensive I've seen. Got one colleague that has a bulldozer and a big excavator, metal tracks are like mortgage the farm expensive. And a buddy with a smaller rubber track excavator , every time he replaces tracks he wonders how much he really wants the thing. All this makes backhoe tires seem cheap!

All this is at the pipe dreaming stage still, just saving money for now. My plan has been to save and buy another old backhoe to have a spare and for around the farm while the other is at a job. The backhoe will do anything, just kinda big and uncomfortable for little market garden applications. Like shooting a toad with a 12 gauge. But, as I said, that will work. Recently as I contemplate how to back into into farming the idea of a skid and it's assorted attachments has become attractive. But I might just stick with the original plan and work towards another hoe. I dunno I got plenty of time to think about it until there's enough cash on hand to make a move. For now I've just been clearing land and breaking it up with the hoe and running the beds with walk behind tillers and weed whackers.

But the idea of a skid for farming sure is attractive and could also diversify my excavation work...

 

[LouNY]

My nephew has a nice skid steer on the farm it is a very handy unit for what it can do.
It is not a tractor, he did end up needed to get a set of over the tire tracks for it as it was helpless in mud or snow.
They do not do tractor work well at all, they are not tractors and they can not haul any thing.

And then there is one other thing which to me is a huge issue.
For smaller framed younger individuals they are not to hard to get in or out of.
With my size 15 or 16 (brand depending) boots and large over sized carcass getting in and out of it is an extreme exercise in aggravation.
Stepping down in, it is extremely difficult to twist around and get my feet untangled and getting my knees to cooperate once I get set down in it's not bad and getting out is not quite as bad just almost.
So bigger, older, and artificial joints do not work well with conventional skid steers.
That said there has been a bit of conversation about the single arm skid steers with the conventional doors, so far just talk.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Yeah, stay away from used skid steers, especially certain ones (do your homework) Most newish ones will give the average Joe a lot of troublefree service. Then sell it for what you paid, if you looked after it.

A friend got a screaming deal on a (used in a quarry) distressed JD, don't know what series. He fixes most of the stuff but thought, just send it to JD and have them make it right. The bill was around twenty grand, which he protested and had it knocked way down.