waltero
LawnSite Member
- Location
- Northeast, Pa
I am looking at upgrading my equipment between this year and next. Currently I have a kubota 3130 TLB that is way too small for what I am doing and moving into. I am moving into doing more hardscaping. The areas that I work in are generally rocky but can sometimes get muddy. I was considering the a300 because of the aws. I am leaning this way because it is cheaper then the Tracked machines by several thousand dollars and with the aws I think the tires will last much longer then with a skid and hopefully over the life of the machine the cost balances out.
I am looking for a machine that is very capable, as it will be my only loader for many years to come, and versitility of the skid/aws is a plus. I want to minimize the damage that I can do to the property and I believe that will save me both time and money not having to fix the damage that a skid loader would do, and all of this will justify the increased cost. I haven't driven one yet, but from what I have read they seem to be very reliable and people that have them like them.
The biggest difference between the T300 and the A300 is the tracks and the bobcat dealer told me that over the tire tracks won't fit the A300. Now I can understand the difficulty if someone tried to use AWS with tracks but I dont see how someone couldn't make them fit if need be(spacers???). The reason I am asking is not because I really want to do it but if I find myself needing them, it is still an option for me.
Besides the A300 I am looking at getting the bobcat 430zhs, although not at the same time, that would be a future purcase. One at a time, and I may even get the 430zhs first. That is another ????? I don't have an mini-excavator but most people that I talk to that do own both suggest that I get the excavator first. Again I will be doing hardscaping (patios, walkways, walls, and many other things) in very rocky soil and sometime the rocks get very large.
I am looking at taking my business to a level where I can provide more services in a much better time frame, and with the least amount of damage (ie... zero house swing on the excavator and the all wheel steer). I believe that I can complete jobs possibly days sooner by switching from the small kubota with a 9ft backhoe to a excavator that can deposit the spoils directly into my truck while touching the material once, and having a machine that can pick up the pallats of pavers and move material should also be a great time saver. I am making good money and I feel that if I can finish jobs sooner and move on to the next job, without the added labor cost will really add to the bottem line and will justify the purchases.
Let me know if my thinking is flawed, I know there are better choices, but I these may be the best combination for me. If the tracks do in fact work maybe I can have it all??????
I am looking for a machine that is very capable, as it will be my only loader for many years to come, and versitility of the skid/aws is a plus. I want to minimize the damage that I can do to the property and I believe that will save me both time and money not having to fix the damage that a skid loader would do, and all of this will justify the increased cost. I haven't driven one yet, but from what I have read they seem to be very reliable and people that have them like them.
The biggest difference between the T300 and the A300 is the tracks and the bobcat dealer told me that over the tire tracks won't fit the A300. Now I can understand the difficulty if someone tried to use AWS with tracks but I dont see how someone couldn't make them fit if need be(spacers???). The reason I am asking is not because I really want to do it but if I find myself needing them, it is still an option for me.
Besides the A300 I am looking at getting the bobcat 430zhs, although not at the same time, that would be a future purcase. One at a time, and I may even get the 430zhs first. That is another ????? I don't have an mini-excavator but most people that I talk to that do own both suggest that I get the excavator first. Again I will be doing hardscaping (patios, walkways, walls, and many other things) in very rocky soil and sometime the rocks get very large.
I am looking at taking my business to a level where I can provide more services in a much better time frame, and with the least amount of damage (ie... zero house swing on the excavator and the all wheel steer). I believe that I can complete jobs possibly days sooner by switching from the small kubota with a 9ft backhoe to a excavator that can deposit the spoils directly into my truck while touching the material once, and having a machine that can pick up the pallats of pavers and move material should also be a great time saver. I am making good money and I feel that if I can finish jobs sooner and move on to the next job, without the added labor cost will really add to the bottem line and will justify the purchases.
Let me know if my thinking is flawed, I know there are better choices, but I these may be the best combination for me. If the tracks do in fact work maybe I can have it all??????