What is the best "new" skid steer?

   / What is the best "new" skid steer? #1  

Ranger

New member
Joined
Jan 3, 2002
Messages
15
Location
Central & North Central Texas
Tractor
Ford 2000, Gasoline - Ford 3000, Gasoline - Gehl 6635 Skid Steer
What is the best \"new\" skid steer?

I am considering the purchase of a new skid steer. It will be used for general chores around a farm/ranch setting such as:
- road building and maintenance
- cleaning and possibly enlarging existing ponds
- clearing cedar & mesquite trees
- etc. etc.

It is my intent to get one with ac/heated cab and high flow hydraulics for comfort and to avoid possible future limitations.
I have casually looked at Gehl and Caterpillar machines and have looked more carefully at the Bobcat S300. Generally, I am looking to get a large skid steer.

One reason Bobcat has been seriously considered is because of what appears to be a good dealer in my part of the country.
(Caterpillar, New Holland, & Gehl, are also about the same distance as the Bobcat dealer but I have not yet visited them.)

I noticed in some recent posts that some concerns were expressed about Bobcats compared to other machines.
What are some pros and cons that should be considered about these machines and each specific brand of machine?

p.s. I have been a member for some time but with very few posts. I look at TBN regularly and really enjoy it. I am somewhat quiet at times and just do not feel compelled to reply to the already great discussions.
I appreciate and value all of your comments on the above concern. This will be a large purchase and I value the assistance available from the composite TBN members!
 
   / What is the best "new" skid steer? #2  
Re: What is the best \"new\" skid steer?

I don't have any personal experience with an ASV RC- 50, but I have heard good things about them. They are a relatively new model entry into the tracked skid steer market. They are supposed to be priced competively with the other wheeled brands. If I am not mistaken they have a 50 hp. Caterpillar diesel in them and have a 1500 lb. lift capacity on their loader. If you have the bucks and want a brute, look at the 100 hp. RC-100. 3800 lbs. of lift and the unit weighs in at 10,000 lbs. Try www.asvi.com to see their line up.
 
   / What is the best "new" skid steer? #3  
Re: What is the best \"new\" skid steer?

Catchy title there Ranger.

I looked at new units too. Skid steers seem to fall into two categories diggers and lifters. Althought the all do both none do both well.

By the way the unit you described is likely to cost you nearly $30,000. It will likely weigh nearly 10,000 lbs. This will need a special trailer skid steer trailer, if you buy one it will be betwen $3,000 and $4,000. A one ton pickup isnt going to happy toting this thing around.

I'd only buy a brand name or well known unit, despite all the claims of the non-mainstream builders a good dealer network, parts availability and service WILL be important with a skid steer. This thing will get some wear on the many working parts quick unlike anyhting you have used before. These things are fast, work hard and get used unlike a tractor in the same circumstances. Once it gets out you have this you will have a whole new group of friends... your skid steer buddies.

You are looking for a digger. A skid steer that is built for digging is designed to have the bucket lay against the body of the unit. It goes clunk when it is dropped all the way down. For example, Bobcat and Case fit in this category, NH and Deere don't. The ones that lift have the unique arm design to allow them to do this but when digging the arms and joint take all the impact and wear. When the arms on these wear they wiggle from side to side. They are already bang the cab a little and this will just get worse.

I didn't not spend much time looking seriously at GEHL, Thomas, Daewoo, Koherling or CAT because of the three things mentioned above. They are all about the same units, they cost about the same as Bobcat, Case, etc, but all seem to be their brands version of an older design of one of the others. AND, yes, you are right they all probably do a nice job, but when you decide to sell one of these who's going to buy it and for how much. You will lose your rear end buying this thing to begin with why lose it all. This is the reason I did not buy new. I have rented skid steers for one or two days once a Summer since 1994. Although I know how to oeprate one I never lived with one. So what happens if I like dating but don't like being married? I decided to buy the best unit possible for the least amount of money. If I don't like it and decide to sell it I can because I was not upside down to start with when I bought it. Plus the high cost of a new unit won't make me feel like I need to use this thing everyday or have to drive it to work. I'm not making money with this thing I decided to go used. I set my limit based on one thing I did notice in looking at the things for a while is I could probably buy a decent unit for $10,000 and not get hurt at the time or purchase or say 5 years later when I sold it.

I have been looking for over three years at these things and this year finally decided I'd sell one of my tractors and buy one.

Based on what you described you will want a 4in1 bucket. If you don't get one of these then go with the standard low profile bucket so you can see what you are doing. The larger bucket is nice for added capacity (not that much) but you can't see what you are doing which is one reason you are sitting in a skid steer to begin with.

Good luck.

ric
 
   / What is the best "new" skid steer? #4  
Re: What is the best \"new\" skid steer?

I have a bud who has a Cat 226 and is in love with it. He switched over to Cat after ten years with Mustang. Besides the Cat service he's crazy about the joystick controls.

I have the JCB with high flow and love it. Of course the big reason I am with the JCB is it has the door. I work by myself and so I do a lot of things where I use the tractor and in the process have to get in and out. That is inconvenient to impossible with the other brands besides being extremely unsafe.

I don't know how familiar you are with the different controls. My JCB doesn't have the joystick like what's standard on them and Cat. I've used joystick and I could get used to it pretty quick I believe. Mine has Case or hand controls. I am used to it and think it's the greatest.

I know two men who are Bobcat diehards and they are beyond belief with the foot--hand controls. I watched one of them doing finish work under a deadline. We were getting the final touches on the Texas Wild Exhibit at the FT Worth Zoo. He was staying ahead of the sod laying crew. And the three men with rakes to help them were spending all their time watching him work. He was amazing.

With my JCB I have some disadvantages. The biggest one is I can't use tracks. On one side I have the door and the other the high flow unit. There isn't the instant parts access I would have with Bobcat or Case.

One of the things I've learned repeatedly and often the hard way with a skid steer is cutting tires is as natural as falling in love at the movies. I now carry a spare and all the tires are full of Slime. I still get flats, just not as often.

If you look at my pictures of Iris you will see she has more attachments than just about anyone. Most of them I've made myself. I've found the skid steer is the most productive universal tool a man can have.
 
   / What is the best "new" skid steer? #5  
Re: What is the best \"new\" skid steer?

Cat/ASV controls make the most sense to my simple mind. One hand drives, the other runs the loader/attachment. Same type of controls on the small dozers so renting one of those is a little easier as one is already familar with controls. (hystat ones anyway) Just my opinion, YMMV...
 
   / What is the best "new" skid steer?
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Re: What is the best \"new\" skid steer?

Dozernut,
Thanks for the suggestion about the ASV units. I will have to check to see where the closest dealer is.

ric,
The title seemed logical after the other thread. I tried to think of something else but it just seemed that there was no other better choice. Please forgive the plagerism.

You brought up many good points about the machines and the economics of new verses used. I have always purchased used equipment. Sometimes the used machines are somewhat close ($-wise) to new machines and do not have a warranty. Machines that are considerably less can be a liability regarding repairs and sometimes it is hard to find what you want (especially with ac)

Thanks for the info rg. digging vs. lifting machines, I was not familiar with this difference.

Also, have you found any particularly good sources for used skid steers?

Wrought'n Harv,
Thanks for the tip about the spare tire as well as your other reflections. I really like the JCB's but I think I would feel "unbalanced" operating the "one armed bandit"
Harv we are alomost neighbors, I live in Rowlett but my property is considerably South of this area.

ScottAr,
From what I hear the Caterpillar controls sound the most interesting. I have not seriously looked at them but I plan to.
How are the Cat controls different from the Bobcat hand controls?



Does any one know of any inherent weaknesses of Bobcat machines and especially the Bobcat S300? While I am considering all options, this machine is interesting to me because of its horspower rating and lift capacity.
 
   / What is the best "new" skid steer? #7  
Re: What is the best \"new\" skid steer?

Ranger
Find a Caterpillar dealership, they sell the ASV which is rebranded Caterpillar. Cat owns a percentage of ASVI. I think they have a pretty good dealer network. Polaris also sells a renamed Positrack and several large implement dealers have picked them up in our area. You can find a dealer locator on their web site.
RB
 
   / What is the best "new" skid steer? #8  
Re: What is the best \"new\" skid steer?

I used several sites to compare and contrast equipment, including options and prices. I used ebay for prices, descriptions and pictures. Wide range of equipment presented and it rolls over daily. I used Equipment Trader Online for the same plus it added geographical filter, local, regional and natiowide. I used Auto-RV's heavy equipment section for those regions close by that were in my range for pick up and delivery. I used Google to search for specific units with specific equipment to locate the best relative price. I did not use any of the Used Heavy Equipment sites because the prices tend to be inflated. Seemed to me they think they are selling to someone who's going to make big bucks with their unit after you buy it and they want their cut upfront.

I'd bet you buy a one to three year old used unit with what you want for the payoff of the loan and avoid the depreciation. Personally I would not be too concerned about the warranty on a mature design. The warranty can't be that long on a ground engaging unit like this anyway. If you buy something with less than 500 - 800 hours whatever issues there were encountered initally have already been addressed by the warranty.

To me skidsteers fall roughly into two categories, the big four and the wannabee's. The big four are Case, NH, Deere and Bobcat. To me Case and Bobcat are diggers, NH and Deere are lifters. ALL have their plus and minuses.

You'd be surprised how many used units I've seen in the past 2 years with cab's, heat and AC.

Hope this helps.

Good luck.

How did I pick the one I have a deposit on? I did like you are doing, figured out what I was going to do with it...easy. Figured out what I was willing to pay, not so easy. I did not want to go over $10K.... Then which one? The process of elimination eventually led me to a 1994 Case with 6 hours on a new engine with a 4in1 bucket and new tires for less than $10k. Luck?.. no, diligence.

ric
 
   / What is the best "new" skid steer? #9  
Re: What is the best \"new\" skid steer?

The main difference between Bobcat hand controls and Cat controls is Bobcat uses cables, Cat is electrical. That's what the Cat dealer said anyway. The pattern is the same. I've not heard of any problems with either system.

ASVs are sold through the Cat dealer network, they are a Cat partnership company. Cat supplies engines and the controls to ASV loaders, ASV supplies the track undercarriages to Cat skid loaders.

The S300; All I know about it is it's a new machine in their lineup. Why don't you go to Bobcat's website and request an info sheet on it? Comes inside a week. Caution: the local dealer will call you fishing for a sale.
 
   / What is the best "new" skid steer? #10  
Re: What is the best \"new\" skid steer?

About the time I quit the Bobcat dealer to go self-employed was when the new models were coming out, I think the S300 is a latest and greatest 873, does it have vertical lift? I wasn't around them enough to know of any problems with them, they had finally got the previous model 873's to where they were a good machine, and the new models look healthier than that, hand controls are available and they use an electrical wire not a cable like the Cat dealer said in another post (old Bobcats did use cables for the hand control option but in the past 5 years or so they have been electrical) that new A300 (all wheel steer) uses a joystick to drive and steer and another to control boom functions, left hand drives and steers, right controls boom there fun to learn to operate, If I were buying a new skid-steer today I would look at every manufacturer and buy the one with the least amount of electrical controls, not trying to turn you away from B/C's but if it hadn't been for electrical problems our shop would have been empty most of the time. There are very few attachments that you will need high-flow hydraulics to operate, asphalt planer, stump grinder and brush chipper are the ones that come to mind, I would evaluate my needs closely to see if I really wanted to spend the extra $$$.
 

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