Compact Track Loader, whos the best?

[JLAlbert]

I'd suggest renting various machines and see which ones YOU like best. If you will be spending thousands of hours in the milk crate then pick one you like best.

This may be the best advice. What works for the rest of us may not work best for you.

I recently rented a Doosan 15tonne excavator and was really impressed. Very Fast hydraulics, very quiet cab, excellent operator controls, very good fuel economy. I'd serious look into trying a Doosan CTL if I was in the market for a CTL

Doosan and Bobcat are now owned and built by the same company. My guess is the small equipment will be the same except for paint color.

 

[TheRealWorld]

I'd suggest renting various machines and see which ones YOU like best. If you will be spending thousands of hours in the milk crate then pick one you like best.

I view CTL's as milk crate death traps. Skidsteers are milk crate death traps on a pogo stick. They have their uses but I prefer good operator visibility, operator comfort, good controls, good NVH, ease of egress and operator safety. The fundamental design of CTL's and SS's doesn't fit the bill.

My impressions on various late model 90~100HP CTL brands I've used:

Kubota - fuel efficient, spartan, better visibility, poor NVH, no ride control, under powered, better egress, lacks frame tie down and tow points, hard to clean track.

Bobcat - marginal fuel efficiency, better ride control, marginal visibility, decent power, poor egress, poor NVH, good operator controls, long term track and electrical control issues?

Deere - very poor fuel efficiency, high DEF use, ok ride control, good power, very poor visibility, poor operator controls, poor NVH, poor egress. Good service support.

With regards to other equipment I've always liked operating CAT and Case machines. CAT has good parts availability but are expensive. Forget Case for long term parts support.

I recently rented a Doosan 15tonne excavator and was really impressed. Very Fast hydraulics, very quiet cab, excellent operator controls, very good fuel economy. I'd serious look into trying a Doosan CTL if I was in the market for a CTL.

I tend to rent my equipment by the job and avoid the long term maintenance issues. If you need to float the machine to various job sites pay attention to the bogies, some machines are like wrestling a bear to clean and tie down.

That is a very helpful bunch of info, thanks a bunch. Now I think I have a new question: What would you prefer to buy as a 5-year-old machine? I fully intend to buy a new one, but I am old and it will get sold as a low-hour machine someday.

 

[Paystar]

The way I look at it, if you need to go into the bush, mud or soft ground a CTL is the way to go. But on good ground a compact wheel loader is the way to go for the same price.
But the one thing I do not like about compact wheel loaders is (at least Kubota and some Cat models) is the driveshaft is exposed under the frame on the machine, unlike a full size wheel loader.

 

[Paystar]

That is a very helpful bunch of info, thanks a bunch. Now I think I have a new question: What would you prefer to buy as a 5-year-old machine? I fully intend to buy a new one, but I am old and it will get sold as a low-hour machine someday.

Cat never seems to loose resale as much as the others.
And actually, at least around here, lately Cat has been getting very competitive with their pricing and financing on their compact equipment to match all the cheaper brands

 

[TheRealWorld]

In my opinion, Bobcat quality has gone down significantly since the takeover by Dusan. We've owned two Bobcat mini excavators at work, and this will be our last. Going to Kubota or Takeuchi for the next mini. Went Kubota for the CTL, Bobcat wasn't even a consideration.

This is very interesting, I hope to hear from other Bobcat people. The one I am somewhat interested is the R series T66. But I am completely open to what might be a better product. Price is not as important as the quality and comfort of the machine.

 

[TheRealWorld]

This may be the best advice. What works for the rest of us may not work best for you.

Doosan and Bobcat are now owned and built by the same company. My guess is the small equipment will be the same except for paint color.

I had the same thought, and I am hoping to hear some follow-up on this, as my only close dealer is Bobcat, thanks for your input.

 

[D&D]

On the ctl vs skid steer issue, one thing to consider is maintenance costs. Tracks, sprockets, idlers and bogies vs tires and chains.
Which way does the door open? If you have a pallet of stuff on the forks can you get out if needed? As you get older, how appealing is it to climb up, over and down to sit in a ctl/ss?
The OP sounds more like a budget minded guy. Some consideration might be give to an older track loader/hoe combination like a JD455 for the tasks listed.

 

[TheRealWorld]

Cat never seems to loose resale as much as the others.
And actually, at least around here, lately Cat has been getting very competitive with their pricing and financing on their compact equipment to match all the cheaper brands

I will strongly consider Cat, and look into what they offer.

 

[scootr]

I have a 20 yr old Bobcat 773. Owned it for near 10 yrs with only a hose and battery replacement. Operated this machine when I was in construction. Good power and parts support.
This particular model won't take aftermarket tracks without smaller tires and wheels so that's a no go. Wheels not tracks is my only regret but not a deal breaker. At this point I'll keep it. GL on your search.

 

[paulsharvey]

I will strongly consider Cat, and look into what they offer.

So, CAT, it's not just sale price, they have some very creative lease to sale programs, with largely the tax breaks of lease, with an option to purchase at the end of lease term, basically at scrap value. Of coarse the monthly lease payments are slightly higher than a regular loan, but you have exit options, and you more or less end up with a 5 year old machine at the end, for like $1000.


Others may have similar programs, and all, and i don't know what CAT currently has, so look around, but that could be good if you need the lease right off, or trying to get an estate below a certain value

 

[TheRealWorld]

I have a 20 yr old Bobcat 773. Owned it for near 10 yrs with only a hose and battery replacement. Operated this machine when I was in construction. Good power and parts support.
This particular model won't take aftermarket tracks without smaller tires and wheels so that's a no go. Wheels not tracks is my only regret but not a deal breaker. At this point I'll keep it. GL on your search.

Thanks for the input, what was life like before these machines were available?

 

[paulsharvey]

Thanks for the input, what was life like before these machines were available?

I have ran the older, mid to late 90s wheeled skid steers (cat, Bobcat, ghel, and deere), and i think for most things I would take an industrial grade tractor over them 9 times out of 10. We gained a ton of stability with the CTLs.

 

[paulsharvey]

Who remembers grading with your feet, and driving with two hands

 

[Paystar]

Who remembers grading with your feet, and driving with two hands

I used to hate the old Bobcat's with foot controls.....only because any time I had to get in one, I had already been running Cat with joysticks.

 

[scootr]

I used to hate the old Bobcat's with foot controls.....only because any time I had to get in one, I had already been running Cat with joysticks.

Likewise I hated Deere foot controls (backhoe) after I had learned on Ford joysticks. I learned on the old pedal Bobcat machines so Mine being this type suited me just fine. The SS and the Grading tractor had 2 different uses with some overlap but one could not replace the other completely. Which is why I have both.

 

[paulsharvey]

Our OP might need a swivel bracket *don't know if that's the right term?* for leveling, as well as general forklift work?

Another possible option would be a small Genie telehandler, there used to be a guy on here that really preached that gospel to anyone considering a CTL.

Edit: a swivel bracket does Don't turn your normal bucket into a 6 way dozer blade, but its gets you closer than a standard bucket w/o swivel mount.

 

[scootr]

Telehandler nay be a better SS but I'm not sure I want to mow a field with one ?
I keep 3 machines because they all excel at a couple things but none does it all well.

 

[paulsharvey]

Telehandler nay be a better SS but I'm not sure I want to mow a field with one ?
I keep 3 machines because they all excel at a couple things but none does it all well.

Yeah, but the OP didn't mention mowing. My personal feelings are a Telehandler Can be forced into a grading and or dirt work role, but they don't do well. The buckets are often fairly light duty, material moving buckets, well suited for loose material, mulch, and manure. They truly to excel at material moving with forks

You have TLBs which are fair at everything
You have CTLs are excellent at small dirt work, and are a Swiss army knife
You have telehandlwrs which excel at forklift work
You have mini articulated loaders, which are good at not tearing up ground, and good at loading, and moving material
Industrial grade tractor basically are a back hie, that completely gives up all excavating in favor or being pretty dang good at grading.


For a true do all combo, it's hard to beat a CTL and a 5 ton mini ex

 

[JLAlbert]

I had the same thought, and I am hoping to hear some follow-up on this, as my only close dealer is Bobcat, thanks for your input

Check with equipment rental outfits. United Rentals, Sunbelt, whoever is in your area. They usually have machines from different manufacturers. A short rental of a few machines will cost some money, but will help you decide what you do and do not like.

 

[paulsharvey]

On the 5 year old used side; 100% there can be about 50-60% savings over new. Just don't buy online, you really do want to inspect it, and if you don't know what you are looking for, it's worth spending $500 ot so, to have a compinent mechanic look at it before signing.

Another approach, Kymron, has import 70ish HP CTLs for about 50% the price of a Cat. I'm not specifically recommending this route, just something you might want to think about, if we are looking. If you are thinking, 500 hours over the next 5 years, I dont know that it would be a Bad option, but if you are looking at 800 hrs/year for 5 years, I wouldn't go that route