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Bobcat vs Tractor

S

Spudm

Member
I need advice on this.
I have never owned or driven a small tractor with a bucket or forklift on it. However, I do own a small Bobcat 543B. Nice looking machine, but because of the short wheel base, it is "tipsy". Just wondering if I would be better off with a small tractor/loader with a comparable 800 lb lift?
 
Really depends on what/where you use it. The tractor is more stable on hilly land, but the bobcat is 10x more maneuverable, and quicker. Mark
 
My subcompact backhoe, T5C, can lift 1100 pound with front bucket. The 1100 pound weight is on forks I made, so the weight is in front of bucket about 1 ft.
 
Depends on what you are trying to do, small skid steer will outwork a small tractor any day. If it's tipsy you might be
exceeding 800 lb operating load and approaching 1600 lb tipping load, just saying.
 
I prefer a small articulated wheel loader over a skid steer any day.
I have both and the skid steer is a PITA for anything else but bucket work.
The loader is far more handy if one has to get on or off often and it don't trashes the ground/lawn/gravel surface as the skid steer does.

my 2 c
 
You didn"t say what you are doing with it... if you ever have to cross what has been determined to be SWMBO"s lawn, the skid ain"t gonna cut it! (Or, rather, WILL cut it!)

LOL!
 
If you are picking something up and traveling farther than 100 yards you want a tractor capable of a loader. If you are loading manure out of a pen you want a skid steer (or track machine). I'd love to have a skid steer but have other machinery I would spend the money on first. I am able to get along just fine with a loader tractor. And common sense, which is occationally lacking.
 
I'm on a small farm with sandy, hilly ground. Oftentimes when heavy rains come, there are washouts around the fields and driveways. Just wondering if a smaller tractor/loader would be better around the fields, and on the slopes.
 
I use my backhoe for landscaping work. Small enough to get in tight spots. I find I use the hoe as much or more than the loader. Get a backhoe. Don't get a tractor with attachments, front bucket and attached hoe, get a backhoe built from the ground up as a backhoe.

When it comes to subcompacts, the almond and terramite are your only two choices I know of.
George
 
On slopes a skid steer is way less likely to roll. Going up and down steep hills, you have to keep the heavy end of the skid steer on the top portion of the hill. For fast more precision work, you can't beat a skid steer.
 

Spudm, This question comes up here periodically, and always generates a good debate. I doubt if you will be able to dig a winner out of the responses here. The most important thing is to look into your crystal ball and make a good inventory of the uses that you expect to have for the machine.
 
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