I'm looking to replace my JD 350 crawler loader with a skid loader and was wondering what size skid loaders people are using? I know there will be some trade-offs, I use it in the woods some and will miss winch with 125' of 5/8" cable but around the mill it is a little akward and tears up the ground. I looked at a used Gehl 7800 yesterday (the big boy,110HP) it has a rated opereating capicity of 3600lbs., this may be a little overkill but the crawler would handle 500bf of green oak. What attachments do you have other than forks and bucket, I was thinking of a grapple style bucket or would a skidding grapple be better.
John
Heya JRC
The skid steers are kinda hard on the ground as well. I have a bobcat 743B and it is too small for my mill setup. But it is a fantastic machine non the less. If I had my druthers, Id like a machine like you described(in the 3500-4000 lb range). This would allow me to load lumber lifts onto a truck and I wouldnt need my old Shyster forklift ;D
I don't know what the woods are like in your area but most guys seems to need a set of tracks to run a skidsteer in the woods.
Re the winch, Farmi makes a quik-tach logging winch for skidsteers.
http://www.northeastimplement.com/newpage1.htm
If I didn't have to get rid of that 350 and it an't wore out I would never part with it no way.
I have a Bobcat 873 (73hp). Big enough machine for just about every log. It will tear up the ground quite a bit. In the woods I'd get tracks and some sort of winch like the one from Farmi. overall it is a very good machine and has multiple uses.
I have some landscaper buddies who hate skid steers cause they're so slow getting around. Tractors handle the ground, and can move. Thats all they use. Some skid steers have a two speed range. It was the only way to go when i was using them. If you have to go any distance its tortuous. What's a really good deal these days are all terrrain forklifts. Construction guys have mostly switched to the crab steer telescoping ones cause of the obvious advantages. The straight boom all terrrains are pretty cheap b/c of this. The have the load capacity of 6-8k, move quick, are hydro, side adj forks for moving stacks of wood, and can skid logs in the woods with tire chains. Some are 4x4 Case 560 construction kings. This is the machine i would want if i could have a dedecated machine.
Just some ideas
I have a very tired 743..Like percy said they are a little lite, but small enough to get around into tight places. i have about an extra 300lb hanging on the back of mine, to the point that it likes to sit on it's rear if you dont have the bucket on it. ;D
I also have access to a post hole digger and backhoe attachments.
I have a JD 260 and it's the handiest piece of equipment around the place. We use it with a dymax tree shear to thin our pine plantations and to load the pulpwood onto the trailer with a grapple rake. The grapple rake also is very useful for landing area cleanup. I also clear old fence rows and pile, burn, and bury whats left with it and never crank up the old HD-11-B dozer. It's fantastic for maintaining fire breaks, dirt work and loading and unloading hay trailers. I like my skidsteer!!!!!!!!!!!!
I do recommend a set of tracks. Mine are the chain type tracks and I just put them on when it looks like we're in for a wet spell. I have about 400 hours on the tracks and I'd say they have about 300 or 400 hundred more left before I'll have to weld on new chains. I got mine from Eel River.
On the want list:
post hole digger
6-way blade
marshall tree saw
Does a JD 260 have the elevation to unload a log truck?
With my equipment it doesn't. It might if you had a grapple such as http://www.valbysales.com/newpage146.htm. It looks like it would extend the reach(and lower the #s you can lift) I use my 260 and grapple rake to load our trailer, but it is a dual tandom axle 28' gooseneck shop built log trailer and we haul on average 12 1/2 tons per load( DOT frowns on us hauling much more >:( ) and it would be hard for me to unload it. Loading is no problem. I don't know what diameter and lengh of log you are dealing with, but the 260 is rated to lift 2400# and the tipping load is about double that. I generally load about 5 trees at a time with an average dbh of about 7" and around 30' long to a 3" top. If I remember right, my grapple rake weighs 1200#s.
I've got a Gehl 6635. Not slow at all. Two speed. It has foam filled tires right now. kinda heavy. I'm going to buy a set of tracks for them and get a set of regular tires and rims for it. works great.
JD 260 2 speed w/weight kit...LOVE IT!!!
I have a 743B. I agree with the others. It's a great machine, but alittle light.
bcraw98, have you used those tracks in the snow yet? I've tried a set of Grouser brand and they built up snow so bad between the tracks and tires that I had to take them off. I bought a set from Eel River and am worried I may have the same problem
bcraw98,
Take the Marshall tree saw off yer list and forget ya ever wanted one.
I attended the Oklahoma Cedar Tree Convention last week and they had eight different mfg. of tree cutter/remover. The Marshall was the most cumbersome and the slowest of all.
Take a look at http://www.gregorygrappler.com/shear.htm and http://www.doughertysaw.com/ .
Both of these looked good and did a good job.
JRC,
I got my Deere 250 skidsteer with weights over a year ago and love it! Just turned 150 hours. I don't know off hand what it will lift, but I can't complain. Just like everything, it has its place. It's hard to have one machine foe everything. Other than forks and a 4-1 bucket, I have the Deere Workpro brush graple. I went with the smaller frame skidsteer so I could work in tight areas. My 350 dozers, 450 loader and rubber tired backhoe moves the larger logs that the skidsteer can't handle. The skidsteer mainly moves stuff around the mill site.
A few things I do not like about skidsteers; hard to get in and out - especially if you need to leave the forks or bucket off the ground and the belt has to on then the brake has to be reset. They sure do turn up the gravel and make a mess, so I avoivd sharp turns when I can and plus it helps out tire wear.
I agree with J_T, I would keep the 350 if it's a good tractor. There will be things a skidsteer can't do that the 350 will do.
I wish I would have gotten one years ago.
Kelvin - what a great website you have. -Mark
We have very little snow here, so my experience is with mud and they perform great in it on my 260.
Thanks for the info on the Marshall Saw. I'll look into it some more. What were the main problems that you saw :D with it?
I've run skidsteers and watched people much more competent run them and they always tear ut the ground if you have to turn hard. How come nobody mentioned Pettibones? They steer with all 4 wheels so they can turn pretty sharp, have hydraulic cylinders on the front axel so you can tilt the machine to make the forks line up on a log that isn't level, and have a side entry cab with steps to get in and out. The little one (super eight) that I saw can lift 8000 lbs in close and nearly that if you have th forks extended out a bit. They have pretty good ground clearance so they will go through lots of mud, are 4 wheel drive so you can turn with a load without spinning, and a fairly long wheel base so they don't bob on rough ground.
Thanks, everyone, for the info. As for keeping the 350 I just can't afford to have another machine sitting around that is not running. I have the crawler, a 4x4 Dodge 1 ton with a 10 ton gooseneck for hauling logs/equipment (I get a lot of my logs as standing timber) , a WM LT40 Super 42HP with Remote(do some custom sawing,at customers site and here besides, my own logs), 3000bf DH kiln, Delta RC-63 (24" planer),Woodmaster 718 planer/moulder (for mouldings), Bridgewood 314, 3 sided moulder for flooring, I also install,sand and finish the floors, which is picking up and is pretty good money. This all started out back in 1986 with an LT40. My 18 year old son helps me part time, otherwise I'm by myself, trying to use one of the machines, if I'm not lurking in the background here a FF. I have ran many different brands of skid steers over the years but have never owned one, so I know that they tear up the ground, I just feel that a skid steer will fit my needs better now than the crawler. If anyone is intrested the crawler must go before I get a skid steer.
Thanks,
John