Skid steer Loaders

[kruege84]

Hmm.... where to start?

http://construction.newholland.com/products/series.aspx?navid=167&RL=ENNA&lineid=447&seriesid=2691

I don't know other people's feelings on New Holland, but I use an L185 at work almost every day. It's one heck a machine, and by far my favorite to use.

Some other thoughts on what I've used:

Bobcat: ???, I'll never buy one. Everytime I get into one I break something. I don't think they're made to be run really hard. Bobcat is the only one I've ever broken anything on.

Cat: 262B, I wasn't a big fan. It seemed underpowered for its size and had funky controls. Also, becuase of the funky controls, you can't spin perfectly in place.

John Deere: ???, It seemed like a prettly solid machine. Comfortable, and fun and easy to use. I only got to use it for a few hours though.

Gehl: 7810, for about 5 minutes. It's more machine than most will ever need out of a skid steer. It seemed like it was so big it almost defeated the purpose of being a skid steer. I haven't run any of the smaller models though.

Case: 65xt, I use one for plowing snow. Absolutely miserable. Maybe that's just becuase the boss is a cheap azz and wouldn't pay for the heater/defroster? The machine is nice. Good power for its size. Fairly comfortable, as long as your not in there 18 hours at a time .

New Holland: L185, all the time. I love that machine. I've also used older LX885's. They seem like they used to be nice machines, but every one that I've run has had the s*** beaten out of it.

With all that said, I'm 6'1", 190 lbs and never had a problem fitting into any of the machines. Just like with the case, I'm sure anything becomes uncomfortable after 18 hours though.

This is what I get to play with when a skid won't cut it... IT'S FUN!!!

As far as I know, all the companies make some pretty solid machines. Good luck with the choice, and I hope I could help.

 

[sharkfin12us]

bobcat

Hmm.... where to start?

http://construction.newholland.com/products/series.aspx?navid=167&RL=ENNA&lineid=447&seriesid=2691

I don't know other people's feelings on New Holland, but I use an L185 at work almost every day. It's one heck a machine, and by far my favorite to use.

Some other thoughts on what I've used:

Bobcat: ???, I'll never buy one. Everytime I get into one I break something. I don't think they're made to be run really hard. Bobcat is the only one I've ever broken anything on.

Cat: 262B, I wasn't a big fan. It seemed underpowered for its size and had funky controls. Also, becuase of the funky controls, you can't spin perfectly in place.

John Deere: ???, It seemed like a prettly solid machine. Comfortable, and fun and easy to use. I only got to use it for a few hours though.

Gehl: 7810, for about 5 minutes. It's more machine than most will ever need out of a skid steer. It seemed like it was so big it almost defeated the purpose of being a skid steer. I haven't run any of the smaller models though.

Case: 65xt, I use one for plowing snow. Absolutely miserable. Maybe that's just becuase the boss is a cheap azz and wouldn't pay for the heater/defroster? The machine is nice. Good power for its size. Fairly comfortable, as long as your not in there 18 hours at a time .

New Holland: L185, all the time. I love that machine. I've also used older LX885's. They seem like they used to be nice machines, but every one that I've run has had the s*** beaten out of it.

With all that said, I'm 6'1", 190 lbs and never had a problem fitting into any of the machines. Just like with the case, I'm sure anything becomes uncomfortable after 18 hours though.

This is what I get to play with when a skid won't cut it... IT'S FUN!!!

As far as I know, all the companies make some pretty solid machines. Good luck with the choice, and I hope I could help.

I have 2004 A300 i use it for snow plowing and picking up wood so im not digging with it.I have not had a problem with my machine what model bobcat just curious thanks

 

[kruege84]

I have 2004 A300 i use it for snow plowing and picking up wood so im not digging with it.I have not had a problem with my machine what model bobcat just curious thanks

I'm not sure which model, but it's an older machine. Everytime I get in it, I start blowing hydraulic lines, fuel pumps, and other crap. Not saying they're bad equipment, but me and this particular machine don't get along too well.

 

[gink595]

A friend of mine who is a maintainence coordinator for a local steel mill near me has a fleet of JD, Cat and Bobcat, he told me that the bobcats were the most dependable of the three. He said the JD was the worst of the three but the Bobcat SS never had any issues. I believe they had around 30 machines total. The steel mills are a harsh enviorment for these things with all the dust and heat and general misuse, and guys bagging on them for 24 hrs a day all year round. But I'm sure there are those Monday morning ones out there!!

 

[kruege84]

But I'm sure there are those Monday morning ones out there!!

Sounds like the one I'm stuck with!! Maybe just a lemon....

The weird thing is that I'm the only one that ever breaks it. I've never had another peice of equipment breaking while I was using it. Like I said, I think it's just that me and this particular machine don't get along real well!!

 

[arbor pro]

Sounds like the one I'm stuck with!! Maybe just a lemon....

The weird thing is that I'm the only one that ever breaks it. I've never had another peice of equipment breaking while I was using it. Like I said, I think it's just that me and this particular machine don't get along real well!!

kruege84,

Maybe you just need to stop twisting and turning on the steering handles so hard to try to get the bucket to go up and down. You do know that bobcat loader functions are controlled by the foot pedals, right???

(I'm just being a smart butt...)

 

[kruege84]

kruege84,

Maybe you just need to stop twisting and turning on the steering handles so hard to try to get the bucket to go up and down. You do know that bobcat loader functions are controlled by the foot pedals, right???

(I'm just being a smart butt...)

Haha, yeah I figured that much out. I actually started out using the foot pedals and then I used a Cat for a little while. It had hand controls, but not normal skid controls. The left joystick moves the machine while the right does all the bucket movements. Then I was told to get in the Case. That one really screwed me up. It has different hand controls and a pedal for the auxiliary hydraulics.

You get used to 'em after a while, but it can screw with your head a little when you keep jumping back and forth between the different types of controls.

 

[gink595]

Haha, yeah I figured that much out. I actually started out using the foot pedals and then I used a Cat for a little while. It had hand controls, but not normal skid controls. The left joystick moves the machine while the right does all the bucket movements. Then I was told to get in the Case. That one really screwed me up. It has different hand controls and a pedal for the auxiliary hydraulics.

You get used to 'em after a while, but it can screw with your head a little when you keep jumping back and forth between the different types of controls.

Yeah all the skids I've used with joysticks, had the left for foward controls and right for bucket. But you can change that most have a deal where you can switch the way it controls. I think it is a ISO and H pattern, and with the joy stick you can have a foot throttle. I think that would be great, but I am not very good with the joysticks. I know what you mean about switching around, the Gehl was the worst for me.

 

[cabinman]

Case

Iam definatly a case man, I think they are the simpleist design out there as far as hyd etc, Especially compared to the bobcats conjestion of valves and hoses and I dont think any engine in the industry can stand up to the 4 cyl cummins, 4 BT, As far as hand controls, I think when you get rockin and rollin the foot controls add to the problem of keepin a steady flow when you get bouncing around Where as the hand controls allow more (infinate) control, It makes a huge difference, as to what you learned on and are use to, Eric