New Holland or Bobcat or ?? Case

[skidsteer.ca]

I may be losing it but I think I want a track loader. A wet spring and me grinding stump and trying to landscape is making for some ruts.
I have been watching for a private sale on a track loaders and there are lots to choose from, except, here the rub.I need hi flow for the stump grinder and not many loaders are ordered with this option.
So I have relented to searching dealers. I found a new 2006 c185 New Holland with foot controls, heat (no air) hi flow, power attach, quote $41.5 quickly dropped to 37.5. Looks great on the specs except the 9000 lb weight and the fact that with wide track option will barely fit my between the fenders of my trailer. All my attachments are medium frame loader class.
Then I found a 03 T190 with 1500 hours foots controls otherwise loaded for 22.5 Seems like enough given the age.
Now I found a 08 C175 NH 250 hours, AC, pilot controls, hi flow, power attach asking $29 on consignment, and I'm thinking I like that the best other then NH has low max hydraulic pressure on these, only 2500 psi where most competitors are 3000 to 3400 psi. It will have the same as the LS160 I grinding with now though.
I like the hydraulic pilot controls, no programing there and customer can replace if ever required. Anything bad about this loader? Thoughts?
Ken

 

[Iowa Dave]

Can't help you on that New Holland model, as I have always stayed "white". But I can tell you about tracks in general: First, as much as they cost, I wouldn't even look at one w/o A/C.
2)Tracks don't like gravel AT ALL (new gravel, like if you are spreading it--loose stuff grinds away at everything, and sharp edges of crushed rock EAT tracks).
3) If you are on soft material, like sod or dirt, tracks are great! They will scuff things up a lot, but no ruts.
4) Tracks are fabulous for setting grade w a laser (or I guess without, also). I'm sure you have experienced your wheel riding up on a small imperfection, and throwing your cutting edge off-grade. This won't happen with tracks.
5) If you work every day possible, the extra days possible with the flotation provided by the tracks will create enough extra paid-days of work to justify the tracked machine.
6) They really don't like sloppy mud. Well, I guess they do, but I don't. Too hard to clean everything up. NEVER let the mud dry or you will just about be chiseling it off.
7) For me, tracks are an owner-operator (or a really good employee) deal. Crappy operators can tear them to shreds in a few hundred hours. (I get 1500 or so out of mine).
8) They MUST be maintained, and even then, they end up being expensive to keep up. You must adjust your bids accordingly so YOU make the extra money from having tracks, NOT your customers (and you just have an expensive maintenance bill with no extra income to pay for it).
9) A tracked machine will lift a LOT more than the "same" machine w wheels.
10) Tracked machines are HEAVY. Do you have enough trailer?
If you can stay on dirt almost all of the time, then tracks are good. If a person was to only have one machine, I wouldn't think tracks would be appropriate. They are just not meant for concrete, asphalt, and the like. It all boils down to money: Will I have more money at the end of the year if I have a tracked machine? If yes, then great! No other reason works for me. Any other reason costs me money. Good LUCK!

 

[skidsteer.ca]

Can't help you on that New Holland model, as I have always stayed "white". But I can tell you about tracks in general: First, as much as they cost, I wouldn't even look at one w/o A/C.
2)Tracks don't like gravel AT ALL (new gravel, like if you are spreading it--loose stuff grinds away at everything, and sharp edges of crushed rock EAT tracks).
3) If you are on soft material, like sod or dirt, tracks are great! They will scuff things up a lot, but no ruts.
4) Tracks are fabulous for setting grade w a laser (or I guess without, also). I'm sure you have experienced your wheel riding up on a small imperfection, and throwing your cutting edge off-grade. This won't happen with tracks.
5) If you work every day possible, the extra days possible with the flotation provided by the tracks will create enough extra paid-days of work to justify the tracked machine.
6) They really don't like sloppy mud. Well, I guess they do, but I don't. Too hard to clean everything up. NEVER let the mud dry or you will just about be chiseling it off.
7) For me, tracks are an owner-operator (or a really good employee) deal. Crappy operators can tear them to shreds in a few hundred hours. (I get 1500 or so out of mine).
8) They MUST be maintained, and even then, they end up being expensive to keep up. You must adjust your bids accordingly so YOU make the extra money from having tracks, NOT your customers (and you just have an expensive maintenance bill with no extra income to pay for it).
9) A tracked machine will lift a LOT more than the "same" machine w wheels.
10) Tracked machines are HEAVY. Do you have enough trailer?
If you can stay on dirt almost all of the time, then tracks are good. If a person was to only have one machine, I wouldn't think tracks would be appropriate. They are just not meant for concrete, asphalt, and the like. It all boils down to money: Will I have more money at the end of the year if I have a tracked machine? If yes, then great! No other reason works for me. Any other reason costs me money. Good LUCK!

All good points. I agree on the AC too but depends how much more. (market is not real strong here) As for yellow versus white the only thing against white is there electric hand controls. That and their flow is on the low side also
Starting to look at another shade of yellow now, a Case ct 420 Std flow is NH C175 hi flow at 23.8 gpm and 550 psi higher relief. Hi flow is 33.2 gpm. The standard flow model would give me more power then my ls160 which I now use for stumps because of the higher pressure. There also seems to be lots of ct420's around, not sure if thats good or bad.
Case seems to offer more hydraulic hp and force in a lighter machine package.
Not sure if this will net me more work but it would make more days available for work and be easier to stay on schedule. I would still keep two wheel loaders and they would likely see more hours. We don't get much concrete, but see gravel rock and bush. Steel otts for those sites.
Heard NH has trouble with there track frames leaning too, not sure if there is a fix yet.
Ken

 

[gtstang462002]

All good points. I agree on the AC too but depends how much more. (market is not real strong here) As for yellow versus white the only thing against white is there electric hand controls. That and their flow is on the low side also
Starting to look at another shade of yellow now, a Case ct 420 Std flow is NH C175 hi flow at 23.8 gpm and 550 psi higher relief. Hi flow is 33.2 gpm. The standard flow model would give me more power then my ls160 which I now use for stumps because of the higher pressure. There also seems to be lots of ct420's around, not sure if thats good or bad.
Case seems to offer more hydraulic hp and force in a lighter machine package.
Not sure if this will net me more work but it would make more days available for work and be easier to stay on schedule. I would still keep two wheel loaders and they would likely see more hours. We don't get much concrete, but see gravel rock and bush. Steel otts for those sites.
Heard NH has trouble with there track frames leaning too, not sure if there is a fix yet.
Ken

If your machine is going to be living on lawns and wooded areas and high flow is critical, you are the owner/operator as previously stated, I would even say take the ASV PT-100 for a ride. They have a decent suspension system that smooths the ride out nicely and come standard with the high flow option. The biggest issue that I have seen with them is the idler and bogie wheels being made from plastic tend to wear fast when on abrasive surfaces. If you replace them with the aluminum wheels available from bair products they seem to last forever by comparison.
I have a T300 that I got for a great deal and love it. I am however renting it out locally at $250 a day(absolute best deal in town). Only while I am in town though(when I leave town is when it will break down). If I could get a machine to keep around the house it would probably be the PT-100.

 

[bobcat_ron]

If your machine is going to be living on lawns and wooded areas and high flow is critical, you are the owner/operator as previously stated, I would even say take the ASV PT-100 for a ride. They have a decent suspension system that smooths the ride out nicely and come standard with the high flow option. The biggest issue that I have seen with them is the idler and bogie wheels being made from plastic tend to wear fast when on abrasive surfaces. If you replace them with the aluminum wheels available from bair products they seem to last forever by comparison.
I have a T300 that I got for a great deal and love it. I am however renting it out locally at $250 a day(absolute best deal in town). Only while I am in town though(when I leave town is when it will break down). If I could get a machine to keep around the house it would probably be the PT-100.

New Holland's machines aren't the best, I've seen a few and you can really tell the frames are tweaked when you look alongside the tracks, the top is just a bit off.

 

[plasmaguy]

New Holland's machines aren't the best, I've seen a few and you can really tell the frames are tweaked when you look alongside the tracks, the top is just a bit off.

Ken, Did you buy at track loader? If yes what brand. Thanks, Tom

 

[sledesigns]

Ken, Did you buy at track loader? If yes what brand. Thanks, Tom

Pick out the perfect skid steer with a stout drive to the rear axle and put a Loegering VTS on it for the spring season. They are rather inexpensive used now. Only two sizes, small & big & two offsets Bobcat & the rest. Get a set with worn rubber & buy new rubber in the proper number of links you need. The part Im looking forward to, the tracked version will have the same exact controls as the wheeled version, and heat, hyd flow.
Unless someone has some knowledge of the VTS having a weakness?

 

[skidsteer.ca]

Pick out the perfect skid steer with a stout drive to the rear axle and put a Loegering VTS on it for the spring season. They are rather inexpensive used now. Only two sizes, small & big & two offsets Bobcat & the rest. Get a set with worn rubber & buy new rubber in the proper number of links you need. The part Im looking forward to, the tracked version will have the same exact controls as the wheeled version, and heat, hyd flow.
Unless someone has some knowledge of the VTS having a weakness?

I did not realize (until recently) that the smaller VTS was on the market. More common are the "large frame" loader ones. Being my attachments are medium frame I'd prefer to stay in that class. I'm thinking the smaller vts is a valid option, with no more positive and minuses of any other track machine.
However finding a used smaller unit may not be as easy as the large frame one. I could even track my 160 for now, but at 42 hp it will be under powered.
Ken

 

[gtstang462002]

I did not realize (until recently) that the smaller VTS was on the market. More common are the "large frame" loader ones. Being my attachments are medium frame I'd prefer to stay in that class. I'm thinking the smaller vts is a valid option, with no more positive and minuses of any other track machine.
However finding a used smaller unit may not be as easy as the large frame one. I could even track my 160 for now, but at 42 hp it will be under powered.
Ken

How about http://www.loegering.com/ track options? Whole lot cheaper than a new machine.

 

[skidsteer.ca]

How about http://www.loegering.com/ track options? Whole lot cheaper than a new machine.

I was actually down to the factory in Grand Rapids Mn yesterday and looked over the VTS product and the assembly line.
Very nice people to visit and looks to be a very well made product. The tracks are @ 2.5" thick. All the idles are steel, with a very substancial hub and the bearing are large and widely spaced for optimum support. I had never seen a vts in person and I'm quite impressed with all the engineering that goes it making it fit multiple machines. Also the fact that it is a suspended track frame.
That make 4 models to cover machine from 40 hp up. The only thing limiting the VTS is models made for Bobcats only fit Bobcats. All other models swap between manufactures in the same weight class, however there are some different track pitch lengths to accomodate varies wheelbase lengths within each weight clase of machine.
I'm really begining to lean that way
Ken