Skid steer on the farm?

blunosr · Feb 23, 2010

Hi, how many of you guys use a skid steer on your farm? I have an A300 Bobcat and I use it for the front end loader, auger, pallet forks, high lift boom, etc. I'm even making a 3pt hitch with pto for it.

I also have a 1970 MF 1080 with no FEL. Now I'm thinking of buying a smaller tractor, but they all seem to come with FEL's and I don't think I need one. Am I missing something? Should I get the FEL for a small tractor?

I had a Kubota a couple of years ago with a FEL, but it was useless in comparison to my Bobcat. Are there uses or reasons to justify the extra cost of the FEL on a new tractor?

Thanks,
Troy Boyd
Debert, Nova Scotia

big jt · Feb 24, 2010

When we had cattle we had a baby Skid Steer (Case
1816). We used it some but for heavy loading we
used a FEL on JD 3020 which I still have.

A decent sized Skid is a wonderful thing. You are
up front and can see what is going on. Esp imp
when doing precision work like pallet forks etc.

One thing I like about the FEL over a skid steer
is you can use them as a crane of sorts. Much
handier coz the controls can be operated from the
ground. Don't even think about getting out of a
skidsteer with the arms up. I had a friend die
this way.

Nother thing that is nice about having two loaders
on a farm is you have something to move stuff when
the other is down.

Rear end weight is crucial with a FEL.

There, clear as mud I know but both pieces of
equipment have their place.

If you want the small tractor and really don't
want the FEL buy one with some sort of a
aftermarket or attached loader and sell the loader
off.

HTH

jt

kyhayman · Feb 24, 2010

I've got an 1845C Case, and it and the atv are the most useful tools on the farm. I especially like them for moving round bales. Now, as far as having a FEL too, while I love my skid steer I'm also glad that both cab tractors have them. Feeding in bad weather its so much nicer with the tractor than the skid loader. Also, without the tracks on, the skid steer in mud is kind of like wrestling a pic in mud. It just doesnt go well unless I've got the tracks on it. So, if the money is close, get the loader. Its cheaper and easier to do it when you get it rather than add it later.

TGIN · Feb 24, 2010

We have a JD360 with cab air heat and tracks , real nice . I use it to feed round bales , sure is nice to just go dump the bales in the rings and not have to get out in the mud . It s a pain in the rear to get in and out of , I twisted my knee about a month ago getting in the thing and still hobbled up from it . I have a little 480 case backhoe I like to use for most loader work and have a 574 IH with a QA loader , theres a place for all of them . Guess I m getting to old to crawl in and out of the skidsteer .

Bruce from Can. · Feb 24, 2010

Have had the same old skid for about 24 years, it is a Thomas .We used to use it daily to clean out a row of tie stalls,about 20 head dry cows /bred heifers, work great . It only gets used now to stack big round bales of hay,or big square bales of straw in the upstairs of the bank barn. Agree they are Handy unit but no substitute for a loader tractor.

Anonymous-0 · Feb 24, 2010

If you have that big of a skid I wouldn't worry about a loader--you can pick up as much as a loader can. If you had a little S-130 or similar, then yes, maybe for the extra lifting capacity a loader would have over a smaller Bobcat, I'd get a loader as well.

Of course both have their place, but 99% of the time, with such a big horse as an A 300, you have the bases covered. I'd spend the $$ a loader would cost on either funding your retirement account or purchasing a skid steer attachment(s) you really need.

Now, if you had neither and it was between a $25000 used A 300 or a $5000 loader, then I'd sure pick the loader and save the money. But you have already seen the need to justify the A 300, so I'd stop right there.

RodinNS · Feb 24, 2010

I use a NH LS170 skid steer for probably 75% of my loading. Also a Ford 3930 MFWD with a loader. I wouldn't want to be without a loader tractor simply because there's times where it's needed for deep mud, long distances from home, a second loader or simply a spare...
I guess if you were keeping the 1080 I'd not bother getting another loader... or if you were just getting a tiny Kubota with a wheel barrow sized bucket... I'd not bother with a loader... but if it's a good sized tractor, I'd probably want a loader.

Rod

BANDITFARMER · Feb 24, 2010

We have a 4400 Gehl and a 1550 Oliver with a loader on it. They both do a great job, BUT with out tracks the Gehl is useless when the ground gets soft, so I use the Oliver. Most small tractors (about 40 hp) with a FEL have there limitations on what you can do with them safely, and going on soft ground is always tough. A Bobcat on the farm is a GREAT thing to have, you find many new uses for it that are easier to do than a tractor with a FEL. The 1080 if it had a FEL would be great to have and handy. Not knowing what you are looking at and going to use it for, its hard to say if you need a loader on the smaller tractor or not. I would think about what are you going to use it for and do I need it or not. If the bobcat and the 1080 will do the jobs as well as the new tractor your looking at, I would not buy the new one. Save the money and buy a quick-tachs loader for the 1080, you will be amazed what you can do with it. Bandit

wijim · Feb 24, 2010

we have A 4610 gehl my 10 year old son puts most of the hours on it.jim

phillip d · Feb 24, 2010

Hi,we use a 751 Bobcat on our farm.As far as the FEL goes,see how much difference there is in the price,if it's minimal than there's your answer.One thing I wouldn't try to save money on is 4wd though.They make all the difference in the world and a 2wd tractor's alot harder to get any resale value down the road,unless you plan to keep it so long till you no longer care what it's worth.Dwayne Phillips West Cape PEI.

tjdub · Feb 25, 2010

I was seriously considering getting a skid loader a few years ago, but I needed one that was big enough for handling 6ftx5ft silage bales. After shopping around for quite a while, I realized that I would be better off buying a MFWD tractor with FEL. I bought a JD 2950 MFWD with a self-leveling loader for around the same price as skid loader with comparable lift rating.

A friend once asked me if I had a skid loader and I said "no, not yet". He said, "that's good, because once you get one you'll never be able to live with out one." I know there's a lot of truth to that.

Skid steer on the farm?

blunosr

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big jt

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kyhayman

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TGIN

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Bruce from Can.

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Anonymous-0

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RodinNS

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BANDITFARMER

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wijim

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phillip d

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tjdub

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