Is a skid steer right for this application?

oakiemac · Aug 31, 2003

I operate a small sawmill in southern Michigan. I am looking for a piece of equipment to load logs on and off the mill and trailer. It would also need to move lumber in stacks from kiln to barn and general chores. The max weight would be about 5000lbs. Would a skid steer with forks work for this? I've been looking at fork lifts but thought a skid steer would be more versital. Thank you.
Oakie

cowboydoc · Aug 31, 2003

I don't think it would work at all. I've got a good sized skidsteer, 56hp, and I can't even lift 2000 lb. round bales without it tipping forward. You either need a forklift, big tractor with loader, or a front end loader. 5000 lbs. is ALOT of weight to lift with any loader.

40Kchicks · Aug 31, 2003

You are right that a skid steer is an extremely versatile machines and make very quick work out of most jobs but even the largest skid steers are only rated for 3000lbs. You may want to look at something like a bobcat versahandler. JD and others make something similar. I don't have any experience with this type of machine but I know they have a lot of attachments for them like a grapple bucket and they are rated to lift 5-6klbs rather high.

Good luck
Eric

Hoeman00 · Sep 4, 2003

My buddy does logging and runs a sawmill part time and he uses a 943 Bobcat.
I've got a 250 Deere w/ rated 1750 lift (1850 w/ rear weights)but I can load 24"x12' green pin oak logs (2700#) in the dump truck.
The rated capacity of SSL are either 1/3 or 1/2 of the tipping point.
So my Deere has about a 3500# tipping point.
Some of the bigger SSL (Deere and Gehl ) have 3600# rated lift and would do fine.
The old 8875 Deere manual said it would lift 5000# logs w/ the forks.
U would want to be on solid ground and any down hill slope will reduce the tipping point.
Deere website:
http://www.deere.com/en_US/cfd/construction/deere_const/skidsteers/280_skidsteer_general.html?sidenavstate=11

yellowsocks93 · Oct 14, 2003

I agree with Eric on this one. Some sort of telehandler like the Bobcat or my personal favorite John Deere. I have had the chance to run one around the lot and it is really a nice machine. Nice cab, hydraulics, visibility, and the transmission is very nice. The models are 3200 and 3400 at 100 hp and a 3800. The 32 and 3400 are non articulating and thats what I drove. They can steer 2 wheel, 4 wheel, and crab steer. The 3800 is articulating and has 100 hp. The 3200 lifts 6200 lbs, 3400 lifts 6600 and the 3800 I think lifts the same as the 3400. The have a powershift transmission.