At what age of skid steer do parts become hard to find?

[700R]

In your neck of the woods, you shouldn't have a problem finding one. I'm watching equipment trader and machinery trader at least weekly and there appear to be more machines available back east than there are around here.

Since making this thread, I've been able to talk to a couple of CAT mechanics (friends of a friend). While they work mainly on CATs, they both said that they haven't had any problem finding parts for other (big name) machines they work on. Both had a lot of good to say about Case, Gehl, older Bob Cats and older CATs. Older being prior to 2011 or 2012, or whenever the heightened emissions standards went into effect. Neither was fond of the newer CATs, post "C" models b/c of emissions.

Personally, I'm trying to decide how important tracks or a cab would be. I'd have to put another $5k-$10k into my budget to get one or the other, but not both for $25k-$30k. Just wondering if my comfort is more important than people's yards. lol

Good to hear. The only brands I'm looking at that are post-emissions are <74hp Bobcats and NH. They don't use a DPF or require regens. They use a simple DOC (diesel oxidation catalyst...like the catalytic converter on a car). Deere, Cat, Gehl, Kubota, etc., all have DPF/regens that I have found. There may be others, but those are the only ones I have looked into so far.

Even though I'm on the east coast, I'm still 5-6hrs from the Mecca of skid steers, which is PA. OH and SC also have a bunch. I've found a half dozen machines that I would have bought, but the distance makes it hard for me.

 

[Cacinok]

Good to hear. The only brands I'm looking at that are post-emissions are <74hp Bobcats and NH. They don't use a DPF or require regens. They use a simple DOC (diesel oxidation catalyst...like the catalytic converter on a car). Deere, Cat, Gehl, Kubota, etc., all have DPF/regens that I have found. There may be others, but those are the only ones I have looked into so far.

Even though I'm on the east coast, I'm still 5-6hrs from the Mecca of skid steers, which is PA. OH and SC also have a bunch. I've found a half dozen machines that I would have bought, but the distance makes it hard for me.

Good info on which companies use DPF.

I'm looking at about a 4 hour drive to get a machine no matter what. Not a lot goes on the market around me, and when it does, it gets snapped up quickly.

Good luck with your search. I have my eye on a couple machines, but I have to get a trailer first.

 

[PILOON]

I somehow remember that 10 years is a law of some kind for OEM's. (but at what price?)
That being said, recycle yards are the answer for those more popular older machines.
Also the more informed know that 'brand X' also fits 'Brand Y'.

 

[Sonny580]

around here anything 5 years old is obsolete and NOT supported by the locals or used on construction jobs. Case and Bobcat have the major market shares here. Deere, NH, ant the slant eyed brands are a PITA!

 

[airbiscuit]

In 2010 or so I had a 1982 Bobcat 642. I could get any parts I needed.