Bobcat S150 skid steer vs. bobcat or kukota tractor...

[DickeyJoe]

Bobcat S150 skid steer vs. bobcat or kubota tractor...

So, here's the deal..

1. I have a lot, I mean a lot, of tricky landscaping ahead of me that will involve: some areas with pretty steep terrain, rocky soil, digging out least one pond along with dam construction; a lot of small tree removal; pushing over a lot of shallow rooted brush and making burn piles; a lot of gravel road maintenance, moving dirt around to alter the terrain in spots, etc.

2. I have very limited experience with both small kubota tractor/ backhoe and a rented small skid track bobcat with only a FEL. I don't consider myself a skilled or experienced operator, but do pay attention and can learn, especially from my mistakes. I am a lot better mechanic than I used to be.

3. I live in rural Northern California, and (with help from my grown son who is very mechanical minded with engines, hydrolics and the like) want to handle most of my own repairs and maintenance.

I'm thinking of a Bobcat S150, used with low hours if I can find a good deal on one, and, as $$ permit, a clamshell loader, backhoe with thumb, 6 way dozer blade, and maybe a flail mower. My son is a good welder and I envision making some pretty nifty attachments for removing small stumps, and ripping areas I will then push or scoop to get the terrain I want. I like the 49 hp engine, safety features, 16 GPM hydrolics and also keeping the "business end" in front of me as I work. What I am concerned about is getting in over my head with cost and repair issues.

Or.... I could get a kubota, say the L series. It would be a lot less money, easier to work on, but I fear a lot less machine for the jobs I need to do.

I guess I am not hiding my preference, but I would like to hear that I am overrating the bobcat and underrating the tractor option. I mean a lot of folk buy tractors that are not just for playing in a sandbox.....

Counseling would be greatly appreciated.

 

[DT86]

On steep terrain I'd prefer to have a tractor over a skid steer.

 

[DickeyJoe]

Is that because you could use a rear backhoe to stop a roll backwards? What's your thought?

 

[DT86]

I feel like a tractor is more stable on the steep ground and can go places the skid steer won't even go.

 

[DickeyJoe]

I feel like a tractor is more stable on the steep ground and can go places the skid steer won't even go.

Thanks for the input....

 

[bamboozled]

I recently did something similar, bought an older skid steer to move dirt into my backyard that has a decent slope. It was a no-go, the skid steer had to come out in reverse, wouldn't make it up the hill forward, just started bouncing and trying to tip backwards.

I sold the skid steer and rented a bx25 to get the job done.

 

[Rustyiron]

It sounds (to me) like your on the right track with the SS except for the slopes. If you added the "over the tire" steel tracks to your wish list it will make a huge difference in traction and add some stability on the hills. IMHO most all tractors fel's are really built for chores or loading loose material from a pile. For real "ground engagement" digging & rooting out stumps, a SS is designed for hours of that, whereas a tractor is basically designed to pull, with the loader being an obvious simple add on handy attachment that makes a tractor more versatile around the farm.
That go's for my 9540 as well. It's not about size but intended design purpose. From your project list, it sounds like you might also consider an excavator as one of your choices.

 

[DickeyJoe]

It sounds (to me) like your on the right track with the SS except for the slopes. If you added the "over the tire" steel tracks to your wish list it will make a huge difference in traction and add some stability on the hills. IMHO most all tractors fel's are really built for chores or loading loose material from a pile. For real "ground engagement" digging & rooting out stumps, a SS is designed for hours of that, whereas a tractor is basically designed to pull, with the loader being an obvious simple add on handy attachment that makes a tractor more versatile around the farm.
That go's for my 9540 as well. It's not about size but intended design purpose. From your project list, it sounds like you might also consider an excavator as one of your choices.

Thanks for the point about tractors being the pulling machine that replaced the horse. They do good work but I'm afraid that, for what faces me, I'm looking for a digger and pusher more than a puller. Now, to convince my wife I won't be digging my own accident grave and paying a lot for the privilege!

 

[Xfaxman]

Thanks for the point about tractors being the pulling machine that replaced the horse. They do good work but I'm afraid that, for what faces me, I'm looking for a digger and pusher more than a puller. Now, to convince my wife I won't be digging my own accident grave and paying a lot for the privilege!

My compact telehandler will out work a skid steer for digging and everything else!


With a grapple.


With a 7' brush hog.


With a 6' boxblade on a three point adapter on a tilt-tach


Check this thread: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...t/160568-compact-telehandler.html#post3243370

 

[DickeyJoe]

Wow.. That is one amazing rig you have there! Wish I could afford half of what I see there. Really "versatile" as the name implies. Thanks for the idea. It does widen my horizon.

 

[Xfaxman]

Wow.. That is one amazing rig you have there! Wish I could afford half of what I see there. Really "versatile" as the name implies. Thanks for the idea. It does widen my horizon.

It is very stable on side hills due to the low center of gravity. In Europe you can get them with a 3 point hitch and PTO. They are small, but heavy, so require at least a 14K trailer to haul it.

Interesting article here: Elevating Expectations

 

[yellowdogsvc]

I would look for something a little bigger than the 150. You will be disappointed in how tippy it is and it will sorely lack power running attachments and working with dozer blades. What is your budget?

 

[DickeyJoe]

I would look for something a little bigger than the 150. You will be disappointed in how tippy it is and it will sorely lack power running attachments and working with dozer blades. What is your budget?

Sorry, I just noticed your post...

Budget? I would like to stay under 25K all in, assuming I can find decent used equipment and attachments.. My son wants me to get a Loader/Backhoe ( Case,JD) construction type machine which he believes will be better value. I guess if I get a good clamshell FEL it might work for my road maintenance. It's just that these machines don't take attachments. A grapple bucket would be nice for grabbing large debris to make burn piles.

 

[Xfaxman]

You can get a used compact telehandler for under 25K.

This one is the size of the first one that I bought.

2007 Dieci XRM5 519 Xtreme 19' Telescopic Reach Forklift Telehandler 190 5K | eBay

It won't have the SSQA, but it can be added later

 

[DickeyJoe]

Yes, I am becoming very interested in the compact telehandler as a form factor as long as I can attach tools to it. Hey, it might pay for itself by hoisting me up into my oaks to cut away mistletoe which I can sell at Xmas!

Here is a picture of the terrain I am going into





What's your opinion of how the telehandler might take on this job compared to other options?

 

[Xfaxman]

Yes, I am becoming very interested in the compact telehandler as a form factor as long as I can attach tools to it. Hey, it might pay for itself by hoisting me up into my oaks to cut away mistletoe which I can sell at Xmas! You must have a lot of misletoe!
-------------------------------------------<snip>
What's your opinion of how the telehandler might take on this job compared to other options?

Well, from my experience, there is no other type of machine that I would trade for. And I mean Compact Telehandler, not the brand, or the V417 that I have now.

I sold my 4WD tractor soon after I bought my first compact telehandler, that I found on craigslist. I had never driven a machine with front and rear steering and crab steer, before I got the V518, they will get in and out of places you can't go with a TLB.

It is very stable on side hills, 27 degree is what I have been on.

I think you saw my "unstuckable" post: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...t/160568-compact-telehandler.html#post3526054

It is such a good feeling when you get unstucked! :thumbsup:

And the tree puller: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/277824-tree-puller.html#post3444397

And removing bigger trees, works the same on live trees:http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...our-technique-removing-trees.html#post3356253

The stump bucket will do a lot of things that a backhoe will do.


Removing a cedar tree, dug on each side, then popped it out.


Sorry, got carried away. But it can do so many different things.

 

[Bob77064]

My compact telehandler will out work a skid steer for digging and everything else!
View attachment 346460 View attachment 346461 View attachment 346462

With a grapple.
View attachment 346463 View attachment 346464 View attachment 346465

With a 7' brush hog.
View attachment 346467 View attachment 346468 View attachment 346469

With a 6' boxblade on a three point adapter on a tilt-tach
View attachment 346470 View attachment 346471 View attachment 346472

Check this thread: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...t/160568-compact-telehandler.html#post3243370

Does that V417 have a counter weight on the back?

 

[Xfaxman]

Does that V417 have a counter weight on the back?

Yep, a permanent one, painted orange! I guess it is cast iron, or cast steel.

Anyway it looks heavy!

 

[DickeyJoe]

​

Yes....plenty of mistletoe.

So, the V518 really looks like a skid steer chassis with much more useful lifting mechanism than the twin arms on say the s series. Is the attachment plate for attachments the same as on the SS? Was it on the other compact telehandlers? I mean a "universal" setup for bobcat compatible attachments

I am really impressed. (Looks like what I want Santa to bring me for Xsmas. Then again, the old guy might just keep it for himself. Just think what he could do with that rig instead of the sleigh. Just land on the lawn and zoom up to the chimney on the boom!)

 

[Xfaxman]

Yes....plenty of mistletoe.

So, the V518 really looks like a skid steer chassis with much more useful lifting mechanism than the twin arms on say the s series. Is the attachment plate for attachments the same as on the SS? No. Was it on the other compact telehandlers? Some are, most are not, but adapters are available. I mean a "universal" setup for bobcat compatible attachments

I am really impressed. (Looks like what I want Santa to bring me for Xsmas. Then again, the old guy might just keep it for himself. Just think what he could do with that rig instead of the sleigh. Just land on the lawn and zoom up to the chimney on the boom!) Yep, that would work! :laughing:

The V518 is the biggest compact telehandler that Bobcat sold. It had the Versahandler attachment system.


This is the SSQA adapter that I put on my V518.


The V417 is smaller, and the only one Bobcat sells now. It has the standard SSQA plate. Same as skid steers.


This is what it attaches to on the bucket and grapple.