Affordable skid steer

Finally found one in my budget

 

Looks about right! Maybe I should get a model with HVAC cab so I can pretend to be comfortable when I'm out in the real thing this winter.

 

Skid steers and loader tractors are usually stupid priced...that's how I ended up with an old forklift...works for me, wouldn't for many though.

 

Actually was an old bobcat 610 out in North Dakota not long ago for 3000$. Was actually pretty nice shape for being an old belt drive one. Only drawback was the v-4 Wisconsin they ran because they didn’t like getting ran hard in the heat.

 

I have an old 1737 I bought cheap but it required a fair bit of work to get it in good operational shape. In fact after putting another drivers clutch in and the primary coming apart I parked it and ended up with a new little tractor so I had something that worked when I needed it. My uncle came and got the skid steer and fixed it in exchange for me letting him use it so I know have that for lifting what my John Deere 2025r won’t. And while I could have bought a nice skid steer for the cost of my tractor a tractor is better at certain things over a skid and vice versa but I figured I would be doing more tractor stuff than skid steer stuff so I got the new tractor and saved my old case skid steer.

 

How hard are you looking? The future son in law usually has 5 or 6 for sale at any one time.

 

I’m looking for a 773/783 or s185/s250 class.

I’d prefer the 773/783 since they don’t have the electronics.

seems everything is at least $25k and north.

 

Does it have to be bobcat brand? See some pretty nice case 1845c machines for that 13000-17000 range. One of the local rental shops had 2 of the
at one time and the abuse those things took and came back for more was amazing. Had 4 cylinder Cummins in them and all hand controls which I prefer but obviously is a matter of what you like.

 

I was leaning towards the kibota engine.

which Cummins ?

the critical part for me is the ability to pickup a 2000 lb pallet at the least.

 

Believe it was a 2,5 4 cylinder non turbo. 2000 lbs is a big skid steer. The 1845 is 1800 lb lift and was one of the bigger machines in its time. I saw a 900 series bobcat that was in good shape the other day for sale, they usually go cheaper because they’re so big nobody wants them rated to lift 3000lb and a machine weight of 9000.

 

The 773 won’t lift 2000 lb pallets well if it does even rated for 1700lbs so same category machine as the 1845 case.

 

this is rated for 2400 lift and 3000 tip cap

 

If it’s for moving pallets a mid size diesel tractor with front assist and pallet forks will do it easier probably.

 

Any tractor I look at is a 75hp+ for 2300 lb rating.


So where does a guy go…


I have a workflow I want to develop… and the more I plan, the more I go WTF…

 

Probably an 873 or that big 943 bobcat if you want to be able to move 2000 lbs and be stable. Even if a 1845 or the 773 will lift it the stability won’t be there.

 

Since my budget is $5k and I have very little knowledge in repairs...

 

Or an older 3 series John Deere or equivalent with 3 pt forks. A 3046 will lift 2500 lbs 24” behind the center of lift pins.

 

There is no better buy/ value on the market than the New Holland 160 170 175 185, or the LX series. Not knocking Bobcats but their resale vs value isnt great... and unless I was buying newer I would take a New Holland over a Bobcat for the money all day. Even a lot of the older L series New Hollands are out there kicking butt still.

Also, I would NOT go older unless you do a lot of reading on parts availability. New Hollands are pretty good for this.

For your budget, an older 2wd farm tractor with a loader is going to be your best bet. Hard to find a good skid steer that'll do what you want for less than 12-15k. Compact to mid size tractors are even worse. You've probably already figured out everything I posted already, but I guess I just like talking about skid steers lol.

 

NH Ls170 is too small. The Ls180 is about equal to the 783 or the S185. (S = skid = tires, T= tracks)

the 873 has a Duetz air cooled Diesel engine.

bobcat have a kubota V2203 engine in like a 773. Why is that important? Change the oil pan, you can get a used low hour reefer engine out of a carrier or thermoking reefer unit at some reasonable prices and drop a new engine in relatively quickly.

you have to go new enough to get into a S185 /T190 to get back into a bobcat new enough for that kind of lift capacity. And both of those are all at around 1800 lbs. (hint. Most newer models are rated that the model number X 10) so the S185 is rated for about 1850. The LS170 is 1700 and the NH LS225 is rated for 2250.

at $97 / hr rental and 3.5 hours on the hour meter , I’ve got a spread sheet that breaks down how many days a year you’d have to use it to make purchasing a $25,000 machine worthwhile. Even on a business loan. And it’s less than 18 days annually. And that includes purchasing a new $12,500 84”x176” 12,000 lb rated dump trailer.

between the yard/ snow/ wood stuff I have to do, I see about 100-110 days a year usage. Or right around 350-375 hours annually.

A tractor that can perform similar? Cost is likely to be as much or more.

which do you like to operate more? I can get a smaller foot print in a skid steer to do what I want over a tractor.

 

As far as wood handling & pallet handling I would go skid/track loader all day long.

The skid/track loaders are a bit tougher on grass & gravel; as far as damaging/roughing them up.

The footprint is much smaller than a tractor.

Personally can’t hardly stand to use a wheeled skid loader. The balance & ride is way better on track loaders. The wheeled loaders will definitely be lower priced.

We load 2000# hay bales & move pallets of seed with my brothers 333E Deere. My uncle has a 323 Deere it moves hay bales just fine. Both are track machines.

I have ran my friends 95EVL ?? Kubota & it’s a nice machine & didn’t appear to lack for power. I prefer the Kubota doors as they open above your head so you don’t have to worry about busting your door glass out if your attachment is out of the way.

My Dad has a 7330 Deere & my brother has a 7410 Deere, your vision is a bit obstructed when trying to get into pallets but you can have a bit more lift capacity with them.

You just need to make sure you have plenty of rear wheel weights & a weight box on your tractor.


That’s just my experiences & opinion