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Pinedale, WY

We are looking to get a skidsteer and just wanted to know what people have or have used that they like. Obviously it will have pumpkin lifting duties along with moving things around our place. Plus we have a portable rodeo arena and it will be used to move that around. So what are the pro's and con's to what is out there?

1/14/2008 11:46:28 PM

Roselle, IL GJGEM@sbcglobal.net

I don't know how big of a machine you need. I bought a Ditch Witch SK650 Mini Skid steer and it works great. It moved my pumpkins 1066 & 988. Has plenty of power, and gets into tight spaces - 36" tracks, It's like a little tank. It also has tons of attachments to do just about anything.

1/15/2008 9:23:22 AM

Pinedale, WY

I am looking at something with about a 2,000 lbs lifting capacity. I didn't even knew ditchwitch made a skidsteer. I have looked at, John Deere, Bobcat, New Holland, and Case.

1/15/2008 12:16:22 PM

Roselle, IL GJGEM@sbcglobal.net

The SK650 is the most powerful in its class. You would be pushing it lifting 2,000lbs - you got high hopes for next year? You probably need a a full size machine.

1/15/2008 1:05:47 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

I have a 751 Bobcat, and wouldn't trade it for all the rice in China, But with that being said, Bobcat in Calgary has a very good service centre, and have never made me wait for parts etc.
Prior to getting my Bobcat, I asked a bunch of owners what there preferences were, and all pretty much said, the name doesn't mean a whole lot but the speed and quickness of the Service does, so I went with Bobcat.
Eddy

1/15/2008 1:53:14 PM

Pinedale, WY

We are going to need the 2K lifting for the rodeo arena. If it were for pumpkins, I just need a couple of guys the way they grow around here. Interesting Eddy, the one thing about service is we have a John Deere dealer here in town, and to get any other brand it would be 100-200 miles. But John Deere is the most expensive too.

1/15/2008 2:02:08 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

Since they are the only one in town, that will run up the price for sure.
I would get ahold of the dealers that are from out of town, and see if they have any used John Deere's and you should get a better deal out of town, and still have the local Service. Win, Win
Eddy

1/15/2008 2:15:10 PM

Pinedale, WY

good thought.

1/15/2008 3:18:08 PM

Wi

I don't know a ton about skidsteers, but we have a few Bobcat T190's and a T200 here that I've used. The tracks make these awesome for grading and make them rock solid for carrying. The T200 will do just about anything and lift about anything. It makes VERY quick of 30 yards of poop. Probably more for someone with no budget though.

1/15/2008 4:22:15 PM

anytown U.S,A,

Case here all the way been around and hold up well.

1/15/2008 8:56:33 PM

Litchfield N. H. 03052

John Deere is a good name in equipment, together with the fact that there is a dealer in your town. No equipment with out the service or dealer behind you is worth up front cash savings. I will admitt that there are good and so-so dealers, but the company behind the dealer is what counts. We have farmed for over 50 years with John Deere.

1/16/2008 5:00:54 AM

Dummer Twp - Ontario

Case and Bobcat are the better of the lot, Nothing wrong with the John Deeres but when it comes to small equipment like that bobcat probably out performs all of them. Look at jobsites and see whats used generally people who make a living off of them use the ones that don't break down and have good service when they do.

Kirk

1/16/2008 5:12:27 AM

Pinedale, WY

I checked into a Bobcat, and the closet deal is about 2 hours away. I went to their website and they are a John Deere dealer that also sells Bobcats. He told me to get a John Deere instead. But I take that with a grain of salt, because he may just profit more off a Deere.

1/16/2008 11:53:11 AM