Compact Track Loader, whos the best?

   / Compact Track Loader, whos the best?
  • Thread Starter
#11  
I demoed a brand new Tackuchi before I bought my Kubota machine and I’ve ran a few older ones on jobs and I wasn’t impressed. A Kubota cab isn’t exactly luxury but the Tackuchi cab was sure enough basic. The Kubota 75-3 actually has a much improved cab over the previous models. The Tackuchi step into the cab is too big and significantly impairs the visibility of the bucket edge. The Tackuchi controls are loose especially the steering to the point it was difficult to accurately place pallet forks in the pallet. I used 2 brand new ones and they were both like that as well as the older ones. I’m not saying they’re a bad machine, they aren’t and I’d buy one if the deal was good but they certainly aren’t industry leading like some people seem to think. I looked at a Tackuchi mini x as well and it was fine but the Kubota price was better and the Kubota dealer was offering a better trade for my used Kubota as well so I bought another Kubota.
That is a fascinating report, a first-hand experience, so thanks for the input
 
   / Compact Track Loader, whos the best? #12  
It would probably be good to tell us what your primary use is. House pads/driveways, mulching, light clearing, loading trucks, moving materials, ect.

If you are routinely loading trucks/trailers, how high are the side boards?

Do you have specific weight restrictions you are trying to meet?

Do you have specific max height or width, or similar job specific requirements.

Certain jobs, like poultry house cleaning, you might want small, works, but as cheap as possible, cause no matter how "good" it will be destroyed in a matter of a few years.

Do you have high flow impliments, such as mulchers, milling heads, ect. Also, although the hydralics and SSQA will hook up, Cat vs Bobcat electronics don't always match (so, swivel on a broom, side shift, ect).

Cab vs open? Do you care about door orientation?
 
   / Compact Track Loader, whos the best?
  • Thread Starter
#13  
OK, it will include work in hills, logging roads, general dirt moving, leveling, trenching, and just about everything you can imagine. Log moving, forklift work, brush clearing and moving, and some farm work. I know these are not good on frozen ground, but I will try. I am not sure what door orientation is, but I will use it year-round in hot and cold Wisconsin weather.

Thanks for asking.
 
   / Compact Track Loader, whos the best? #14  
OK, it will include work in hills, logging roads, general dirt moving, leveling, trenching, and just about everything you can imagine. Log moving, forklift work, brush clearing and moving, and some farm work. I know these are not good on frozen ground, but I will try. I am not sure what door orientation is, but I will use it year-round in hot and cold Wisconsin weather.

Thanks for asking.
So, some have doors that swing out, which can be nice, but also means that the bucket Has to be down all the way to exit the door; and also, at some point, you might raise the bucket with the door open, and rip it off. JCB, you have a side door, and it's odd, but probably the best overall access.

Are you planning on 6+ hours per day in the machine? Reason is, comfort for 4 hours is a different thing than comfort for 10+ hours.

How Critical is down time? Are you loosing $2500/day the machine is down, or loosing critical clients? If so, I would lean Cat/Deere/Kubota, just for the parts network. If you can afford to wait 5-10 days on a part, and just be annoyed, than I would worry less about this.
 
   / Compact Track Loader, whos the best?
  • Thread Starter
#15  
Very interesting points, I would plan on some long days, but only 10 a year at the most. As far as the door, I guess I will look at that option, but I will likely get what comes with whatever I buy.
 
   / Compact Track Loader, whos the best? #16  
...How Critical is down time? Are you loosing $2500/day the machine is down, or loosing critical clients? If so, I would lean Cat/Deere/Kubota, just for the parts network. If you can afford to wait 5-10 days on a part, and just be annoyed, than I would worry less about this.
I think Bobcat has had strong market share for decades. I think they would also have good parts availability (they did for me when I had a Bobcat)

From Equipment World:

Kubota retained its position as the top seller of new financed (CTL) units with 26% of total sales. Bobcat and Cat were neck and neck for the No. 2 and 3 positions, with Bobcat selling just nine more units, giving both manufacturers a 21% share of total sales.

Bobcat sold the highest volume of financed new skid steers of all manufacturers during the period. Approximately 24.9% of total skid steers sold were Bobcat, followed by Kubota (19.5%) and Cat (17.5%).
 
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   / Compact Track Loader, whos the best? #18  
I think Bobcat has had strong market share for decades. I think they would also have good parts availability (they did for me when I had a Bobcat)

From Equipment World:

Kubota retained its position as the top seller of new financed (CTL) units with 26% of total sales. Bobcat and Cat were neck and neck for the No. 2 and 3 positions, with Bobcat selling just nine more units, giving both manufacturers a 21% share of total sales.

Bobcat sold the highest volume of financed new skid steers of all manufacturers during the period. Approximately 24.9% of total skid steers sold were Bobcat, followed by Kubota (19.5%) and Cat (17.5%).
Ok, you are right; I would put Bobcat/Cat/Kubota probably top, followed by Deere. Komatsu certainly has great parts availability; With some machines, in some areas, but I just don't see many of their skid steers around.

Also, there does appear to be certain niche things, where specific makes are more popular. I see a fair number of Possitrac used in powerline mulching. I see JCB used (still less than Cat) used to run a 18-24" asphalt milling heads, for 1 or 2 man small site prep outfits prepping rural mobile home lots, I largely see Kubota/Takekuchyi.
 
   / Compact Track Loader, whos the best?
  • Thread Starter
#19  
I think Bobcat has had strong market share for decades. I think they would also have good parts availability (they did for me when I had a Bobcat)

From Equipment World:

Kubota retained its position as the top seller of new financed (CTL) units with 26% of total sales. Bobcat and Cat were neck and neck for the No. 2 and 3 positions, with Bobcat selling just nine more units, giving both manufacturers a 21% share of total sales.

Bobcat sold the highest volume of financed new skid steers of all manufacturers during the period. Approximately 24.9% of total skid steers sold were Bobcat, followed by Kubota (19.5%) and Cat (17.5%).
OK, that is very interesting, I will likely choose one of those now that I know that. I felt that this info was what I needed to help make the right decision.

So now I will ask if the fully enclosed cab is the way to go, I am sure most of you will say yes, but I don't mind spending the extra money, but I wonder about the added potential problems of Air and Heat in the cab.
 
   / Compact Track Loader, whos the best? #20  
OK, that is very interesting, I will likely choose one of those now that I know that. I felt that this info was what I needed to help make the right decision.

So now I will ask if the fully enclosed cab is the way to go, I am sure most of you will say yes, but I don't mind spending the extra money, but I wonder about the added potential problems of Air and Heat in the cab.

I wouldn’t think of buying a new machine without a cab. Sure it’s expensive but the cab holds the value at resale maybe even more so because it protects the operator station from getting decayed. If I wanted to be cold and eat dust I’d save 60 grand and buy a used machine. Sure it’s more maintenance but you could live in a shed without plumbing or hvac and save maintenance too.
 

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