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.

[notorious]

Been looking at buying one, too.

I want to swap between pallet forks and bucket.

[ChiefsCountry]

Bobcat is the best brand by far.

[LoneWolf]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Bobcat is the best brand by far.

Bullshit. They have the most name recognition. That's it.

[R Clark]

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

Bullshit. They have the most name recognition. That's it.

Opinions are like assholes everyone has one and mine ain’t worth much. Iam on my third new one and this last one happens to be a bobcat and we have got along good with it. We are 85 miles east of doodah and service is a bitch when your that far out.you can get a lemon out of any brand as far as that goes .we work the piss out of them on a ranch post hole digger, core bit, tree saw , bushhog deck , cleaning feed lots and moving dirt, hay to dead animals.that said John deer or the jap made one? Wouldn’t scare me at all , we run case IH tractors and I love them but I wouldn’t have a case skid steer up my ass if I had room for a saw mill. Speaking of ass your one of the biggest on here lol just another tool from where Godard or derby? You don’t know shit from sicem .don’t sweat it sweetie it’s not your fault you’ve never taken a shit off the asphalt.

[LoneWolf]

Originally Posted by R Clark

Opinions are like assholes everyone has one and mine ain’t worth much. Iam on my third new one and this last one happens to be a bobcat and we have got along good with it. We are 85 miles east of doodah and service is a bitch when your that far out.you can get a lemon out of any brand as far as that goes .we work the piss out of them on a ranch post hole digger, core bit, tree saw , bushhog deck , cleaning feed lots and moving dirt, hay to dead animals.that said John deer or the jap made one? Wouldn’t scare me at all , we run case IH tractors and I love them but I wouldn’t have a case skid steer up my ass if I had room for a saw mill. Speaking of ass your one of the biggest on here lol just another tool from where Godard or derby? You don’t know shit from sicem .don’t sweat it sweetie it’s not your fault you’ve never taken a shit off the asphalt.

I run a manufacturing facility that builds skid steers and compact track loaders. I have had every brand of skid steer in my facility and taken each of them apart to look at the quality of components, the strength of the construction, and the serviceability. Bobcat is a good machine, but it is far from the best machine on the market. You are correct that every brand could produce a lemon and every brand could produce a machine with zero issues.

I'm not sure why the personal attack, but you do you. Judging by your grammar and spelling, I'm sure you'll walk out in to traffic soon enough and I won't have to worry about you anymore.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

I've got one I need to sell as I never use it. I think it's a 1996 model Case 1845C. The engine is new(overhauled) in 2016 but been sitting since then ,probably 10 hours on engine. Has bucket and forks

[notorious]

Originally Posted by Hog's Gone Fishin

I've got one I need to sell as I never use it. I think it's a 1996 model Case 1845C. The engine is new(overhauled) in 2016 but been sitting since then ,probably 10 hours on engine. Has bucket and forks

You are in NW Texas, correct?

[scho63]

Just don't let TittyMeat operate it.

[Hoover]

I want one too, but I need to buy some land first.

Looking for some recreation property where I can hang out, and maybe one day build a house on it if I feel like it. Would love nothing more than to have a Bob Cat and build me some roads and shit!

[Iowanian]

I've used CAT, Case, John Deere and Bobcat. The controls are different but most have a setting switch for that if you prefer one.


If you're moving much dirt and it's wet at all in the area, get the tracks. It's night and day difference if it's muddy.

[R Clark]

Skid steer or skid loader? Big big difference. loader is big bucks can’t see someone with a few acres needing a skid loader unless you have a shit ton of money to burn.I’ve had a few skid steers and currently have a bobcat and have had the best luck with it than I have with any of the other brands I’ve had.currently looking for a skid loader but it’s hard to justify it even though we’d use it two-three hours a day six- eight months out of the yr. we use tractor with loader bucket instead .

[loochy]

Originally Posted by R Clark

Skid steer or skid loader? Big big difference. loader is big bucks can’t see someone with a few acres needing a skid loader unless you have a shit ton of money to burn.I’ve had a few skid steers and currently have a bobcat and have had the best luck with it than I have with any of the other brands I’ve had.currently looking for a skid loader but it’s hard to justify it even though we’d use it two-three hours a day six- eight months out of the yr. we use tractor with loader bucket instead .

I think he just means a skid steer with tracks vs a skid steer with wheels

[BigRichard]

Originally Posted by R Clark

Skid steer or skid loader? Big big difference. loader is big bucks can’t see someone with a few acres needing a skid loader unless you have a shit ton of money to burn.I’ve had a few skid steers and currently have a bobcat and have had the best luck with it than I have with any of the other brands I’ve had.currently looking for a skid loader but it’s hard to justify it even though we’d use it two-three hours a day six- eight months out of the yr. we use tractor with loader bucket instead .

We have a beautiful property that has cabin rentals on it. It is a very hilly/shruby/brushy area. I want to develop more of the land. I need a track loader most likely. I get they are costly, which is why I am looking at used. I will use it for what I need and possibly sell it down the road.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by BigRichard

We have a beautiful property that has cabin rentals on it. It is a very hilly/shruby/brushy area. I want to develop more of the land. I need a track loader most likely. I get they are costly, which is why I am looking at used. I will use it for what I need and possibly sell it down the road.

Nah. You won’t. You’ll trade it in on a newer one.