Skid-steer loader proving its worth
Skid-steer loader proving its worth
By Peter Hill
WITH fancy boom linkages that give higher lift and more forward reach, bigger hydraulic pumps and more powerful engines, the skid-steer loader is becoming a more capable tool.
With added performance, though, comes extra bulk. And it is the lack of bulk, coupled with turn-on-a-sixpence manoeuvrability, that is the most attractive feature of these machines to many users.
In farming, usage is still limited compared with other types of loader, which invariably offer greater practical versatility. The skid-steers compromised performance on rough or soft ground, its inability to work effectively on a silage clamp, and its limited lift capacity, prevent more widespread uptake.
But where the working space is restricted, the skid-steer comes into its own: In pig units with narrow passageways, on dairy farms with traditional buildings to which access is limited by the width and height of doorways, and in deep-litter poultry housing where low roofs are the order of the day.
The specification table lists skid-steers according to their "operating load" rating, normally half the amount of weight needed to tip the machine on its nose.
With such a short wheelbase, after all, stability is the factor that determines how much they should be allowed to carry in order to balance output with safety.
Besides, skid-steers get their work rate not so much from the amount they can hold in a bucket or fork as from fast loading cycles. Spin-turns minimise unproductive travelling time, for example, and manoeuvres inside buildings can be made more quickly with greater confidence than with bulkier loading machinery.
A look through the specification table reveals that where small size is the principle consideration, the Avant Tecno Profitec from Finland heads the field.
Powered by Kubota engines of 14hp or 20hp, the Profitec is rated at 560kg (the safe operating load will be half that) yet is no more than 1m (3ft 3in) wide on its widest tyres. Use the narrowest fitments and width comes down to 0.79m (2ft 6in). Also, it measures just 1.66m (5ft 6in) from front to back.
Unlike other skid-steers, the driver sits exposed at the back of the machine; fine for nipping on and off but offering little protection.
Among the "real" skid-steer loaders, Melroe and UK manufacturers Belle and GHL produce the smallest machines, the Belle 730, GHL Tiger Cub and Bobcat 450 and 453 carrying buckets which, at 900mm (35in) wide, are only a few millimetres broader than the machines themselves. The Bobcat pair are the tallest at 1.81m (71in), with the Tiger Cub at 1.77m (69in) and Belle 730 at 1.67m (66in) having the edge in this respect. The Tiger Cubs 325kg operating capacity puts it a touch ahead of the others on performance, while the Thomas T-83S and Gehl SL1625 come into this mini-skid-steer group as the only other machines less than 1m (3ft 3in) wide and with marginally better lift performance.
Where ultra-compact dimensions are not crucial, the Case 1825B Uniloader and Fermec 524 are alternatives that trade girth for more lift, as do the Thomas T-103S, Belle 740 and Bobcat 553.
Mid-range models are more likely to be used in a typical stock farm situation, though, with operating load capacities in the 0.5 to 0.7t range from the likes of JCBs 150 and 165 Robot, the Thomas T-133S, Belle 761, New Holland Lx465, Bobcats 751, 753 and 763, Gehl SL4625 and Case 1840 and 1845C Uniloaders.
There is decent enough power from these machines – typically 40hp to 50hp from four-cylinder diesel engines – and powerful hydraulics to promote fast lift speeds and a powerful bucket break-out.
If height, rather than width, is a key factor in the choice of such machines, then the JCB 150 Robot and New Holland Lx465 are the lowest in this group, with a factory approved low-profile conversion of the Case 1840 Uniloader bringing this machine into the picture with a cut in overall height from 1.96m (77in) to just 1.73m (68in).
For the ultimate in load carrying capability, the Case 95XT and Fermec 553V provide the goods with a tipping load of just over 2.7t and a safe operating load of 1.36t.
Between these and the next models down in the Case and Fermec line-ups, is Melroes Bobcat 953 with tipping and safe loads of 2.2 and near 1.1t, respectively.
For added lift height and forward reach, both of which are essential for loading into high-sided lorries, the skid-steer design engineers have turned to special boom designs. New Hollands Super Boom spawned the idea and a number of other "vertical lift" configurations which provide near parallel geometry to lift the load almost vertically rather than pull it back the higher it goes.
Linkage arm designs on the Bobcat 773 and 873, and on the Case 85XT and 95XT (as well as equivalent Fermec models) achieve a similar effect to the Super Boom design but using a different arrangement.
For out-and-out lift height, though, nothing matches the conventional arm design of the Thomas T-173 with its ground-to-bucket pin measurement of 3.37m (11ft) just outstripping JCBs biggest Robot skid-steer at 3.31m (10ft 10in) and the Case 95XT/Fermec 553V and Bobcat 953 at 3.18m (10ft 5in).
JCBs Robot has its own design peculiarity in having a single wrap-around boom. Main attractions include side-door access and at times better forward visibility. *
Mid-range model from Derbyshire-based Belle Engineering is the three-cylinder 385kg lift 740.
JCBs one-arm Robot offers side-door cab access; the 165 is rated at 650kg.
CONTACTS
Belle Engineering 01298-84606
Butler Equipment (Avant) 01244- 289017
Case 01302-733393
Fermec 0161-865 4400
GHL 01270-811671
JCB Landpower 01538-755641
Melroe 01204-667762
New Holland 01268-533000
Saville Tractors (Gehl) 01789- 15800
Thomas 01827-284141
Fermec 528 is a Case 1845C Uniloader in disguise. Rated at 771kg, it replaces MF Industrial-branded models.
Smallest in Melroes Bobcat line-up is the 272kg lift 450.
Thomas T-243HDS is the Canadian firms heavy lifter, rated at 1089kg.
ModelOperatingOverall or HeightEngineList
load SAEbucket widthto cabprice £
kgmmmm
Belle 7302669001676Perkins 3cyl 13hp11,110
Melroe Bobcat 4502729021817Kohler 2cyl 16hp (P)9,577
Avant Profitec 1215280790-10001207*Kubota 2cyl 14hp8,675
Avant Profitec 1193280790-10001207*Kubota 3cyl 20hp10,000
Melroe Bobcat 4533179021817Kubota 3cyl 15hp12,009
GHL Tiger Cub 36-20M3259001770Mitsubishi 3cyl 20hp6,995
GHL Tiger Cub 36-20L3259001770Lombardini 3cyl 20hp7,995
Gehl SL16253559101850Isuzu 3cyl 21hppoa
Thomas T-83S3639141813Kubota 3cyl 20hp10,790
Belle 74038512201763Perkins 3cyl 19hp12,725
Case 1825B Uniloader40011201790Kubota 4cyl 27hppoa
Fermec 52440011201790Kubota 4cyl 27hppoa
Melroe Bobcat 55341512571849Kubota 3cyl 19hp13,038
Gehl SL382545013721778Kubota 4cyl 31hppoa
Thomas T-103S45412191806Kubota 4cyl 33hp12,948
JCB 150 Robot50014301820Perkins 4cyl 47hp11,712
Thomas T-133S59013721854Kubota 4cyl 43hp15,210
Melroe Bobcat 75160013971930Peugeot 4cyl 38hp16,482
Melroe Bobcat 75360013971930Kubota 4cyl 40hp17,785
Case 1840 Uniloader61313701960**Case 4cyl 52hppoa
Fermec 52661313701960Case 4cyl 52hppoa
Belle 76162515201933Perkins 4cyl 44hp17,020
New Holland Lx46562615231846NH 3cyl 30hp14,564
Gehl SL462564216511930Kubota 4cyl 47hppoa
JCB 165 Robot65015801860Perkins 4cyl 47hp13,671
Melroe Bobcat 76370017351938Kubota 4cyl 46hp18,471
New Holland Lx56576416661899NH 4cyl 40hp16,985
Case 1845C Uniloader77116002040**Case 4cyl 57hppoa
Fermec 52877116002040Case 4cyl 57hppoa
Thomas T-173HLS77117272083Kubota 4cyl 52hp18,820
New Holland Lx66577316661899NH 4cyl 50hp19,632
Gehl SL563581617302013Deutz 4cyl 80hppoa
JCB 185 Robot85017002020Perkins 4cyl 70hp17,924
Melroe Bobcat 77386017351938Kubota 4cyl 46hp19,524
Melroe Bobcat 86390718792063Deutz 4cyl 73hp23,021
Case 85XT104318602030Case 4cyl 66hppoa
Fermec 550V104318602030Case 4cyl 66hppoa
Melroe Bobcat 873104318831982Deutz 4cyl 73hp25,226
Gehl SL6635104317302013Deutz 4cyl 80hppoa
New Holland Lx885106718261980NH 4cyl 60hp23,381
Case 90XT108918602030Case 4cyl 74hppoa
Fermec 551V108918602030Case 4cyl 74hppoa
Melroe Bobcat 953108917322184Perkins 4cyl 74hp29,645
Thomas T-243HDS108918542121Deutz 4cyl 83hp21,840
Case 95XT136118602030Case 4cyl 74hppoa
Fermec 553V136118602030Case 4cyl 74hppoa
*No driver roll-over protection; **1730mm and 1850mm with low-profile version; P = petrol.