What to look for in a Skid Steer

[cyberc0p]

Looking to buy a Skid Steer.

Main purpose is to clear property. Going to leave the nice hard woods but have a couple of groves of smaller pines, some maybe 5 to 12 inches, then around the larger hardwoods.

Want to push over as much as possible to burn. Don't mind digging up maybe a few.

Some of the property is sloped pretty good. More like a hill side.

I am thinking something with tracks, but have no idea beyond that. This will be my first skid steer.

What HP should I consider and any other options that may come in useful?

I know a auger for posts, but what else?

Thanks.

 

[cyberc0p]

BTW, I do have a L3540 with a backhoe to maybe help with loosening up some of the bigger trees.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I would think that the Gallons Per Minute of the hydraulic systems may be of some importance, if you plan on using/buying any sort of hydraulic implements.

That seems to be the "weak link" for our tractors.

I would imagine that the GPM's are somehow tied to HP, (i.e. more HP=More GPM..????)

My SIL was adamant about having tracks vs. wheels. I think he said that tracks are "less damaging" to lawns.

Lastly, the width of the machine was of importance to my SIL.

He needed a machine that would traverse through most gates. Don't know if thats of any concern to you or not.

 

[BAP]

Sounds like you need a bulldozer if you are going to be pushing trees over and more so if it’s on a side hill.

 

[ken erickson]

Depending on your tree removal plans and future maintenance of those areas I would consider a tracked skid steer with enough HP and flow to run a forestry head.

The head might not be in your budget initially but there are some major pro's and some con's to mulching up those 5 to 12 inch pines on site. Less soil disturbance, the roots and below ground level trunk are left in place which would serve to keep erosion to a minimum on your hill side.


In 2018 I had a contractor forestry mulch 28 acres of very dense scot pines in the size range of yours. If we had bulldozed and burned I think we would still be at it! JK, but we did a whole lot less ground disturbance. The mulch broke down in a year or two and replaced with a varied mix of native species forbs and grasses.

 

[ChiefWebb]

Look for one with the additional "High Flow" hydraulics to power an auger or mulcher.

 

[ChiefWebb]

High Flow and Low Flow connections

 

[hedgerow]

Looking to buy a Skid Steer.

Main purpose is to clear property. Going to leave the nice hard woods but have a couple of groves of smaller pines, some maybe 5 to 12 inches, then around the larger hardwoods.

Want to push over as much as possible to burn. Don't mind digging up maybe a few.

Some of the property is sloped pretty good. More like a hill side.

I am thinking something with tracks, but have no idea beyond that. This will be my first skid steer.

What HP should I consider and any other options that may come in useful?

I know a auger for posts, but what else?

Thanks.

First question is what's your budget. What your wanting to do is probably going to be a 85-100 HP machine with high flow hyd. Back when I bought my last one new it was ten thousand more to buy tracks and I was already spending more than I wanted to. Probably twenty now. Main reason I bought the one I have now is to do what you want to do. I had bought another quarter section of land to complete a section. This quarter had been rented out for forty years and the hedge, cedar and many other threes had taken over the pasture and farm ground. Bought a hyd tree saw and a grapple and started in. It took a lot of time and money but we got it done. I have friends that like the tracks on there's. I have no issues with running wheels. I do also have a old Cat 941B track loader so when the going get too tough I get it out. Be careful on your journey buying a skid steer if you go used there is a lot of junk out there. Most skid steers have been used pretty hard. In all the years of owning skid steers I have only had one used one and that was the first one I had. I normally buy new run them two to three thousand hours and sell them and buy another new one. I have only owned New Holland and Bobcat. Current one is a Bobcat 100 Hp.

 

[biketopia]

Like tractors, your servicing dealer can make or break a deal on a new or used machine. We've used Bobcat skid steers for years at my work. In the past 3 or so years, the local dealer and sales rep have just gone downhill quickly. We use Deere for all our backhoes and excavators, so I started buying Deere Skid Steers, a little more money, but I feel they are a much better machine and much more serviceable.

I'd recommend tracked if you're mainly using it off pavement, 75+ HP, and high-flow hydraulics if possible. Even if you don't need high flow currently, one day a cutter or mulcher will come up for sale, and you'll want high flow. Our Deere has built in fan reversers to blow out the coolers when doing brush work. If you are going to get a cutter, get a Lexan front door, last thing you want is a shattered window and log sitting in your lap, or worse.

For overgrown easement maintenance, we got a heavy-duty brush cutter versus a drum mulcher. It will cut down trees up to 10" and just keep going, it's truly an impressive attachment, plus it's a lot less expensive than a drum mulcher, and you can use it like a brush hog to keep your fields tame too.

SK Brush Cutter Pro X Attachment | Diamond Mowers

Take on tough jobs with the Skid-Steer Brush Cutter Pro X. Designed to handle thick grass, brush, and trees up to 10" in diameter with ease. Get a quote!

diamondmowers.com

 

[cyberc0p]

More info. Going to clear about 5 acres of land trying to keep the big hardwoods. Also demo of 2 trailers on the property.

Will have to demo 2 trailers. Contracts want $10k each for removal so I can apply that. I know there will also be haul off costs so not completely $20k to be applied to the cost of the skid steer

Will be creating a pasture for mini cows and mini horses/shetlands. Also creating a small area for breeding.
So getting through gates would be necessity.

Will be using the Skidsteer and my L3540 for general maintenance afterwards. 22 acres of land total including the home stead.

I'm kinda leaning towards a SVL75-2 with grapple and possibly a stump grinder but heard from many without Kubota skid steers have many issues and are hard to service. Not sure if that is true or just a bias

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

So a used In good condition SVL75-2 with under 2K hours is going to run you $50K to $60K
Big risk buying a Emissions Skid steer with no warranty.

 

[McMXi]

So a used In good condition SVL75-2 with under 2K hours is going to run you $50K to $60K
Big risk buying a Emissions Skid steer with no warranty.

And a new SVL75-3 can be had for $78k. Kubota financing plus a warranty, plus not abused by some muppet.

2025 Kubota SVL75-3 | Heartland Kubota

Heartland Kubota is an agricultural dealership located in Sheridan, WY. We sell new and pre-owned UTV, Tractors, Mowers and Construction with excellent financing and pricing options. Heartland Kubota offers service and parts, and proudly serves the areas of Acme, Wyarno, Beckton and Big Horn.

www.heartlandkubota.com

 

[McMXi]

Track loaders and skid steers seem to pop up for sale on a regular basis in my area. Here's a Takeuchi for sale near me. Takeuchi makes good stuff but not sure if the price is reasonable. "Only" 1,590 hours on this 2017 model.

Takeuchi TL12 - heavy equipment - by owner - sale - craigslist

2017 Takeuchi TL12R2-CR, 1590hrs, studded tracks. I also have a h/d 78" rock bucket, large grapple brush/manure bucket w. replaceable tines, tree shear and post/tree puller that could be purchased...

kalispell.craigslist.org

 

[Elliott in GA]

I second the severe duty brush cutter versus a mulcher head; both will require high flow. Drum mulcher heads will give a cleaner finish, but they: cost much more, run hotter (will require an additional cooling pack on the track loader), more of a learning curve and will require much more service/repair (especially if you have rocks laying around).

Where in GA are you? My dealer in Carnesville has 5 used SVLs in stock (45-50K).