• 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!

Who uses a skid steer only at home?

hd78glide

Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2011
Messages
10
Location
Hazelridge MB Canada
I don't have one yet, but I am actively searching for a machine for personal use. Snow clearing and odd stuff around the property. I just sold my tractor, with a blower on the back. My old body can't take the twisting to see where I'm going anymore.
 

James R

Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2011
Messages
17
Location
Hay Springs, Ne
Yep, they can sure be hard on a guy's back but not as bad as using a shovel or lifting heavy objects. I feel every little bounce right from my lower back to the tips of my toes. That will sure teach a fellow to be as smooth of an operator as can be and to keep the work area smooth too. I really wanted a sub-compact tractor with a loader, can't work as fast as a skid steer but don't tear up the ground/grass as much. Couldn't find one around here, not one I could afford, that is.
 

Diesel gal

Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2011
Messages
23
Location
California
Occupation
Vice President of BeCarbCompliant
My husband will always keep a bobcat around our yard. It's great for lugging in firewood, planting a garden or used as scaffold so I can paint the tallest point of our house. He planted a tree once and never got his hands dirty. Even scooped water out of the stream for it with the backhoe bucket. It's the handiest tool we have.
 

pp13bnos

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2011
Messages
354
Location
Oregon
I honestly don't know what I'd do without my Skidsteer. Its a must have for anyone with a bit of property. :)
 

Reel hip

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2010
Messages
246
Location
San Diego
Occupation
owner operator bobcat"s and dump truck"s
View attachment 84733I own a Bobcat business. I usually have at least one off the trailer for home use. 15 years ago our family and the neighbors family would trade dinners. My wife would cook monday's and wednsday and the neighbor would cook Tuesday and thursday's. We live on a dirt road and everyday my son's (6 & 7 then) would deliver or pick up dinner putting it in the smooth bucket.They would make a game of making sure nothing was ever spilled. By the way these two boys have grown into some of the best operators I know! Here is a 3rd generation!
 

Attachments

  • Copy of Misc 023.jpg
    Copy of Misc 023.jpg
    45.7 KB · Views: 435

brynbaily

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2008
Messages
94
Location
N.E. Ohio
Occupation
Equipment Operator
We have a Cat 236B2 machine we're using on 14 acres and can't imagine how anyone could live without one! We use it for just about everything other than mowing.......the wife seems to think its not "turf friendly" heh :rolleyes:
 

k45

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2009
Messages
148
Location
southern Ohio
We have a Cat 236B2 machine we're using on 14 acres and can't imagine how anyone could live without one! We use it for just about everything other than mowing.......the wife seems to think its not "turf friendly" heh :rolleyes:

I use my ss for mowing hills too steep to turn the tractor on.
 

jrcampbe

New Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2011
Messages
4
Location
Minneapolis
Just bought a Case 1835B for home use only, mostly snow removal. This worthless post is my 3rd, so now I can ask the group a question about it!

Thanks,

Jim
 

jason975

Active Member
Joined
Nov 16, 2011
Messages
25
Location
Timmins, Ontario, Canada
Occupation
heavy equipment/ truck mechanic
I've seen it a couple times where the plastic wrap from the filter or sometimes rags somehow magically make their way in there, once a ping pong ball. I am the road service guy for chartrand equipment in timmins, its hard to find operators that give a sh*t nowadays.. so dont be surprised by anything. Have you taken a blowgun to the lines or anything?
 

Reel hip

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2010
Messages
246
Location
San Diego
Occupation
owner operator bobcat"s and dump truck"s
I've seen it a couple times where the plastic wrap from the filter or sometimes rags somehow magically make their way in there, once a ping pong ball. I am the road service guy for chartrand equipment in timmins, its hard to find operators that give a sh*t nowadays.. so dont be surprised by anything. Have you taken a blowgun to the lines or anything?
Must be talking air filters from a different post. Ping pong ball?
 

jparr763

Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2011
Messages
11
Location
Fresno, CA
I use my 763 exclusively at home. I'm on 20 acres in the Sierra Nevada mountains, so it is mainly used for moving pine trees around (in the form of millable or burnable wood).
I use the bucket mainly, but bought a grapple attachment that is getting a lot of use too. In the winter, my snow blower attachment earns its keep since our driveway is 1/3mi long.
 

MarkinMass

Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2012
Messages
20
Location
Massachusetts
HI all - first time posting.

I am looking for a quality used skidsteer for homeowner use only. I plan to use it to help in the woods for log removal for my own firewood processing. I have 10 acres, so need something to help once treea are cut. I have thought about a new compact tractor or similar, but am not sure those are heavy duty enough. I also plan to use it for snow removal (300' paved driveway).
Since I am a homeowner and not a contractor or in the construction business, I have only looked for used skidsteers online (machinery trader, craigslist and a couple of local equipment dealers). To be honest I have no idea what to pay for a used machine. I have looked on machinery trader at the "list" prices, but have no clue as to what they would actually sell for. I would like a machine that has 2,500 hours or less that has been reasonably maintained. I think Bocat 7 or 8 series or John Deere 240 and up. These 2 brands are close to my house,so if I need parts, I should be able to get them without much trouble.
One other issue is that I will most likely need to finance part of the cost. I am working with a local credit union and they said they go by the NADA value? I did not realize NADA also gave equipment values. I do not know of any other alternatives to finance used equipment if not a commercial application.
Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly apprecia
 

KSSS

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2005
Messages
4,316
Location
Idaho
Occupation
excavation
My opinion only, I would avoid a two series Deere. They are cheap to buy but not cheap to own. The series II machines are better but if you want a Deere I would find a 300 series machine. As for finacing, you can try places like Pinnacle Financial and others, not sure how it works where you are not commerical. Wells Fargo also does quite a bit of heavy equipment. A dealer themselves usually have options for finance. They have whats called a Green Book value, but NADA has no values that I know of for construction equipment.
 

k45

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2009
Messages
148
Location
southern Ohio
HI all - first time posting.

I am looking for a quality used skidsteer for homeowner use only. I plan to use it to help in the woods for log removal for my own firewood processing. I have 10 acres, so need something to help once treea are cut. I have thought about a new compact tractor or similar, but am not sure those are heavy duty enough. I also plan to use it for snow removal (300' paved driveway).

How are you going to use it for log removal? Are you going to get a grapple and pick up the cut logs and carry them forward, or are you planning on dragging them backwards?

Side and rear visibility of a SS is poor, especially in a confined place like the woods. It's okay if you have very open woods, but I wouldn't drag a log very far backwards in the woods around here.

Also, unless you are on very solid dirt, you will probably want over the tire (OTT) tracks.

I don't know your terrain and the type of woods you will be working in, but I think you would be better off with a utility or larger compact tractor. YMMV.

Ken
 

MarkinMass

Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2012
Messages
20
Location
Massachusetts
Thought of it both ways. If I could find a reasonably priced grapple, that would be my choice. Otherwise chains and dragging it only to an open area where I can cut/split the wood. Remember this is only for my own firewood, so I will be doing it on and off throughout the year.
I need a skidsteer that can last me many years and probably about 150-200 hours per year. I thought if I got a decent one with 2,500 hours or less, I might be set for quite some time. I need to keep the cost as low as possible, since I will not be earning me any money with this machine unlike most of you!
If I go the Bobcat route, what is the best option for the couple of tasks I will be using it for? Not to mention if you suggest a model, what should be the MOST I should be looking to pay with hours and overall condition?
Is there anyway for me to see the greenbook value on used machines?

Thanks - Mark
 

KSSS

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2005
Messages
4,316
Location
Idaho
Occupation
excavation
There are different online places to see values most charge you a fee that I have seen. There are some options to find out what machines are going for. Auction prices are a great CURRENT indicator of value especially in time like these. Go to Ritchie Bros website, sign up and you look at what machines have sold for at auction. Same with Iron Planet. IP is better since you can actually see what kind of shape the machine was in when sold. That says a lot since book values are subjective when it comes to conditions. With IP you can see for yourself.

Most guys here that have used these machines for skidding logs use tracks. I have used top quality tire chains also with good success but it depends on ground conditions. There are also some specific attachments made for this application.

These machines well taken care of can be in great shape at 2000 hours or completely worn out in 800 hours so its really hard to say what you should pay. Condition trumps hours and year everytime. Generally I would say you should be able to find a machine with 70-80 hp, 2000 pound ROC, and 1500-2500 hours with a cab in decent shape for around 15K.
 

LWG

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2010
Messages
90
Location
Reisterstown, Maryland
I just finished loading a few cord's worth of saw logs using a tracked Bobcat with a stump bucket. The bucket has a grapple. I bought it new off of an auction site. It was not very expensive at all. Couldn't have been easier, safer or more efficient. I'm just a homeowner and never ran equipment before. I was working in mud a few inches deep.
 

MarkinMass

Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2012
Messages
20
Location
Massachusetts
There are 2 Bobcat skidsteers in my area for sale, one with high hours. Please give me your input on pricing and whether I should keep looking.

1st - 1996 Bobcat 863 with 4,326 hours, enclosed cab w/heat. Looked at it and it is in decent condition and is a local machine with regular maintainance performed. "Asking" price is $10.5k.
2nd - 2001 Bobcat 863G with 3,093 hours, enclosed cab w/heat. Also in decent condition with regular maintainance performed. "Asking" price is $12.5k.

Both machines were owned by a local nursery and were traded in for new equipment. I'm just a homeowner, but is this still too many hours for either of these machines? I know maintainance and condition trumps hours, so i would need to do a through inspection. What would be the most $$$ you would offer for either one of these, if at all?

Thanks - Mark
 
Top