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.

[ghak99]

Track machines blow mother****ing goats when cleaning them and if you don't clean them it blows mother****ing goats when they freeze solid.

If you buy a slightly older machine make sure you buy one with high capacity hydraulics. A lot of the lower capacity machines won't run the cool new attachments correctly. Hog's 1845c might not be all new and shiny, but they are increasing in value for a very good reason.

I actually prefer a tire machine and steel tracks for a lot of my work, but if you get good at running the hell out of the rubber track machines they are really nice if conditions aren't too bad. A heated wash room would change my slightly salty opinion of them because I prefer to run balls out instead of taking it slow and easy with steel tracks.

[Kman34]

I’ve ran heavy equipment my whole life and tons of people love their Bobcats.. Personally I’d rather have a Takeuchi, John Deere, Cat or even a Case loader before I ever consider buying a Bobcat.. Just my opinion... Also a Track Skid loader is the most versatile machine for your needs but also the most expensive..

[LoneWolf]

Originally Posted by ghak99

Track machines blow mother****ing goats when cleaning them and if you don't clean them it blows mother****ing goats when they freeze solid.

If you buy a slightly older machine make sure you buy one with high capacity hydraulics. A lot of the lower capacity machines won't run the cool new attachments correctly. Hog's 1845c might not be all new and shiny, but they are increasing in value for a very good reason.

I actually prefer a tire machine and steel tracks for a lot of my work, but if you get good at running the hell out of the rubber track machines they are really nice if conditions aren't too bad. A heated wash room would change my slightly salty opinion of them because I prefer to run balls out instead of taking it slow and easy with steel tracks.

Your preference of wheeled vs. track machine is not shared by most in the market. The market for compact track loaders has more than doubled in the last 3 years while the market for skid steer loaders has dropped by almost 30%.

I manage an SSL/CTL manufacturing facility and in the future we project that 80% of the market will be track machines.

[Kman34]

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

Your preference of wheeled vs. track machine is not shared by most in the market. The market for compact track loaders has more than doubled in the last 3 years while the market for skid steer loaders has dropped by almost 30%.

I manage an SSL/CTL manufacturing facility and in the future we project that 80% of the market will be track machines.

This..You can get 600-1000 hours easily out of a set of tracks and replace 3 sets of Skid steer tires In that time. Plus dealing with flat ****ing tires..

[frozenchief]

Check out auctions in your area. If you go with a reputable company, like Ritchie brothers, they will liquidate business’ equipment. So it’s used but the machine isn’t from a rental company per se. in my area, oilfield service companies just consign their older equipment to auctions. The equipment has generally been maintained but I’ve been considering purchasing one of these as well. Last ones I checked sold for about $5-7K depending upon year, hours, etc. You can get info about a particular piece from the website and in the week or 10 days prior to the auction you can check out the equipment in person.

[Kman34]

Originally Posted by Kman34

This..You can get 600-1000 hours easily out of a set of tracks and replace 3 sets of Skid steer tires In that time. Plus dealing with flat ****ing tires..

My numbers are based on a lot of asphalt running in my experience...Both tires and tracks will last longer in dirt..

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by ghak99

Track machines blow mother****ing goats when cleaning them and if you don't clean them it blows mother****ing goats when they freeze solid.

If you buy a slightly older machine make sure you buy one with high capacity hydraulics. A lot of the lower capacity machines won't run the cool new attachments correctly. Hog's 1845c might not be all new and shiny, but they are increasing in value for a very good reason.

I actually prefer a tire machine and steel tracks for a lot of my work, but if you get good at running the hell out of the rubber track machines they are really nice if conditions aren't too bad. A heated wash room would change my slightly salty opinion of them because I prefer to run balls out instead of taking it slow and easy with steel tracks.

I'm good friends with the head mechanic at the local equipment rental and he tells me they HATE all the newer models because of all the electronic shit on them. Anything goes wrong at all and it shuts the whole machine down. I've been asking 12K for mine basically because it has a new engine and he tells me fair market is between 8K-10K but mine is paid for and I don't have to sell it. But it just sits.

[R Clark]

Originally Posted by Hog's Gone Fishin

I'm good friends with the head mechanic at the local equipment rental and he tells me they HATE all the newer models because of all the electronic shit on them. Anything goes wrong at all and it shuts the whole machine down. I've been asking 12K for mine basically because it has a new engine and he tells me fair market is between 8K-10K but mine is paid for and I don't have to sell it. But it just sits.

You are correct on the electronics and there are loaded down with them

[BigRichard]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

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

I just might... I love toys

[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.

[Valiant]

Horrible hack, but go to a farm communities. Grab their local flyers and read the obits.

[displacedinMN]

Originally Posted by Valiant

Horrible hack, but go to a farm communities. Grab their local flyers and read the obits.

farm sales are online too

[rabblerouser]

Let's get down to brass tacks talk real turkey :

Has anyone farted in it?

[BigRichard]

Originally Posted by frozenchief

Check out auctions in your area. If you go with a reputable company, like Ritchie brothers, they will liquidate business’ equipment. So it’s used but the machine isn’t from a rental company per se. in my area, oilfield service companies just consign their older equipment to auctions. The equipment has generally been maintained but I’ve been considering purchasing one of these as well. Last ones I checked sold for about $5-7K depending upon year, hours, etc. You can get info about a particular piece from the website and in the week or 10 days prior to the auction you can check out the equipment in person.

I will start looking for auctions.