Skid steer purchase?

[radman]

I am looking for a used skid steer. Something near the size of a Bobcat 873. Need minimum of 2000 lb lift. Any suggestions?Mostly bobcat in my area. Few New hollands, cases, cat, JD. Any known problems with bobcat 873 or 864?

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Which controls are you used to? hand, feet, or T bar?

I've heard the NH is the king of lift. But the Bobcat is the best for moving dirt.

I have a JCB and love it to pieces. There's this thing about being able to get in and out while working that is so kewl.

 

[Gatorboy]

Radman,

I've got a <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.pbase.com/image/4727246>Bobcat 873</A> and just love it.

You can usually find skid steers on eBay -- here are a few online now:

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1871415386>1998 Bobcat 873</A>

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1781573417>2000 Bobcat 863</A>


They are however, usually not that close to where you live.

I see you are in Maryland -- what town do you live in?

 

[ScottAR]

Might try <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.Ironplanet.com/>Ironplanet</A> .
A little safer than Ebay IMO. They are inspected and usually have oil samples taken. They also help with shipping.

 

[Steven]

Nortern Tool sells used Bobcat skids also<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/LLCategoryDisplayView?storeId=6970&langId=-1&catalogId=4006970&PHOTOS=on&TEST=Y&productId=709268&categoryId=0>http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/LLCategoryDisplayView?storeId=6970&langId=-1&catalogId=4006970&PHOTOS=on&TEST=Y&productId=709268&categoryId=0</A>

 

[radman]

I probably don't have a big preference for type of controls. Older bobcats from several years ago are all I have driven - foot control. The newer hand controls (joystick) seem nice but not necessary for me. Precision and control are important to me and lift. I want to be able to move in smooth motions if needed. I have heard some the the older 853 bobcats which had servos with in turn controlled the wheels were jerky. I plan to remove an old dirt/cement silo with it, load seed, prep a pole barn building site, build a water garden pond etc.

 

[radman]

I actually live in Nebraska. Do you have any regrets or problems with you Bobcat 873?

 

[radman]

I have looked at Iron Planet. It always worries me to buy something like this without personally seeing the machine. I have seen 1500 hour skidsteers look horrible and others look nearly new with the same hours. Some people are very hard on their equipment. Iron planet does give a nice overall review of their machines.

 

[jtn]

Try <A target="_blank" HREF=http://usediron.point2.com/Xhtml/Index.html>http://usediron.point2.com/Xhtml/Index.html</A>

You can call and make arrangements to inspect it yourself.

JT

 

[gatractorman]

I used to work for a Bobcat dealer, the problem we saw most with 873's was boom arms that start cracking and broken lift cylinder rods coming from people raising bucket as far as it would go and trying to push trees over with it, it would make the vertical lift arm mechanism try to cam over the wrong way and snap the cylinder rods, the 864 is a hoss of a machine with the tracks it'll push almost as good as a small dozer, but its $4000 every time you blow a drive motor and they were frequent, I got proficent changing 873 boom arms and 864 drive motors, my dream machine is an 863 with the regular lever steering, most 863's were servo controlled steering they work easy but its hard to keep them centered and not creep.

 

[BeeBop]

Radman, If you like the idea of tracks I'd go w/something along the lines of a CAT 257 or a BobCat T-190 as both of these machines have vertical lift. I went w/the CAT 257 and absolutely love it. I don't know if you Landscape or not but it takes one hell of a man to lift a full, wet pallet of sod. I have seen many of skidsteers run away w/their tails tucked. Hand controls are the only way to go as it doesn't wear on you so badly but even so you're still tired after a full day.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Go to http://www.bliquid.com/oswelcome.stm, this is a good site! It has tons of machines. Some with and without pictures.


Blake

WA

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I am new to this forum but thought this would be a good place to chime in. We do landscaping/excavation and purchase at least 1 new machine (skid steer) a year sometimes two depending on the year. We have had the best performance from Case skid steers. I would have to differ with NH being the king of lift. That title is shared by Gehl/Mustang and Case at 3650 pounds of lift at max. operating capacity. The Bobcat is popular but I feel is more hype then performance. This year I Demo'd a T190 and a S185 for several days each. I also spent a short period of time with the A300. The S185 was more difficult to steer, made more noise, and went over relief easier then the machines were familiar with. The T190 suffered from similiar problems and wasn't near as nimble. That said last month I had to rent that machine to get in and out of a foundation that I dug. The soil conditions would not allow a wheeled skid steer to crawl out. The tracks have advantages but the costs of purchase and maintaining them are also much more. The 864 was not Bobcats greatest machine. I would look at the later models first T200 or T190. The A300 is a revoultionary machine I will give it that. I am interested to see if they sell enough to make the venture worth while. We currently run a 70XT and a 95XT. The 70 XT has a lift of 2000 pounds and the 95 XT without the counter weight is 3150 pounds. The 95XT is truely an animal. We use them hard from breaking concrete to digging crawl spaces for manufactured homes. We see about 700-1500 hours on each machine a year. I would demo several different brands before buying. There are plenty of machines out there to chose from. Good luck.