Been shoppin' skid-loaders...

[Hedgerow]

Naw Hedgerow, you have that all wrong... it ain't 'cause I'm too cheap, I just don't see the need.

Anyway, y'all have given me a lot to think about.
I was thinking quite a bit smaller than most of ya' are... like in the 12-18 HP range and something under $5k.
Maybe I'm all upside-down in my thinking... but I wasn't planning to move mountains with it.

Here's a few I spotted on CL for under $4k...

case skidloader

1537 Case Skid Loader

Case 1816 b skidloader

You are a minimalist...
Aren't you...
:msp_rolleyes:

If those are what ya want, go for it... They ARE handy, and if things go poorly in the repair column, you won't have been hurt much...
Just don't let em' become a money pit!!!!!
Cause they can!!!
Ask me how I know...:msp_angry:

P.S.
I like the one in floyd... Bigger bucket is handy for wood hauling and snow plowing... Tippy for dirt and rock though...

 

[Whitespider]

You are a minimalist...
Aren't you...
:msp_rolleyes:
P.S.
I like the one in floyd... Bigger bucket is handy for wood hauling and snow plowing... Tippy for dirt and rock though...

Yeah... maybe a minimalist... but it's basically gonna' be a yard & garden tool (toy?), I ain't planning to make my living in it.
I kind'a liked the one in Floyd also.
Floyd is about a 15-minute drive from my place... heck, I probably know the guy!!

OH! And HANDY is exactly what I'm lookin' for!

 

[Whitespider]

Doin' a little more studyin' I believe the one in Floyd has been re-powered... not that that's a deal breaker, I've re-powered lots of stuff.
The listing claims an 18 HP engine and the pictures make it to appear a twin cylinder... the 1816b should have a single cylinder, 16 HP Tecumseh (OH160).

 

[dave_dj1]

I think he has been in the cold too long! Now he's gettin' spring fever. :yoyo:
I wouldn't buy a skidsteer for the type of work you want to do with it. Get a smallish 4x4 tractor with front end loader and you will be a lot happier! I find it a big hassle getting in and out of them, they few times I have rented them they have suited my needs at the time but as stated above, they can get stuck on a banana peal! You can do a lot of work with a skidsteer under the right conditions. I think you can find a nice tractor for similar money, check/change fluids and go. I have a small MF that I inherited sort of and It is the handiest thing I have ever had. All we have on it so far is a bucket and a back blade. I think it's like 21 - 23 hp.
good luck,
dave

 

[Arbonaut]

Yup the things mentioned. Plus since you don't like to mow, that's good cause you will tear the hell outta you sod. Mine is a 1984 Case Uniloader 1835B and I think it 8000 lbs. One destructive sob, but like the dark side of the force, channel it and achieve your evil purpose with a 188D Case powered skidsteer. (When you ain't stuck.)

 

[Dan_IN_MN]

Doin' a little more studyin' I believe the one in Floyd has been re-powered... not that that's a deal breaker, I've re-powered lots of stuff.
The listing claims an 18 HP engine and the pictures make it to appear a twin cylinder... the 1816b should have a single cylinder, 16 HP Tecumseh (OH160).

And how long do you think those mufflers will stay on?

 

[Arbonaut]

A guy needs something around that will lift 1000 lbs. You can move more sand in fifteen minutes than you can in six hours by hand. Think about that.

 

[ShaneLogs]

My uncle has a bobcat on wheels and it has a lot of power and goes through the woods pretty good. I recommend it.

 

[Gavman]

No way would I buy a bobcat for what you are describing, an older massey tractor with front loader will preform way way better in the woods, have way less expensive maintenance issues, It may not lift quite as much but it will lift plenty...
I have many years of experience running mostly 2wd tractors and currently own a Takeuchi tl230 (year old) for construction and its easy to find its limits in soft ground...

Older tractor with loader will is my vote, and don't be scared of 2wd either, see if you can find a neighbour who will let you play round with his tractor, I bet you will quickly get to like it

 

[Arbonaut]

You gotta get a heavy weighing tractor to do in tires what the skid steer tire does for load. Don't dream about tracks IMO. That is a novelty in most jobs especially in R-O-C-K. Ask around.

 

[wndwlkr]

Best investment i ever made New Holland L 783 1994 model 3 cylinder ford diesel 57 hp. will lift 2050lbs, way under rated. excellent machine. bought it on ebay way out east, had it shipped to missouri on a flatbed truck with 24" of snow here, backed it off the trailer into a snow bank and never looked back. excellent machine, very low to the ground & a very wide footprint. anybody thats been stuck in mud with tires haven't run this machine. $5725.00 + 300.00 shipping.

 

[Arbonaut]

Tractor vs Skid Steer. Now we are getting down to it. Ajn't heard this one yet. Let me be the one to admit you can run alot of implements with a tractor. And they can pull out a bellied in skid. Tractor with loader can push itself out and carry a threepoint box with tools and wood hauler. Heck many thing is awash. And you can go straight hydraulics on tractor instead of a final chain drive. OK they are even. I like skid.

 

[RiverRocket]

I don't know if it's been already mentioned i haven't read all the replies, but new equipment (skid loaders) are getting ready to take a HUGE increase in price and i can only imagine used equipment will follow so if your gonna buy do it now

 

[nathon918]

I think he has been in the cold too long! Now he's gettin' spring fever. :yoyo:
I wouldn't buy a skidsteer for the type of work you want to do with it. Get a smallish 4x4 tractor with front end loader and you will be a lot happier! I find it a big hassle getting in and out of them, they few times I have rented them they have suited my needs at the time but as stated above, they can get stuck on a banana peal! You can do a lot of work with a skidsteer under the right conditions. I think you can find a nice tractor for similar money, check/change fluids and go. I have a small MF that I inherited sort of and It is the handiest thing I have ever had. All we have on it so far is a bucket and a back blade. I think it's like 21 - 23 hp.
good luck,
dave

small 4x4 tractor with loader similar in price as those 3-4000 dollar skid steer? i dont know if you have seen what 20-30 hp 4x4 tractors with loaders are selling for, but believe me it's nowhere near what he's looking at, theyre going from about 6-over $20,000!
now a 2wheel drive tractor from mid 60's and older with a loader are about the same price as what hes looking at!

 

[Whitespider]

And how long do you think those mufflers will stay on?

Who needs mufflers anyway... I'm thinkin' vertical pipes with rain caps :msp_biggrin:
Seriously... I do see that exhaust as a problem.

For you guys recommending tractors I have 5 reasons to go with the skid loader...

1. I don't have room to park a tractor under roof.
2. I'm just lookin' for a "loader", not a hauler or anything else.
3. Maneuverability.
4. Maneuverability.
5. Maneuverability.

 

[nathon918]

if your looking for something small, have you thought or know about power king tractors?
if not look them up, they come in 12-18hp, 3spd, or dual trans with 6spd, 16 or 24 inch tires, factory loader is rated for around #1200 and 3 point is #400 or 600, (not sure which one)
only real limiting factor on the loader capacity is the front spindles, as they can bend if over loaded...

if you dont know about them check them out. they go from about $800-3000, all simple parts, standard small engine(kohler/onan stock)
id look for an older one (mid 70's-mid 80's)...

 

[dustytools]

Skidsteers are indeed a very handy piece to have around but I want to tell you the two biggest downfalls to them IMO. First, they are as stated a skid steer, meaning that they slide/slip on top of the ground when turning and they WILL do damage to whatever you are on be it your yard, woodlot, etc... Secondly and most important, I can not see out of them very well on the sides and almost not at all in the rear. You have a young man (as do I) running around wanting to see what the old man is up to. If this is what you decide to go with then please be especially careful when he is around. We have owned several different models at work over the last 24 years and they are very expensive to maintain and tires aren't cheap. Best of luck to ya.

 

[zogger]

Who needs mufflers anyway... I'm thinkin' vertical pipes with rain caps :msp_biggrin:
Seriously... I do see that exhaust as a problem.

For you guys recommending tractors I have 5 reasons to go with the skid loader...

1. I don't have room to park a tractor under roof.
2. I'm just lookin' for a "loader", not a hauler or anything else.
3. Maneuverability.
4. Maneuverability.
5. Maneuverability.

I dont have a ton of experience, so just one thought. Wheeled ones are all I have operated, and your ground needs to be pretty darn firm.

 

[Whitespider]

OK... let me give you an example of how I'd use the thing.

Last week I parked the work van in the yard next to the pickup and overnight it rained hard, which took the frost out'a the ground where it was parked. I get in it that morning and moved maybe 6-inches those worthless radial tires msp_sneaky spin-out and sink. Finally ended up hooking the pickup, with bias ply tires msp_sneaky, to it and pulled it out. That left two trenches about a foot deep and 20-feet long in the yard.

Well, it's finally dried up enough to fix it... so tonight I hooked the little utility trailer to the little tractor and drive out back to the field... where I manually shovel dirt into the trailer. Then I pull the trailer to the trenches and manually shovel the dirt into the trenches... and then I make another trip... and another... and another. I'm thinkin' the whole time... Damn, sure would be nice to have a little, light duty skid loader for this job. Then I grab the rake and start moving the dirt around, trying to spread it out, and I'm thinkin' the whole time... Damn, sure would be nice to have a little, light duty skid loader for this job.

 

[flyboy553]

OK... let me give you an example of how I'd use the thing.

Last week I parked the work van in the yard next to the pickup and overnight it rained hard, which took the frost out'a the ground where it was parked. I get in it that morning and moved maybe 6-inches those worthless radial tires msp_sneaky spin-out and sink. Finally ended up hooking the pickup, with bias ply tires msp_sneaky, to it and pulled it out. That left two trenches about a foot deep and 20-feet long in the yard.

Well, it's finally dried up enough to fix it... so tonight I hooked the little utility trailer to the little tractor and drive out back to the field... where I manually shovel dirt into the trailer. Then I pull the trailer to the trenches and manually shovel the dirt into the trenches... and then I make another trip... and another... and another. I'm thinkin' the whole time... Damn, sure would be nice to have a little, light duty skid loader for this job. Then I grab the rake and start moving the dirt around, trying to spread it out, and I'm thinkin' the whole time... Damn, sure would be nice to have a little, light duty skid loader for this job.

Dang, WS, If you had a skid steer, It would be perfect for that little job! :msp_w00t:
DO IT!

Ted