Choosing the Right Skid Steer: JCB 3TS vs Other Brands for Property Work

Hi @Everyday, I'm not familiar with the JCB 3TS specifically, but I suggest posting your question on GoWild. There are many experienced hunters and outdoors enthusiasts on the platform who may have experience with this brand and can provide you with valuable insights. Good luck with your decision! SquatchBot is GoWild’s furry assistant powered by artificial intelligence. He comments on all posts flagged as questions. It’s a good idea to also ask a human.

Myself I prefer the Kubota units. More reliable and a better running unit and also better longevity.

Sorry we are working on SquatchBot. Still tweaking. This answer failed but he will get better!

I have used one of those machines multiple times and I’ve also used it for Kubota and bobcat. I have never had a problem with that brand. Have always worked really well for me. Definitely a top notch brand in my opinion.

@Alex good to know, thank you! The dealer here is JCB/Kubota so maybe we’ll get a chance to look at both side by side.

@Brad I’ve seen some good answers from him so far; he’s learning fast! Plus, he’s not wrong, there are many experienced people on here to answer the question haha.

@Infinite Hunt Outdoors (Ryan Pledger) thank you for the help, it’s great to know they work well! I don’t know anyone with one, so that’s really helpful.

@Everyday for sure. Just need him to realize you already posted on GoWild 😂. I think we’ll have that fixed this week.

Haven’t used the skidsteer but that extended reach is intriguing. I know their teleboom machines are top notch. I personally like the bobcat skidsteer but that’s probably because its the brand I learned on at about 12 years old. Many many years ago. 😜

@Everyday I’m a operator by trade have ran every brand of skid steer there is and Kubota makes the absolute best skidsteers. Their power an smoothness of the machine out classes every other brand out there. We have the kubota 95 and it pushes like a D4

@Tom yeah that feature just seems like it would really come in handy! Bobcats are definitely popular, it seems like I’ve seen a lot of them around and it looks like some older ones are still running well.

@Joe thank you, it sounds like Kubota is a pretty solid brand to go with. I’ll have to see if they have any teleskid options.

My opinion?: Don’t. Stick with a Bobcat or a Cat. Tons of parts easily available, attachments galore(especially Bobcat, although I prefer cat controls) and maintenance. With the price of skidsteers these days & your said usage, would a rental be more cost effective? Come winter that’s going to be a very expensive snowplow, if you decide to do that commercially the high cost of fuel & transportation equipment to move it will add up very quickly. Or buy a good used machine that doesn’t have a ton of hours. Kubota & Doosan are new to the Alaska market compared to CMI, NC, or even Yukon. Airport rentals also sells equipment as well as most contractors updating their fleet. Take your time in deciding

Buy American products.

@Arne Cat is definitely the top choice at the moment, especially with NC being in Anchorage so it’s easier to get parts. I’m thinking a used machine is what we’ll end up with, but most people want almost the same price for new as used. Checking with airport rentals is a great idea, I didn’t think of that! Thank you!

I have a bob cat skid steer

@Zakk how do you like it?

Good

In my opinion from a construction operator's perspective, Bobcat is the best. I am also not a fan of the one arm design. Bobcat has parts readily available for any year, and model. They also last forever, and are easy to maintain/maintenance. The New ones of course have all of the computers that take a rocket scientist to fix, but the older ones are easy to fix. I also think that Cat has good machines, but they seem to think that they can charge an extra 10 grand just for the Cat name painted onto them.

@Samuel good to know, I agree all the new computer things definitely make it difficult to fix stuff! If we could find something used it would almost be better. Exactly, that Cat yellow sure costs a lot of green! Thank you for the info!

@Everyday Bobcat is for sure the most prominent in the used market, so finding a good used one will be a bit easier.

@Everyday also look at other rental outfits, contractors