Birdhunter1
Veteran Member
I'm thinking about buying a used Bobcat, most likely like a 742 (smallest) to 773 (biggest). I'm buying some property out on the farm where I'll have to put a road in about 3/8 mile long and also be building a house and barn in the next few years. I'm looking at a Bobcat because my dad has his MF 135 out there and my uncle has his 2020 JD out there but neither has a loader that I will want when I build my house.
So the reason I'm thinking about the Bobcat is in the size I described I can handle hauling them with my truck and make a few extra bucks occasionally and they are so much more efficient at doing dirt work than a tractor with a loader and a boxblade. Like I said I've already got enough tractor (one is 40-45 hp and the other is about 50 hp) and with the 7' boxblade and 7' rear blade I have plenty of machine to do the road but the bobcat would be better where I have to do some site raising for the barn and well if you've ever been aroudn a Bobcat you know how handy they are. After the house and barn is built I' probably sell the Bobcat and get a tractor with a front end loader (Case/IH DX 55 with ag's or JX55).
I have a buddy who him and his dad have a large concrete business so I'd take him with me when I'd go to buy a machine so he coudl look it over and tell me what he thinks but what all do you need to look over on a Bobcat real well (engine stuff is obvious) but I'm thinking looking for hydraulic leaks, weak hydraulic motors and so on. What are some common tell tale signs of abuse I should look for?
I'll probably only go with a Bobcat bobcat since my buddy and his dad do alot of business with Bobcat and they can help me with parts and service through them, plus their shop is about 4 miles from the farm and the Bobcat reps' and tech's drive by the farm on the way to their shop.
Oh yeah, the road I am needing to build has one hill to go up that I'll try and cut a good section out of and lenghen the approach, when the hill is cut down the valley will be raised. Other than that there is a long slight downhill grade (300 yards dropping maybe 10'). No trees to be removed, one big culvert to put in in a deep ditch, one other 6" to put in in a waterway). The road is going to be in the center of an ag field, the house and barn will be built off the side of the ag field. Mostly the ground at the barn site will just need raised, the house i will build the grade up to it.
So the reason I'm thinking about the Bobcat is in the size I described I can handle hauling them with my truck and make a few extra bucks occasionally and they are so much more efficient at doing dirt work than a tractor with a loader and a boxblade. Like I said I've already got enough tractor (one is 40-45 hp and the other is about 50 hp) and with the 7' boxblade and 7' rear blade I have plenty of machine to do the road but the bobcat would be better where I have to do some site raising for the barn and well if you've ever been aroudn a Bobcat you know how handy they are. After the house and barn is built I' probably sell the Bobcat and get a tractor with a front end loader (Case/IH DX 55 with ag's or JX55).
I have a buddy who him and his dad have a large concrete business so I'd take him with me when I'd go to buy a machine so he coudl look it over and tell me what he thinks but what all do you need to look over on a Bobcat real well (engine stuff is obvious) but I'm thinking looking for hydraulic leaks, weak hydraulic motors and so on. What are some common tell tale signs of abuse I should look for?
I'll probably only go with a Bobcat bobcat since my buddy and his dad do alot of business with Bobcat and they can help me with parts and service through them, plus their shop is about 4 miles from the farm and the Bobcat reps' and tech's drive by the farm on the way to their shop.
Oh yeah, the road I am needing to build has one hill to go up that I'll try and cut a good section out of and lenghen the approach, when the hill is cut down the valley will be raised. Other than that there is a long slight downhill grade (300 yards dropping maybe 10'). No trees to be removed, one big culvert to put in in a deep ditch, one other 6" to put in in a waterway). The road is going to be in the center of an ag field, the house and barn will be built off the side of the ag field. Mostly the ground at the barn site will just need raised, the house i will build the grade up to it.