Tracked Skid Steer shopping ... your input please

[TSO]

I am in the market for a a tracked SkidSteer. I am adding this piece to my landscape company to assist with both rough and finish grading and dirt moving projects, as well as some small land clearing work (nothing major, maybe later I'll look for a 100 HP machine and mulcher), moving sod and pallets around, etc. Might also push some snow with it.

I have narrowed it down to the following considerations : approximately 8000-9000 pounds machine weight . Cab with heat . Two speed. Pilot controls .

I will most likely buy used, and would like to spend under $30k. Main dealers around me are (in order if proximity to me) CAT, then NH, Deere, Terex/ASV, Bobcat, Takeuchi, Gehl, JCB.

I really like the ASV undercarriage system, and I see lots of CAT 247B's around. But I also hear that they are somewhat fragile and expensive to maintain.

I also really like the idea of the JCB/Volvo units with the monoBOOM design, especially for accessibility and visibility.

I'm not brand loyal to any of these, so don't be afraid to bash any of them (factual tho please)... but I also want to make sure I have decent service availability if/when needed.

Please give me your pros and cons of any of the tracked machines you have operated, and any other info that you have gleaned from experience with these machines.

Also, if you've had any experience with a specific dealer (regardless of brand) in the greater Detroit area, an experience worth mentioning, (good or bad) please do.

Thanks in advance!

 

[4570Man]

Have you looked at the prices of replacement undercarriages for these machines?

 

[TSO]

Have you looked at the prices of replacement undercarriages for these machines?

Yes they all appear to be expensive, especially the ASV units

 

[oldnslo]

Cat hands down has the best service & parts availability in the industry. So if down time is a concern that should be considered.

I have only operated a tracked unit briefly but have a good friend in the excavation business. his first choice is the Cat units. He says they have provided the most consitant performance over all the models he tried. He has tested the Terex/ASV, New Holland, & Deere. Not sure but part of it maybe the dealer also.

 

[turbo36]

have you looked at Bobcat? I like the ride that ASV gives you but the maintenance cost is high. I am on the West side of the state and use Charleton Equipment, they are very responsive to my needs.

 

[TSO]

have you looked at Bobcat? I like the ride that ASV gives you but the maintenance cost is high. I am on the West side of the state and use Charleton Equipment, they are very responsive to my needs.

The previous bobcat model that I would think would fit was the T190.

Can you give some specific examples regarding pros and cons to the machines you have or have used?

 

[Rustyiron]

RUN away from ASV/Terex, they ride real nice, but I know guy's that have sold them rather than rebuild that fragile, expensive & complicated instrument they call an undercarrage. IMHO Cat is just plain expensive, but you car argue that is returned at resale time. Can you bill for any more per hour because it's a Cat, that's a big no.
NH, Tak, & Gehl are solid machines, Bobcat, again IMHO is overly dependant on electronic's (like Cat) and they are dependant on a dealer service tech (and his friggin computer) just to get started on a problem.
I'd play around with lower hour used machines to get into it. You could get in & out of a smartly bought used machine with little or no loss if you had a change of mind and or brand & features. It's easy to get into a Ford/Chevy type argument, but if you haven't, check out
Skid Steers
and post your question there. There are so many things to consider, just in the controls, and I'm not talking just about "paterns". Then you have the emissions "tier" BS to consider, on & on. Good luck!

 

[Ivan49]

Do your homework good if you are thinking BobCat. There are 2 new ones a short ways from me in northern Mich and they have both puked the Hyd systems one did it twice causing metal contanation. They came from Carlton equit and the dealer was very good the first time around but id dragging there feet the second time. These are both very large machines and are used daily to skid logs out with a grapple. It may take a couple of days but I can get the model numbers if you like. I don't know if this problem is only with these models or not as Bob Cat was always a good machine. I would go with a Cat if I was to buy a new one. When I bought mine I had a Cat for a week and it was nice but so was the price

 

[whis]

takeuchi is the toughest

 

[TSO]

takeuchi is the toughest

Examples please?

 

[boggen]

going used....
Track Skid Steers, Used Track Skid Steers, Track Skid Steers For Sale At MachineryTrader.com - Manufacturers

simply looking at above link CAT and bobcat are neck and neck for used machines out there, with Deere coming in third.

============
i get a tad uneasy going into used...

type in your "zip code" then search
then enter a "max price" then search (say a few thousand more than willing to pay. just to see above and below your price range)

call each place up and double check they still have unit....
get name/address telephone number if not obtain able on machinerytrader already.
and go take a "day" road trip to say a dozen places and look at the various units.
--personally use google maps and enter an address at a time to mark locations of units
--then enter into GPS make it phone or a little cheepy GPS unit. to plan road trip.

some units are going to be UGLY pure and simply UGLY might as well toss into scrap yard. to much to put back together.
while others going to look used but working, but needing some major repairs
others going to be leaking, hissing, nocking and just plain angry ugly and keeping on going.

get out there and test drive the units. and if ya like a unit make a note of it... and go visit the rest of them. no need to be "instant like and want" spend the day looking at units. getter done in a day or 2. so you keep things fresh in your memory of how things looked and ran.

it will take a couple hours checking out machinerytrader website, and double checking overall specs for units via google search and like. so guessing a couple nights messing around on computer after work. if they still have the units i am guessing there going to have them for another day or more. or less priced so stinking low they will most likely be already gone.

 

[boggen]

OTT (over tire tracts) may look ugly, may cost. but... they are removable if ever need be and hopefully let you keep going till you get a new tractor / repair done.

 

[TSO]

going used....
Track Skid Steers, Used Track Skid Steers, Track Skid Steers For Sale At MachineryTrader.com - Manufacturers

simply looking at above link CAT and bobcat are neck and neck for used machines out there, with Deere coming in third.

============
i get a tad uneasy going into used...

type in your "zip code" then search
then enter a "max price" then search (say a few thousand more than willing to pay. just to see above and below your price range)

call each place up and double check they still have unit....
get name/address telephone number if not obtain able on machinerytrader already.
and go take a "day" road trip to say a dozen places and look at the various units.
--personally use google maps and enter an address at a time to mark locations of units
--then enter into GPS make it phone or a little cheepy GPS unit. to plan road trip.

some units are going to be UGLY pure and simply UGLY might as well toss into scrap yard. to much to put back together.
while others going to look used but working, but needing some major repairs
others going to be leaking, hissing, nocking and just plain angry ugly and keeping on going.

get out there and test drive the units. and if ya like a unit make a note of it... and go visit the rest of them. no need to be "instant like and want" spend the day looking at units. getter done in a day or 2. so you keep things fresh in your memory of how things looked and ran.

it will take a couple hours checking out machinerytrader website, and double checking overall specs for units via google search and like. so guessing a couple nights messing around on computer after work. if they still have the units i am guessing there going to have them for another day or more. or less priced so stinking low they will most likely be already gone.

Yeah that's about what I've been doing. Been to the CAT dealer so far. I've looked at specs for machines from most brands and I've found the basic size/capabilities I'm looking at.

I'm looking for people here to give their experience with units in particular

 

[TSO]

OTT (over tire tracts) may look ugly, may cost. but... they are removable if ever need be and hopefully let you keep going till you get a new tractor / repair done.

I've looked into those... I've read that they can cause driveline stress as dirt and debris builds up and "tightens" then on the tires.

 

[seaneastok]

TSO
I can vouch for ott system on a Cat 246B several thousands of hours on first ott set of tracks and now on the second set of ott because the first set was worn out . cheaper than a set of tracks for a comparable tracked skid steer, and removable when the need arises..Running on foam filled tires. Constant usage in a general/concrete construction co.

 

[TSO]

TSO
I can vouch for ott system on a Cat 246B several thousands of hours on first ott set of tracks and now on the second set of ott because the first set was worn out . cheaper than a set of tracks for a comparable tracked skid steer, and removable when the need arises..Running on foam filled tires. Constant usage in a general/concrete construction co.

Ok thanks. Tell me how you feel about the 246B... What does it do well, what are it's limitations?

How are the OTT tracks on fine dirt? Good traction with decent (minimal) disruption? Bog down the machine?

 

[crashz]

My 2 cents:

Last year I ran a Cat 279 all winter plowing snow on my jobsite in Boston. I did a bit of grading with it. Hands down the best grading machine I've ever ran. The joystick control was a little touchy though.

What I really like about the track machines is the stability. The "wheel base" allows for better grading and stability. Night and day compared to my much smaller bobcat and its tiny wheelbase.

One downside to that ASV track design was that snow and ice packed in and destroyed the drive sprockets and some idlers. That 279 had to go in for some repairs when I was done with it, even though I was careful to clean the tracks each day.

We have a Terex PT80 here at work. Awesome machine when running. But its been a maintenance nightmare. Its only saving grace is that it has the lowest ground pressure in the industry for its weight class. We do a lot of landfill work, so it is a big deal to us.

We also have a Mustang (can't remember the model) that is much older, but very reliable. It has the standard track loader tracks (not ASV all terrain tracks). Its a nice machine, but getting older.

No first hand knowledge of the Take's or Kubota's, but have heard good things. Mostly reliability.

If I were you, I'd look at Cat, Mustang, Kubota and Takeuchi.

 

[bdog]

I own two deere tracked machines. A 322 and a 332. I like them. The larger 332 is definitely more capable with the larger weight, larger lift capacity, higher hydraulic flow, etc. I have a friend that had one of the Cat's with ASV system and he had nothing but troubles. Finally got rid of it because he could;t afford to keep fixing it. He was using it on ranches though in rough terrain and rocks. It might hold up better in just loose dirt like on a construction site but for his application it was horrible. The undercarriage on my machines are basically the same as a dozer - really stout.

I really like Takeuchi machines though I don;t have a lot of experience with them. You very rarely hear complaints and they have impressive specs. The only thing keeping me from buying one is the closest dealer is 120 miles away and there are not even really a full service dealer.

I will likely be upgrading my 322 in the near future and I will probably buy another Deere. I have nothing against CAT and they make good stuff especially their dozers I just have a really good Deere dealer locally and they not only give me great service they give me good pricing.

 

[TSO]

I own two deere tracked machines. A 322 and a 332. I like them. The larger 332 is definitely more capable with the larger weight, larger lift capacity, higher hydraulic flow, etc. I have a friend that had one of the Cat's with ASV system and he had nothing but troubles. Finally got rid of it because he could;t afford to keep fixing it. He was using it on ranches though in rough terrain and rocks. It might hold up better in just loose dirt like on a construction site but for his application it was horrible. The undercarriage on my machines are basically the same as a dozer - really stout.

I really like Takeuchi machines though I don;t have a lot of experience with them. You very rarely hear complaints and they have impressive specs. The only thing keeping me from buying one is the closest dealer is 120 miles away and there are not even really a full service dealer.

I will likely be upgrading my 322 in the near future and I will probably buy another Deere. I have nothing against CAT and they make good stuff especially their dozers I just have a really good Deere dealer locally and they not only give me great service they give me good pricing.

Thanks... I was looking at a 319 last night, they look good. However, I'm leaning towards radial lift loader geometry instead of vertical. From what I'm hearing, radial is allegedly better for grading work (what's your thought on that?)

My 2 cents:

Last year I ran a Cat 279 all winter plowing snow on my jobsite in Boston. I did a bit of grading with it. Hands down the best grading machine I've ever ran. The joystick control was a little touchy though.

What I really like about the track machines is the stability. The "wheel base" allows for better grading and stability. Night and day compared to my much smaller bobcat and its tiny wheelbase.

One downside to that ASV track design was that snow and ice packed in and destroyed the drive sprockets and some idlers. That 279 had to go in for some repairs when I was done with it, even though I was careful to clean the tracks each day.

We have a Terex PT80 here at work. Awesome machine when running. But its been a maintenance nightmare. Its only saving grace is that it has the lowest ground pressure in the industry for its weight class. We do a lot of landfill work, so it is a big deal to us.

We also have a Mustang (can't remember the model) that is much older, but very reliable. It has the standard track loader tracks (not ASV all terrain tracks). Its a nice machine, but getting older.

No first hand knowledge of the Take's or Kubota's, but have heard good things. Mostly reliability.

If I were you, I'd look at Cat, Mustang, Kubota and Takeuchi.

I'm actually hoping to go to my Gehl dealer today. They also sell Volvo and possibly Takeuchi. From what I've seen, the older (I think older than 2010) Gehl, Mustang, Takeuchi units are actually all the same.

 

[bdog]

Thanks... I was looking at a 319 last night, they look good. However, I'm leaning towards radial lift loader geometry instead of vertical. From what I'm hearing, radial is allegedly better for grading work (what's your thought on that?)

I have no idea. Never used one. Maybe it is better but we have no problems grading with ours. Read this Skid Steer Lift Arm Geometry and Its Impact on Loader Performance

We load dump trucks a lot with our machines and they barely go high enough. If you ever plan on doing that might want to go vertical.