Thanks again, old rugged cross. We do want to stick with a tracked, know it’s more money, but also higher resale if it came to that. We have some time, want to get one before winter. Still looking around too. Have always heard Kubotas were good anyway. Just depends on what we can find and if it’s a deal for us at the time.

If moving snow is the main job you might rethink your choice of track over wheel, even with dedicated snow tracks, wheels do much better. Snow tires or good chains on a wheeled unit will move way more snow, and if you have slopes to plow there is a good chance the tracked unit will get stuck. Plus a wheeled unit is a lot cheaper. Where the tracked units excel is when your implements get heavier, or on uneven ground. Also the door issue is a big deal, one of the most common uses for a skid steer at my place is as a powered wheelbarrow. Not being able to run the machine with the door open if you want is a deal killer. I would not have a skidsteer with a door that did not fold up. Kubota makes good stuff, you won’t go wrong there, but if you have a Takeuchi dealer local check them out too.

I wasn't going to jump in on this as I don't own machines that you are asking about, but the last post made me do it. I move snow, lots of it. NOT a chance a wheeled machine is better on snow. Even with chains (wheeled machine with over the wheel tracks whole different animal). Personal experience and thousands of miles and years of plowing. That is if you a plowing non paved roads and fields etc. It may be different if you have paving. I don't. And if you are working in wet spring conditions game over for the wheeled machines. Now it matters A LOT for snow what specific track and track system you have. There are some track designs that just suck in snow (big blocks is a clue) so you have to investigate the machine you are looking at. People who own these machines know and can tell you. Tracks are a consumable and you can fit the best option for your situation. I own and run CAT track loaders as I think that's the best situation for me as the CAT parts system makes the rest of the choices seem incompetent. You many not care if you don't need a very high level of availability but I own other large John Deere and Kubota equipment that uses the same parts systems and the difference is huge. In my neighborhood there are a number of Bobcats and Kubota's. Generally everyone seems happy with what they have. One friend I know well has recently acquired two new 75's and seems quite pleased with them. FWIW>

It seems my experience is different. Personally I find heavy machines on rubber tracks on icy slopes to be a little scary, but a heavy machine on chains much better. I know what works in my conditions, and those are the only conditions I guess I should speak of. I rarely have to move more than 16” of snow at a time, but we get some quick melts and even the occasional freezing rain, that turn the surfaces to glare ice and my roads are a little steeper than I would like. I plow the snow and sand the ice.

Country living, gravel driveway. Uneven ground too. We would just plow our driveway, and it is fairly long, and is angled to go around the house, with an incline from the road. Narrow, creek on one side, with lots of brush and trees on that side. Also to plow a nice walking track on our property for me and the dog. Then to help with brush removal, tree trimming and removal of that. We are on a hill, back yard has a sharply defined slope and dips down so you can’t see the bottom of the land from the house. Rest of property by the house is pretty flat. Field is flat, but not even, and rough. We have heard reports, and listened to opinions on track vs wheel. We have decided on track, they do make snow tracks which is what we’d probably get. We think wheels would not do well in the field. It’s just too low lying and holds water too much. Almost got the mower stuck once, and we did have to pull out a tractor once when we first moved in, and had a neighbor offer to mow it for us as he got it stuck.

if I get one it will be a wheeled unit. The two that top my used list are a Kubota 65 or a Deere 260. A Case or Wacker Neuson would also fit the bill. A takeuchi also makes the list.

Good luck. No machine is perfect for every situation. I can guarantee you will like the tracked machine for somethings and will not be happy about other things it does not do.

That is why renting each machine or at least the one you think you want for a day or two would be wise as has been mentioned more than once in this thread..Ymmv

Well, I appreciate all the opinions and experiences from all who replied to me. It helps to determine what to look for, and other things that we should take into account. Hopefully we will find something that will work for us soon!

I am going to agree with Stlhead in one sense and note that nothing is perfect in 100% of conditions.
I have lots of things that can move snow (examples bulldozer, large wheeled loader with plow, 4wd tractor with plow, truck, Hydraulic snow blowers mounted on various things) and none of them are perfect in all conditions. I can still remember like it was yesterday my first experience of a steel tracked dozer on ice and sliding helplessly down a large hill. But in the aggregate I think the tracked skid steerer is most often the most veristle.
Edited to add with the right tracks. Also noting that there are people who have designed cleats that temporarily mount on tracks to enhance the situation. +

"Any opinions on a 95? Since we found a really nice one?"

I advise staying away from these earlier machines that use diesel exhaust fluid. I have read many accounts of them needing costly repairs. Also, I think the SVL95 and the current SVL97 is too big and heavy for what you will doing.

That sounds like some good advice. And I agree that large of a unit is not needed in most situations. Most people that make a living running them do not need one that large 99% of the time.

Another thought is you can buy a good unit right around $30k. That will leave you with funds to do maintenance and repairs when needed.

The first thing I did when I bought my used Mini excavator was schedule a service and evaluation with the Kubota mobile mechanic.
He did a full service. Fluids, filters, final drives, grease, etc. Everything checked out. No repairs needed. Was about $1300 and gave me a piece of mind and also gave me a baseline for a future maintenance schedule.

Thank you again, old rugged cross and suppressed. I think we will stay with the 75-2 size. Appreciate all the advice and opinions, everyone!