Looking for first Skid loader

[The Noof]

I am looking to buy a used skid loader. never had one before. I am looking at a 92 Bobcat 743. I want one for home landscaping. Any advice would be great.

Thanks

 

[4570Man]

I think it’s the wrong tool for the job. Skid steers rip up everything in their path. I think the wheeled ones suck anyway.

 

[Shaneard]

If memory serves me correctly and I kinda doubt it at times, don’t the 743’s bounce really bad? Think that’s what my brothers has.

 

[timbatrader]

I think it’s the wrong tool for the job. Skid steers rip up everything in their path. I think the wheeled ones suck anyway.

I use to have one of these bought it with high hours on it used it while building and developing my property after ten years it died and I sold it for parts and got most of my money in back I have replaced with a new Chinese pivot steer loader but I miss the manoverablity of the bobcat they don't rip up the ground much more than the pivot steer loader if driven correctly you need to travel with bucket completely empty and all weight on the rear axel or bucket completely full and all weight on the front axle if you drive with weight on both axles they can chew up the ground when turning l

 

[EddieWalker]

If you have never run one before, do yourself a huge favor and rent one for a few days first. While it's a very capable machine, it's also horrible at destroying the ground, it gets stuck super easy and there is nothing fun about being on one. After renting, odds are very high that you will not want to own one!!!

 

[4570Man]

If you have never run one before, do yourself a huge favor and rent one for a few days first. While it's a very capable machine, it's also horrible at destroying the ground, it gets stuck super easy and there is nothing fun about being on one. After renting, odds are very high that you will not want to own one!!!

Running a 95 Kubota is a real joy. And it’s definitely a capable machine. Running a wheeled Gehl was a completely different experience. And it’s probably nicer than the bobcat in question. I decided right then after an hours use I’d never own a wheeled skid steer. I’ll never own a foot pedal machine either. I’ll take a wheeled loader any time over that. The wheeled skid beats you to death, tears up everything, is vastly inferior to the tracks for grading work, and gets stuck everywhere.

 

[timbatrader]

The bobcat 743 is an old machine my guess from the early 1980's and no comparison to a tracked 95 kubota but also no comparison price wise My place is pretty wet over eight feet of rain per year on clay / mud and yes my machine would get stuck but by using bucket tilt ie tilt bucket forward lower it down until the tooth bar engages then tilt the bucket back I always got out without needing a tow bottom line the 743 would not cut as a commercial working machine and is nowhere as good as a modern tracked machine it is however a useful tool around a hobby farm or building site I loved it

 

[Tomtint]

I have a Cat 246. Started life as a tire machine and I put a whole track undercarriage on it... tire machines suck.. ..always suck. Tracks are a learning experience on turf..but I can move mine across my lawn now and not destroy it. Trick is long slow turns.if you don't have existing turf and you are looking to build your yard...it's hard to beat a skidsteer. They are much more powerful than a CTL and can get projects done significantly faster.

 

[4570Man]

I have a Cat 246. Started life as a tire machine and I put a whole track undercarriage on it... tire machines suck.. ..always suck. Tracks are a learning experience on turf..but I can move mine across my lawn now and not destroy it. Trick is long slow turns.if you don't have existing turf and you are looking to build your yard...it's hard to beat a skidsteer. They are much more powerful than a CTL and can get projects done significantly faster.

I agree that wheeled skid steers suck. I can drive the 95 Kubota in across turf without hurting it too bad but doing any actual work is out of the question. Even the track impressions are pretty bad. Like as much of a track that my 8 ton TLB leaves. CTL doesn’t mean what you think it does. I’m pretty sure you meant CUT. Even then the 775 is a pretty small machine. It would easily be out worked by a large frame CUT. Skid steers are pretty much only for construction. They’re far to destructive for property maintenance. Not to mention tractors and TLBs move faster, quieter, cheaper, smoother, and kick up less dust.

 

[finn1]

I had an old Deere wheeled skid steer that I sold when I bought a CUT with a cab ans snowblower.

The skid was frankly a better machine for dirt work and forks. I needed a cab and blower though.

The CUT isn’t much better in mud and sand, so I added a CTL to the Fleet. It’s the best of the three, but also the most expensive.