Recomend skid steer for building motocross track???

[Muddin_Mavric]

Well im working on building a motocross track and i have barrowed my dads tractor with a loader in the past. its a older john deer 72 hp. then a guy i know brought over his skid steer ( a med. sized one, not sure on make or model) and he could do alot better job than the tractor and he did it about 5 times as fast ( no shifting and faster hydrolics) i know there will be a learning curve so i wont be that fast. anyways i was looking for some recomendations on what might be a good machine for this. i was looking to spend $5000 to $8000. i found a bobcat 975 in this price range and was wondering if that would work good or if it would be too heavy and get stuck alot??? i was thinking somthing a little bigger would be able to move more dirt faster. how big of a problem would getting stuck be in loose/wet dirt?? would i need tracks? that guy that brought his over was one with wheels but he had tracks over the wheel. also anything i whould be looking for when buying a used one?? thanks for any advice you can give me Justin

 

[bobcat_ron]

An old 975?? Really? That's a rare one, buy it anyways. Anything with "Bobcat" will be a collector's item in the next 2 years anyways from what I read.

 

[T2skid]

Hey Mav I have built a couple of tracks one with a Bobcat 743 and the other with a T200 and both worked fine. If you are having dirt brought in size is not really an issue but if you are digging to get your dirt the bigger the better. The price seems resonable for a machine that size if its in ok shape. The only problem I can see with that machine is hauling it because its so big. I really dont think that getting stuck is much of a problem in loose or damp dirt have had mine in some pretty muddy places and not gotten stuck. Just some of my thoughts good luck.

 

[skidsteer.ca]

Hey Mav I have built a couple of tracks one with a Bobcat 743 and the other with a T200 and both worked fine. If you are having dirt brought in size is not really an issue but if you are digging to get your dirt the bigger the better. The price seems resonable for a machine that size if its in ok shape. The only problem I can see with that machine is hauling it because its so big. I really dont think that getting stuck is much of a problem in loose or damp dirt have had mine in some pretty muddy places and not gotten stuck. Just some of my thoughts good luck.

Machine in the 1300 to 2000 rated lift capacity are the most sought after and the easiest to resell. The 975 is too heavy to move with a 1/2 or even a 3/4 ton legally most places. It will work good once you have it where you need it. Tires etc a re alot more as everthing is massive in size and I'm not shure if standard skidsteer attachments fit. If not again a big neg for resale.
Most any brand should work fine. Look for a machine that has clearance for tracks, working in dirt tracks make you a lot more productive. see http://tracksplus.com/forms/ClearanceGuide.pdf for a clearance guide. 5 to8 k is a farely tight budget for a "running" machine but is possible. Non Bobcat brand are generally cheaper but bobcat does hold its value well and they seem to provide parts for eveything they ever made still. Personally I would not want one without aux hydraulic couplers plumbed to the boom and a standard skidsteer quick attach. Those 2 features is what make the machine so versatile.
For what you want to acomplish you will never regret ditching the farm tractor for a skidsteer.
Ken

 

[Muddin_Mavric]

Machine in the 1300 to 2000 rated lift capacity are the most sought after and the easiest to resell. The 975 is too heavy to move with a 1/2 or even a 3/4 ton legally most places. It will work good once you have it where you need it. Tires etc a re alot more as everthing is massive in size and I'm not shure if standard skidsteer attachments fit. If not again a big neg for resale.
Most any brand should work fine. Look for a machine that has clearance for tracks, working in dirt tracks make you a lot more productive. see http://tracksplus.com/forms/ClearanceGuide.pdf for a clearance guide. 5 to8 k is a farely tight budget for a "running" machine but is possible. Non Bobcat brand are generally cheaper but bobcat does hold its value well and they seem to provide parts for eveything they ever made still. Personally I would not want one without aux hydraulic couplers plumbed to the boom and a standard skidsteer quick attach. Those 2 features is what make the machine so versatile.
For what you want to acomplish you will never regret ditching the farm tractor for a skidsteer.
Ken

i think finding one for $8000 or less is doable. i found a bobcat 753 for right around $8000 with only 1800 hours on it, i just cant decide if i should get the big one or go more med. sized. i have a 2001 dodge ram 2500 diesel pickup and a trailer good for 14,000 lbs. i dont know how legal i would be but i would not haul it often. my biggest concer would be if i ever got it stuck i dont have anything big enough to drag 12,000 lbs out of the mud. i could see the resale of it also be a issue. hmmmmm.

 

[thetool]

i think finding one for $8000 or less is doable. i found a bobcat 753 for right around $8000 with only 1800 hours on it, i just cant decide if i should get the big one or go more med. sized. i have a 2001 dodge ram 2500 diesel pickup and a trailer good for 14,000 lbs. i dont know how legal i would be but i would not haul it often. my biggest concer would be if i ever got it stuck i dont have anything big enough to drag 12,000 lbs out of the mud. i could see the resale of it also be a issue. hmmmmm.

I agree with skidsteer.ca. I would not get into a 975, 963, 9-anything. I think your biggest concern will be fixing it if and when it breaks.
The first time you break it, then finally get it running again, you'll be baby-ing it so much that you'll never get it stuck, but you won't get your track done anytime soon, either....=).
I might take a runninng 975 for free, if I had a place to store it, and was planning on moving out-of-state as soon as I sold it.
I see bobcat-Ron's been spending a lot of time in the john with his collection of CAT sales brochures......

 

[Tazza]

I agree with skidsteer.ca. I would not get into a 975, 963, 9-anything. I think your biggest concern will be fixing it if and when it breaks.
The first time you break it, then finally get it running again, you'll be baby-ing it so much that you'll never get it stuck, but you won't get your track done anytime soon, either....=).
I might take a runninng 975 for free, if I had a place to store it, and was planning on moving out-of-state as soon as I sold it.
I see bobcat-Ron's been spending a lot of time in the john with his collection of CAT sales brochures......

I personally would go the 753 size, its the most pouplar sized machine we have in .au. Its have heaps of power and light enough to transport if required, if you go too big you will have a horrible time moving it as you will need to pay someone else to do that for you and no doubt big $$ there.
There are heaps of them out there too, so parts will be easy to source.

 

[bobcat_ron]

I personally would go the 753 size, its the most pouplar sized machine we have in .au. Its have heaps of power and light enough to transport if required, if you go too big you will have a horrible time moving it as you will need to pay someone else to do that for you and no doubt big $$ there.
There are heaps of them out there too, so parts will be easy to source.

"I see bobcat-Ron's been spending a lot of time in the john with his collection of CAT sales brochures.....".

Have not, I actually though about selling everything for a Muni job offer, but I declined.

 

[thetool]

"I see bobcat-Ron's been spending a lot of time in the john with his collection of CAT sales brochures.....".

Have not, I actually though about selling everything for a Muni job offer, but I declined.

YOU declined?......=)

 

[Muddin_Mavric]

YOU declined?......=)

thanks for all the help guys. i will probably stay away from the 975. im just not sure if the 753 will be big enough but i think thats all im really gona find thats a little newer and in my price range.