• Thank you for visiting HeavyEquipmentForums.com! Our objective is to provide industry professionals a place to gather to exchange questions, answers and ideas. We welcome you to register using the "Register" icon at the top of the page. We'd appreciate any help you can offer in spreading the word of our new site. The more members that join, the bigger resource for all to enjoy. Thank you!

Which track type skid loader fits my needs the best.

rancher2

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2013
Messages
51
Location
Lincoln NE
Have a big decision to make. My old 941B cat track loader has the torque convertor going out. I am probably going to junk the machine as the rails are getting bad on the machine also. So here's the question I have a S-750 bobcat that I haven't been happy with. I run a ground force tree saw and a eight foot grapple fork with it cleaning up a 160 acre pasture that is over grown with lots of big trees I have been working on it for some years on and off. Looking at used track loaders it looks like I need to spend $20,000 to $30,000 to get anything that is any good. So I am thinking of selling or trading the 750 and get a 100 Hp or so track type skid loader new and just have one machine. I know it is hard to have one machine do it all but I don't have any help so working on old heavy equipment is not fun and hiring Cat at $150.00 is out of the question. So work makes the best high HP,Hf hyd [The saw needs a lot of oil to run it] track type skid loader that will take using it in brush and the trees the 750 doesn't seem to be up to it. Thanks in advance for any help. I haven't ever owned a track skid loader. I have owned several brands of skid loaders in the last 25 years but this is the first time I have used one this hard and the 750 isn't big enough for this type of work. It works well for most farm needs.
 

Colorado Digger

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2008
Messages
1,169
Location
Carbondale,co
Is the 750 a high flow? I ordered a Bobcat t770 high flow with all the options. Close to 80k, if it does not perform up to my expectation it will go back. I demo'ed a t750 and thought it was underpowered, We are working at 8000' so it is a tough situation. I plan on eventually running a mulcher on it so we shall see.

Regards, CD
 

rancher2

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2013
Messages
51
Location
Lincoln NE
Yes the 750 is high flow. I won't even look at a Bobcat as this one had a battery blew up at 200 hrs took out the wiring harness and fuel tank. It was out of warranty and they want $14,000 worth of labor to fix it. I did all the labor and they wouldn't even give me a break on parts. No more Bobcats. The motor has plenty of power the machine just is too light for what I am using it for. If I am not going to replace my track loader I want a bigger skid loader on tracks that handles side hills and ditches better when I have the saw on it.
 

Colorado Digger

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2008
Messages
1,169
Location
Carbondale,co
I know this is the wrong spot for this thread, but you should find another dealer. At 200 hours I would consider that a brand new machine..what a bunch of bullsh..t

Good Luck, CD
 

rancher2

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2013
Messages
51
Location
Lincoln NE
I agreed but I couldn't even get any help from the Factory. I called and emailed and no help. It's fixed and I have used it another 50 hours cutting and hauling trees.
I know they don't care I am a small fish in there big sea but myself won't buy any more bobcat products.
 

pafarmer

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2010
Messages
883
Location
Somewhere in the woods !
Occupation
Land clearing, demo, site prep etc. Ex Pro Motocro
I run a CAT 299 with forestry head on it and it an animal....I traded a bobcat 870 for it a year ago, too little power.There isn't a bigger or bader machine in terms of raw HP in my opinion than the CAT 299 series. Good luck in your search.
 

KSSS

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2005
Messages
4,319
Location
Idaho
Occupation
excavation
I agreed but I couldn't even get any help from the Factory. I called and emailed and no help. It's fixed and I have used it another 50 hours cutting and hauling trees.
I know they don't care I am a small fish in there big sea but myself won't buy any more bobcat products.

Bobcat built their name by catering to the "little fish". I would not be happy either. They wanted 14K to repair a harness and fuel tank?
 

rancher2

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2013
Messages
51
Location
Lincoln NE
I run a CAT 299 with forestry head on it and it an animal....I traded a bobcat 870 for it a year ago, too little power.There isn't a bigger or bader machine in terms of raw HP in my opinion than the CAT 299 series. Good luck in your search.
I will have to take a look at the Cat 299. Running the tree saw on the 750 it is a magnet for saw dust in the cooling system. I blow it out with a air compressor before each day but I can't believe the amount of saw dust it pickups up. I don't understand why they don't have a timer and reverse the fan every thirty minutes or so to help keep it clean.
 

rancher2

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2013
Messages
51
Location
Lincoln NE
Bobcat built their name by catering to the "little fish". I would not be happy either. They wanted 14K to repair a harness and fuel tank?

Yes to do the fuel tank the engine and hydros have to come out. The harness that runs over the battery goes completely threw and around the machine. the 14k was labor only no parts. Being what I felt was a new machine I didn't want to splice the harness. To put the harness in I had the whole working parts of the machine on the shop floor. It was a big job but I go it done .If I would have known my old 941B cat track loader was going to give up the ghost I probably would have spliced the harness and traded it right away but I thought I would own it for several more years. Know I need to get a bigger skid loader with tracks and see if I can get by with one machine. I don't want to buy someones worn out track loader to replace the 941.
 

pafarmer

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2010
Messages
883
Location
Somewhere in the woods !
Occupation
Land clearing, demo, site prep etc. Ex Pro Motocro
I will have to take a look at the Cat 299. Running the tree saw on the 750 it is a magnet for saw dust in the cooling system. I blow it out with a air compressor before each day but I can't believe the amount of saw dust it pickups up. I don't understand why they don't have a timer and reverse the fan every thirty minutes or so to help keep it clean.

My 299 has a auto reversing fan and stays very tidy. Mine has the forestry package but all options can be spec'ed individually per owners requirements. Excellent machine the CAT is. I have owned a operated every major brand on the market today and find the CAT performance unmatched .....prior to the CAT we ran JD 333D's and TAk 250 along with a 870 bobcat....the bobcat was my least favorite due to lack of power , the JD machines performed real well, they also had the forestry package that included auto reversing fan ....the TAk was a beast but very hard to operate for any length of time, brutal ride characteristics...the CAT in all area's are superior. We have strong dealer support in our area and that should be your number one concern when buying...dealer support is paramount to a happy owner experience. Pick a brand and build a strong repor with them....good luck and let us know what you end up with....
 

rancher2

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2013
Messages
51
Location
Lincoln NE
Other than buying parts for the old 941 I haven't dealt very much with our Cat dealer. When I was shopping for a skid loader I stopped in at Cat and waited a hour and never talked to a sales person. I left my name and number with the front desk and never heard from them. When I bought my tree saw I talked to them on the phone about one and a sales man stopped by with brochure he told me he would get one of their rental units to Lincoln that I could try out. Never heard from him again. I don't chase people down to spend money with them. I will try to deal with them again as I sure am NOT going to buy a Bobcat this time at any price. I won't go back for a second screwing from those folks.
 

pafarmer

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2010
Messages
883
Location
Somewhere in the woods !
Occupation
Land clearing, demo, site prep etc. Ex Pro Motocro
Other than buying parts for the old 941 I haven't dealt very much with our Cat dealer. When I was shopping for a skid loader I stopped in at Cat and waited a hour and never talked to a sales person. I left my name and number with the front desk and never heard from them. When I bought my tree saw I talked to them on the phone about one and a sales man stopped by with brochure he told me he would get one of their rental units to Lincoln that I could try out. Never heard from him again. I don't chase people down to spend money with them. I will try to deal with them again as I sure am NOT going to buy a Bobcat this time at any price. I won't go back for a second screwing from those folks.

Can't say I blame you there. They screwed you bad. Too bad the head office at Bobcat didn't seem to give to ****s either.
I'm telling you the CAT 299XHP is unmatched in every respect. I have owned them all and have nothing to gain or loss by offering you my unbias observation on the beastly CAT...it's a freakin animal ! Try one and tell me I was wrong about it and the beers on me.
 
Last edited:

rancher2

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2013
Messages
51
Location
Lincoln NE
The crazy time of the year has hit hear now as it is planting time and trying to not burn up too much vacation time doing it. So the old 941 is sitting in the shed and nothing has been done to it and the skid loader and tree saw is setting. Probably will start the skid loader looking this summer or early fall before harvest. We have had some big storms go threw over the weekend so it is time to fix things before it dries up and the planting resumes. When I start looking I will look at the cat 299xhp first. Have a great summer and thanks again.
 

pafarmer

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2010
Messages
883
Location
Somewhere in the woods !
Occupation
Land clearing, demo, site prep etc. Ex Pro Motocro
The crazy time of the year has hit hear now as it is planting time and trying to not burn up too much vacation time doing it. So the old 941 is sitting in the shed and nothing has been done to it and the skid loader and tree saw is setting. Probably will start the skid loader looking this summer or early fall before harvest. We have had some big storms go threw over the weekend so it is time to fix things before it dries up and the planting resumes. When I start looking I will look at the cat 299xhp first. Have a great summer and thanks again.

Plowed and disked today myself. Planting corn and soybean this coming weekend if weather permits....have a great and trouble free planting season. Love field work. Have a safe summer.
 

pafarmer

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2010
Messages
883
Location
Somewhere in the woods !
Occupation
Land clearing, demo, site prep etc. Ex Pro Motocro
You may want to look at the Cat 287d/289d

Agreed...We previously ran 289C and D , both fantastic machines. We had the XPS version or more commonly known as the Hi Flow...Both are considerably less expensive than the 299 but depending on your need , both highly capable of the tough tasks that demand great hydro power and cooling properties....both very important features in any CTL....
 

rancher2

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2013
Messages
51
Location
Lincoln NE
When things get a little slower around here we will have to take a ride to the Cat dealer and see what they can do for us. It is a must to have a high flow machine to run my tree saw and I hope this time to get a track machine. Right now we are waiting to see how much damage we have on our corn and bean as we had a record breaking temps last Friday morning and froze a lot of crops in our area the corn is starting to come back.
 

Deereman

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2008
Messages
440
Location
Georgia
How do you feel about john deere equipment? A CT332 sounds about in the price range and kind of machine you are looking at. Good on slopes with good power and visibility. Murphy traction is right there in Lincoln.
 

rancher2

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2013
Messages
51
Location
Lincoln NE
Fast forward here we are again another busy time of the year trying to get the corn to dry down so we can get this harvest finished. Over the summer I had success pulling the torque converter out of my Cat 941B track loader and rebuilding it cleaned out the transmission and put back together and so far it has worked flawless. It is good to have the Cat back going to help with the tree work. I have run the Bobcat 750 150 hours since the fire and getting it back going. So far it working ok. I need to get it home after harvest and find a hyd leak I am losing some oil and have to add a little. Not seeing any on the ground. But it has been on rock and dirt for the last 10 months and is stored in a rock floor shed. To answer the question yes we like JD equipment that is all we have for AG equipment but the last two times I bought a new skid loader they acted like they didn't need my business so I went else were. With three dollar corn trading skid loaders will probably have to wait.
 
Top