which machine is best for me?

[Tommygunn]

hey I'm new here. there seems to be lots of good info on this site. hopefully somebody can help me out here. I am looking to buy a bobcat. the most important thing to me is reliability. I don't want anything that I will have to work on all the time. I'm looking for something that's not too big and not too small. maybe in the 753 range? I just bought a foreclosed home as a first house and it needs ALOT of yard work done. I have about 1 acre of pine thicket/brush I need to take out, install driveway, dig up stumps, etc. I also want a machine that I can spread gavel/mulch with. and do odd jobs for friends if its ever needed. I really like the tracked machines but I was told that when spreading gravel that rocks get inside and just tear them up. also, I am looking to stay around 12k in price. the cheaper the better. 7-10k would be much better, but again I don't want any junk. any suggestions?

 

[Tazza]

The 753 will do all that, as for digging up stumps, you need leverage to get them out. You will need something like pallet forks to get around to cut through the roots and pop it out or hire someing with an axcivator for a day to get all the stumps.
The 753 series were a good machine.

 

[Tommygunn]

The 753 will do all that, as for digging up stumps, you need leverage to get them out. You will need something like pallet forks to get around to cut through the roots and pop it out or hire someing with an axcivator for a day to get all the stumps.
The 753 series were a good machine.

thanks.. i also found a t190 with low hours for a fair price. i'm still unsure about the tracks. i was told they are about $4000 to replace vs about $800 for tires. this true?

 

[Tazza]

thanks.. i also found a t190 with low hours for a fair price. i'm still unsure about the tracks. i was told they are about $4000 to replace vs about $800 for tires. this true?

That is true. Also the drive motors for a tracked machine are an insane price. You will also have sprockets that wear on a tracked machine, also idlers.
If you get the T190, make sure you check the drive motors first and keep replacing the hub oil, if the oil leaks out and the bearing chews up, you are up for big money.
It really depends on what you want to do. I personally would stick with a machine with tyres, cheap to replace.

 

[sheaddon]

That is true. Also the drive motors for a tracked machine are an insane price. You will also have sprockets that wear on a tracked machine, also idlers.
If you get the T190, make sure you check the drive motors first and keep replacing the hub oil, if the oil leaks out and the bearing chews up, you are up for big money.
It really depends on what you want to do. I personally would stick with a machine with tyres, cheap to replace.

Unless your going to be working in wet/muddy conditions there is no need for tracks. Not for what you want it for atleast. Tires are easier to run, you can go solid tires to avoid flats if you want. But yeah tracks just add more repairs. Unless you are doing it full time and need to extend your season to late fall or early spring when things are went and hard for tires to move in it's not worth it. Plus if you plan to move machines around track setups add alot of weight to tow.