Skid steer questions

[CUMAPART]

Where I work we have a Bobcat T190 and a new T300. We also have the old yard horse JD 8875 and had a JD 250. There is no denying that the tracked bobcats can grade more effectively than a rubber tired skid steer. We have also continued work and completed jobs using the T300 where if we had a tire machine we would have been shut down due to the weather. As stated before tracks are expensive to replace but the new tracks on the Bobcats seem to be made better than the ones that originally came on the T190. The track machines are rarely used on pavement, only for snow removal jobs in the winter if it ever gets here. The good thing about the T300 is that it will unload and move a full skid of versa-lok blocks (48 blocks) off a trailer or out of a dump with ease. The lifting capacity is awesome. You have to unstack about a course and a half of block before moving it safely with the T190. These are the benefits of a bigger machine but it also has its drawbacks. The T190 is great b/c it is so manueverable in tight quarters, much smaller than the T300. I do think that the Bobcats are the easiest to perform maintenance on but the visibility out of the back isn't as good as the JD. I have never operated a CAT, Case, Geihl, etc. I am not biased just only had experience in the Bobcats, JD, and NH brands. You can usually find a dealer and tell them that you are seriously interested in buying one and they may let you demo one instead of renting one. Good Luck. Mike

 

[Tspanos]

Quick hijack, MAshley Kinda jealous reading this thread I would love to pickup a 332, just not enough work yet. Beautiful machine, how are you towing it?



Rgarddner First thing is any dealer should let you run a demo unit on your farm. If you can arrange to have grapples and a bale sprear that will fit the machines available that will make your evaluations that much easier. My only caution goes along the lines of what someone posted previously about the grapple bucket being heavy, I think you will find the weight of the logs surprising also. When we move any particularly heavy logs we use the pallet forks set wide and chains. Also if you could go into some detail about the terrain you'll be on and what type of farming your doing it could help everyone give their opinions.

Ultimately I think you'll find yourself looking at machines 70 hp or more with a few exceptions. I personally like Deere but the Takenuchi (sp) looks tempting and the few people I've heard running the Case's love em just like the guy above. Tim

 

[RGardner]

As far as service is concerned JD or New Holland are the main choices for my area. After having looked at both of the companies tracked models, I am convinced that the JD is superior to the NH.

 

[MKlages]

don't you mean far superior?

A lot of farmers complain about the noise of the engine but no one complains about the power.

 

[MAshley]

Quick hijack, MAshley Kinda jealous reading this thread I would love to pickup a 332, just not enough work yet. Beautiful machine, how are you towing it?

grapple bucket being heavy, I think you will find the weight of the logs surprising also. Tim

Tim I hook up a chain and drag it around :--)



just kiding ... .



The setup I curently have to haul is as follows.



Stock 06, DRW 3500, SLT Quad cab, 4X4, blue paint. 2 upgrades as follows

#1 I upgraded the stock hitch with a Superhitch, and a dual shank " uses both 2 inche reciever holes" drop hitch. Rated at 15K lbs, no bars needed, If I upgrade and use bars they will rate it at 17K lbs.



#2 pacbrake exhaust brake WOW is all I can say... .



The trailer is a 16" 14K rated trailer, tandam axle single tire "4 total on trailer" with electric brakes.



Depending on attatchments the trailer tips the scales between 13,500 - 15,000. I know the 15K is too much, so I don't cary all of my attatchments anymore. I have been thinking of upgrading to a goosneck and or a bigger truck, but it works right now, im legal as far as I can tell. If I do get a goosneck I will be over 26K lbs so I dont' really want to deal with that crap... for now.







The trailer is a 14K tandam axle bumber pull.

 

[Tspanos]

MAshley exactly what I was thinking except in my mind the truck was behind the 332.

 

[jltcasper3]

If your not going to be doing much work on concrete or asphalt i would seriousley consider a takahuchie, Mustang MTL, or a Gehl CTL track loader. Their all the same made by takahuchie, just different paint. A couple things i love about these tracked loaders is their increadibly stable your not bouncing around like a rubber tired machine, Also piolet controls which is you have 2 joysticks for travel and bucket, You know longer mechanically move linkage, it's all hydralic. And last they are real easy to work on compared to some the of the deeres.



If you don't want a rubber tracked machine their is some new rubber tired skidsters out by Gehl/Mustang Mfg with piolet controls, I would check into these to if your looking for a new one at least. I love piolet controls.

 

[RGardner]

Service by Mustang, Gehl or Tachahuchie would be the problem.

 

[RGardner]

I have a quote on a ct 332 with everything but the high flow hydraluics for right at $50,000. How does that sound?

 

[Tspanos]

BASE MACHINE $53,840. 00

1620T CT332 COMPACT TRACK LOADER



TRANSMISSION $2,081. 00

1050 Two-Speed



TRACKS In Base Price

2600 17. 7 in. Rubber Tracks



HYDRAULIC OPTIONS $1,854. 00

3002 High Flow Hydraulics * Total 34 gpm with High Flow



SEAT BELTS $293. 00

4003 3-Inch Seat Belt with Shoulder Harness



LOADER CONTROL TYPE In Base Price

5000 Standard Foot Controls



Configured Features- Optional



1 8172 Acoustical Package, Gen II $370. 00



1 8115 Air Conditioning / Heater / Defroster $1,890. 00





1 8050 Block Heater Kit $73. 00



1 8060 Cab Enclosure $1,240. 00



1 8065 Convenience Package

* Includes Dome Light, 12V Plug, Cup Holder, Cargo Net Pocket Holder, and Anti-Theft $184. 00



1 8210 Horn $106. 00



1 9341 84 in. HD Utility Bucket (27. 0 cu. ft. ) with Edge $1,166. 00



1 KV25224 12 Volt Receptacle Kit $139. 00



1 AT320590 Eight Button Control Handle $558. 00





This is the MSRP for a loaded 332, It totals at $63,800. If you see the very first line the MSRP for a bone stock unit is $53,840 so your quote if it has any options is good if you indeed have a majority of the options I want to work with your dealer as the best mine will give me on the above machine is $59,500.

 

[RGardner]

my quote was for ct 332, wide tracks, sound package, self-leveling, 2 speed, hand controls, cab, heat & air, power quick tatch, 74" contruction bucket with edge, 82" brush tined grapple, pallet forks, delivered to my place $55,000.

 

[MAshley]

Do you have a list of "everything"? for that 50K

 

[RGardner]

what I said above.

 

[GiesJ]

So did you get the Deere?

 

[RGardner]

Should be here this week.

 

[obert]

Oh "deer". You should have demo'd a T250 bobcat. Equiped as above is way less $$, and it would do at least as well the 332 for you. But dealer support is critical if your buying new. If deere has a good close dealer its worth the cost.

I'm, well, "in the industry" lets say. When it comes to dealer support, you should be OK with deere, but THANK GOD you didn't buy a cat!

 

[RGardner]

From the specs I see the T250 and the ct 332 are apples and oranges. Same approx hp but the jd is more of a machine. And like you said the jd service is just way closer. The closest bobcat dealer is 200 miles away. JD also has good financing at this time.

 

[PToombs]

Bobcats are definitely cheaper, you get what you pay for!

 

[MAshley]

a 250 bobcat and a 332 deer are not the same just as the 250 and 300 bobcat are not the same. a 300 is simular to the 332, but I personally dont' like the bobcat setup.



Cangrats on the deer... let us know after a few hrs what you think, also if u have Q let us know, im sure we all want to help.

 

[ScottLowry]

I found one.



First off thanks for all of your help.



I bought a John Deere 260. It a 2001 model. It has 1200 hours. The damn thing looks like new and runs perfect. The owner(at his expense) took it to the local dealer(Erb is the big dealer here in St. Louis) and had a service and complete inspection on it. They changed all the filters and fluids. They gave it a clean bill of health. It came with a 2004 16ft Conkrite (sp) trailer. And 2 81" buckets. I paid $14500 for it. I guess that wasn't to bad. I went to an auction the day i bought it and they had a Hydraulic breaker. It around 4 years old. I got lucky and picked it up for $160 it works great. Now I just have to get a set of tracks and a grapple. thanks again for your help.



Scott