Which Skidsteer - advice please?

[K9truk]

I realise that's a very open question, so I'll lay out my situation which should narrow down the options. Complete noobie to skidsteers, so I have no bias towards any manufacturer and absolutely no experience driving/working any of them, so ease of use is a must. I'm in Alaska which hugely limits the number of choices I have ( or else my budget gets spent on shipping rather than the machine). I'm looking for something to use to primarily snow blow my dog yard perimeter fence, an acre area in front of our shop and a half mile of driveway. Summertime use will be dirt/sand moving and putting in new trails through our land. The land is flat, dry and heavily treed with black spruce. So, that's the rough outline. Ive got around 20K to spend. I've found a 2000 Bobcat 773 with 1200 hours with an Erskine snowblower or a Cat 226B for about the same money, but I'd still need to buy a snowblower for it. Do you guys have any opinions or suggestions? Thanks P.

 

[glenbell]

I have a Cat 216B, I love it. The 2 options you re looking at - are they enclosed cab with heater? I think if I lived in Alaska, that would be the deciding factor. If they both have that then look at other specs like lift capacity, max height reach etc for the uses you need it for. Then my next consideration might be parts/service availability in your area? Is there a dealer nearby for one or both makes? I think they are both a good product so base your decisions on factors like these....

Glen

 

[jklingel]

I have a Cat 216B, I love it. The 2 options you re looking at - are they enclosed cab with heater? I think if I lived in Alaska, that would be the deciding factor. If they both have that then look at other specs like lift capacity, max height reach etc for the uses you need it for. Then my next consideration might be parts/service availability in your area? Is there a dealer nearby for one or both makes? I think they are both a good product so base your decisions on factors like these....

Glen

K9: What town? Surely stick w/ a brand that has parts immediately available. I'm in Frb, and have run JD's for several years now. I ran a well used 240 for a couple of yrs, then a new 332 for the last two. I only have about 630 hrs on skid steers, but if you don't have one yet, you're gonna love it, no matter what the brand. The JDs are easy to run, and the little I've been on a couple of Bobcats, they are, too. If you have to have a snow blower, then OK, spend the money, but they are spendy items. The other options, buckets/pushers/blades, are not cheap, either, but may hit you softer and leave you with move versatility. As far as a cab and heater, I'm not sold on them. I run mine w/out a cab, and wouldn't own a cab unless the price was right and I could somehow take the door off, short some wires, and still run it. Too often I find I need to get out of the cab w/ the implement up, either intentionally up or not. To, if you are sitting in a cab in a tee shirt and it is ten below, have fun getting out to dig yourself out. Small issue, perhaps, but one to consider. All that said, I don't run mine below about 10 below, and then, thankfully, not often or very long. Usually when it snows, it is warmer. Good luck w/ your search, and I think you'll find any of the common names are well built and easy to run; it's a matter of seat time. john

 

[skidsteer.ca]

K9: What town? Surely stick w/ a brand that has parts immediately available. I'm in Frb, and have run JD's for several years now. I ran a well used 240 for a couple of yrs, then a new 332 for the last two. I only have about 630 hrs on skid steers, but if you don't have one yet, you're gonna love it, no matter what the brand. The JDs are easy to run, and the little I've been on a couple of Bobcats, they are, too. If you have to have a snow blower, then OK, spend the money, but they are spendy items. The other options, buckets/pushers/blades, are not cheap, either, but may hit you softer and leave you with move versatility. As far as a cab and heater, I'm not sold on them. I run mine w/out a cab, and wouldn't own a cab unless the price was right and I could somehow take the door off, short some wires, and still run it. Too often I find I need to get out of the cab w/ the implement up, either intentionally up or not. To, if you are sitting in a cab in a tee shirt and it is ten below, have fun getting out to dig yourself out. Small issue, perhaps, but one to consider. All that said, I don't run mine below about 10 below, and then, thankfully, not often or very long. Usually when it snows, it is warmer. Good luck w/ your search, and I think you'll find any of the common names are well built and easy to run; it's a matter of seat time. john

My thoughts are how far do you need to go to get parts and service. Your not to likely to need much but it still a factor. What brands are most people using near you? There is a reason for this. Now if your good with a equipment, you can support yourself alot instead or relying on the dealer.
The other thing I'd advise is stay away from machines that are overly complicated. They don't work well if your remotely located. An examble of this would be the bobcat joystick controled machines. When the joysticks fail theyneed to be calibrated at a dealer. Where the Bobcats with foot controls for the loader are basic and much easier for any mechanic to service.
All north amercan built machines are pretty good quality. All offer some features or advantages that may or may not be of use to you, which results in different folks having brand preferences.
Ken

 

[Dirtwise]

Make sure that you have a dealer near (for parts) and the have a good parts counter. Don't won't to be on the phone all day for a 30 part!!!!!!!!