Considering 2 used skid steers

[Aranyic]

So I'm considering two used skid steers for difference purposes. Wanted to see if my thought process is correct from people with a little more experience than me on them. I've just run them as rentals when I needed something bigger than my deere 2025r that I currently have.

First one would be for my shop which does semi tractor/trailer repair. Would be used 75% of the time on concrete probably moving tires, mounting trailer doors, hoods, radiators etc. We have a forklift but IMO the skid steer is easier and more comfortable to move around in if you are not actually moving freight. I do have 5 acres of gravel that maintenance would be done on and possibly some snow clearing. I'm tempted to go wheeled open ROPS on this one so that they can communicate better and they can get in/out without having the boom all the way down all the time. Using pallet forks, bucket, boom of some sort and a broom attachment.

Second is for home I've got 11 acres, 1000 ft of gravel drives and about 2000 ft of hedge line/trails I maintain. Currently doing it with a Deere 2025r but I really want more lift capacity and I've almost sold myself on the upcharge for a full cab with heat/ac. Running a brush hog in the summer and snow blower in the winter (being able to actually go forward instead of backwards) out of the elements/dust/moisture seems pretty amazing after a year we actually had snow. I burn wood and move around IBC totes of wood. I can't double stack (4" off the ground is optimistic)with a full tote of wet wood my rear end loses traction even with concrete in the ballast box I've got to run it in 4wd to move. I'll run pallet forks, bucket, brush hog, grapple, snow blower mostly there.

I think I'm fairly confident in what I want for the shop machine. 65ish HP open rops 2000ish lift capacity and wheeled machine for the hard surfaces?

For home I'm thinking tracked machine since it'll almost never see concrete or asphalt. I don't want to turf up my yard and I'll have it in farm fields cutting trees. It's stored in a barn with gravel floors so I think the cab will help with rodents etc also and if I leave it in a field for a night or two it'll be out of the elements. My big question is high flow or not. Gut says high flow machines will probably have been run harder at the same number of hours. I'm thinking 75hp or so and hoping for 1300-1500 hrs 2018ish give or take? I don't want to spend 35k and then wish I had got a high flow machine though. Can I get the correct angles with a standard flow rotary brush hog to keep honey suckle/etc cut back on hedge lines and trails? Or will I wish I had a drum mulcher to do it correctly some day. It hides the house from the road and I can't see anyone from spring through fall so I don't want to get rid of all of it. I'm just tired of cutting it by hand with a gas hedge trimmer.

 

[PeterG]

So I'm considering two used skid steers for difference purposes.

So what's your budget for both machines? You will get a ton of different opinions here. All will likely be good answers. A Bobcat on wheels is a good start. Does a lot, with not too much cost. A track loader is even more fun, but a good one is twice the cost. A big stand behind mini skidsteer on tracks is of interest in that they can get around in a shop well, and can also do work outside. Lastly consider a small wheel loader like the orange Hitachi one pictured that I just sold off.

 

[92U 3406]

I'd go high flow. Never know when you might need it.

These newer machines with emissions it might be a good thing if it actually got worked. I see so many folks who use these machines on their own land just puttering around at half (or less) throttle.

 

[MG84]

The wheeled machine is 100% the right choice for your business, you are probably on the right track with ~65hp and 2000lb ROC. Ease of getting in and out and visibility would be high on my list of considerations for that machine. CTL 'might' be right for you personal property but there are some things to consider.

The CTL is only gentle on turf if you are traveling in a straight line. Start turning and maneuvering, especially if the ground is damp and you'll have a gawd awful mess. Your only options are make huge sweeping turns, wait for the ground to be dry or frozen, put down plywood or only turn in a sacrificial area. That's my biggest gripe about them, its so bad that if I have to work on customers lawns either I take plywood to put down or bring a wheeled machine (tractor, backhoe or SS).

As for the cab, it would be very nice in the winter for blowing snow, or other jobs year round where you are in the machine for long periods of time. I don't use mine like that so the better viability and ease of getting in or out on the open stations machines are more beneficial.

As for bush hogging, I personally think they suck. After using a tractor with a bush hog you'll probably be disappointed. The machine is running in a perpetual dust/debris cloud, hydraulics (even high flow) are not nearly as efficient as a tractors PTO, and then you still have the problem of tearing up the ground on turns. I'd stick with the tractor for bush hogging and figure some other way to trim back the vines and branches along the roads.

 

[Aranyic]

Hmm maybe I'm better off at home going my initial route of something in the 40-50hp compact tractor route in the 4 series Kubota or Deere for home that would come in around 5000lb. That was my initial plan at home and go with an offset ditch/bank mower for the hedge lines. I thought the CTL might be easier on the ground (and it's nice that it's more maneuverable). My biggest hurdle atm is I want to be able to lift the IBC totes of wood high enough to double stack under storage which I don't stand a chance of with my current machine. I can still do decent front mount snow blowers with the 4 series compact tractors and the full cab.

I loved the idea of the heavier machine for stump buckets, root grapples etc reclaiming areas. It's only 40 miles to my shop though I guess I can always grab it for a weekend if I'm renting a piece of equipment that I need the heavier machine for.

 

[bad Tom]

I think a small wheel loader will make a monkey out of a skid steer and you can use the same attachments on them as a skid steer.

 

[PeterG]

I think a small wheel loader will make a monkey out of a skid steer and you can use the same attachments on them as a skid steer.

Kubota makes a nice articulating wheel loader (Like RS430 & RS540) with half yard bucket and can pick up a half ton load and not make the slide around mess. But they are going to be 15-25K for well used. A bit hard to find though with the skidsteer attachment set up. I had to convert my Hitachi over. The machine was good as a fork lift, and for using the bucket. I did not like it all for grading and other CTL work. My go to machine is always the mini Skidsteer Toro Dingo TX425. It will lift about 800 lbs and does everything well for its size.

 

[ozarkag]

Not quite sure it's right but you'll score the most bragging points with the CTL.
The trend has been away from high flow for rotary cutters, and even small mulchers. I doubt anyone can justify a mulcher for a single property maintenance. I would recommend a std flow ctl and decent brush cutter,

 

[Aranyic]

Not quite sure it's right but you'll score the most bragging points with the CTL.
The trend has been away from high flow for rotary cutters, and even small mulchers. I doubt anyone can justify a mulcher for a single property maintenance. I would recommend a std flow ctl and decent brush cutter,

Yeah I know the CTL will make me more "friends" in a hurry.

 

[MG84]

I would first buy the wheeled skid steer for your business. Take it home a few times when it isn't busy and use it around your property and see how you like it. Even if you just get a bucket and a set of forks you can do a lot of work. A wheeled unit will also be a lot better for snow removal. The CTL is fine in fresh powder of the right consistency and not pushing/maneuvering too hard, but as soon as you get on packed snow it becomes a 9000lb bobsled. Turn too sharp or push too hard on a hill in the snow, even fresh snow, and it packs under the tracks and away you go.

Honestly a large 4wd compact tractor might be the best bet around your home place. You could always bring the wheeled SS from work if you have a big project. In addition to the Grand L series Kubota and 4000 series JD, I'd also look at the Kubota MX and the Kubota TLB series. Something like a M62 (just the tractor loader, not TLB) would easily handle your wood totes, I think they lift 4000lbs to full height. If you want something a bit older the M59 or even L48 were real stout units, they can be had fairly reasonably now, especially one that's just a loader tractor.

 

[BC Placer gold]

I would first buy the wheeled skid steer for your business. Take it home a few times when it isn't busy and use it around your property and see how you like it. Even if you just get a bucket and a set of forks you can do a lot of work. A wheeled unit will also be a lot better for snow removal. The CTL is fine in fresh powder of the right consistency and not pushing/maneuvering too hard, but as soon as you get on packed snow it becomes a 9000lb bobsled. Turn too sharp or push too hard on a hill in the snow, even fresh snow, and it packs under the tracks and away you go.

Honestly a large 4wd compact tractor might be the best bet around your home place. You could always bring the wheeled SS from work if you have a big project. In addition to the Grand L series Kubota and 4000 series JD, I'd also look at the Kubota MX and the Kubota TLB series. Something like a M62 (just the tractor loader, not TLB) would easily handle your wood totes, I think they lift 4000lbs to full height. If you want something a bit older the M59 or even L48 were real stout units, they can be had fairly reasonably now, especially one that's just a loader tractor.

Exactly true regarding a tracked unit for snow. We just recently purchased an older (2007) ASV RC50 for acreage use as our Deere 270 wheeled unit is in a remote bush location for the winter.

As expected; although great in some drier snow conditions as soon as wet snow is driven on/packed by the machine it is (in this case a 6000lb) toboggan! We have steep grades and these have been easily handled for the last number of years with the John Deere wheeled unit. Basically bald tires when purchased 7 years ago....high quality square link chains on rear tires.

Tracks for plowing may be 'okay' in flat country...The ASV though is really impressive regarding the flotation and ability to drive right up on packed wet snow when pushing piles over a drop (flat working area!) Almost like a snowmobile....

We are in early mud season now so to minimize mess I use the machine (say to shift snow piles) only in the morning when the ground is frozen.

 

[KSSS]

I would agree that get a wheeled machine for the business and try it at home and see how it works with what you want to do. I would get a cabbed machine and pull the door off, and open the windows for communication. Then if you want to work in cold weather you put the door back on and you can stay comfortable. I would consider a CASE 240B or like machine. The 240B has 2400 pounds of radial lift, which for unloading flat bed semis works very well. The clean sight lines make seeing obstacles easier than does a vertical lift. The door comes off and on in about 2 min. They have about 74 hp, so no SCR and no DPF filter to worry about. The B series has a good camera.

I would try a wheeled machine for home use. Tracks are vogue right now, but it maybe that you don't need it. If you were pushing a lot dirt, it would be different, but for your use, a wheeled machine would work, for less money and upkeep.

 

[PeterG]

A Bobcat or other brand skidsteer on wheels is a good bang for the buck and a pretty good choice. Yet, there is a reason it's called a "skid" "steer". Even going easy on the turning, you will be messing up your gravel which will need at some point more compaction, and you may leave rubber marks on the concrete shop floor. The Bobcat is hard to see behind you which is important in the shop use. While you may operate it well, it doesn't mean your workers well. These machines get "twitchy" as there is no steering wheel. That's a big deal as it sounds like you are wanting to use the machine to help with lifting and fine adjusting parts to get removed and mounted on the trucks and trailers. The little articulating wheel loader is more money. There is no damage in the turning. It's easier for anyone to jump in and drive as it's wheel steering. The cab can be enclosed and heated. There is excellent visibility to back up. The one I sold got shipped up to Alaska. The guy loves it. He's sent me images using it around his construction site moving materials into a building after unloading trucks, and he sent a video of him plowing with chains on the wheels. It's another option out there. One of many. Small articulating loaders are not that popular, so many people have not operated a small one (one yard bucket or smaller).

 

[crane operator]

Skid steers are bad forklifts, until/ unless you need to go off-road. Sounds like your truck yard is all gravel and pavement.

Forklift is easier to get on and off, has much better visibility and better lift capacity. I would much prefer a forklift over a skid loader for the truck shop work.

 

[Welder Dave]

Totally agree with Crane op. A skid steer would be terrible to use in place of a fork lift or small wheel loader. You can't get out unless the boom is all the way down for one thing. Getting out with the boom raised is just asking for trouble or serious injury. Nobody should be working under a raised load either. I'm not sure if fork lifts have lock valves to prevent the load falling if a hose or cylinder seals let go?? Skid steer would also be very jerky turning on concrete and hard on tires. Skid steers also typically run at full throttle. You can do some stuff at low throttle but it's hard on the hydrostat. Communicating from the sides is less than ideal as well.

 

[MG84]

I agree a fork lift would be better for the lifting tasks, but it isn't going to be a bit useful for clearing snow or maintaining a 5ac gravel lot. Skid steer will do all of the above, sometimes having the exactly right tool for the job isn't practical. FWIW the largest heavy truck/tractor tire dealer in the area uses a wheeled skid steer for moving and loading stuff around the building and lot. Not sure if they have a forklift too, but they always have used the SS when I've had them load/unload big tires.

 

[Acoals]

A wheeled skid loader at the shop is nice, and doesn't get stuck on it's shadow like a forklift. Airless or solid tires of some sort are a great improvement for that type of work; you don't have to worry about running over stuff, and the machine is more stable, especially when turning. Skid loaders on air filled tires tend to bob all over the place on asphalt. If you try to take the machine home you will find that it gets stuck on it's shadow back in the woods, compared to air filled tires.