Used Track Loader/Skid Steer

[BigRichard]

Considering buying a used track loader for our property for some land development. Need to clear out a lot of brush, create some more gravel roads up some hills, and level out some land for future expansion of our cabins. I believe a track loader is the better of the two since I will be working on unlevel ground and possibly working in dirt/mud but I am open to a skid steer as well since they are typically cheaper.

Few quick questions here...

1. What should I be looking for exactly? Hours? Leaks? Wear and tear? Service Records?

2. Anything I should just absolutely avoid?

3. Would you purchase from a rental place? This one seemed the most scary as people who rent them probably abuse the shit out of them but I suspect anyone who owns one probably does too... that is what they are for... for doing tough shit. Rental places would definitely keep the maintenance up on them though I would think.

CP is always a great source of information for stuff like this. I suspect this topic won't be any different.

[BigRichard]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

https://www.bigiron.com/used-constru...pment-for-sale

Big iron sells a lot of shit. And has the best in the business as far as pictures. Inspect though.



My Spray Rig hasn’t had problems knock on wood. Dad had to put a pump in a tractor but that’s all we’ve done. But we’re nazis about keeping it clean.

I will keep on eye on that site... thanks

[booyaf2]

Originally Posted by ghak99

I couldn't imagine the stories a rental place could tell. If you decide to take 8k, send me a PM!!

I think they all have those issues though. It's just like the new trucks. People don't understand that they're not like the old machines and made to be worked on and rebuilt at home for the next 40 years. They're made to be used and thrown away and shop rates make it very very clear.

I might as well rant for whoever is listening. Bobcat had some serious component issues a few years ago. Nothing like sitting in an expensive ass machine positioning a rafter and the machine just shuts down because the little black box "has issues". You'd think after the third one they'd have stumbled into one good one. BIL's newer Case went in and out of limp mode for a long time before the third dealer finally figured something out. He should have lawyered up with the second dealer for what he spent on "repairs". Now the right side drive is going out. And the pivots have already been rebuilt. I've ran the hell out of it a couple times and if you're in good conditions it's great, but when it gets nasty you might as well just piss on the tracks and go home. He spent over an hour cleaning it one night when he couldn't get a trailer to it until the next morning and the damn thing still froze up on him. Some of the local dairy guys run the Cats with steel wheels and bolt on pads and love them, but at the first sign of needing work they send them down the road, and they're on concrete and gravel 95% of the time. My uncle also does finish grade and turf on new developments with Cats on tracks and they trade them off at the first sign of an issue as well. He really likes the machines, but says he's glad he's not the one floating the loan on them and they're good for blowing out a door or two a year. Some of the local dairy guys have switched to Kubota with their really cheap financing, but they haven't had them long enough to know how they are. I unload chemical loads at a neighbor's a few times a year with a big Deere on tracks. Damn things feels like it could destroy the world if it wanted to, but they don't use it enough to know how durable it is.

I will say the side entry door on the side arm JCB is ****ing magical. Opening gates while moving something is no longer a circus act and you can actually get out of the machine while holding up the load you need to cut the wrapping off of without being a magician. If you need to get out and check your load clearance while sliding into a tight fit, just get out and do so. Every other machine requires a contortionist to get out of and thats even if you can get the door open far enough to do so. I'm poor and have to go do chores for neighbor in order to experience that magic. The extending boom version screams "I'll cause issues" to me, but it looks like a really really handy machine.

I sold heavy/compact equipment for 10 years including JCB. I traded for 100s of skid/track loaders. I’d look for a used machine that came from a general farm. A lot of times those machines had less than 50 hours/year and were never abused. Lots to debate on tires vs tracks. One thing to keep in mind is speed. If you will be moving long distances with it a wheel machine is significantly faster than tracks.

[BigRichard]

Do you think the high flow devices are worth the extra money? Looking online I see everyone split on the idea.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by BigRichard

Do you think the high flow devices are worth the extra money? Looking online I see everyone split on the idea.

PREFACE: My view on hydraulic flow is most likely different than the standard skidsteer operator.

I'd buy up the most hydraulic flow and reservoir capacity I could afford.

[Perineum Ripper]

If you have any plans on running attachments that need hydraulics, go high flow. If you are o lot going to have a bucket and forks on it, you won’t need it. I would buy high flow just for the growth it would give me to run more attachments if I ever needed

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

If you have a high flow hydraulic system it just means when a line busts it pumps out on the ground faster.