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| Curious as to everyone's opinion on the best brand of skid steers on the market for the farm/ranch. The pros and cons of every brand. I'm in the market for a good low houred used model, and there is a Bobcat S650 with. 750 hours for sale locally , appears to be in good shape . Anyone have one if these. I've noticed that there are a lot of Case models on here for pics, not familiar with them and there aren't many around here. I've noticed reading other forums that a lot of people speak highly of the NH's. it's mostly Cats or Boncats around here. I know my dad many years ago worked construction and said if he could have ever afford one he'd get a NH. I want to use it primarily for cleaning barn and pens, lifting things around the place, moving bales, putting up fence, moving snow among other things. I'd love to get a track model as those would be great for moving and piling manure but they are out of my price range for good used ones. So what's everyone's experience and which one would you go with? |
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Chilliwack BC Canada | Personally I like Bobcat the best of the brands I have driven. The sight lines are the best that I can tell, smooth operation, good hydrolics As for mechanically which one is best IDK im not a mechanic. |
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Just outside downtown Prairie Hill | We have a bobcat and a john deere. My preference is the bobcat partially because it has foot controls. I've been running foot control machines so long...all the others just aren't as smooth. Had a dealer tell me once that people didn't like foot controls because if they went into a ditch or dip they had nowhere to brace their feet. I told him that information was good to know since I'd been running one twenty five years and was unaware of that problem. Depends a lot on what you are used to running and what kind of service is available. You will love having a skid steer. |
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North Central ND | I think it depends alot on what service centers you have close and what kind of service you receive from them. My choice is Bobcat but that's because we have a store 60 miles away and they have been great to us even though we bought ours private treaty. |
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| Personally I like the joystick controls. Again just personal preference. I used to spend a lot of hours in one with foot controls and my feet would get tired st the end if the day, doesn't happen with the hand controls. But again, that's a personal preference.
I like the NHs but the view kinda stinkos on them IMO. These newer S and M series Bobcats seem to have em beat. Cats are nice to but I want everyone's opinion. |
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BC, Canada | Running a new Bobcat S570 to load feed on our dairy and love it. Demoed a comparable sized Deere machine and the visibility was very poor out the sides. The dark arms of the Deere made it darker in the cab as we load out of covered bunkers but the white arms of the Bobcat seem to reflect the light. Little things i know |
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Port Austin Mi. | I have a 325 John Deere with pilolet controles and love it. I think having a good dealer is the key. |
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S.C. Wisconsin | I am prejudice because I work on them and we put a lot hours on them,CAT. |
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SWMN | Great dealer support 6 miles away made my NH choice very easy. They always have a loaner available but I've never needed it. If you need that machine every day it's a confident feeling to know you can call the owner or his son on Christmas morning and they will get you going or give you a loaner. |
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SW Iowa, Clarinda | We have 2 CAT skidders with tracks.....we like them both. |
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clark county Iowa | Depending on what on what your doing,If your off concret a lot tracks are only way to go. |
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| Ill be the odd ball out here.... I really love all the Gehls we have had over the years and IMO the T-bar controls are second to none! we have had 5 or 6 new Gehls over the years and have put 5-6k hours on each before trading and we have never replaced a motor or hydro in one yet! Just changed fluids and put new tires on when needed and keep on going.
Also the Gehls have very basic gauges and no fancy frills in the cab which I like just keep it simple
Edited by Dodgefarmboy 6/9/2013 10:32
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Watonwan County MN | Case, hands down. Our 60xt gets more use than any other piece of machinery on the farm. |
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western iowa,by Denison | bobcat hard to beat-user friendly and have good resale |
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swmn | another vote on gehl. have had good luck w/ them. |
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Best skid steer for farm/ranch
