Tracked Skid Steer shopping ... your input please

[TSO]

I am in the market for a a tracked SkidSteer. I am adding this piece to my landscape company to assist with both rough and finish grading and dirt moving projects, as well as some small land clearing work (nothing major, maybe later I'll look for a 100 HP machine and mulcher), moving sod and pallets around, etc. Might also push some snow with it.

I have narrowed it down to the following considerations : approximately 8000-9000 pounds machine weight . Cab with heat . Two speed. Pilot controls .

I will most likely buy used, and would like to spend under $30k. Main dealers around me are (in order if proximity to me) CAT, then NH, Deere, Terex/ASV, Bobcat, Takeuchi, Gehl, JCB.

I really like the ASV undercarriage system, and I see lots of CAT 247B's around. But I also hear that they are somewhat fragile and expensive to maintain.

I also really like the idea of the JCB/Volvo units with the monoBOOM design, especially for accessibility and visibility.

I'm not brand loyal to any of these, so don't be afraid to bash any of them (factual tho please)... but I also want to make sure I have decent service availability if/when needed.

Please give me your pros and cons of any of the tracked machines you have operated, and any other info that you have gleaned from experience with these machines.

Also, if you've had any experience with a specific dealer (regardless of brand) in the greater Detroit area, an experience worth mentioning, (good or bad) please do.

Thanks in advance!

 

[4570Man]

Have you looked at the prices of replacement undercarriages for these machines?

 

[TSO]

Have you looked at the prices of replacement undercarriages for these machines?

Yes they all appear to be expensive, especially the ASV units

 

[oldnslo]

Cat hands down has the best service & parts availability in the industry. So if down time is a concern that should be considered.

I have only operated a tracked unit briefly but have a good friend in the excavation business. his first choice is the Cat units. He says they have provided the most consitant performance over all the models he tried. He has tested the Terex/ASV, New Holland, & Deere. Not sure but part of it maybe the dealer also.

 

[turbo36]

have you looked at Bobcat? I like the ride that ASV gives you but the maintenance cost is high. I am on the West side of the state and use Charleton Equipment, they are very responsive to my needs.

 

[TSO]

have you looked at Bobcat? I like the ride that ASV gives you but the maintenance cost is high. I am on the West side of the state and use Charleton Equipment, they are very responsive to my needs.

The previous bobcat model that I would think would fit was the T190.

Can you give some specific examples regarding pros and cons to the machines you have or have used?

 

[Rustyiron]

RUN away from ASV/Terex, they ride real nice, but I know guy's that have sold them rather than rebuild that fragile, expensive & complicated instrument they call an undercarrage. IMHO Cat is just plain expensive, but you car argue that is returned at resale time. Can you bill for any more per hour because it's a Cat, that's a big no.
NH, Tak, & Gehl are solid machines, Bobcat, again IMHO is overly dependant on electronic's (like Cat) and they are dependant on a dealer service tech (and his friggin computer) just to get started on a problem.
I'd play around with lower hour used machines to get into it. You could get in & out of a smartly bought used machine with little or no loss if you had a change of mind and or brand & features. It's easy to get into a Ford/Chevy type argument, but if you haven't, check out
Skid Steers
and post your question there. There are so many things to consider, just in the controls, and I'm not talking just about "paterns". Then you have the emissions "tier" BS to consider, on & on. Good luck!

 

[Ivan49]

Do your homework good if you are thinking BobCat. There are 2 new ones a short ways from me in northern Mich and they have both puked the Hyd systems one did it twice causing metal contanation. They came from Carlton equit and the dealer was very good the first time around but id dragging there feet the second time. These are both very large machines and are used daily to skid logs out with a grapple. It may take a couple of days but I can get the model numbers if you like. I don't know if this problem is only with these models or not as Bob Cat was always a good machine. I would go with a Cat if I was to buy a new one. When I bought mine I had a Cat for a week and it was nice but so was the price

 

[whis]

takeuchi is the toughest

 

[TSO]

takeuchi is the toughest

Examples please?