I was not saying that BC was the best machine out there, only that they sell the most. Personally, I have never owned one and don't ever see that changing, Ford sells more pickups than any other OEM and I don't buy those either. Owning an 864 was a very costly period of your business life I would imagine.
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Considering buying a 287B to replace my T200 good or bad option
- Thread starter CollinMaune
- Start date
I was not saying that BC was the best machine out there, only that they sell the most. Personally, I have never owned one and don't ever see that changing, Ford sells more pickups than any other OEM and I don't buy those either. Owning an 864 was a very costly period of your business life I would imagine.
That would be true in some circumstances, but when your discussing topics like visibility, egress into the machine, or the durability of an MTL track system (this could be subjective, but any honest CAT salesman would likely agree they are "sensitive" to the operating environment), topics like that are issues independent of the number sold. Whether there were 1000 sold or 100,000 the issues are not based on sheer numbers of machines out there and thus increasing the likelihood of problems surfacing, but physical attributes of the machine that are present in each and every one one from the moment they come off the assembly line, in this case negative ones.
CM1995
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First of all welcome to the Forums CollinMaune!
Well my divorce is final from Bobcat as I just replaced my last T250 with a Cat 279D, the second one I've purchased in the last couple of years. Our marriage was a long one starting back in the late '80's with an 843 Perkins powered skid up to the last T250. 853, 863, T190, T250 (2) and a S250. My doctor said that in his best estimation, those machines and our dealer are responsible for at least 1.5 years removed from my lifespan...
At a loss here on the Cat ingress/egress issues with our 279's, one is a '16 and one '19. The cab is on the small side but not uncomfortable for my 6-1, 240 frame. My guys like them as well. I do not have any experience with the older models.
As others have stated stay as far away from the MTL's and ASV style undercarriage as possible.
Well my divorce is final from Bobcat as I just replaced my last T250 with a Cat 279D, the second one I've purchased in the last couple of years. Our marriage was a long one starting back in the late '80's with an 843 Perkins powered skid up to the last T250. 853, 863, T190, T250 (2) and a S250. My doctor said that in his best estimation, those machines and our dealer are responsible for at least 1.5 years removed from my lifespan...
At a loss here on the Cat ingress/egress issues with our 279's, one is a '16 and one '19. The cab is on the small side but not uncomfortable for my 6-1, 240 frame. My guys like them as well. I do not have any experience with the older models.
As others have stated stay as far away from the MTL's and ASV style undercarriage as possible.
Nige
Senior Member
is that just in the US or worldwide..? Based on what I’ve seen I could believe the first, not sure about the second though.
It might depend on what your used to, I have been to several different customer clinics with two different OEM's and the CAT scored low in both clinics in ingress and egress, even from CAT owners. I had a 272D2 on an RPO two years ago. I found the access and seating position to be subpar for what I would expect CAT to come to market with, it was uncomfortable for me to spend more than a couple hours in it. That is me and certainly not everyone, of my five guys, one wanted to keep the CAT. I turned the CAT back in even though the CAT was 2K plus my rental costs cheaper than the machine I bought. Parts of the CAT are really good, the user interface is among the best in class in my opinion.
NA is the largest market for SSL/CTLs. I am "almost" positive that BC holds the title overseas as well. I will ask around and confirm if that is correct.
Nige
Senior Member
According to a 2018 study the Asia-Pacific market was not only the largest in the world in terms of world market share but also had higher growth rates than any other market.
CollinMaune
Member
So I have been going back and forth and went to the local Bobcat dealer the other day to get some stuff for the T200 a few decals and some touch up paint to get ready to sell. The Salesman that I know well pulled me aside and showed me a 05 T300 with 2200 hours with new tracks, rebuilt final drives and a rebuilt hydraulic pump. He says it can be had for under 20000. It is a joystick hi flow machine. Now I am just going back and forth if it that much of an upgrade from my T200 or should I wait for something else.
The Peej
Senior Member
Sounds like it had a hard life to need pump work and final drives done with only 2200 hours
heymccall
Senior Member
I've got 8k hour TL150 machines still riding original finals and pumps (save for when the pilot pump flange fractured on each one).
I'd definitely not want that Bobcat (but, in reality, no Bobcat is worthy of my purchase). But, then again, I'd never buy a Ford or a JCB, either.
A T300 with new drives and new pumps at 2200 hours drives the point home on some of the other threads of homeowners and some contractors wanting to buy a higher houred track machine. Add up what those repairs cost, plus the cost of the machine initially and that was an expensive 2200 hours of ownership and the prior owner even after all those repairs, traded it off. It likely is not done bleeding it's owner.
I would wait for a better machine. The economy being strong in most places, I doubt you will "steal" the machine your looking for but if your going to pay, at least get a machine worth paying for. I would check Ironplanet.com and some of the other internet auction sites, auctions are always a gamble but the better ones have at inspections completed and your not buying totally blind. You can also get an idea of the machines are brining.
I would wait for a better machine. The economy being strong in most places, I doubt you will "steal" the machine your looking for but if your going to pay, at least get a machine worth paying for. I would check Ironplanet.com and some of the other internet auction sites, auctions are always a gamble but the better ones have at inspections completed and your not buying totally blind. You can also get an idea of the machines are brining.
CollinMaune
Member
KSSS Thanks for the info it seems like I have my T200 pretty much sold I have a at least 2 people in line to buy it. That being said I was able to find a nicer 06 model GehlCTL80 with 2200 hours. THe machine has new tracks, roller and sprockets. it is a cabbed machine but doesn't have the front glass. I am tihnking I can get this machine for around 21-22K. What are some major areas on the TAK/ Gehl machines that cause concern?
I have had a number Taki mini excavators but never their CTLs. Just looking at what I see on here, not including the newest models, the biggest issues seem to be electrical. other than checking for ragged out wiring harnesses, pretty hard to look into that. They are strong performing machines, not overly comfortable but they are, well built machines. Taki parts are expensive. You could certainly do worse.
I almost bought a tak. The electrical as stated does come to play. I did however find it comfortable. And I really liked the seat position. Even if it wasn't, it felt much higher up.
The only thing I did not care for were the touchy iso controls.
The only thing I did not care for were the touchy iso controls.
All Taki's in my experience have a certain feel to them that takes a bit to get used to. I have demoed Taki CTL's and they and the excavators have a similar "touchy" feel. Once you spend time with it, you not only get used to it but come to appreciate it. I think that the BC mini ex's have a similar touchy feel. I find the Taki CTL's at least the older ones, loud. That big cab seemed to have like a barrel effect. I think the newer models have more insulation, and they have worked on the track system to quiet them down.