Skid loader.....Case or Bobcat

7lazy77 · Aug 7, 2013

I already have a tractor & I would like to get a skid loader since they have their purpose. I would use the skid loader to feed a couple of rounds a week, snow removal & corral cleaning. I don"t want to spend over $10k & have done a little research & think my best options are a Case 1845C or a 763/773 or 853 Bobcat. Anybody own any of these & could give me some advantages/disadvantages of each? Thanks

the tractor vet · Aug 7, 2013

Myself i would be looking at a New Holland , yes i have run the others and this is why i say this . And ya want to spend 10 grand . A LX 665 or a LS 170 is my first choice. They will handle 1750 lbs well there easy on fuel easy to get on and off of and i like the longer wheel base.. May i add get one with a cab if your planning on winter use or feeding in the rain . Heat is also a plus in cold weather. Aux hyd. is another plus then ya can add a posthole auger and a grapple bucket or a brush hog . We like our LX665 so much that when it got stolen we found another onje and bought it then they found the old one and we took it back so now we have two During hay season both get a work out . The new one has cab and heat so guess which one gets used when it turns cold out or raining .

Wilks54 · Aug 7, 2013

I never liked the visibility out of the Case loaders. Between the two, I'd pick the Bobcat, but even they are over rated. I agree with the tractor vet, and like the New Hollands or the Deeres.

Sparktrician · Aug 7, 2013

We have a Case 1838. Little smaller than the 45. A REAL GOOD MACHINE! We have ran the dog crap out of that case, its been a good one. I like the case controls better than bobcat's foot pedals....BUT....it is a LOT easier to rent attachments for a bobcat than a case.....but I still like a case better.

jm. · Aug 7, 2013

Well sales figures favor the Bob Cat by 2 to one but that is just what is being sold. IF you get the bob cat be sure you get one with the KUBOTA engine. Couple of years they put a perkins in one of the bob cats that they now offer no parts for.
Dealer support should be a consideration. Sooner or latter you will need parts.

hd6gtom · Aug 7, 2013

Have run them both years ago, case is easier to run, been away from them several years, back then Case was very reliable.

Roger in Iowa · Aug 7, 2013

Looked at a Bobcat but the cooling fan was the flywheel. Really weird set up engine wise.

Ended up getting a Deere 317 and really like it. It is simple, no two speed or cab/heat but do not use when cold. I like the foot controls.

johndeere720diesel · Aug 7, 2013

I have ran a Deere and a bobcat and own a case my pick would be a case or Deere or new Holland I don't care for bobcat too much. I can't stand a gehl but it's more the T-bar controls then anything these are my opinions. My case I've done a lot with it'll lift more than rated if counter weight is used. I picked 33 square of steel roof in 23' panels with my 1840 even sort if picked a 444 cornhead off of the gooseneck trailer but that ended up more of a controlled crash/fall didn't have enough suitcase weights here at home needed probably 2 more 100 pounders

JMS/.MN · Aug 7, 2013

Put some hours on each on before you decide which controls you like. It"s a personal thing. I had an early Case, like the JD 170. More downtime than uptime. Rented Bobcat, bought a Gehl 4625, ran over a decade, bought a 2 speed Gehl 5240e for universal plate, more power, etc.

I don"t like hand/foot controls....I like my feet on the floor, not running a bucket. Only time I use a foot is for grapple. Gehl....left hand runs all machine motion, right hand runs bucket. I don"t like Bobcat with hand lever for steering each side, feet for bucket. Others like that, so try before you buy!

urbancase · Aug 7, 2013

i have a 1845c and for the most part it been a reel good machine for me, not real bad to work on if needed. the 4 cyl cummons motor i like real well. i never been in a bobcat so i can't say anything there, the case is a simple good machine.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 7, 2013

I still have an 853 that has stacked all the round bales in the barns for almost twenty years. Everyone should have a skid steer and a vast assortment of attachments. My 853 with Isuzu engine will start better in single digit temps than My s250 with Kubota that is ten years newer. Everyone has their preference, what you get used to is what you like. I prefer hand and foot. I would absolutely get a suspension seat if it does not have one!!! My old knees ache after eight hours.

Tom vertiz · Aug 7, 2013

I think a bobcat will lift a little more but that is just my opinion I really don"t have any fact to back that up. I think the case will be a little more maneuverable, witch may come in handy if cleaning in small areas. The case might be a little smaller in size and wheelbase witch probably ads to maneuverability. From what I have seen most attachments will fit either loader. The bobcat might have a variable flow for the aux. hydrolics witch will enable you to limit the flow to either speed or slow your attachment. I don"t think that will matter that much, the only time I have ever used this option is when sweeping so you don"t throw rocks 30 ft away. The bobcat probably won"t have a self leveling bucket (the case probably will) so think about that when you have the bucket up high with a load on. Without self leveling you might dump the material on the cab. Hand vs foot controls makes no difference, you will figure either out just fine. I have worked a lot on bobcats, tight spaces but most work can be done. Have ran both extensively and think either would be a great fit for what you want to do.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 7, 2013

I worked several years doing skid steer development and was exposed to many skid steers. If you can live with foot controls the Bobcats work fine and still retain the largest market share. But the Case 1845C was a very good machine and should have had a bigger market share if they would have spent more time/effort pushing it. But they didn't and sales were generally lackluster. If high flow hydraulics are not required and not particularily fond of foot controls the Case would be an excellent choice. And no I didn't work on Case machines, only rented them for comparison purposes.

DCM · Aug 7, 2013

Just bought Case 1845c with 2400 hrs on it with a bucket, blade and tandem axle trailer for 10 grand, if this is of any help.

retired farmer · Aug 7, 2013

After having operated several different brands, I would much prefer a John Deere. Seemed to operate better and smoother. Just my opinion.

oldtanker · Aug 8, 2013

A buddy of mine has a small landscaping business. He runs 4 or 5 skids nearly every day. He had Bobcat for years but went to Cat about 10 years ago. He says reliability and productivity best move he's ever made.

Rick

rockyridgefarm · Aug 8, 2013

I like foot controls. I've used hand controls, and am capable with them, but I prefer foot controls. I HATE joystick controls. There's no sensitivity in them - you can't "feel" your way through a job with a "drive by wire" system. You should put a few hours on each control system and get the one that feels right to you.

I've put a thousand hours on a 753 when I was a kid - loading manure, hauling bales and feed. I thought it was the best thing going. I've owned a Deere 317 since new in 2007. I don't put many hours on it (right now, it has 650), but I really like it and wouldn't be without it. Recently, I ran my neighbor's 763. I can't believe that I ever thought the Bobcat was best. Some of it might be that I am comparing a 1300 lb lift skid steer to a 1700 lb lift, but the 317 seems much more capable and much more stable. I couldn't flop my 317 on the side without driving it off s cliff. The 763 seemed always in danger of flopping over.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 8, 2013

Not necessarily the greatest fan of electronic controls but still like them better than foot controls. I worked with operators that ran heavy construction equipment all their lives, never ran anything with foot controls, therefore unanimously prefered hand controls. However remember that at least one company initially used hydraulic pilot rather than electronic controls, but has unfortunately (in my opinion) changed over. Much easier to work around wires rather than hydraulic hoses and also lower cost. Pilot controls give the necessary "feel" without requiring the high force levels that cable controls can require particularily as they become worn.

T in NE · Aug 9, 2013

I'd get the Case. That engine is good for about forever. Likes it's fuel but it will sure get some work done. Set of 3 inch wheel spacers and you can work sideways across a 45 degree slope. It's a lot more machine than a 763 Bobcat.

The new models are just a re-painted New Holland. Sad.

I'm not a big fan of the New Holland. Tough to see the edge of the bucket, hard to see the rear corners, and you sit really low (at least in the 65 series and older). The reach is nice stacking hay, but otherwise I would rather run the Bobcat or Case.

We had a lot of trouble with the pedal on the NH getting wedged up with "stuff". The little arms that locked the pedals on the Bobcat would wear down the plastic pads on them and not unlock the pedals.

We had a lot of boom breaks on the 465 and it eventually spun a bearing and ventilated the block. The 763 ate a couple drive chains and wheel bearings, and a set of injectors. I don't think it had the power to roll the bucket in that the NH and Case did.

ihman73 · Aug 10, 2013

I don't own a skidsteer (yet...) but have used several I liked the new holland the best personally. You couldn't give me a bobcat, the ones I have been around have been a disaster mechanically. Not to mention hard to work on since they must have been designed by complete idiots. A 70xt is the only case I have used and after running nothing but foot pedal machines previous it was a bit of an adjustment going to all hand controls. I personally prefer the foot pedals myself.

Skid loader.....Case or Bobcat

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Similar threads