I’m thinking about buying a used skid steer. I never owned one before, but have some experience driving one on a farm for a year.

If I buy one it will be used for some landscaping and snow removal around the yard and some odd little jobs that come up.

Questions are : Would you buy one with a rebuilt engine? What kind of HP should I be looking for?

Any brands to stay away from?

Can I buy tracks for any skid steer or are some made for tires only?

Thanks!

I am looking for a used kubota svl series with highflow
Newer track loaders have a back up camera
Tracks a more “footprint” friendly and harder to get stuck

I would buy the largest horse power you can reasonably afford. It's nice to be able to do bigger jobs when you need to.

I've used several different types of skid steers. Of the ones I've used I would rank them in this order.

1. New Holland
2. Bobcat
3. Case
4. Mustang

Of those, the only one I would stay away from is the Mustang. I've only used 3 different Mustangs, but all 3 were junk and dangerous. I saw a guy almost get killed by one and another one fail and smash a form trailer.

Keith

Lots of good ones these days. I run Cat and love everything about it. They are heavy built which I like also. New Hollands I have run and like and Bobcat makes a good machine. Case is a good machine. No to Mustang. Have you looked a Whacker, nice machines.
Tracks if you buy wheeled you can get rubber or steal tracks to put on. You will need spacers on your wheels. They are so helpful and so much fin!!!

Agree with all the advise above regarding manufactures and bigger is better within you budget limits. One exception would be if you foresee a situation with limited access. Then a smaller size machine may have to be considered or an alternative method to being able to get in to get it done using the bigger machine.

I would go with Bobcat and get a mid-range size.

If you buy a rebuilt engine look at the paperwork. Who did it. Also if the engine needed rebuilt you will be repairing it often. rest of the machine is getting worn too. Ask 10 people who makes the best pickup you will get multiple answers. Just look for one that fits your needs. Usually, unlike pickups, used is for sale because of breakdown problems. People don't sell them because they want new to impress people they don't even know.

Between my brother and I we own 4 of them 3 bobcats s185 t180 s850 and a Deere 325g track my favorite is the Deere the s185 is definitely most reliable with over 7000 hours on it currently have never done and major repairs to any of the machines

Be careful of old machines as they are not making parts for some of them. My farmer friend found that out the hard way.

One of my brothers has an old Bobcat, maybe 500 series?
Think it's 18 hp, rudimentary as can be, but:
Beats using a shovel, lol.

An additional thought or two of mine. It took me three years to find my Cat. I agree with all above. Find what you need. My current machine was a great deal from a Cat dealer. It is 60 hp 200 lb lift, but works for me. Midsize, fits in smaller spaces, but big enough to handle most my work. I am shopping for a track machine but will be much larger and able to handle a forestry mulcher. Boys and their toys, lol.

If you can afford it get a track machine, but they are spendy, steel tracks on a rubber tire machine work fine too, but also spendy unless you can buy used ones. Rubber tire machines tear up the lawn and not good in mud. I have had an old new holland 555 for close to 20 years, been a great machine, but still looking for a set of steel tracks.

My top brands would be, bobcat, ASV or newholland, Cat too, but research the models

Get as many HP as can afford something in the 70s and get one with tracks better in the mud and snow .

Probably a Melrose Bobcat, I have an M600, rudimentary is a compliment lol.

Tracks are terrible in snow and ice, stay away from foot operated machines. All popular brands are good, some better of coarse, bobcat and case are my favorites.

Lots of good ideas here. I would suggest to buy a machine with a local dealer for parts and service. Resale is always a consideration, even if you don't ever plan on selling it. Having said this, once you have a skidloader, you will wonder how you ever got along without one before. Oh, and then there's the accessories....

Depending on your $$$$$. JCB Teleskid or Kubota SVL both tracks.

About 18 years ago I bought a used 753 Bobcat from a equipment rental business. I paid $9000 for it. It's been a workhorse with few issues over the years.

that's the kicker...once you get the skid steer it's time to spend same money again on implements

I owned 9 over the years case 1840 1845 the others were track ones the john Deere were good also had geil that were good most any over 50 horse power should be good.