t300 or asv rc100

[elk land restoration]

Im in the market for a used t300 or rc 100 with a fecon mulcher.any input or direction would be great.I have had a demo in both.They both have their advantages.

 

[Maka]

Here is what I think and take it for what it is worth as I am a dealer of ASV. The ASV has several advantages over the T300. The T300 is not a bad machine and I don't want it to appear as thought I am knocking it but it is at a disadvantage to the RC100.

First, ASV has the suspended undercarriage and I love them and have no problems with them. I sold many, many forestry packages last year with both Fecon and Loftness heads.

The RC100 has better cooling in my opinion, torque at 304 ft/lbs with 99.5hp, 38gpm on the high flow, two speed trans, engine direct drives the drive motors.

To be honest there is no comparison here with the T300. They are two different animals and the Bobcat loses hands down for a mulching application.

In hp the T320 would be a better comparison but I still don't think it specs with the RC100.

Thanks,
Maka

 

[radman1]

I have an S300. It has about 800 hours and just over a year old. Just put on new set of tires at 750 hours so it was not babied. Before that I had and 873 with about 2400 hours. I do like the bobcats but when it comes to mulching with one I don't have any experience. Bobcat tracks have steel imbeded which is suppose to be tougher against cuts. ASV should have smoother ride with way the suspension is set with the floating front. In rock and gravel the Bobcat tracks are suppose to hold up better with the steel rollers. I talked to a Bobcat salesman who used to sell CATs. I believe CAT and ASV use the same track system. He said the Bobcat tracks/rollers will last about 1700 hours to CATs 1200 hours in similar conditions. Don't know if he is right or wrong. I have never mulched, but I suspect the stress on the track system for mulching is not that great. Cuts and abrasions maybe the biggest issue.
As far as cooling, I haven't had any issues with trenching in the heat for hours and heavy trenching can put a constant stress on hydraulic cooling. However, this was with standard flow.
My brother is a state forester and they just bought a T320 bobcat with mulcher. Loaded with nearly everything possible. Price was about 65K. The state usually trades their machines in every year and they use them. They will typically run 700-800 hours/year. They will probably not trade this machine in because dealer says it will be so marked up from mulching that the trade-in will not be great.

 

[Maka]

Thanks Radman. Out here in No. Idaho and No. West Montana we have many ASV RC100's running mulching heads. Most of our folks running them are owner operators who write the checks for them soo they tend to be very well maintained. Tracks have great life when you are paying for them.

I have one customer that got 2200 hours out of his tracks.

Comparing CATS to ASV is not a comparison as the CAT is a wheeled machine that just uses ASV undercarriages. They are not a purpose built track dedicated machines and thus don't perform like an ASV. Even though they buy the undercarriage from ASV.

I think most people that run mulchers on a tracked skid steer will agree that the ASV will out perform the Bobcat in a mulching application.

I suggest running both machines with a mulcher on various types of terrain and see what you feel comfortable with.

Thanks
Maka

 

[radman1]

Tracks have great life when you are paying for them.

Maka

Isn't that the truth!

I frequently see track machines for sale near the 1500 hour mark. I think some guys want to unload them before the tracks need to be replaced. Knowledgable people know what to look for. Some machines with tracks will bring less than wheeled machine if tracks need to be replaced. But some operators just want new machines. Lots of good used skid steers with around 1000-1500 hours. Maybe good deals for buyers this year with the construction economy decline.

 

[Bobcattom831]

Bobcat has been building these machines for 50 years. i have many friends who love their machine. a direct drive pump is not an advantage. in fact most machines that are direct drive require Hi horsepower engines to power their machines because direct drive robs so much power. it also results in Hi RPM's and Hi fuel usage. They also have a plastic flywheel "serious". Bobcat undercarriage is a solid undercarrige for a reason. ITS DEPENDABLE. go ask ASV or cat how much it is to rebuild there undercarriage or for the tracks. There is so many moving parts in the undercarriage its going to cost the owner an arm and a leg for the repair. How do you grade with lasers when your machine is bouncing up and down. I also have never seen a ASV or Cat track wear the outside of there tracks down. It always tears up the inside of the track first. There is so many issues cat has with there undercarriages. Ask your local cat or asv dealer how many times they have made upgrades to there undercarriage they know it sucks. Cat and Asv also use the same joystick controllers that bobcat makes. Check Cat part numbers i bet you they will cross over to a bobcat part. Should i keep going? i have worked on both for many years and i have to say Bobcat has there stuff together. 50 years and there still the only track and skid machine built in the united states. Keep your foregin stuff where it belongs.

 

[PapaPerk]

Bobcat has been building these machines for 50 years. i have many friends who love their machine. a direct drive pump is not an advantage. in fact most machines that are direct drive require Hi horsepower engines to power their machines because direct drive robs so much power. it also results in Hi RPM's and Hi fuel usage. They also have a plastic flywheel "serious". Bobcat undercarriage is a solid undercarrige for a reason. ITS DEPENDABLE. go ask ASV or cat how much it is to rebuild there undercarriage or for the tracks. There is so many moving parts in the undercarriage its going to cost the owner an arm and a leg for the repair. How do you grade with lasers when your machine is bouncing up and down. I also have never seen a ASV or Cat track wear the outside of there tracks down. It always tears up the inside of the track first. There is so many issues cat has with there undercarriages. Ask your local cat or asv dealer how many times they have made upgrades to there undercarriage they know it sucks. Cat and Asv also use the same joystick controllers that bobcat makes. Check Cat part numbers i bet you they will cross over to a bobcat part. Should i keep going? i have worked on both for many years and i have to say Bobcat has there stuff together. 50 years and there still the only track and skid machine built in the united states. Keep your foregin stuff where it belongs.

Well said! BobCat skidsteers are tuff!

 

[Jaxxson]

I had a '05 287B Cat machine with ASV tracks on it, I absolulty hated the machine because of the ASV tracks. Sure ASV tracks have a smoother ride, but they are so fricking delicate. They are rubber tracks with rubber idlers, they get cut and torn really easy Also ASV have there own sprocket system which is totally different from everyone else, I found it always slipped. Now eveyone else other then ASV on the market uses rubber track with steel rollers, IMO is much more durable. And another thing I found about the ASV tracks was they froze alot faster outside in the winter. I have had at least a half dozen incidents where the tracks froze becuase the rubber froze to the other rubber.
About the price of a new UC on a ASV UC, its around the $10k mark for a complete kit,

I just traded in the machine for a '09 Case 450CT, now thats a awsome machine.

About a month ago I seen a '06 450CT on machinerytrader.com from a dealer selling for $32k, with only 86hours, I was totally jaw dropped about the price, so I called the dealer and asked him why it was so cheap. The reason being it was a '06 new machine and hadn't sold yet, and since being a '06 it didn't qualify for "new equipment" financing from CNH, so the interest rate for it was like 10%.

Jaxxson,

 

[crzbear8]

The Cost of an ASV undercarage is crazy think of that for down the road! Bobcat has resonable pricing for replacment parts!

 

[ronnie2cooper]

I buyed a T300 from Martin www.bobcat679.com and its running great and the prices are affortable. I had some minor problems but in the end the deal was great because i buyd the bobcat for half the price. If you don't find someting you can try them! Byebye