Which tracked loader / skid steer would you buy?

[xksjocko]

Hello all, new to the forum & would really appreciate your opinions on these options. I'll be using the skid to remove cedars off our hunting land & we are also building a bridge to span a creek.

Here are the options, both are tracked skid steers, both incl. bucket:
Option #1 2010 John Deer 319D Manual QT. Canopy. ROPS. Mechanical suspension seat. Std fan drive. Cold start pkg. Counterweights. Polar tread track. 152 hrs. $35,000.
My experience w/ the demo: looked good, ran good, Engine is very clean, although it looks to me like a guy'd hafta unbolt a lot to get at anything in the engine. I believe the service intervals are wider spread (500 hrs) on a Deere and I've read most others are at 250 hrs.
Option #2 Case 420 has a cab enclosure, heating and air, hydraulic lock for the bucket, and even a radio. This unit is priced at $29950. 432 hrs
demo: smoked quite a bit on start-up in 70* weather, this worries me quite a bit. I don't want something taking a dive on me while I'm stuck down a valley full of trees.
On that note, is there a way to get these units freed up from the hydrostatic transmission if we need to tow?
Any and all responses are much appreciated, thanks.

 

[Bobcatdan]

I don't why the case would smoke other then maybe give puff on start up. It is normal for say a kubota to give a black puff when it fires due to cold start advance adding more fuel. If it steadly smokes for a little while and then clears up then there could be something going on, but I don't know enough about Case to say. On a Deere track unit unless this changed on the new D series, on the drive motors, you can pull the cover and pop the planatery gears out and it will roll. I wouldn't pull a long way like that, I have moved dead machines into the shop that way. I don't if a Case can do that, but to be honest, I wouldn't recommand doing it anyway. As for as whicj to buy, read up on both as much as you can and buy the unit you like better and fits you best.

 

[reaperman]

No option #3? I'm partial to bobcat. I have operated them for countless hours at work (heavy equipment operator). We have had great luck with bobcats track machines. The abuse they have been put through and the amount of bull work they have done would take days to tell about. They dont ask questions, they just do what they are told. In the thousands of hard hours the break downs could be counted on one hand, and nothing serious. Never a issue with the engine since the first 864 (bobcats first track machine) rolled into our yard over a decade ago. The pair of T250's we currently operate, threw off our trade in schedule of every couple of years to keeping the 250's around because they just keep delivering. If I remember correctly, the 250 was put onto the market in late 2006 which replaced the t200. And thats when we picked up our 250's ( in 2006) and have had them around ever since. With any track machine, the tracks/undercarriage are a wear items and are expensive to replace. But if the machine is making you money, they are justified. Thats why I normally wouldnt recommend a track machine for home use. Tire machines to me, are more homeowner friendly. Because slip-over tracks can always be purchased without the additional cost of a owning a track machine. Good luck in your decision.

 

[shawn macananny]

No option #3? I'm partial to bobcat. I have operated them for countless hours at work (heavy equipment operator). We have had great luck with bobcats track machines. The abuse they have been put through and the amount of bull work they have done would take days to tell about. They dont ask questions, they just do what they are told. In the thousands of hard hours the break downs could be counted on one hand, and nothing serious. Never a issue with the engine since the first 864 (bobcats first track machine) rolled into our yard over a decade ago. The pair of T250's we currently operate, threw off our trade in schedule of every couple of years to keeping the 250's around because they just keep delivering. If I remember correctly, the 250 was put onto the market in late 2006 which replaced the t200. And thats when we picked up our 250's ( in 2006) and have had them around ever since. With any track machine, the tracks/undercarriage are a wear items and are expensive to replace. But if the machine is making you money, they are justified. Thats why I normally wouldnt recommend a track machine for home use. Tire machines to me, are more homeowner friendly. Because slip-over tracks can always be purchased without the additional cost of a owning a track machine. Good luck in your decision.

Of all the track loaders and skid steers ive used from previous jobs, t300, t250, t200, t190, t140, t180, 753, 751 the T190 is my all around favorite. That being said i only own a 751 for use around my home but thats only because a t190 was really overkill for everything i needed. Im not a fan of New hollands, never used a john deere, and i dont like hand controls on the case or the Cat.