Sell/Trade my JD CUT, Replace with skidloader. WILL I MISS IT?

[Superduper]

Here's the situation. Have JD3120 CUT. Have FEL, forks, boxblade, Flail/Shredder, and Rotary 3-Pt. Mower. Would love to have a backhoe, which would certainly come in handy but for the $5k+ that they cost, and since I didn't buy it when I bought my tractor new, it's probably too late now.

Recently bought home, came with Bobcat skidsteer, older model. Very beat up but it does run (gas engine, very very loud), and has a hydraulic leak somewhere. Doesn't pour out, but does leave patches here/there while I'm running it. This my first experience with skidsteer and after operating it, turns out I really do like it. Love how compact they are and don't require a huge counterweight in the rear to balance. Love how manueverable they are and how heavy duty they are built to just do it, instead of worrying about breaking tractor in 1/2, or anything like that. Can lift a ton, seems to dig (with bucket) far better than the CUT. I also know it's preference but I feel much more comfortable with the foot pedal bucket controls instead of the joystick of the CUT.

I am thinking to sell the CUT or maybe package a trade along with the bobcat to acquire a newer skidsteer, preferably with cab, and tracks would be nice but for the high premium they cost, that's probably wishful thinking. Over the years, the most chores I've used the CUT for is just the FEL, Forks, and boxblade for digging/leveling. The rotary mower came used with the new house and I haven't used it yet but it will get lots of use next year if I keep the CUT. Where I'm moving, that's a necessity. OTOH, the flail/shredder will probably get little/no use since there doesn't seem to be much brush where I'm going. Anyhow, I believe that the skidsteer will do all I need. I will need to buy a mower attachment for it and it will cost big $$ but I like the thought of the mower in the front for good visibility anyhow. My CUT is practically brand new as it's got very little use to it, but I'm ready to let go of it for the right skid.

So with CUT, I have the following implements available to me:
FEL, Box Blade, Pallet Forks, Flail Shredder, Rotary Mower, Backhoe Ready

If I get a newer skidsteer, then from what I understand, they are generally capable of:
FEL, no box blade, but the FEL is certainy capable of digging, Forks are readily available, my shredder won't fit, but don't think I'll need it, no 3-pt for rotary mower but I'm thinking a decent FEL flail or rotary mower will solve all that. Can't imagine using one of those funky FEL mounted hoe accessories but for the cost and storage requirements for the occassional use, I can always rent an excavator when/if I really need it which will probably work out cheaper in the long run anyhow.

So opinions please:
Will I make a mistake going this route? Will I miss my CUT?
As always, the wise opinions of the folks here are very much respected and appreciated.

 

[wolftree]

I would wait awhile before making a decision. Use both machines normally for awhile longer. It is just my opinion, but I feel you would miss the CUT if you were to sell/trade it just yet.

 

[Xfaxman]

Here are two more options to consider:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/buying-pricing-comparisons/130891-toolcat-5610-vs-cut-review.html

There is a Toolcat forum here: Toolcat

The V417: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/bobcat-construction-equipment/160568-compact-telehandler.html

There are many other brands of Compact Telehandlers. I sold my tractor soon after I bought my first one.

Also you can use a box blade on a skid steer.

 

[Grandad4]

If you're a younger dude who doesn't mind bouncing around a lot on whatever you're driving, and your wife won't mind a chewed up yard, the skidsteer is for you. It can't be beat for digging in the dirt, but it's kind of out of its element with some of the other things a tractor does. For example, with the tractor, you can easily take it down the road a mile or two to help a friend. Most likely you'd have to trailer the skidsteer. Here's another: If you've got mud, the wheeled skidsteer is going to make a mess and get stuck in places the tractor easily traverses. You won't get stuck with tracks, but it'll still tear things up. And another: You'll drop a ton of money into a mower for the SS and you better wear a kidney belt if the ground is rough and you're trying to make any speed while mowing. Not picking on skidsteers... they rule on a jobsite or any other place where the work is largely material handling or digging.

Skidsteers and tractors do some of the same things, but what one does well, the other is less than great at doing.

 

[Gator6x4]

I think you are taking a fine piece of equipment out of the environment it was designed for, industrial or business and moving it to agriculture. An agriculture environment is where tractors excel. Now if you were talking about a Bob Cat Tool Cat, that would be a different discussion.

 

[tmc_31]

I am fortunate to have both. Each has it's strengths and weaknesses. You indicate that you will be doing some mowing. I use both machines to mow. I use the skid for mowing rough or steep ground, ground where there may be hidden hazards and small tracts that would be difficult to maneuver my tractor in. The skid is slower, I can do about 1acre per hour with it. The tractor I much faster at 2.5-3 acres per hour. The tractor (with a 7' rotary cutter) leaves a much nicer cut with no damage to the ground. While the skid leaves a much rougher cut and is more prone to tear up the ground. As I said, they both have their place. It would be a tough choice, but if I had to choose between one or the other, I believe I would choose the tractor over the skid.

Good luck,


Tim

 

[Superduper]

Also you can use a box blade on a skid steer.

How do you use a box blade on a skid steer?

You guys might be right. Perhaps I'm too hasty and I'll give it a little time to see how things go first. Also when I say mow, I should rather say, cut down the field, rather than mowing as in lawn-mowing. So a well manicured look isn't the objective, rather just to keep field from looking like a jungle. I do know after operating this skid that I do want one in my shack. Unfortunately, the only way to keep both the skid and tractor is to live with this very old skid because in order to get a newer one (due to their very high cost), I would have to get rid of something and the one I have won't make a dent insofar as trade in value goes.

Also, I was wondering.... perhaps it's a false sense of security, but I feel safer inside the skid than in the open station JD, where any small slope, especially side, raises a huge pucker factor.

You guys said the tractor more easily traverses muddy ground compared to the skid... why is that? I have R4's and don't recall having very good traction in clay mud.

 

[Grandad4]

No, the R4's aren't great in mud. But the skid has small tires on all four while the tractor has those big rear tires. The skid has way less ground clearance than the typical tractor. Skids can weigh twice or more what a tractor does. Add all those together and you can high center the SS in mud very easily.

As for stability and safety, either machine can get you in trouble. I once did a project where a friend and I were loading dirt from a pile into a single axle dump truck. He was on one side with his Bobcat and I was on the other with the Kubota. We were about even, scoop for scoop, until he got a full bucket up high on a bit of uneven ground and did a Bobcat face-plant, bucket, dirt and all, into the ground. That shook him up a bit and he slowed down after that... so did I! The tractor wouldn't ever do a faceplant, but it's more likely to go over sideways.

The other thing I see is that SS operators sometimes get into their groove and start jockeying their machine around pretty fast. The short wheelbase and quick turning mean it can really haul, but it's pretty easy to get it off balance.

 

[Xfaxman]

How do you use a box blade on a skid steer?

You guys might be right. Perhaps I'm too hasty and I'll give it a little time to see how things go first. Also when I say mow, I should rather say, cut down the field, rather than mowing as in lawn-mowing. So a well manicured look isn't the objective, rather just to keep field from looking like a jungle. I do know after operating this skid that I do want one in my shack. Unfortunately, the only way to keep both the skid and tractor is to live with this very old skid because in order to get a newer one (due to their very high cost), I would have to get rid of something and the one I have won't make a dent insofar as trade in value goes.

Also, I was wondering.... perhaps it's a false sense of security, but I feel safer inside the skid than in the open station JD, where any small slope, especially side, raises a huge pucker factor.

You guys said the tractor more easily traverses muddy ground compared to the skid... why is that? I have R4's and don't recall having very good traction in clay mud.

Two ways, buy one made for a skid steer, or use a 3 point to SSQA plate like I did.

I added a TILT-Tach on this 6' box blade.

 

[IndyIan]

How wide is your JD set? Do you have a heavy box blade? Maybe just tuning up your tractor will help it perform better. I've been tempted to find a 4' wide skidsteer bucket for real digging with my tractor in my rocky clay soil. Maybe try the next size up in tractor as well? Mine is setup to 74" wide and with the heavy box blade on, it can work on some decent side slopes and go up and down stuff that I don't think a skid steer would be able to climb, especially in some slippery conditions. I'm in clay hills with wet low areas, so smaller tires/less traction doesn't work for me.