Anyone have experience with skid steers?

[Sebculb]

Hola! Would any of y'alls be able to answer some questions about skid steers? (just warning this is a long question, please bear with me I value your knowledge and experience ) I wanna see if I could use one in place of a small farm tractor, mainly because I perceive the skid steers as being substantially sturdier machines with more crossover into my construction and excavation bidneth.

Bit of background, moved to SW Costa Rica about 14 years ago, was going to be a vegetable farmer. Got a small Kubota with a loader and backhoe attachments, and also a little potato plow subsoiler combo thing. The terrain where I was living then is too steep and Rocky to really plow anything properly so the plow was useless. I could prepare nice garden beds with the backhoe okay though. Eventually I broke the chassis of the tractor in half trying to do real dirt work with what was really a little toy garden tractor. Welded it back together and sold it to a friend that uses it for estate maintenance rather than heavy farming and construction work.

I used the money to buy an old dinosaur construction backhoe and that thing is awesome! I've been primarily a local excavation dude since then, just making house lots, farm roads, etc. But I'm turning 40 tomorrow so I guess my midlife crisis is I wanna try focusing on farming again as my main gig. Wife has a good job now so that helps.

Now I've got some nice fields and roads that I made with the backhoe. But that thing is a bull in a China shop and I've been considering getting a smaller machine for around the house use. Been considering a skid steer for a variety of reasons, but mainly because I perceive it as a small construction grade machine that won't break like a compact tractor under gross misuse. (I know the previous instance was my fault, not the Kubota's fault)

So here's the questions:

- what tips over easier, a garden tractor or a skid steer? Like I said, this is steep mountain terrain.

- how are skid steers in the mud or soft dirt farm fields? I'm thinking I'll make some tracks for it, I'm a decent welder and am certain can copy some of the designs I've seen. Not interested in a specific tracked machine cuz replacements are way expensive compared to tires I do believe.( Is that correct?)

- ROTOTILLERS this is the big one, has anyone used skid steer rototiller attachments? Would one be adequate for a market garden type application?

- backhoe attachments, how are they on a skid steer? It appears there are two types, one that has a seat and stabilizer feet, and a simpler type that just has the boom coming out the front of the loader mount. Any insight?

- USEFUL LIFE another big one. If I were to get one of these it'd be used and abused already. Such is the nature down here, what you can get for 10k. So how are the internals? Two reverser transmissions with a bunch of clutch disks? (I have no idea, never driven one). Do they wear out like a dozer or excavator undercarriage? Or just replace some disks and keep on digging? I am mechanically inclined and keep a hoe with 25k hours working.

- mowers/bush hogs? Could I start a mowing sideline with one of these attachments?

- towing/pulling, does anyone ever weld or bolt some kind of hitch on the back of a skid steer and pull little trailers or plows or disk harrows etc? Could that work?

I guess the pipe dream is to get an old skid steer with backhoe, rototiller, and bush hog attachments. And make some tracks for it. Is this feasible to run a market garden with? We have critters too so hauling manure, feed sacks, etc. I'd be able to incorporate it into my excavation jobs periodically also. It'll take a bit of time to amass the attachments but there's plenty of old skid steers for sale and even some with hoes.

Or is this straight dumb, wrong tool for the job and I'm better off trying to buy my old Kubota back from my buddy or find something similar?

Thanks so much for bearing with me and any advice or experience you can share.

 

[mikester]

SS are relatively cheap, compact machines good to get in tight spaces with decent lift. Other than that I have nothing good to say about them and avoid them at all costs. If your idea of a good time is a harsh pogo stick ride, poor visibility, and instability then go for it.

 

[Sebculb]

One vote against skid steers, thanks! I'm in the information gathering stage, and like I said I could always try to buy my old toy farm tractor back.

Any others with input?

 

[Citydude]

For my forested application which is steep terrain, I chose a tractor for ground clearance and stability. The guys with skid steers are few and far between.

 

[dodge man]

I personally have never used one except to sit in one and move it around. I am retired but was a land surveyor and saw them all the time on construction sites. If I needed on I would get one with tracks and not wheels. They make a lot of implements for them, they have a lot of power and lift height for their size.

I don’t see them as being cheap, maybe the ones with wheels instead of tracks are. The implements are also pretty expensive. The big thing is they are a construction grade machine and will hold up well where most compact tractors are not.

 

[PROFarms]

Unless you’re going to be solely using it on yard/hard surface I’d get a tracked machine anyway, stability is so much better than a wheeled one and traction is better too!
Personally I’d choose a loader tractor if possible. Much more substantial from my experience and generally more useful unless in tight spaces

 

[Industrial Toys]

Your first op sentance pretty much sums it up accurately.

If I had to do it all over again, I would have got a skidsteer (today CTL) and not a JD 6000 series tractor.

We grew up with the TRACTOR mindset. A neighbor with a NH skidsteer did basically ask me back then, what are you doing? Why didn't you get a skid steer? But he also had a new FORD 5610 with cab and AC.

 

[airbiscuit]

Unless, you get a tracked skidsteer, they are TIPPY. I can't imagine using one on steep slopes. I don't know anyone who has owned one that hasn't put it on its nose at least once. I owned a Bobcat skidsteer for a while. I loved being able to see the front bucket edge and using it for landscape work. Maintenance was easy enough, but repairs were a bear. You had to be Houdini to reach into cramped quarters, and parts can be quite expensive.

I sold it to buy a CUT and I couldn't be happier for my needs.

 

[4570Man]

I’d never buy a skid steer with wheels. Getting stuck is about all they’re good for. The track loaders are way better.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I was focused on the A300 Bobcat for a while. Skid steer or conventional steer. Good thing I test drove that thing after a snow storm and realized how useless it was in snow.

 

[4570Man]

I was focused on the A300 Bobcat for a while. Skid steer or conventional steer. Good thing I test drove that thing after a snow storm and realized how useless it was in snow.

I looked at those and liked the idea because I was doing quite a bit of work on yards and the ground destruction of a regular skid wasn’t acceptable. But I quickly decided wheeled skids sucked.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I am also leary of heavy duty components controlled by delicate electronic sensors and miles of wiring and connectors. Call me old fashioned.

I don't like tearing up turf, ever, so the conventional steering mode seemed very appealing though.

I think I also test drove an older one with the Deutz, and it gave me a splitting headache that lasted the rest of the day. I never get headaches!

I love my small wheel loader with the turf tires! Barely ever a mark anywhere.

 

[buck12]

I seriously considered a tracked steer a little over a year ago. My plan was to keep my Mahindra 2615 with loader and get a tracked skid steer. I have used a friends and for loader work they are awesome. Visibility and loader specs are so much better than a tractor. But then I talked to a buddy that has owned all sorts of equipment and uses and maintains all sorts of equipment in his job. He is a former JD mechanic. His advice was that unless one is a good mechanic and has deep pockets to stick with a tractor.

I wound up buying my current tractor. I think I made the right choice. While a tractor is not the best tool for every job, it is a very versatile tool and given enough time I can accomplish about anything I need to on my property.

 

[4570Man]

I seriously considered a tracked steer a little over a year ago. My plan was to keep my Mahindra 2615 with loader and get a tracked skid steer. I have used a friends and for loader work they are awesome. Visibility and loader specs are so much better than a tractor. But then I talked to a buddy that has owned all sorts of equipment and uses and maintains all sorts of equipment in his job. He is a former JD mechanic. His advice was that unless one is a good mechanic and has deep pockets to stick with a tractor.

I wound up buying my current tractor. I think I made the right choice. While a tractor is not the best tool for every job, it is a very versatile tool and given enough time I can accomplish about anything I need to on my property.

I’d feel fairly certain the CTL would beat the tractors work done cost even without paying an operator. Sure they cost more per hour but they do more work.

 

[airbiscuit]

For construction and landscaping, it's a skidsteer, hands down. My skidsteer was an older model, and engine, pumps, hoses, etc. were all crammed into areas verrrry difficult to access. I had a steel hydraulic line develop a rust hole in front of the engine. There was an access slot cut into the frame that only allowed one eighth of a wrench turn before it bottomed out. Lots of time on my back and a lot of curse words. To start the threads of the new line, I had to reach my arm in blind as far as I could and try to turn the fitting with just the tips of two fingers. Mercifully, it "took" and then back under the machine turning the wrench 1/8 of a turn at a time.

Then a hose for the bucket went. Same tight quarters, no room to turn a wrench. I wondered what happens if something needs repair on the front of the engine? That's when I decided to sell it and buy a CUT.

 

[seville009]

I have a tractor (MF 1540) and a skidsteer (ASV PT50 - tracks). The tractor would be a much better choice. Would be much more stable (can have foam filled tires for added weight and also be puncture proof), many cheaper implements, easier to jump off and in while working, better visibility, more operator room, easier to access the engine and components, etc.

I purchased the skidsteer mainly for snow removal - heated cab and front blower. Use it for some landscaping work - judt have a bucket and snowblower for it.

 

[Rustyiron]

Steep, rocky and Farming? There's a problem with that for any machine.
Each machine has its strong points and one will work circles around the other at certain jobs. I have both and there's only a very small list of tasks that they overlap on. 2 different tools entirely.

 

[Sebculb]

Thanks everyone for the insight. The main reasons I'd gravitate towards a skid steer is that they're way sturdier than a comparable size garden tractor, and the availability here in Costa Rica. There's plenty of skids, very few little garden tractors. Only big sugarcane tractors. After my experience between the little Kubota and the deere backhoe I decided I only want to mess with construction grade equipment even if it's old as the hills.

In the case of a wheeled skid steer, I'd definitely make some over the tire tracks for it. I'm confident that would fix the traction issues but I'm leary of the overall tipiness of the thing. Not really considering a tracked machine because everything about tracks is more expensive I've seen. Got one colleague that has a bulldozer and a big excavator, metal tracks are like mortgage the farm expensive. And a buddy with a smaller rubber track excavator , every time he replaces tracks he wonders how much he really wants the thing. All this makes backhoe tires seem cheap!

All this is at the pipe dreaming stage still, just saving money for now. My plan has been to save and buy another old backhoe to have a spare and for around the farm while the other is at a job. The backhoe will do anything, just kinda big and uncomfortable for little market garden applications. Like shooting a toad with a 12 gauge. But, as I said, that will work. Recently as I contemplate how to back into into farming the idea of a skid and it's assorted attachments has become attractive. But I might just stick with the original plan and work towards another hoe. I dunno I got plenty of time to think about it until there's enough cash on hand to make a move. For now I've just been clearing land and breaking it up with the hoe and running the beds with walk behind tillers and weed whackers.

But the idea of a skid for farming sure is attractive and could also diversify my excavation work...

 

[LouNY]

My nephew has a nice skid steer on the farm it is a very handy unit for what it can do.
It is not a tractor, he did end up needed to get a set of over the tire tracks for it as it was helpless in mud or snow.
They do not do tractor work well at all, they are not tractors and they can not haul any thing.

And then there is one other thing which to me is a huge issue.
For smaller framed younger individuals they are not to hard to get in or out of.
With my size 15 or 16 (brand depending) boots and large over sized carcass getting in and out of it is an extreme exercise in aggravation.
Stepping down in, it is extremely difficult to twist around and get my feet untangled and getting my knees to cooperate once I get set down in it's not bad and getting out is not quite as bad just almost.
So bigger, older, and artificial joints do not work well with conventional skid steers.
That said there has been a bit of conversation about the single arm skid steers with the conventional doors, so far just talk.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Yeah, stay away from used skid steers, especially certain ones (do your homework) Most newish ones will give the average Joe a lot of troublefree service. Then sell it for what you paid, if you looked after it.

A friend got a screaming deal on a (used in a quarry) distressed JD, don't know what series. He fixes most of the stuff but thought, just send it to JD and have them make it right. The bill was around twenty grand, which he protested and had it knocked way down.