Any suggestions on the type of loader to buy

[mike dee]

I'd take a wheel loader or telehandler over a SS or CTL death trap any day. I prefer being up high with good all around visibility. Telehandlers have some visibility issues IMHO.

JCB makes an interesting CTL/telehandler with better egress, the only negative is that it's JCB

[customsawyer]

I'm going to agree with Scott Smith on the 420IT backhoe. I probably have more rolling stock than most on here but if I could only have one it would be the backhoe. It's biggest downside is the height of the boom. It wouldn't be able to get in my buildings.
My recommendation would be to go rent a couple of different machines and see which one you like best. My first backhoe, I rented from Hertz, with the intentions of buying it. I rented it for a month and anything I found wrong with it they would fix before I purchased it. If it didn't fit my needs I was only going to be out $1500.00 bucks or so. Of course the rent money went towards the purchase price when I bought it. 

[John S]

If I was in the market for a versatile machine now, I would seriously be looking at the Avant articulated small loaders.  I was on a milling job for a tree guy last Fall who had a small one (528).  I had seen YouTube videos of these but was not impressed, but after seeing this one moving hickory logs around in a tight space, I was impressed.  Many attachments (over 200) , extendable boom, and about 6 models (made in Finland).  Good luck!

[YellowHammer]

I am going to go against the grain here (surprise) and say do not buy a versatile machine to replace the machine you already have, just so you can do everything average, but stronger and heavier.....  Get the right machine for the job you do the most of, and let the rest still be done by your other equipment.  Don't get a Shopsmith, get a dedicated table saw. 

I had a down payment ready for a brand new Cat telehandler.  I had access to every piece of equipment known to the Army and could drive all of them.  I KNEW I needed the versatility of a 4 wheel steer, tilt frame tele handler.  It is versatile, strong, slow, big, heavy, not building friendly, and I thought it was the best, most versatile thing I could get to replace Old Blue.  The Cat rep offered to come out and see which size I needed and after looking around, watching us work for a few hours, said the LAST thing I needed was a telehandler.  Just because it was stronger, didn't mean to was better or faster of the tasks we do the most.  He said what I needed a gravel rated, super fast, strong, three stage mast, dedicated forklift, like the kind they load cruise ships with.  This was so opposite my thinking I really waffled, and Marhta disagreed with the whole forklift thing, so he got on the phone, dropped one off by the end of the week, and after a couple days I would have shot him if they took it back!  It did many of the tasks my previous "versatile" units could do, was as strong or stonger (after all, forklifts are designed to lift heavy loads), but in 1/4 the time was done, and whatever it wouldn't do, we just used the equipment we had already had.  At some point, when we moved stuff and the forklift would get stuck in the mud, we just put down some more gravel.   Now, years later, except for the log yard, we have gravel roads everywhere, and guess what, there is very little in our lumber operation that a true forklift won't do faster and better.

I learned my lesson.  Get the best machine to do what you need most of and forget versatility, get optimized. If you watched my last video I discussed this very thing.  Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you need a forklift, what I am saying is if you already have a usable machine, then do not get another usable versatile machine only stronger.  Instead of a Do All machine, get a Do Best machine.           

[longtime lurker]

Yanno on the list of backwards steps I've taken the forklift scenario rates a mention.

I had a 2.5 ton Cat diesel. Low hours, good condition, maybe 10 years old at the time. Good machine, very nimble in a confined space... but it was too small and I sold it.

Then I took an old 4 ton Hyster as part payment of a debt. No power steering and it needed about a square mile to turn it. No sideshift. Not at all operator friendly. And it was a money pit for obscure and hard to get parts. BUT it was a real 4 ton capacity as in 4 ton SWL and she'd handle about 6 or so ton before the back wheels got light. And it was built when forklifts were expected to be able to work in a yard... she had larger diameter tyres that could handle some mud/ dust/ rock/ potholes without getting bogged. 
Everyone hated it but it did a job until it was spending more time broken down than working.

I have wheel loaders... I might prefer to load the mill or get packs away with a forklift but I have options.

So I park up the Hyster and go buy a new 3.5 ton Clark forklift. I was shopping on availability (mid covid) more than price but I got a good machine in a month time frame. Now not to talk down the Clark because it's a comparable machine to all the other big brands like cat, komatsu, hyster and Toyota but damned if I'm not somewhat disappointed.
See the new 3.5 ton lift is about half the old 4 ton Hyster capacity wise because how they measure lift capacity has changed across the board. Every one of the major manufacturers has done this... the rated capacity of the machine is ultimate lift weight not SWL with an allowance. And even on pneumatic yard tyres it gets dry or wet bogged super easy because today forklifts are really built around concrete floors.

I'm happy enough with the machine ... its quick and nimble and does most of what I need it to. But I miss the  off concrete capability of the 40 year old antique money pit it replaced. I'll probably upgrade the yard loader first but another forklift is in the 5 year plan only this time I will be asking better questions. Just sayin'

[Ventryjr]

I have a ford 555 backhoe with forks, and a 30hp JD diesel tractor with forks.  I hop in my kubota 75hp CTL every time.   The tractor's barely get touched.   The ford 555 has more weight capacity. But is a lot more machine to maneuver around, also no good view of forks when they are low.  10/10 recommend a CTL over a tractor.  Anyone who says they are jerky probably hasn't spent enough time getting used to the controls. Getting in and out is definitely a PITA but still well worth it. 

[SawyerTed]

A Sellick rough terrain forklift should be mentioned.  

Sellick specializes in rough terrain machines, the forklifts depending on model have plenty of capacity for sawmill activity at 6,000 pounds and up. 

Good serviceable units can be had for less than $20k.   Getting one shipped isn't too hard or expensive.   

Taylor forklifts are the really big boys that sawmills often use to transport and load large packs of lumber.  Those have capacity in the 30,000 pounds and up range.

[customsawyer]

I have a 10000 lbs lift forklift, and really like it for what it does. My yard isn't as pretty as YH so I had them add dual tires. I also put on a 6 ft wide frame for the fork mount, since I handle a lot of 16 ft lumber. This gives it a lot more stability when handling the longer lumber. 

[tacks Y]

Buy a wheel loader with a skid steer quick attach.

I have pics of mine in my file.

[Tom K]

Wheel loaders and hills don't mix very well. Flat ground I would agree they are a good fit.

With everything the OP has mentioned, I would lean towards a CTL or compact telehandler (like a JLG 519.) Without knowing how your mill yard is set up it's really hard to say what would work the best though.

[chep]

I bought a jd 244h wheel loader a few years ago. Weighs 14k I believe.  I barely use my tractor any more. 
 Can lift anything I have needed to, put chains on for the winter time. Plowing. 
Sawdust, compost, gravel whatever. Quick change bucket and forks. 
I live in hill country and haven't had any issues getting around especially chained up. 
Highly recommend. I paid 14k for it. Which is cheaper then most of what's out there these days. I'm def in the wheel loader camp

[Brad_bb]

I'm with Yellowhammer(Robert) on this one.  It's what I did.  My rough terrain forklift does 97% of what I need, and does it best.  The CTL is my back up machine that can lift a lot more weight.

kkcomp said " Since much of the property i will be using it on is hills I am guessing the CTL with a lower center of gravity would be beneficial."
So, do you have hills in your log yard, or lumber stack yard?  If not, I'd still stick with the forklift.  A CTL (compact track loader, aka a skidsteer with tracks), does have a lower center of gravity and is better on hills, but carrying something on it's forks as the slope changes can be tricky too.  

[John S]

The OP stated he wanted a machine that would handle multiple attachments, that is what brought the Avant machines to mind.

[Brad_bb]

The OP stated he wanted a machine that would handle multiple attachments, that is what brought the Avant machines to mind.

Have you seen the cost of Avants?  Even used - Ugh!  How much can they lift?  I wouldn't think enough for lifting stack of lumber and 30" oak logs. How high will they lift too?  One of my problems with my forklift is it lifts just barely 8ft.  which sometimes is a problem loading timbers on a semi flatbed, stacking high enough.  In the past I made some 2x6 stepped ramps that I put up to the side of the flatdeck and drive the forklift on to get an additional 3" of height.  If I get the chance(which a will on one of my forklifts) I'd change the cylinder/mast to get me to 9ft.

[kkcomp]

Thanks to all for the feedback, I have discovered and looked at many types of equipment that I was unaware of as a result. Allow me to elaborate on my requirements and current thought pattern. 

First since I am retired it must fit my budget which is not zero but lower cost is always better. Second I only mill for myself so the only ROI is saving my back. Third it must be light enough and short enough to go on a 16K 22 ft trailer. Forth is the more functions it can do or be adapted to the better, see one and two for why. Fifth is I mostly work alone so the further away from the work zone the better for safety. 

At first I was thinking and almost settled on a CTL but thanks to your input I have changed my thinking. Current thoughts are a compact telehandler with a skid steer mount and AUX hydraulics. Given the models I can find used or at auction are fitting the criteria except I will probably have to spend more than desired. I can then use forks for moving and stacking lumber and helping put up buildings. I can add a grapple bucket to move limbs and fletches for firewood processing (the manual way). I can add a rotating claw to load the mill and put brush into the chipper driven by my Kubota. I can add a mulcher or brush cutter for clearing walking and ATV trails to a large amount of my property. Not that I anticipate using everything available having the skid steer mount opens additional functions I may not have thought of at first such as stump grinders, hedge trimmers, impact hammers and augers to name a few. 

Please feel free to share your thoughts because I would not have been able to get to this point without the help of this group.

[customsawyer]

My telehandler is one of the biggest ones. It has the solid tires and is well over 30K pounds because of them. I've never ran one with regular tires but mine likes to get stuck or leave deep ruts if not on fairly solid ground. I would still recommend that you rent one and see how it does in some of the areas you are wanting to work it. You can probably rent one for a few hundred bucks for a day or a weekend. That to me is a cheap way to find out if it will work for you or not.

[kkcomp]

My telehandler is one of the biggest ones. It has the solid tires and is well over 30K pounds because of them. I've never ran one with regular tires but mine likes to get stuck or leave deep ruts if not on fairly solid ground. I would still recommend that you rent one and see how it does in some of the areas you are wanting to work it. You can probably rent one for a few hundred bucks for a day or a weekend. That to me is a cheap way to find out if it will work for you or not.

Took your advice earlier and did that. That's kinda how I got to where I am with my thinking.

[Machinebuilder]

Does a telehandler have enough Aux hydraulics to run all those attachments?

I don't think I have ever seen one running any attachment that uses a hydraulic motor.