i have a cat 268b skid loader with an enclosed cab. a bolt on loegering vts track system. i have been really pleased with it. but money is tight. and i am not sure i want to spend that much again on a similar machine if i can buy something else comparable and just as good. i have tried to post this question before and i appreciate the replies, but i still didnt arrive at the answer i was seeking. -i need an enclosed cab with heat and air. -power bucket hookup. (quicktach). -tracks of course with decent ride. reasonable undercarriage replacement costs. -good parts availability and prices. -good warranty and dealer support. -resale. -JOYSTICK CONTROLS with smooth operation -and most of all...i need to be able to load a 10 wheeler truck and be able to load the bed evenly, and without hitting the tandem axle tires with the front of the loader. and use forks. basically, i need vertical lift..or does it matter if the machine is big enough? i have been looking at the takeuchi compact track loaders. the biggest one. is the undercarriage good? better than cat and bobcat? it has no vertical lift? why? the new case track loaders look nice. never used a case. i hear they are are heavy duty. the parts ok? dealer? reliable? etc??? is bobcat really the original..and the best? can anyone elaborate? and just so you know...USED is fine with me.
I'll throw my 2 cents in for Takeuchi's...reading other forums and putting about 900hours on a TL130 I am willing to throw myself out there and say they make the best Compact Track Loaders on the market. They are not as plush and comfy as some of their competition, but its a loader, not a Lexus. The TL130 (smallest they make) could load a tandem with no problems....you had to load from both sides but it could still do it, so I don't imagine the 50 sized machine having any problem what so ever loading a tandem. They also have some of the best deals out there...definetely check on out or demo one
Takeuchi I have owned a Takeuchi TL26 (TL130 replaced this) for about 3 years. It had high hours then and is still running strong. They have a great under carriage. As stated, not as fancy as others, but they are one strong machine, you cant kill them
more i am getting really good responses on the takeuchi's. so if i buy a tl150, i can easily load a 10 wheeler truck from one side? i can hit the center of the bed and dump in the center filling the truck with dirt evenly? will it hit the tandem tires with the front of the cab of the machine? or will i have to find a way to compensate for this problem? alot of jobs, i will need to load a tandem tractor parked on the sidewalk and i cant go around and load from the other side. wouldnt be productive. but being as big as the machine is....will it reach? i wonder why takeuchi is such a great machine, but leaves off the key feature of vertical lift? also, what about HI FLOW on a takeuchi. i want versatility with my machine. i may want to put a brush grinding head on the machine for clearing lots. do i need the high flow option? is the low flow machine good enough for most anything? my 268B cat had a great high flow system. how good is the air conditioner on the takeuchi. heat? does the takeuchi have a good suspension seat to save my back? are the joystick control standardized like the caterpillar controls? the ride and vertical lift of the takeuchi seem to be the most important factors at the moment. wow. the takeuchi seems to be getting good ratings here and the price seems great. ill probably buy used. tl150 or tl250? i just wonder how their excavators stack up against the competition. ill also be looking at a machine similar to a cat 304 or 305. i want a rototilt bucket system. thanks!
takki pilots are the best in the industry. a/c is good. they ride a little rough but no biggie. their excavators are great I got an tb035 pushing 4k and still going strong.
The tak rides like a tank, if u are in it for the ride that is not the machine u want. They have power, but the controls are not as smooth as the cat. That is just my opinion, the best way for u to find out whitch one is best for u is to demo them all. Good luck
when i think about the ride....i am generally a type of operator that likes to do everything smooth and calculated as i go along. i like to push smooth as i am "hogging" dirt. i dont like to back up over rough ground that i just passed. but i am used to the VTS system on the caterpillar. i am a very experienced dozer operator. i dont like to make tight jerky turns that cause me to have to tear up the dirt and then go back and smooth it..or back up over it. i like to estimate the best way to push dirt before i make a push. and i pay close attention to how smooth i operate. owner operators tend to do this more than just hired operators. in this regard, it makes me wonder if the ride on the takeuchi doesnt matter as much since like to keep everything smooth. but, on the other hand, if i have to slow down and operate the machine slower to keep the ground smooth in rough grading applications, then all productivity is lost. i hope that made sense?
I do not see the ride afecting u in that matter. But the viberation inside the cab will kill u, if u are only on dirt it is not to bad. The bobcat is the same way good tractor but the ride will kill u. My ideal tractor would be a 299c but the price is outrageious.