Bulldog loader for non-vn yanmar?

Smoody · Apr 6, 2011

I know the bulldog loaders are put on vn recons, I have been looking at buying a FEL for a few years now and came across a possible deal here in my town. Old man has a YM2200 with a red bulldog loader on it, the engine is shot on the tractor but he will sell me the loader separate for $1500, now my yanmar is a YM2001 and not a vn recon, so my question to you guys is (other then the fact it would make people think my tractor was a vn recon) would you buy a bulldog loader and is that a fair price for a complete package? the loader is 2 years old but it does have a weld in the center where it looked like the bucket cracked. two reasons I even considered it, one, its less then 5 miles from my house and two it will bolt right on with no modifications, I already measured.

winston1 · Apr 6, 2011

I have a Bulldog (black) loader that came on my vn ym2002d. I have not had any trouble with it at all and have used it extensively. I can't imagine how the bucket got cracked. Had to be some serious abuse!

Smoody · Apr 6, 2011

said he hit a stump, arms, hoses and cyclinders look fine, no leaks, just the bucket beat up some. If I can get him to $1000 i'll most likely give it a try, $1500 to steep with a banged up bucket imo.

clemsonfor · Apr 6, 2011

You may look at new ones. I think you can buy a brand new one for a similar price maybe just a few hundred more. I pulled the loader off my VN machine and i think it was somethink like that difference from the dealer. If you can prove that you bought the Vn loader seperate. Mybe take a pic of the loader with the same crack on the different tractor you could see that it wasent on your tractor from new. There is also other ways to tell to an experenced eye, a new guy wont even know a VN anyway. Id buy it but id want to see it closer to $1000 personally.

Neat 1500 · Apr 7, 2011

i have a Bulldog loader also and its been great,my bucket is beat up also due to the soft steel(chinese) but apart from that all good.

Smoody · Apr 7, 2011

I was wrong about the sub-frame mount it will have to be modified to work, however may just be best to build a complete new one since the current one doesn't bolt to the rear axle of the tractor.

So is having a sub-frame built really expensive? I know some of you guys have built your own, anyone got a picture of a YM2001 with a loader on it and if so any chance you could post a photo of the sub-frame attaching to the tractor?

I don't see it being very difficult to make however I can't weld so I would have to have it made.

Smoody · Apr 7, 2011

spoke with a local welding shop, having a sub-frame built could run upwards of $500, I guess I will keep looking, if it was a better brand loader I would be more interested in pursuing.

clemsonfor, I took your advice and checked on a new loader, there is a VN dealer about an hour from me that has the V2 loaders and I can buy it for $1800 new and it comes with the correct sub-frame.

Is the V2 loader better built and does it use standard fittings or are they oddball like the bulldogs? anyone with a V2 care to chime in please.

I like coldwater's loaders and would buy one of those if I wasn't so far away from him, shipping kills the deal for me. (I understand he can't control shipping cost)