What size machine should I get?

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Joined
Jan 14, 2011
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8
we are complete rookies with skid steer knowledge, so I am asking, what should we be looking for in a used machine? Our needs are hobby farm / large acreage related. we will need to have an auger, blade and back hoe attachments. how does one tell how hard the unit has been worked? I gather something in the gpm of 12-15 should run the acces. but in the 10-13k range is does any unit have a better rep than another? out property has alot of rolling hills, so something that could handle this terrain would be nice. thx in advance.
 

frogfarmer

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Joined
Jul 30, 2010
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359
sorry everyone, somehow missed a subject line and I can't seem to edit it in.
A decent size hoe attachment will weigh 2000lbs so I would not look at a machine with less than a 1700lb work rating. That size machine will do everything else you have listed and will be large enough to stand some side hill work. With the popularity of skids these days a $10 grand machine is fairly easy to find but add the attachments you want and you could easily be in the $20 grand range for a decent machine. You might find a decent machine for less than $10 grand but I would look it over awefully hard for wear and tear/abuse. I have run all the big brands and each has its pros and cons my favorite farm machine is a Bobcat but I would take an 1845C in a heartbeat.
 

jklingel

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Joined
Feb 8, 2008
Messages
220
A decent size hoe attachment will weigh 2000lbs so I would not look at a machine with less than a 1700lb work rating. That size machine will do everything else you have listed and will be large enough to stand some side hill work. With the popularity of skids these days a $10 grand machine is fairly easy to find but add the attachments you want and you could easily be in the $20 grand range for a decent machine. You might find a decent machine for less than $10 grand but I would look it over awefully hard for wear and tear/abuse. I have run all the big brands and each has its pros and cons my favorite farm machine is a Bobcat but I would take an 1845C in a heartbeat.
I am a fairly new user myself, so take this fwiw. I had a 6000 lb JD 240 for a couple of years, and it did a heck of a lot of work. However, when I got my 9000 lb 332, I got spoiled fast. It is really nice to be able to do the extra bit of work while you are at it. If I would have purchased a 14000 lb machine, which is not made to my knowledge, I would only be that much happier. I have precious few "close quarters" situations, so the large framed machine is great. If you are not going to be working downtown among tight spaces, go as big as you can afford, IMO.
 
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