Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Tracked skid steer for landscape and snow blower

Preference of brand and any insights
Thanks

Bobcat, Case, JCB, John Deere all make good machines.

Just a matter of what you want and how much money you have to spend.

Something with a Kubota engine

Bobcat

Cat... close the thread

Bobcat biggest you can afford that will fit your needs.

I have been pretty impressed with the 2 Cat machines we have at work. Had a New Holland and a Case before these machines but they were older and didn't have all of the new technology and amenities that is available today so no real comparison.

Only complaint is the bucket latch mechanism, each of the 2 has had a latch cylinder replaced. Latch pins that slide up and down must be lubed extremely good and never allowed to get the least bit dry or they get very sticky and may not release unless persuaded.

Be sure to get a $100,000 pickup to haul it with.

And if youre less than 5'-6" get a dually 😄

We just got a 299 Cat here at the shop. Doesn't lack for power.
The question is, are you going to USE it? How much snow do you get? How much landscaping will you really do?

If it's going to be a "hometoy" I'd really want to look at used rentals that can be rebuilt or tightened up. No point in dumping cash into something that will just sit.

Rubber tracks on a snow after it gets back down ain't quite what you're well just put your seatbelt on

Rubber tracks on a snow after it gets packed down ain't quite what you're... well just put your seatbelt on

How much hp do you need and do you need to fit into tight spots? do you need high flow hydraulics? What sort of attachments do you need?

Rumor has it that Bobcat quality control is going down hill fast. This from people that own and run them.

Not impressed with my John Deere at all. I'd go New Holland (Case). My farm manager has one that they run the piss out off on the farm, and it just keeps on running. Much better controls than the JD.

That said, I'd probably look really hard at the JCB one arm machines. Especially if you work it in the snow and ice, the side entry is sooooo nice. One slip and any injury will make it worth your while. I know my next machine will be a one arm one.

First, measure your penis. For the sake of argument let's assume it's pitifully small.
Next, put a 12" lift on your truck (Browning sticker mandatory)
Buy one a them drop hitches about 4' long.
Go spend 125,000 on a machine you use twice a week to carry the garbage cans down to the streetside.
Get on the fire and brag about how powerful and durable your machine is.

we have the John Deere 333, it does lack for power and has been reliable...but already mentioned above on packed snow you are in for some THRILLS !!

LOL, I was thinking the same thing.

I'll throw Takeuchi in the mix. Have ran my buddy's 240tl and it's slick.

I m transitioning from mill work to active retirement. I want to stay busy and over the years I've taken on many small logging/firewood jobs that the guys with processors don't want. Ive used a tractor with a loader and while it kinda works, its not getting the job done and with no overhead protection I'm bound to run out of luck

The snow blowing side, while new to me, is where I'll make some money. Have a place on a lake in U.P., and we generally are socked in come mid December. Forrest roads are plowed but none of the long 2 tracks in are and folks are left to snowmobile or snow shoe in
Several years back I rented a loader to open our rd, as things are too narrow to just plow. I had a ton of request to open up other camps and it was lucrative as it was a big snow yr. A blower is the way to go here as i have to get rid of the snow.

Ive been on a unit with tracks on dirt and loved it, but never on snow. A few of you have made the comment that tracks on the snow are not ideal, is there a compromise other than full chain?

Thanks for the insights, and so far, of the dealers Ive visited, Cat is looking best for what I believe are my needs, but I have to get on a few more units

Okay, if you're gonna WORK it, and know machines, maybe what I would do is RENT for a day what you think you want. As for rubber tracks, ask if there are ice screws available that you can just shoot in that won't rip out and kill tires in the summer.