tractor/loader/skidsteer suggestions or options?

[lawdog]

What do you guys have/recommend for a small yard tractor with a front end bucket to do snow removal and some small dirt/landscaping projects? I have rented skid loaders before and they are handy but pricey. Was thinking of a smaller not real new wide front tractor with a bucket.

Thoughts? Ideas? Places to look? Possible costs?

[Whopper Stopper]

John Deere if the wallet allows, Kubota if on a budget.

[gunflint]

I'll second that.

[Bob Clausen]

I've owned acreage tractors most of my life. Four years ago I bought a 1980 Ford 1500 compact utility tractor. It had 25 hours on an overhaul, is a 4WD with two sets of rear tires, a Ford 770 loader. a snowblower (3 point type), a box blade for moving dirt and a heated cab. The tractor is a 2 cylinder 20hp diesel with a heated cab. I gave $3800 for the whole works and consider it the best investment in "tools" I've ever made. Ford made a whole bunch of compact utility tractors in the 1970-85 era. Models 1100, 1110, 1200, 1210,...al the way to 2110. There are quite a few of this type in hsolist but most of them seem to be in the east or the south. I have seen a couple on implement lots since I bought mine. I'd stay clear of the new generation compact utility breeds as the axles and spindles on them wouldn't last a week putting it through what my little Ford goes through (I'm a residiential contractor). Watch the classifieds, the auctions, and the implement lots and you'll find what you want. By the way, that little 20hp tractor dragged a 3/4 ton Chevy for about 75 yards through the clay my area is known for...with no help from the truck. My $.02

[Valv]

2 words...SKIDSTEER LOADER....that's it.

You won't believe what you can do with one of them, I practically use it every day since I've got it 2 years ago, it is the best thing I've ever bought.

Do some shopping, I did go to many auctions but price is slightly less than dealers.

You can get some nice used ones, I tried many places and ended up very happy at Ziegler, their sales person is fantastic, and don't worry, it's the opposite than car dealers....no pressure at all.

You should be able to find something between $8,000 and $ 15,000 depending on size and brand, and their financing is excellent, I was sorry I didn't use it, interest was almost nothing..

Top of line are Cat and ASV, bottom of line is Bobcat (I know I am starting a battle here...but it's true)

If you get a loader try to buy or have in the deal a set of forks, they are more handy than you can imagine.

Send me an email if you want more details or info.

[Gissert]

I'll second what Valv said. On my in-laws farm, the skid steer is used for 90% of the bucket work we used to use the M Farmall for.

They have a Gehl skid steer, not sure of the model, though. It is diesel powered. Moving dirt, manure, silage, it does it all.

My neighbors and I had a bunch of water killed cottonwood trees on our lakeshore, and we made short work of them with a front log grapple on that thing. We cut the logs into 7 foot lengths, and the skid steer stacked them up on a goose neck trailer.

[not_nuf_time]

I agree with the bobcat approach. $8-12,000 gets you a good shape used model that can do anything small to medium use you need. I have one at work and try to talk into whoever is looking between a tractor and bobcat go with bobcat. takes about half the time to do a task. Because controls on tractor are one motion at a time with the bucket. Lift then tilt bucket then dump. Bobcat all in one swoop. Mandatory to go with diesel engine. I've had both, would rather shovel than go back to gas engine. You'll be happy you went with bobcat. I've used Gehl, John D, and Case, still prefer a bobcat. My $.02

[Biggerfish]

Very interesting topic and yes Valv you may have sparked a arguement.

The first question one should ask is how they will be using this tractor/skidloader? Just for hauling/digging and such or many other tasks? I recently(3 yrs ago) went through the same delema.

I bought a house with 3 acres and needed something bigger than the lawn tractor to do all the landscaping/gardening and also to cut this large yard. So I did my homework and went with the 4100 series John Deere. My plan was to maybe sell it after everything was complete and down size to a simple riding lawn tractor. Well this will never happen! I love this tractor. Originally I bought the tractor and a loader, then a 6' mower deck, and then a 5' rototiller. This tractor has made my life so much easier. As for the lifting and then dumping of the bucket, well mine can do both at the same time, so I'm not quite sure what the previous posts mean by this?

In conclusion one must ask what the intent for the tractor will be. I know that a skidloader would tear the heck out of my grass. So this was the best choice for me.

Just my 2 cents.

[JohnMickish]

Lawdog, if you are not going to mow with it, then I'd do the skidsteer route. Drive them all, some people like the hand controls and some people like the foot controls. You can have a heated cab, a/c and radio if you want. One last recomedation, if you do go with the skid steer, purchase the suspension seat.

The major advantage a skid steer has is the vast availability of attachments that can be purchased or rented, like a;

snowblower (The best way to move snow ever invented!)

stump grinder

auger

pavement/concrete saws and millers

buckets of every size

grapple forks

shears

back hoe attachments

blades, lazer guided, of course!

landscape rakes

bush hog type mowers

forks

and just about anything else you can think of.

[IFallsRon]

Talk to the people at Mies Equipment in Watkins, SW of St. Cloud.

[Kevin Turner]

I have a skid steer with rubber tracks. It's the greatest...'till ya run a track off. Man is that a drag!!!

[Valv]

Mnfishinguy is correct, but beware on rental places, most of them don't like to rent attachments, they rather rent whole rig. I just bought an auger for it....man does it makes putting posts a breeze, my wife now is scared, I am drilling everywhere...

I forgot to mention I had a tractor too, and when switched to skidloader my time doing anything went to 10 times quicker. Unless you are tilling or doing any farm work, the loader is much, much faster. It will save you the money you paid within few years. To me it's been paid off already, I had to dig whole house perimeter due to water infiltration, $ 7500 with contractor.....myself only $ 50 diesel.

I can move trees, lift anything, dig, clean, do mechanical work...you name it you'll find a way to do it.

Cab would be nice, but even if you cannot afford it you can install plexiglass in wintertime, it will cover 3 sides, just use a good coverall and you'll be dry.

Beware of front door if you have a cab, that will be the first thing you'll wreck as soon as you take it home.....

[JohnMickish]

Quote:

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Beware of front door if you have a cab, that will be the first thing you'll wreck as soon as you take it home.....

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Leave the door open, raise boom and say goodby to door!

If you have the electric kit intalled it makes it much easier to rent the attachments, but Valv is right.

Don't forget about the tree spade too. If you are worried about throwing tracks on the rubber tired machines you can go to a track only machine. Much more floatation and less wear and tear on the lawn.