Advice for purchasing a Skid steer loader

[Tx Jim]

I'm considering purchasing a skid-steer can anyone give me thoughts on brands to purchase or avoid? In my 35 yr custom baling career I've owned/operated several different brands of tractors/farm equipment including JD, Kubota & Ford/NH. I'm considering a lower to mid horsepower unit. Thank you in advance for any advice, Jim

 

[WM75Guy]

I recently bought a new 2025 JCB 270T 75hp compact track loader, primarily to move hay with a Steffen hay grapple. It has a side entry door for easy entry for an old guy like me. So far it has been great. Bought a stump grinder to use on it, made easy work of stumps. Switched the brush grapple connections over to 1/2" so it now works on the CTL. Lift capacity of 2700 lbs, lifetime warranty on the boom. Has a standard 24 gpm hydraulic flow and 32 gpm high flow. No DPF or regens with the JCB engine. They make a 270 with wheels as well if you don't want tracks. Mine was $71,000 from South Star JCB in Lewisville, special Stock Show price. Someone had ordered it and didn't take delivery.

Creature comforts - AC/heat, heated air ride seat, am/fm stereo with Bluetooth. Auto-reverse fan every 10 minutes to blow out the radiator on top of the engine. Easy to check fluids by opening the rear door. Service every 500 hours.

 

[Tomtint]

Moat of the machines out there today are much more comfortable than the ones of 15 or more years ago. I have a Cat 246 that I bought somewhere around 2005 with 70 hours on it ( basically new ) Cat makes strong, reliable work ready equipment. Easy to service and parts when needed are easy to access and not overly expensive. Mine has a no def no egr Perkins diesel.. it’s really strong for a machine of its size. I ended up putting a full set of Logering tracks on it and doing away with the tires.. it’s a night and day difference in capability.. I would never go back to tires.
Cat, Kubota, Bobcat, Deere , and others are all nice and as long as they are well maintained, should last thousands of hours. Currently mine has 750 or so hours on it.. only basic maintenance has been needed like oil changes and filters. I do it every 2 years because I don’t put many hours on it.