Looking at a Bobcat T550 skid steer

Complete Turf Care · Oct 9, 2020

I'm looking at getting a skid steer for my business. I've been borrowing or renting one for a couple of years and feel it's time to get my own now.

I'm looking at 2 machines from a rental place. Both are 2015 Bobcat T550's This seems to be the size I need.

My question is; Which machine would be the better buy? Or, would both be the same deal?

Here is some info on each. Both machines look about the same as far as tracks, sprockets, wear and tear, etc.

Unit 9 - About 2500 hours, about $9000 in repairs have been done to in according to the rental company service records. Asking price is $18,000

Unit 12 - About 2100 hours, about $14,000 in repairs have been done to it according to rental company service records. Asking price is $19,000.

I know people argue that rental equipment gets abused by the renters, but, the equipment also gets repaired and maintained by the rental company, for the most part.

Xfaxman · Oct 14, 2020

Which one did you buy?

laurencen · Oct 15, 2020

my logic would say #12 based on hours and work done, with #9 there could be $5000 work close to needing done, just my 2 cents worth

Complete Turf Care · Oct 15, 2020

I have not bought anything yet. Hurricane Delta came and shut everything down for a few days, and now I've been too busy to get back to the rental place.

They may both be sold by now for hurricane cleanup.

Both seem to be a fairly good asking price, and the salesman said those prices are negotiable. Most similar skid steers I see online are priced in the $25,000 range, even from other rental companies.

I'm thinking I should go ahead and get one at these prices, because a deal like this is rare.

Complete Turf Care · Oct 29, 2020

I picked up Unit 9 yesterday as a rental, and I will go ahead and buy it tomorrow. The deal we made is for $17,000 plus tax.

One thing I learned while researching these machines is that some have 'radius' lift and others have 'vertical' lift.

This machine is a 'radius' lift which means it doesn't reach out as far as a 'vertical' lift. I brought it home to see if it will dump into my sand spreader and it looks like it will work fine.