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QUESTION:need info on buying a small earth mover. Needs to have tracks
(not tires), needs to work as a front end loader, backhoe, or
bulldozer. Am considering the Dingo TX 420 earthmover made by
the Toro company. But do not know if there are any others available.
Does anyone have any experience with similar machines or can pass
on some tips on what to avoid?
ANSWER: Several things depending on your your limitations for machine size and $$ to
spend.
- Cheapest is a used skid steer loader with metal over the tire tracks.
They can be small enough to carry in the back of a pickup. ex: Bobcat 440B
or Case 1825 with loegering or grouser tracks. Find good used for $5-10K and
tracks for $2-3,000.
- A company called ASV Posi-trak has just built a small dedicted track
drive loader that can be carried around in a 3/4- 1 ton PU. Around $20K.
- Best and most entertaing in my opinion if you are lucky enough to have
$40,000 + to spend is an 864 Bobcat track loader. 74 h.p. turbo diesel, 13
or 17 inch wide rubber tracks. has 2000# lift capacity.
You can buy a good used skid steer and put tracks on it as I said above.
There are more options in the mid size machines ( Bobcat 740/750, Case
1838/1840, NH 400/500/600) than the little ones for used. They are big
enough you'd have to trailer them. But even with tracks you'd only lay out
around $12-$13K for something decent and much more versatile than the
machine you are looking at which I think sell in that $ range.
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