Tractor or Skid Steer - An age old debate
- Thread starter TriCountyLawn
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sharkfin12us
ArboristSite Operative
Skidsteer
I have 2004 A300 bobcat and 120 hours on it i use it for lifting wood logs.I have over sized snow bucket 1 yard and turf tires on it.Great for snow plowing i have joy sticks.I learned hard way to slow down some because joy stick on my left controls forward and backward and if im going to fast moving started to hurt my shoulder so i slowed down and that worked out fine for my shoulder and machine too.Never had issue with my machine.Just my 2 cents
I have 2004 A300 bobcat and 120 hours on it i use it for lifting wood logs.I have over sized snow bucket 1 yard and turf tires on it.Great for snow plowing i have joy sticks.I learned hard way to slow down some because joy stick on my left controls forward and backward and if im going to fast moving started to hurt my shoulder so i slowed down and that worked out fine for my shoulder and machine too.Never had issue with my machine.Just my 2 cents
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redprospector
Addicted to ArboristSite
That's odd, I guess there are lemmon's in every brand. A buddy of mine had a Case 1840 and had nothing but trouble, he worked on it more than with it.
I have a 1998 model 863 that I bought used in 2003, and the most costly thing I have done to it is put fuel in it. Well the hydraulic filter is pretty pricy, but that's really cheap insurance. I work the p!ss out of it moving logs & slash or what ever else I need to do. It has about 5500 hours on it and hasn't been run without track's in 4 1/2 years.
Like I said, there are lemmon's in every brand but short of that maintenance is the key to longevity.
Andy
Bobcat issues
The T190 had wiring problems.....the dealer had a $1500 bill to figure it out and finally ended up running new wiring by zip tying it to the outside of the harness. A couple solenoids went bad....windshield wipers quit then more wiring problems. The quick tach plate on the front of the machine bent repeatedly on both machines. I assumed it was abuse from a former owner but even after spending about 900 bucks on a new plate and being careful to squarely put on the attachment etc. it bent just like the old one. Bobcat is just a stamped plate and Case is a piece of milled steel. Bobcat stocks the whole plate and the Case dealership said they didn't remember ever selling one. I am not generally very brand loyal etc. but have now decided there is a reason you don't see Bobcats on the road building fleets very often. Also to get the high flow to work you had to have a Bobcat brand attachment. T190 had about 2000 hrs on it when i got it and I think we ran it 3-400 hours. 873 I don't know it 's my brothers. He literally carries an O ring set with him. It has probably blown 10 o rings. 1 bent cylinder, starter. Linkage was aluminum in the back and it stripped where it goes into the hydrostatic drive motors.
The T190 had wiring problems.....the dealer had a $1500 bill to figure it out and finally ended up running new wiring by zip tying it to the outside of the harness. A couple solenoids went bad....windshield wipers quit then more wiring problems. The quick tach plate on the front of the machine bent repeatedly on both machines. I assumed it was abuse from a former owner but even after spending about 900 bucks on a new plate and being careful to squarely put on the attachment etc. it bent just like the old one. Bobcat is just a stamped plate and Case is a piece of milled steel. Bobcat stocks the whole plate and the Case dealership said they didn't remember ever selling one. I am not generally very brand loyal etc. but have now decided there is a reason you don't see Bobcats on the road building fleets very often. Also to get the high flow to work you had to have a Bobcat brand attachment. T190 had about 2000 hrs on it when i got it and I think we ran it 3-400 hours. 873 I don't know it 's my brothers. He literally carries an O ring set with him. It has probably blown 10 o rings. 1 bent cylinder, starter. Linkage was aluminum in the back and it stripped where it goes into the hydrostatic drive motors.
hydro2
ArboristSite Operative
Well I guess I have my tractor now. It was funny reading my post. I had no idea back in april I would be rid of my skidloader and have a tractor. I never looked back.
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I dont even know where to start with this post!!!!!
you musta bought some real "winner" equipment without a clue as to what mechanically needs done!! & your comment about "Track" machines & not being able to plow snow as good as wheeled machines..............WTF??? nothing could be further from the truth!!!
A track machine will outperform any skidsteer out there...........it wont be as fast, they are a rough ride.... but as far as moving dirt, plowing snow, climbing hills, digging foundations & whatever else................wheels suck & tracks are the way to go!!
bobcat 773............had one, good used machine, no problems.....fast & good at what it is needed for Vs JD440 crawler, this was a relic, 1956 or 57 2 cylinder gas, great shape & ran strong............this machine did anything!! the bobcat was much faster, but that old JD would drag that BC around like a toy if I wanted too!! & as far as snow...........that "wheeled bobcat was a joke" JD crawler would not only plow the snow but would pull out the stuck vehicles in the ditch at road side!! see if your wheeled skidsteer will do that in a PA winter with 2ft of snow??
Bobcat.....was nickel & diming me so it was sold & the new owner made aware of what was needed, the JD crawler finally after more than 50 years had enough, steering clutches/brake bands needed replaced & the output drive shaft gear needed replaced......so sold it for parts!
Now for the rest of your post...............its as bad if not worse!! WOULDNT TAKE ANY OF YOUR ADVICE!!!!
LXT................Btw: got me a gooood used track machine c`mon this fall! I cant wait............!
fearofpavement
Trying them all
In my opinion, although there are overlaps in capabilities, a skid steer and a tractor are two very different machines. Having both I am not sure that just one would be an option. A skid steer will do things a tractor won't and vice versa. I will say that a tractor can be acquired at considerably less cost, is easier to transport and does a lot less "tearing up" of whatever you're operating on. A skid steer will lift more, maneuver in small spaces and has a plethora of attachments (although at prohibitive costs). Another thing to keep in mind is that skid steers are very complex machines and are expensive to repair. Their compactness compounds repairing difficulties. If I were without either machine, I would start with a used tractor. They are plentiful and if you buy it right you should be able to later sell it for close to what you paid. A decent tractor with a loader can be had for well under 10K. That amount won't get much of a skid steer (although I have seen some pretty good deals over the last couple years) If you have a specific task to accomplish and only that type of task, then one machine will likely prevail as the most suitable option.
thomaswbdswim
ArboristSite Lurker
one way of getting the decreased ground disturbance is to use a bobcat that has an all wheel steer package they are more pricey and you cant run tracks with the all wheel steer but they are harder to get stuck don't rip up turf and don't bounce to high heaven when turning
if you are moving a trailer they make attachments for skid steers that is just a plate with a hitch on it that could be used to drag larger logs with or move a trailer.
good luck in your choice
this is a video showing the turning ability
Bobcat A300 All Wheel Drive - YouTube
if you are moving a trailer they make attachments for skid steers that is just a plate with a hitch on it that could be used to drag larger logs with or move a trailer.
good luck in your choice
this is a video showing the turning ability
Bobcat A300 All Wheel Drive - YouTube
Yellowdog
ArboristSite Operative
to each his own.
Get what works for your situation. All brands have issues. I've owned 13 Bobcats and one C series CAT. All have their pros and cons.
For this thread, though, I wouldn't be without a skid or CTL for moving trees, dirt work (4wd tractor not even in the same class), or general use as a tool carrier. The more hp the better if you want to run attachments (high flow is a good option as well as a two speed machine).
As someone else pointed out, you can drag logs with a chain on a tractor (or maybe a grapple in place of the loader bucket) but a skid is the way to go and your wood will stay cleaner. You will be safer, too, with a skid working in the woods.
Tracks are a good compliment but not necessary unless you are working in soft conditions. I work in very rocky, steep country and use only "hulk" type rubber tires and can go anywhere. Sand and mud are a different story and A CTL or OTT tracks would be a better option.
Tractors for the most part have a lot less maintenance but in my opinion are not as durable and you generally have a lot less hydraulic output and are left with PTO attachments which are clumsy and more hassle to transport/set up.
