Skid Steer

[nate379]

Is there a price guide on used Skid Steers?

I'm in the market for one and I really have no idea if there are priced fair or not.

Looking at these:
http://anchorage.craigslist.org/bfs/3787426175.html
http://anchorage.craigslist.org/grq/3777354125.html
http://anchorage.craigslist.org/for/3743969498.html

I need something with 2000lbs+ lift (for logs). Doesn't need to be Bobcat brand, though that is what I've run. I perfer hand controls vs foot, but I can use whatever.

 

[mikefrommaine]

Your market must be high compared to around here. Compared with this 873 with under 500 hours for 16500 those bobcats seem really high. I check machinery trader for comps.

 

[nate379]

Everything costs more up here, though we make more too so I guess it all works out. I coul dpull one up from the west coast but I doubt I'd be saving anything once I factor in my time and fuel.

 

[jeff_t]

Not sure exactly what your plans are, but for off road use, tracks rock. We had one with steel tracks on tires, and it was okay. It got traded for a rubber tracked machine and it was sooo much nicer.

I feel like an idiot trying to run foot controls. Simple joysticks are a breeze.

When I win the lottery, that's on my list of toys, along with all the cool attachments.

 

[nate379]

I have better control with my hands than I do with my feet. Not sure why, maybe with boots on the pedals don't have much feedback to them? Also on several of the machines the pedals are too small, like they are made for a guy with size 7 feet or something. I wear an 11 or 12!

We have two machines at work, one is foot pedals only, the other has the hand control option. I usually try and grab the hand control one if it's available.

My "lottery" is the business loan I got. Of course I have to pay it all back though!

 

[greg13]

It's funny how people just don't want to change from that they are used to. We had both Bobcat (foot controls) and Case (hand controls)that we rented, there were customers that just would not rent what they were not used to. Personally I prefer hand controls but since we sold off the cases and replaced them with Bobcat I really don't have a choice.

 

[MasterMech]

I know on the Komatsu machines we sold, there was a lever on the valve blocks that would allow you to change up the control pattern between 2 different setups. But they were pretty much hand control (joystick) only.

I liked the Case machines too but the dealer I was working for had recently unloaded the line and I only got to play with a couple of them.

 

[nate379]

Probably ISO or SAE controls?

Difference is SAE the left is boom up down and right is dipper up down while ISO is the opposite. I learned on an ISO machine so that is what I perfer. Switching it around messes me up actually!

I used a backhoe a while back and it has WAY ass backward controls. I'm sure the machine looked like an idiot was trying to use it!

I know on the Komatsu machines we sold, there was a lever on the valve blocks that would allow you to change up the control pattern between 2 different setups. But they were pretty much hand control (joystick) only.

I liked the Case machines too but the dealer I was working for had recently unloaded the line and I only got to play with a couple of them.

 

[MasterMech]

I learned on Deere equipment (backhoes) which is different than EVERYTHING else.

Now, I've been using standard controls for so long that initially the Deere setup feels weird to me but it comes back quickly.

 

[nate379]

Yeah, was a Deere backhoe I used actually! I hopped on the machine and did a W...T...F Not sure who designed them but I'd love to know the reason!

 

[nate379]

Think I'm going to pick up that S250. He has a grapple bucket to go with it as well.

The local Bobcat dealer has a 185 for sale, with about the same hours for $32k. I told them I had about $20k to play with and they said that they don't sell any skid steers for that cheap.

 

[mikefrommaine]

I can't get over the prices you are paying up there. You are talking

right? And not

 

[nate379]

Sure American $$s. I have been looking on the west coast and they sell for about the same price. I'm not going to drive 5000 miles to "save" a few grand.

 

[blades]

SS are very pricey new and used, hand controls will give a better resale, same with tracks- highly recommend tracks spreads the weight out, no flats and less problems getting stuck in less than adequate soil conditions. Skidders are nice but have almost zero clearance. There are the small front end loaders out there as well not much price difference around here ( they are all over priced) The articulated ones are almost as nimble as an ss with better under clearance and also are a bit more stable, as well as a lot better visibility. If you go with tires have them foam filled, eliminates flats, well worth the cost.
I have foot controls on my LX 485 (NH). I can't wear boots that are real heavy or stiff and be able to use the foot controls.

 

[nate379]

The only 2 used tracked machines I have found for sale were almost 60k. One was a Bobcat and the other a Caterpillar.

 

[blades]

Ya I am aware of pricing, specially when they want more than my last 3 trucks combined for one worn out piece of noisy, leaking, uncomfortable, piece of equipment.

 

[nate379]

I'm going to look at the S185 and S250 this afternoon.

The Bobcat dealer had an S185 for sale and they priced it at 32k. This one is similar, about the same hours and shape, just doesn't have an enclosed cab or heat and the guy wants $17k for it.

 

[mikefrommaine]

Other then loading your processor what is your intended use for the tractor? If your planning to do snow removal, there is nothing worse than sitting in an open cab for hours during a snow storm. All other things being equal I'd pay more for a cab any day.

 

[nate379]

Loading the processor, cleaning up the ground around the site and whatever else it would be handy for.

If I used it to do snow removal I'd need to get a snowblower for it. The couple driveways I do don't have room to push or stack snow. I currently use a 20hp garden tractor with a 4ft blower and it works fine. I think the Bobcat would be too big, my driveway is only about 100ft long and 30ft wide and the two neighbor' drives are a little bit smaller. I might park it at the house though for use when the snow drifts, it turns rock hard!

But I do agree, I was talking to my Dad and he suggested the same, spend the bit extra for the enclosed cab and heater. Even just for keeping the bugs out and the seat dry.

 

[Foragefarmer]

The only 2 used tracked machines I have found for sale were almost 60k. One was a Bobcat and the other a Caterpillar.

Holy cow. I bought a Bobcat T190 2007 2500 hours, 100 hours on a rebuilt engine, newish sprockets and tracks for $13500. Non enclosed cab.

 

[greg13]

Watch the blowers, You really need a high flow system to make them throw snow. the standard flow blowers just don't seem to really throw the snow any where near as well.

The $15K difference will go a long way when it comes to buying a cab kit (with a lot left over). they are not that hard to install.

 

[nate379]

15k difference where? I bought a S250 for 20k. 2004 with 3000hrs. The filters were put on in 2006 and its only had about 500 hours since.

 

[nate379]

the tracks are a mixed blessing. They are crap on ice, where the tires you can runs chains. They are better on lawns and swamp area though. The T190 is pretty much the same as a 185, just one is wheels and one tracks. A bit too small for my needs. The 250 is huge when put side by side even though its only 700 more lbs lift.

 

[nate379]

Oh the 20k was with a log grapple too. I have to pick it up in Iowa though.

 

[Foragefarmer]

the tracks are a mixed blessing. They are crap on ice, where the tires you can runs chains. They are better on lawns and swamp area though. The T190 is pretty much the same as a 185, just one is wheels and one tracks. A bit too small for my needs. The 250 is huge when put side by side even though its only 700 more lbs lift.

It is all about what you need. The T190 has turned out to be exactly what I need and it meant I didn't have to upgrade my equipment trailer. It has increased production significantly for my business. If someone took the keys from me and said I couldn't use it anymore I would cry my eyes out.

I was just talking prices. the tracked version of the 250 from the place I got my 190 are selling in the area of 20K for similar year and hours to my 190.