Bobcat skid steer Vertical vs Radial Lift

[OptionalPunctuation]

I'm in the market for a used skid steer and I wanted to know all of your thoughts on vertical vs radial lifts. My use is to take pallets off semis (1500lbs and below), move round bales, pull mesquite out of my pasture (bane of my existence), and light dirt work around the farm (re-cut our ditches, level/compact building sites, and driveway repair). I've been looking at used Bobcats since the newer ones that are under the 700 and 800 families don't need DEF. It seems like most of the other big boys require DEF to meet Tier 4.

Since my two main uses will be taking pallets off semis and moving round bales around, it seems like a vertical lift unit would be the way to go but with the added cost of vertical lifts and added maintenance and repair cost, is it worth it? Would a radial work well for pallets and round bales?

 

[tibadoex]

I have always used a radial lift to remove pallets off standard height semi-trailers. Average floor height is between 48" to 52". No issues to date.

 

[fortworth-cowboy]

Vertical is better for loading

 

[Gearclash]

Radial loaders will give you better mid lift reach at a slight cost of load rating. Vertical lift will give you better reach at full lift height.

I have been using an S76 Blobcat (vertical lift) to place 1800 lb concrete bunks as my little Cases can’t handle them. One quirk I noticed that must come from the vertical lift scheme and having the arm cylinder at a severe mechanical disadvantage is that the bucket cylinders are better able to creep lift a load smoothly than the arm cylinders.

 

[thwerench]

My S650 with vertical is great. I use it for loading. Unloading totes from floats and round bales from floats and wagons Feeding the bale wrapper is quicker especially in tight quarters although hard to reach across the wagon to retrieve a bale sometimes. Nothing a little longer forks won’t fix

 

[OptionalPunctuation]

My S650 with vertical is great. I use it for loading. Unloading totes from floats and round bales from floats and wagons Feeding the bale wrapper is quicker especially in tight quarters although hard to reach across the wagon to retrieve a bale sometimes. Nothing a little longer forks won't fix

I mean, the S650 is the most sought after skid steer in the country. I'm sure it does everything well . I'd love a S650, but you would think anything with less than 3,000 hours is plated in gold.

Has anyone had any reliability issues with they vertical lift arms cylinders or pivot bushings? Everything I read is that since it's a more complex setup vs radial, it costs more to repair but if they're reliable I'm not sure it's must of a concern.

 

[foton]

I think that depends on the manf. and how they design the lift function.