Build or Buy Skid Steer, wide or narrow?

[4570Man]

All true. Except a skid steer is a high-performance and dangerous machine geared towards max productivity by an experienced user. It takes a half a day to get where you're not just making a mess. I used one that was old and rickety, the controls did not self-center at neutrals, and the operator safety cutoff was removed entirely. I was shitting bricks for half a day. It was probably far better than anyone could construct even for $10,000. And for $10,000 you can test it first, and walk away if you don't like it, go look at a different one.

Might be efficient to start building a new skidsteer from an old skidsteer.

Agreed. I used to have a pile of crap bobcat skid steer. It pretty much fit your discrimination. It was pretty much useless and I'd be inclined to agree with it still being better than a minimum budget cobbled build. I sold it for 3k. My buddy has a skid steer that he bought for 12k. It's a MUCH better machine than my junk bobcat was.

 

[texasranger556]

Link below to a project in the build-it-yourself section. Similar approach as you're suggesting, but smaller. Lots of work and still not "done". As far as budget, if you had free steel and major components already, you'd probably still spend a couple thousand on hydraulic hoses, pins, bolts, welding wire, gas, saw blades, grinding discs, drill bits, control cables, wiring, clamps, switches, lights, paint, and other things that add up over a project like this. Been there done that. It's easier to justify though because it gets spread out over several months/years and easily forgotten.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=341832

I am a diy-er to a fault, so I can certainly relate to the desire to build something. I also dislike renting in majority of cases. Just think in this case you'll end up spending double your budget or more, end up with something that may or may not complete the jobs you want done, and be worth next to nothing to anyone but you.

If you decide to build I'll be one of the first to follow along, so keep us posted whatever you decide.

Personally I'd buy a name brand or even off brand worn out piece that you can add some sweat equity fixing up. Complete your projects, and likely make money selling it if you no longer need or want it. Even this way figure on spending hundreds if not thousands fixing hoses, bearings, repacking cylinders, lights, etc. and hope nothing breaks that is unobtainium.

 

[GLyford]

I built a FEL for a garden tractor of my own design. It took several redesigns to get a serviceable machine, every time requiring purchase of more material and hydraulic parts. Biggest cost was hydraulic fittings to adapt a bunch of mismatched cylinders and valves to work together. It took years (close to 10) to get something that works mostly right (ish) in the end as I kept using it and breaking parts.

It was a very valuable exercise in machine design and hydraulics design and operation. But what it wasn't, was a cheap fast way to get a productive machine.

That occurred about two years in, when we rented a Terramite backhoe for a weekend, reconfigured all the landscaping on the property, redistributed two 20-yard trucks worth of loam, and several other projects we had been vaguely contemplating, with time to spare. That one machine was far more productive, even with a novice operator than my homemade machine will ever be. And many look on that size machine as a joke (T5C).

I have watched other builds of backhoes, loaders, articulated tractors, and such over the years very carefully. I adore these projects. But I have learned that these are mostly entertainment for those involved.

If you have a project and a deadline, my priorities in acquisition would be this (based on time/money/availability):

1. Hire a machine and experienced operator.
2. Rent a machine.
3. A new machine of the correct type for the task (lets say, tracked skid steer in this case).
4. A new machine of the wrong type for the task that can still do it.
5. A functional used machine of the right type.
6. A functional used machine of the wrong type.
7. A repairable machine.
8. A repairable machine of the wrong type.
9. Most of a machine that can be adapted.
10. Build a machine from someone else's tested plans.
11. Build your own machine design from scratch.
12. Build you own machine catch-as-catch can as you go from whatever is on hand.

I realize there are times when #12 is the only viable option. But it should be entered into knowing and understanding what you are up against.

You need to separate your two priorities, and it can be tough when one is used to justify the other in your own mind. It was for me.

Do you want the work done? Find a way to do that as expediently as possible. Building a machine is WAY down the list on the best way to do that.

Do you just want to build a machine, and have some uses left lying around once it is done? Then have fun, build a machine. I did, and it was fun and educational. But don't expect it to be productive, or capable, or have a very good reliability/availability for getting done what you need, when you need it.

 

[Sodo]

GLyford..... & TXRanger... WORD

 

[sd455dan]

Good Luck!! You can buy a really good skid steer for $15K, but building your own might be fun.

Yep or just find a good usable one for a lot less.
sold my New Holland L 778 skid steer that was fully functional for $5500, had lots of use and I did keep the pallet forks. The right lift arm had been broken many years ago but the re- weld has held fine.
Not crazy about skid steers and being as old as it was i figured that was a fair price for both of us- especially since the buyer already had a twin except his was powered bu a Wisconsin engine instead of the ford gas 4 cylinder in the 1 I had.

OP keep an eye on craigslist- deals do come up from time to time

 

[nimblemotors]

Turns out the city wanted $6,000 for the permitting process to put up a building, and the land owner didn't want me to pursue the permit
which might get him into trouble with his existing "not permitted" renters, so this project has been cancelled.

I will probably still pursue building a house on my 1/3 acre property which I own, but might just hire out the work, I don't know.
I am retired so I do what every I want to do, not worried about wasting my time, it is ALL wasted time, I do what interests me, and building things
is what interests me, whether that is big or small. btw, I recently spent a lot of hours figuring out how to avoid paying the Toyota dealer $500
after my daughter lost all keys to her Prius. I did figure it all out, required hacking memory chips, etc, and it costs me $50.
You could say I worked for $2/hour. I say fcku toyota was priceless.

 

[GLyford]

Now that you don't have to worry about getting a project done, it sounds like you have just the right temperament to play around with building a machine for its own sake. (Take pictures)

 

[nimblemotors]

Land owner says put up a hoop house and don't worry about the permit.
I will start a new thread in the build-it-yourself forum.

 

[Xfaxman]

Land owner says put up a hoop house and don't worry about the permit.
I will start a new thread in the build-it-yourself forum.

Here it is: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/393796-front-loader-ford-truck.html