Which Articualted loader would you Choose?

[rfwoodvt]

ThanX! for all the great input on my earlier post. We finally decided that we are going with an articulated loader.

So that brings the next question, which brand and what models would work best?

Here are our Preferred specs:
<ul type="square"> [*]Fairly narrow as in not over 5 feet wide, preferably under 48 inches [*]Between 2000 and 6000 pounds in weight [*]has a bucket capacity of at least 800 pounds [/list]

Due to some frustrating financing issues we are only able to make a stop-gap purchace for now. So, for now, the unit <u>must</u> be a used machine and under $5000

Our 5 year plan includes re-capitalization but that will be a later discussion.

Tom, I heard you mention you had a waldon and others have mentioned Case-Davis and Swingers...

I welcome a discussion on pro and cons of all.

If someone has one for sale East of the Mississippi I'd be interested in hearing about it.

ThanX! for the help!

 

[tnttree]

I can get your hands on a couple of used Gehl AL20's . . . but all of them are over 5K and I am 5 miles west of the Mississippi

Cheapest one is a 2000 model 420hrs, 20hp kubota $8500 + ship Sold an 1984 case Scatback (30hp gas Wisc) a year or 2 ago for $3200 - maybe this helps you with some price comparisons

 

[Lumberjack]

5k bucks won't go very far when it comes to purchasing equipment.

Stop-gaps don't get you very far either.

A loader is NOT a required peiece of equipment, $5k bucks will buy you a headache.

 

[rfwoodvt]

[ QUOTE ]
Sold an 1984 case Scatback (30hp gas Wisc) a year or 2 ago for $3200 - maybe this helps you with some price comparisons

[/ QUOTE ]

I've checked out a couple of scatbacks and waldons in that price range. They seem like good machines, very straight forward. Biggest reason for not grabbing them was two-fold, A) didn't have the means to haul that particular distance and I had set my bid limit way too low. Coulda had a Waldon for $3600 and a skatback for $4550...

But I was just starting to get a feel for the market.

I was just shooting way too low for a machine.

I also appreciate the other poster who commented about stopgaps being a problem.

I would agree that often that is the case. However, there have been several times, including what was a "disposable" chipper I picked up on one of the arbo web boards several years ago that turned into a real money maker.

Long story short, I posted a request for a 8" or smaller chipper for under $XXX for one particular job. Ended up using it for 3 years and sold it for $500 more than I paid for it.

So, I've been very successful in regards to stop-gap purchases. I have yet to lose, and as mentioned I've had several capital gains on stop-gap equipment that I eventually sold.

Anyhow, until we can deal with larger capital expenditures in 2011 then stop-gap is what we have to deal with.

That said, what other thoughts are there on the older/used articulated machines?

 

[tnttree]

heres a pic of that Case Davis scatback, your right about resale on some of the older stuff, if they keep running (and you can get parts) you can often recoup most of your costs especially true with little articulating loaders