Bobcat Skidsteer

[slippymurphy]

currentLy a one man band doing firewood, stored in barn in piles. Hand balling loads approx 100 per year looking at buying a wee Skidsteer to ease loading etc

Just looking for views issues are it'll be standing idle for a lot of the time

Any one in same boat and taken the plunge.

Cheers

 

 

 

Plus they look great fun to drive about.

[Burgess]

Do you really need a compact loader? Would a tractor with loader not be an option? Cheaper+more attachments PTO power over hydralics etc.

[gdh]

Bobcats are good machines, the main advantage over a tractor is that they can spin on the spot. I haven't driven one in years but they're easy enough once you get the hang of it. Personally I would get one that's all controlled on the joysticks since I didn't like controlling the arm with my feet.

 

We had one with tracks to use in the woods but the bearings tend to go on concrete all day.

 

You can also get loads of attachments. We had a bucket, grab,pallet forks, chipper and flail topper.

[Mick Dempsey]

Do you really need a compact loader? Would a tractor with loader not be an option? Cheaper+more attachments PTO power over hydralics etc.

 

Yep, tractor loader all day long.

[gensetsteve]

I used to load logs with a bobcat. Unless you have a concrete floor you will be picking up dirt. It's possible to chase them around the yard but to make it efficient you need a clamp of solid wall to push up to. If you are working on dirt floors the bobcat will chew up the area and turn it into a bog with in the hour.

[PeteB]

What about a reasonable forklift? With a tipping skip bucket, good to get in and out of, manoeuvrability, lift and possibly gas powered too. Must be an option on concrete....

[Stephen Blair]

Any lifter is great, my first machine was a 2 ton bomford skidsteer.

I used it around the yard and on jobs, OK on concrete but stopped using it on jobs because it would sink on most ground then damaged bearing trying to turn when in mud.

Tracks are the way forward.

Your question about sitting idle, well tbh it won't as you will find so many uses for 1 and change all your work around to suit.

They hold good money so a worthwhile investment.

[slippymurphy]

Yep tractor would be good but my shed set up is limited in width to about10 ft the bobcat turning on its self is the appeal

 

My shed is an old cattle shed with wood piles where the cows used to stand on either side of the main drag as it were is about 10 inch step down

[Stephen Blair]

So you are using an old cubicle house! That's what loads are doing now since the bio boiler incentive, the low entry to the shed was fine when it was a Massey 35 with scraper but became obsolete when cows and machinery got bigger. How are you stacking? Loose, crates, vented bag on pallets? The size of bucket will be mind numbing if stacked tight by hand.

What about a boxer mini loader with forks?

[slippymurphy]

Loose backed up against the wall at back of pens to a height of about 10 ft then to about 4 ft at front held back by pallets

Great airflow as cow shed part of another 5 hay storage barns

Concrete floor so no issues re churning up mud etc