East edge of The Palouse (where the timber starts) | My dad bought the smallest Thomas they make. He got it two or three years ago. He has a hay grapple on it and moves 10-15,000 small squares from the hay trailer into the barn. It isn't fast enough or stable enough to use out in the field. It then gets a snowplow and lives at the church to clear sidewalks and parking lot durning the winter. So it doesn't get a work out ever but does get some hours. It is very easy on fuel and starts easy (like was mentioned it has a kubota motor). I only run it on when I have to as I don't like foot controls. I think the only reason he bought it was it was listed at $12,000 for over a year and long story short he paid $4,000 for it with less than 300 hours. We have a Cat and and ASV skid steer loaders in additon to the Thomas. Its a decent machine for the money but I would hate to have to sit in it for more than a few hours at a time. I don't know how my dad can stand to uses it after loading hay with the CAT. Did I mention it was cheap? I have seen him set it backwards a couple times with the hay grapple up in the air I would have put it on its side but he manages to keep the right side up. Not very stable, but for a 44 in wide machine you don't expect it to be all that stable. We have had no mechanical issues at all with it just changed the oil and add fuel. It was cheap and does the job but isn't a CAT or a Bobcat etc. But it was cheap. |
Thomas Skid steers, Good or Bad
