(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

Had my chance

3

37chief

Well-known Member
Location
California
I have always wondered what it would be like to operate a skid steer. I am in the process of installing a natural gas line to my daughters house. I had someone dig the 80 ft x 3 ft deep trench. I thought I would just shovel the dirt back in. That lasted about 5 minutes with adobe, that just got rained on, a few days ago. Don't know what I was thinking with my hip pain, I could not have done it anyway. I rented a skid steer, and had one of the boys living on the place to run it. He has run one in the past, and knew what he was doing. It was about ready to rain so we just loaded it and returned it. I missed my big chance. It looks like a easy and fun machine to operate. Is it? Stan
 
(quoted from post at 09:54:18 03/12/16) I have always wondered what it would be like to operate a skid steer. I am in the process of installing a natural gas line to my daughters house. I had someone dig the 80 ft x 3 ft deep trench. I thought I would just shovel the dirt back in. That lasted about 5 minutes with adobe, that just got rained on, a few days ago. Don't know what I was thinking with my hip pain, I could not have done it anyway. I rented a skid steer, and had one of the boys living on the place to run it. He has run one in the past, and knew what he was doing. It was about ready to rain so we just loaded it and returned it. I missed my big chance. It looks like a easy and fun machine to operate. Is it? Stan
Click to expand...

I love em! I prefer the pedal boom/bucket or pilot controls. Don't like the T handle.
 
Takes some practice to get used to the controls, and getting good with it takes skill. They are also very hard on backs because of all the bobbing and jerking.
 
My brother has one, I don't mind using it but don't really like it, getting in and out of is not the easyist, it not to easy to see from inside it back up or on the side of you, as Jon said you get bounced around in them too, however they are handy especially with all the attachments you can run on them.
 
I have run a good many and they can be fun but they can also get a guy hurt fast. I almost fell out of the front of one a number of years ago. The thing about flipped over forward so I almost fell out of the front of it.
Also at time they do like to buck and that can be hard on a guy with back problem or for that matter much of any problem that cause pain
 
I borrow the neighbor's to haul wood out of the timber. I was driving it across the field, hit a bump and felt sharp pain in my spine, that took about 3 months to get better. You really have to use them where it is smooth and level, or be a young person able to handle the physical abuse.
 
They fixed that problem, now you can't start them unless you have the seat belt on. None of the functions will work either unless you release the parking brake, at least that's how my brothers is. I think his is a 2011 model.
 
Most of them have a short wheelbase, which gives a harder ride, compared to larger machines. Keep the load low, especially when turning, especially on concrete. Some people like hand/foot controls, I prefer hand controls, with my feet flat on the platform...other than to use the remote hyd. It"s all in what you get used to. There are literally hundreds of attachments available. I bought a 6 foot brush cutter last summer- awesome, wicked machine! I have steel tracks for mine- poor on snow/ice, but excellent in peat ground, etc.

Currently expanding a 5 foot rusty bucket to 8 feet wide, for a snow bucket. All new bottom and cutting edge as well. Bought a skeleton rock bucket a year ago- no more hand picking anything down to 3 inch rock! Boulders are easy to dig out, much better visibility than a loader tractor. Tine bucket with grapple does wonders on brush cleanup, stump and log moving, etc., as well as manure loading.
 
(quoted from post at 09:54:18 03/12/16) I have always wondered what it would be like to operate a skid steer. I am in the process of installing a natural gas line to my daughters house. I had someone dig the 80 ft x 3 ft deep trench. I thought I would just shovel the dirt back in. That lasted about 5 minutes with adobe, that just got rained on, a few days ago. Don't know what I was thinking with my hip pain, I could not have done it anyway. I rented a skid steer, and had one of the boys living on the place to run it. He has run one in the past, and knew what he was doing. It was about ready to rain so we just loaded it and returned it. I missed my big chance. It looks like a easy and fun machine to operate. Is it? Stan
Click to expand...

A lot depends on the machine. I first owned a Bobcat 742. It has a short wheelbase which makes it ride rough and bouncy, but it turns easy on pavement. I rented an 1845 Case and it was much more stable, but turned hard. I have owned this Deere for 8 years now and love it. It is not bouncy (unless I run it wide open, which I never do). The only thing I don't like is working on dry pavement or concrete because it squawks like crazy when turning, but that is the price you pay for stability. This one has foot pedals for the bucket controls which is nice, but after 4 hours I can hardly walk because it gets to my knees. Never a back ache in this machine. I think any machine like this is fun and games for the first two hours. then it just becomes work.....
 
(quoted from post at 10:25:00 03/12/16) Most of them have a short wheelbase, which gives a harder ride, compared to larger machines. Keep the load low, especially when turning, especially on concrete. Some people like hand/foot controls, I prefer hand controls, with my feet flat on the platform...other than to use the remote hyd. It"s all in what you get used to. There are literally hundreds of attachments available. I bought a 6 foot brush cutter last summer- awesome, wicked machine! I have steel tracks for mine- poor on snow/ice, but excellent in peat ground, etc.

Currently expanding a 5 foot rusty bucket to 8 feet wide, for a snow bucket. All new bottom and cutting edge as well. Bought a skeleton rock bucket a year ago- no more hand picking anything down to 3 inch rock! Boulders are easy to dig out, much better visibility than a loader tractor. Tine bucket with grapple does wonders on brush cleanup, stump and log moving, etc., as well as manure loading.
Click to expand...

H & H out of Winsted MN makes the best grapple! I also got a slush bucket from them for a good price.
 
Neighbor in Iowa brought in his older Case from the farm so I could spread a big pile of top soil dirt in the yard of our new house before I planted grass seed. I thought it kind of difficult to handle but got the dirt spread.

After we moved to AZ, the church added 2 wings of pre-school rooms and a big meeting room. One of the members worked for a dealer and got us a New Holland for a day but he had to work so I had to run it. It was a lot easier to operate than the older Case I'd used; in fact I enjoyed spending my day filling in the center yard for a playground for the preschool kids. It rode nice and the controls worked well for me, both hand and foot controls. All flat ground so I could go back and forth fast.
 
(quoted from post at 10:59:11 03/12/16) Neighbor in Iowa brought in his older Case from the farm so I could spread a big pile of top soil dirt in the yard of our new house before I planted grass seed. I thought it kind of difficult to handle but got the dirt spread.

After we moved to AZ, the church added 2 wings of pre-school rooms and a big meeting room. One of the members worked for a dealer and got us a New Holland for a day but he had to work so I had to run it. It was a lot easier to operate than the older Case I'd used; in fact I enjoyed spending my day filling in the center yard for a playground for the preschool kids. It rode nice and the controls worked well for me, both hand and foot controls. All flat ground so I could go back and forth fast.
Click to expand...
Yep, New Holland made the early Deeres....
 
The first Bobcat that I ran at a fertilizer plant was a very old machine. It was made before any safety things were on it, no "cage" or anything like that. It mite of had a seat belt? No safety switches either. The engine was a Wisconsin V F 4 that was very dependable.
No one got hurt or killed with that pre OSHA Bobcat. clint
 
I ran one as a late age teenager in the 70's working in a feed mill Loaded grain, fertilizer and plowed snow. We used to unload bulk box cars with it. Had to work off a flat bed truck until you could get inside the car. With a little experience you can get pretty proficient with one.
 
My brother had a well built grapple also, it's great
for processing fire wood, along with the things you
said.
a219347.jpg

a219348.jpg
 
The fun runs out when you have to get in it every day and bounce around, especially on frozen ground, but yes very handy!
 
They can be fun, dad bought one a few years back. I had tried calling him after work about 3 days in a row and couldn't get ahold of him. So I called my mom, and she said she had hardly seen him the last 3 days since he bought it, sun up to sun down he's been out ramming around in that thing he bought, looking for stuff to move and lift with it.

Ross
 
Bobcat added all those safety features after a farmer's son (or neighbor on the farm) was killed when he got caught between the bucket and the loader and was crushed to death. The parents sued Bobcat and lost, but Bobcat woke up and added all the safety features after the lawsuit was over.
 
Some of them might be OK,but Bobcat controls are a pain. I don't know how anybody could have ever thought it could possibly come natural to run something forward and back,and turn it with your hands,but then run the hydraulics totally with your feet. It's completely counter intuitive.
 
Randy;I like it that way.I can't run the ones with the twist grip hydraulics on the for/rev controls
 
My brother's in the excavating business. He's had his for a lot of years now. He says in panic situation he still messes up now and then. I had it here for about 10 days one time loading silage and manure,I don't think I could ever get used to that thing.
 
There fun to operate . It's more fun when you get a guy used to bobcat style controls then stick him in a gehl usually the bucket comes crashing down . I also wondered on the Mennonite and Amish if they got one and it's on steel that would be a hard ride. One guy selling barn cleaners was digging a pit with one and came out with bucket to high he was sort of lucky he's alive but in a wheelchair
 
There's quite a few things I could get by without if I had to on the farm, and I suppose a skidsteer is one of them, but it sure would stink to not have one after having one for close to 20 years. We use it almost 365 days a year. By far the handiest piece of equipment we own. I could list uses of that machine for an hour, and tomorrow I'll find a new use for it.
 
My son bought an older Case last year. It is handier than a shirt pocket in tight spaces, and works really well loading round bales, but I find it difficult to use the controls. Jeff gets along just fine with it, but he uses it every day. The New Holland skid steer we rented to clean up a caved in barn seemed easier to operate for me.
 
My sentiments exactly. I have run a lot of different machines some better than others but a skidsteer and a case backhoe with foot controls I can't do it.
Ron
 
I have ran most, but with a small one that will go through a 4 foot door is GRRRREAT. Stacking large bales with a large one is easier than a front loader.
a219403.jpg
 
Depends on what you are used to. We've had 4 skid steers over the last 20 years sit up that way and we get along really good. They were a Bobcat 7753, S300, and currently a JD 318D and 332E. Also, you do know that the controls on a Bobcat and other skid steers come in many different configurations to suit what YOU are used to.
 
i sure do like that grapple on that thing.you could clean a whole woods up with that thing in a hurry.
RICK
 
yes you missed out i have run them for about twenty five years and love them.but like others have said some dont like them.
RICK
 
There is a reason this bucket costs almost $4k, it is built like no other....by an old farmer! I have torn out 10" pine stumps, rolled boulders out of the ground that I could not lift, and stacked rocks for a guy that tore up a rental unit. I used this one a lot fixing potholes in gravel driveways and wore an inch off the bottom of the teeth. Before they got too thin I bought another and sold this one for $2400. I picked up the new one in MN and talked to the guy that designed and built them, he said my old one was one of the first ones he made. I had bought it with the skid steer used.
 
We have a Skat Trac with hand and foot controls. My 14 year old grandson can operate the darned thing great, but now Me on the other hand not so good. I prefer running the back hoe but there are so many things you can do with the skid steer that you just can't do with the hoe. We'd sure be lost with out ours for round bale loading and feeding. I think I'd rather operate a hand controlled one tho.
 
We used to have a TLB but the back hoe attachments they have for skid steers have eliminate the need for that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

W
Bobcat 853h?
Replies
5
Views
341
warddog
W
B
Case 1816c loses power and dies when drive pumps are engaged.
Replies
7
Views
289
Fritz Maurer
F
W
Whats the best
Replies
14
Views
456
warddog
W
super99
Lost my phone
2
Replies
29
Views
2K
wp6529
W
T
Sowing my oats
Replies
4
Views
700
TomA in CA
T
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top