Bobcat/Skidsteer?

[sheepfarmer]

My neighbor and her husband came over today to look at the snowblower and the new B2650. She is trying to solve two problems. Due to arthritis in her hands hanging onto a walk behind snowblower is no longer an attractive proposition, and she has to make paths into and around her barns for herself and for the dozen or so donkeys she has. Second she needs to be able to maneuver a tractor? inside her barn when she wants to haul dirt in to replace holes in the floor the donkeys make. The compact JD she has is awkward and hard to shift. She thought a 2650 would also be too big (it is not all that big of a pole barn) and so I told them about the BXs. I suddenly thought of a little Bobcat. What do you guys think that have them? How affordable would it be to outfit one with a bucket and then a snowblower in the winter? Any recommendations of models and sizes? They are unlikely to try to fix up an old one, but another friend might. Are the hydraulics a pain to deal with?

 

[Dexter]

The skid steer is better for maneuvering around inside the barn. I had a 2001 NH LS140 that I traded in for the B2650. There have been many times I wish I still had it. Where the cows are bedded is not easy to clean with the tractor and loader. There are scars on the wall to prove it. I did look at snow blowers for it as my old jeep that I use for plowing is about dead, but found they cost a lot, and my hydraulic flow was not enough. Most of the blowers I found required at least 15 gpm, and my machine was rated around 10. Just my experience with one machine and a small budget.

 

[Tooljunkie]

Only thing i have to say is a decent small skidsteer is hard to find. Theres a reason. Nobody is willing to let them go.

Very handy, run them may times over the years.only issue is soft ground and low clearance. Buddy had one with the steel cleated tracks, worked ok in the mucky stuff.

Attatchments you can rent are unlimited.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I have an older Bobcat skidsteer, in fact just got done totally rebuilding the mechanical end of it.

Yes they are super maneuverable and versatile, but they are very expensive to buy, maintain, and repair.

Even a very used unit in somewhat disrepair goes for top dollar.
My little 743 Bobcat still sells in the range of 10K.

A tracked model is much smoother to drive than a wheeled model.

A newer unit will drive by wire instead of mechanical levers that can be stiff and jumpy. It will also have the benefit of high flow hydraulics which will allow the use of many different implements to be used.

One major downfall is the huge blind spot to the rear, very easy to run into things.

I would recommend na HST tractor over a skid steer in this case.

 

[sheepfarmer]

Thanks everyone, it is easy to spend someone else's money. I hope she can find something that works for her. Her husband is gone a lot so something she can manage would be good. We don't get those 18" snowfalls very often but they do make critter care challenging. Glad we don't (as of yet) 42" ones like Daren mentioned.

 

[hodge]

Wolfman brought up good points, especially about the blind spot.
Also, a blower for a skid steer is going to be very expensive.

 

[Tooljunkie]

I agree with the rear blind spot, a decent rearview camera would take care of that.
As far as a tractor goes, manuevering can be a challenge. Backing in and driving out can be difficult. A tiny loader tractor for indoor work may not be so good for outdoor stuff. Then theres cab or no cab. Cab.Definetly cab.
Anybody dealing with harsh weather deserves nothing less.
Skidsteer covers all the things a tractor does with some difficulty.

 

[sheepfarmer]

TJ she would still keep her JD which has a loader, PHD, brush hog, and a front blade which she hates. They have a 0 turn for the lawn. I think it is the thought of facing another winter with the walk behind snowblower that has prompted this. Can't blame her, me too.