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Buying My First Skid Steer ~ Please Help / Advice Appreciated

bdog1234

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 29, 2013
Messages
189
Location
USA
I think you are asking the wrong questions. There is so much more to a skid steer than the engine. In fact most breakdowns you will encounter in owning one are not due the engine. Maybe bolt on accessories on the engine but not the engine itself. They are all pretty good.

Whatever brand you buy make sure you have a good dealer close by and that they are a full service dealer with lots of parts in stock. Nothing against mustang gehl Tak etc they make good machines but they don't have near the dealer network of Deere cat bobcat. I really wanted to try a Tak when I bought my Deere a couple months ago but the closest dealer is 130 miles away and they are not even a full service dealer.

If you are getting the biggest skid steers hauling them is a concern. My Deere weighs over 11,000lbs. Couple that with a trailer that can handle that much weight and you are most likely in CDL territory and will want a dually to tow it. They will very likely overload a 14k trailer which means tandem duals or triple axle.
 

iBlitz

Active Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2016
Messages
34
Location
IL
Thank you for all the suggestions. From my understanding Bobcat is the one with Kubota engines. It does seem that the engine is not of the most concern. That being said, which has the best hydraulic system and arms?
 

mxsledder

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2006
Messages
135
Location
utah
Bobcat used to have Kubota engines. Once Doosan bought Bobcat out they started using Doosan motors and Cat now uses Kubota engines.
 

iBlitz

Active Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2016
Messages
34
Location
IL
Lol this is hilarious. I am just going to buy a Cat since it seems that the only thing I should look for is not an engine, but rather a reputable brand with a great track record and reputable service, which you can not beat cat ( imo ). So I will just buy a Cat, what year did they start making Kubota engines in the Cats?
 

bdog1234

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 29, 2013
Messages
189
Location
USA
Cat has a good reputation but the others are good too. I bought a new Deere in May and looked at other brands but did not even consider cat as they are so darned expensive. Personally I think you are paying for the name and the machine is not that much better. That is just my opinion though but I love my Deere and the bobcats are pretty darn slick too. I just can't see a cat being 10k better for a comparably spec'd machine.
 
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