Selling the toys to buy farm equipment that is needed to help grow the business is very smart and a sound decision, the toys will come later in life when your business provides additional income stream to support that type of purchase, being debt free is the key. Great looking machine and good price I hope it serves you well.

My thoughts, doing all the right things, investing in the farm, make the little house do until the farm produces. Nice looking cattle, go with the good stock. Love your attitude, the humor, enjoying the work will make it all come together.

Good Deal my man, 3 yrs ago I picked up a 1998 Bobcat 863 with Heat and air 1300 Orig hrs for $12,500 in excellent cond like your Girl. i still have her on my farm looking as good as the day I bought it Now has 1500hrs, Best of luck with her, they are fun to zip around in

Just watched your video. As an owner of an identical machine I can 100% tell you that machine has about 2000 or so hours. They commonly burn up the instrument cluster and that's why the low hours. I have one with 6 hours (really 2984). Tell tale signs, exhaust pipe tip rusted away, rusty oil cooler, indicative of failed radiator, both of which have happened to mine. First place I'd show you to prove it would be underneath the cab, in the linkage for the centering. There's a roller that wears a groove in the adjuster. Also look for seatbelt strikes on the side it winds to. The big tell would be in the overhead. The cluster will have an extra relay harness that was a patch improvement to protect that $700 cluster. Don't get me wrong, mechanically they are great, but that engine vibrates so much as they age they have a ton of electrical issues. Your price is fair either way. I just traded mine for a 2021 320g. They allowed me $11k. Im sure they will ask $16k and sell for $13-14k. Liked your video, but I really wanted you to know thats not a 200 hour machine...not a chance,but you did NOT get burned. Thats a very reasonable price for that machine! Good luck and if you run into any electrical problems email me! I think I've had em all! denton912@yahoo.com

Being a 20 year old machine, I would say to check the hydrolic lines. They are tough but don't last forever.

If you feel it was a good deal that is all that counts. It is very clean so it was taken care of. So good find!

When loading a skid loader it's always good practice to back them on a trailer. I've seen them tip backwards if the ramps are too steep or the trailer "pops" up a bit. Backing them on you can't tip them because your bucket is at the rear of the trailer and acts like a wheelie bar if anything crazy happens.

Folks...I hope ya enjoy today's video. I appreciate all of your support in following our farm journey. Please hit that NOTIFICATION BELL if you haven't already! That way ya don't miss any FARM FUN!!

So the hot rods are gone. But, the skid steer is way more useful around the farm. Looks pretty good for its age. Good luck.

Advice I give to anyone buying a piece of heavy equipment for the farm: if you can't do most repairs yourself lease or rent what you need. Heavy equipment will break: works hard in harsh conditions. If you have to take it to a shop and pay $150.00 labor plus dealer price for parts to get it fixed you won't be a happy camper.Run it easy and take your time and it will be a good machine for you.

I can not believe that I hit it exactly at $13,000. Only thing I’m confused with is those tires didn’t warrant 200hr of wear. They have closer to 2000hr of wear on them.

That machine was likely built at JDs short-lived plant in Loudon, TN. Good, hard working, country folks...my wife was the Director of Financial Reporting there. You did good!

Josh, even if it has 2200hrs on it, you got one heck of a machine brother!!! And don't let anybody tell you different. p.s. I've been looking for the last two years for a deal like that 😩 I'm jealous now... 😄 GREAT FIND!!! 👍👍🤜🤛

Sell the Toys for Tools --- been there done that, can be sad but good. Enjoy brother!

I wouldn't recommend the over-tire tracks. We had them on a Bobcat at the city parks dept I worked at, and the drive chains kept snapping. Eventually, we went back to tires. If you want a tracked skid, get a tracked skid. Just my two cents.

With 20 year old tires, they are going to get hard and they will wear quicker, but something tells me that it have more than 285hr.

First year of that model. Tire wear doesn't match hour meter. If you take your serial number to a Deere dealer they can research warranty work that was done. Some early models had hydraulic problems.

Good buy sir. Having bought many skid steers I can say that those tires don’t indicate a thing. When they sell skidsteers they put the cheapest gummy tires they can get . 1 season on asphalt concrete or gravel they look just like what they look like . That price you paid is yahooooo! Great price. Your gonna love it and you can fix almost everything yourself based on what I’ve seen you do. Buy the best tires you can afford and I would recommend a more tire track design not that tractor design they wear longer. I just bought the galaxy hulk 378 per tire . Most won’t spend that much for tires but in your line of work you may not ever buy another set. Congrats!

We had a 250 at my work (village public works). We used that machine all the time. Most useful machine we had. Take good care of it and it will serve you well.

It doesn't matter what we think of the machine. It's yours we are just here too support you. Nice buy good shape and the price was right. Can't wait too see you working it

im no expert at all. if the hours are correct, thats awesome and you got a good deal... if the hours are higher like some people are suggesting, i still think it looks like its in great condition for that age and hours (if higher). I personally like the foot controls. I think you take good care of your equipment so you wont have anything to worry about. looking forward to more videos about it.

Good buy Josh. I would not put over the tires tracks on another machine, ever. Mud gets in between the tires and tracks and it forces the tracks to squeeze the tires together. This completely destroyed the bearings, races and even axles tubes of a machine I bought and repaired. You can use the front bucket to lift the front tires off the ground, then jump out and shake front tires for movement, any movement is too much play in those axle bearings. This movement will also allow the axle seals to leak (another clue). Front ones will wear out before rears.

My skid steer is the most useful tool I've ever purchased. You'll love it!

Im at the 5 minute mark and from what i remember, it should be about 60 hp. Ive seen them at auction go between 15 and 20k. Location is gonna change the price. BOOM

Lots of those out of that series had the instrument cluster replaced early on. Mine did. If it was a good dealer, the original hours were written somewhere, either in the cab, or in the engine compartment. Regardless looks like a decent machine, and you probably did ok on it.

You should really set your e-brake when loading and unloading equipment Josh. Rocking your transmission like that in Park is very harmful. And it can also jump out of park and just start rolling. I've seen it happen. Very costly to repair.

I have a 2002 John Deere 250 with Loegering brand steel OTT tracks. I can not recommend steel tracks on that machine enough. A wheeled skid steer is 10 times the machine with steel tracks. Mine has been reliable and will work in extremely wet conditions. The machine has had steel tracks on it its whole life and has not had any drive chain issues in 1900 hours. I am sure you will be as happy with your 250 as I am with mine.

Yes have sold some loved machines to get on with things. Go get em Stoney Ridge, farm is looking spectacular!

We have a 1999 240 with ?????? Hours on it. Instrument cluster went about 10 years ago. Also had to replace the alternator and a couple hoses, but that’s about it. Solid machines.

So i may be wrong, I don't think I am, but under the hour meter is a 1/10 meaning 285 = 2850 hours. I've run a few different skid steers never a John Deer, still a clean machine.

That has way more than 200 hours and it’s to sun faded there is no way it was shedkept

Josh, I have a 260 John Deere Skid Steer. They are awesome machines. I bought mine new back in 2001. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I have several attachments and use it all the time. I have just over 2100 hours on mine and I am the ONLY one that has operated it. I put chains on mine in the winter time and can go anywhere with it. They are not so good in mud - even with tracks so be careful. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Congrats on the purchase price too! I wouldn't even think of selling mine for that amount!!

I was way off. I was in the 20's with my guess. Happy for you Josh. Good find. Can't wait to see the videos you make with it.

I think you will enjoy. We bought a track loader 2 years ago with a bucket and mower attachment. We have since bought a grapple bucket and tree puller for Texas Mesquites. Very versatile.

Nice find! That’ll be another tool for collecting any deer you harvest where the truck is too big to go. 13k is perfect. You didn’t steal it but it’ll run and last a long time. Well done.

We had a 250 an 270 , had to change control panel on both of them, one shows 300hrs but truly it has 2800 an the other one shows 220hrs but truly has around 3000

Josh I think you done good. I just sold its little brother a low hours 240 Deere. Mine was used mostly for snow removal. I sold it mostly because of all the safety interlocks ., and I had problems with foot control, old dog new tricks.

You got one hell of a deal on the skid steer!, I bought a bobcat s185 w/1,200 hrs, factory cab w/heat, new tires and trims with original paint that looked great!, 61 hp. $22,500. I found one w/under 200 hrs for $32,000 not!. I've had it a year still works great !. Used equipment is in high demand and is selling high!, hell with all the new crap they put on them nobody wants them!. But you did damn good on the John deere!, have a good day!.

Good price for that unit, like grandpa says tools before toys, but i hate seeing the 454 ss go. great video Josh

open ROPS, I would have been okay at $8-$11K, anything over that I'd want enclosed cab with the very least heat.

Nice to see someone else fold up to get in a skidstear. 6'5" Life is tough lol

I know this video is a year old, you got a good clean machine at a good price. As the few who know anything here have commented, the hours are wrong. All the 250 series had bad instrument clusters and wiring harness, yours has obviously been replaced. That is a good thing. I bought mine lightly used 15 years ago and still use it all the time. Mine has lived outside and at this age I have had to replace most of the rubber hydraulic lines. Even with good tires the wheel machines are a pig on ice, I keep thinking I want a track machine for the type of use I do now. My machine has been well taken care of with rear weights, paint is more faded than yours but no dings or scratches. I have thought would sell around $12,000 but I have never found a clean newer track machine that I trusted so I keep this one. Just put a new seat in it this week.

Have a 2007 JD250 love it... Added counter weights for stability when hauling round bales...

Boy I get it's 20 years old but with the tires worn out and the seat showing cushion and looks on the back of the arms it's been back into stuff I think that hour mark is off but still a very good price for the rig

Finished watching: at 13K you should be OK.First thing is get a complete set of manuals including the shop/repair manual. Parts manual is a huge must have when looking for parts.Next will be replacing "timed out" parts: hoses (all),belts,etc. If you wait till something blows it will never happen where it's easy to recover machine and fix it. Wheeled skid steers will get extremely stuck in a matter of seconds when in sloppy conditions:good recovery winch and some snatch blocks will be handy. Get with JD and price the hydraulic drive motors,be sitting down when you do that. They WILL go out at some point and be sure they have not been obsoleted.

I bought a JD 250 brand new. The early series(not a series II) were known for board issues, and many were changed under warranty(Mine went out at 450 hours).The hour meter would then show 0 hours. Its pretty beat up for 200 hours for being shed kept. Mine was shed kept, traded at 2400 hours and was much cleaner than that one. My original tires went almost 1100 hours before replacement. Unless they swapped used tires onto it the wear doesnt match the hours. I would take the serial number to JD and see if they have any service history, you might find a surprise. 13 grand is too cheap for only 285 hours if it was true. I got 10K trade at a JD dealer for one with 2400 hours towards a new one two years ago. So did you get a good deal no, but you didnt get hurt to bad if it really has 2500 hours..

Rented a 250 & 280 years back to clean out hay barn. Smooth & excellent motors. Brother didn't like how the view of the bucket cutting edge wasn't completely visible when seated.

Dude that machine I swear the same one my uncle Washington used it for clearing his property skidding logs building roads etc was bullet proof !!! Strong and perfect for The farm congrats !!!

Looks like you got a good deal! My only concern is the tires are wore way past 200 hrs. I’ve got a Takeuchi skid steer that’s a 1999 also I just put 2000 hours on it last week and it’s still going strong! I paid $10,000 for it and it is a track machine with brand new tracks when I bought it and it came with a bucket and a grapple. They are workhorses but I hate it when they break (especially the alternator) because they don’t make hands small enough to work inside those machines!

Good stuff Josh...you need it....since two years back....good trade with your sweet hard rods....its pain...you will get it back. Praise the Lord....thank the Lord.

Without the grapple and tree shear that was a fantastic price. You got a nice machine cheap, Good luck with it I love my old Bobcat your going to appreciate having a Skid Steer. I was guessing $17,000

That was a good deal, I was around 15000 best guess, do yourself a favor get an oil sample test kit from Deere and let them test samples, it will save you headaches anything worn will show up so you can handle it now before it fails 👍

$13 Grand was a real fair price. When you buy tires for it,go to the "block" style tread.They cost a little bit more but you'll get alot more life out of them. I had one rubber tire machine then went to tracks....never have regreted it....Enjoy your new toy....

They are a pretty solid machine, I run a 240! That series was know to be plagued with electrical problems, one of which could cause the dash cluster to need replaced which in turn would start the hours back at zero, not saying that’s the case with yours but there is a possibility. Looks like you found a nice unit that will serve you well! If you want to put better lights in it order replacements from tiger lights, I did it to mine and love it. Thanks for the video!

The tachometer HAS been replaced. It’s got over 1000 hours on it. Probably under 2000 but definitely more than 200.

I just started looking at these instead of tractors cuz they are priced about the same but they have a lot more power...and versatility... My primary need is snow.and ice removal after I grade my road and place gravel so these things will take care of all that beautifully...

Even though the hour meter looks to be tampered with in some way, that machine looks to be in great shape. If the grapple and other attachment came with, you got a smoking deal. I am in the market for one myself.

So cool Josh! I love it. I'm only on one acre and would love to have something like that. You did great. Wishing you many good working hours with your new farm work hand. Moving and shaking now❣️ Wwoooo ❣️❣️❣️👍congrats on your new acquisition 🤩

So we just purchased a 240 and the dealer told us to watch for low hours since the gauge cluster in prone to going out. We did look at one that a guy had 336 hours and he had a little plate saying that it was replaced at 1006. So guessing it has the gauge cluster changed out and the exhaust is a dead give away it has alot more hours then just 200. We purchased the one with 939 and the exhaust looks alot newer and they were the original owners.

Great deal -- I'm sure the original tires had dry rot with cracks after 20 years. They decided to sell so they changed out tires to a set of inexpensive used tires before they sold. Looks and sounds great --well done and a smart purchase!

Highly recommended changing all fluids because of moisture,nice machine.

General control philosophy for all heavy equipment is heavy end uphill always. Should back it on the trailer or up steep banks when there’s nothing in the bucket. Always cross chain equipment on the trailer too. If a tire goes flat the chains won’t come loose that way. Nice machine.

Josh unless you really need the tracks I would look at other options. I have owned tracks that I had on my first skid steer. They can be a lot of work putting off and on. The skid steer is more versatile without the tracks because can tear up some ground when you use them. If you're out in the pasture and spin around it will be like taking a plow to the ground. They will get you out of very messy situations, but I would weigh the pros and cons before I spend $2500 to 3k on a new set of tracks. There are plenty of other options other than tracks. Of course I have a trackloader T-300 Bobcat. I believe you got a great machine. Also if you put the tracks on that machine as small as it is. It will cut down on the useable horsepower. It will feel like you dropped ten to 15 hp with tracks on it. I would maximise what you can do without the tracks first . Just my experience and opinion. See ya Josh. I'll have a few of my FedEx Ground trucks going right close by today. Well actually everyday.

I would definitely change all the fluids and filters now mater how clean the fluids look.

Hey Josh just a heads up on the John Deere 200 series skid steers there are prone to having electrical problems with that dash panel, they can cause the machine to not start, or start but parking brake might not work along with other issues...many of those machines have had there panels replaced and when they are replace with a new one the hour meter will start at 0 again. I’m hoping that is not the case as to why yours only shows 200 hrs..if have any questions on that machine feel free to contact me I’ve have a lot of experience working on them.

Shed Kept 200 hr machines look mint. This machine has 2k hrs at least.

I have a 2003 250 series 2 model. The board up top was notorious for shorting out. When the board gets changed the hours get started at zero. The series 1 machines had some issues that got worked out but they are good machines. For the Hp they do lift more lb for lb than most of the competitors in the same hp models.

I agree with the other comment's reference the wear & tear on the tires, & exhaust. 200 hr's divided by a 40 hour work week, equals 5 weeks. The exhaust wear at the tip / end, say's something much different (much higher hour's) that a garage / barn queen.

Honestly, I think the “1” light is burned out. Probably has 1200 or 2200 hrs. Look at that exhaust tip. 2200 Hrs would be my bet.

Nice skid steer Josh, Tires are $$$$ add tire ject& run them for a while. (Looks like a great deal). Might have a new hr clock,200hrs tire? All tires worn the same? Grease & operate will tell a lot! 250 is a nice machine.

I loved the skid steer music... I have a 2005 John Deere 317 and i use it all the time love it! great deal

Nice video, i'm looking at a JD 260 2 speed, with 1100 hours, yes the hours are not correct. I replaced the instrument panel on my new holland and they'll program whatever hours you tell them. Regardless I still think you got a good deal even if it is about 2000 hours. Those tires would never wear like that on dirt or even on cement in 200 hours

Great investment Sir cause the equipment can pay for another show vehicle maybe down the road. I'm working on the same thing purchasing about 6 acres.

Around our area, you paid "going price" or maybe a little better for a skid without tracks. Throw the tracks on and you can double the price. Looks to be a quality machine though. Good buy. Idk what others are saying but in the years i've been using ours, our tires look the same and they are still going strong. Skid tires are super tough. Congratulations. A good skid steer is all you'll ever need on a cattle farm. Dont know what we would do without ours. Hate to say it but I think the tractor would have to go before our Bobcat went... Lets hope neither ever happens.

i had a john deere 260. it was a great machine for me. no real troubles. i got it with 590 hours and sold it with 2700 hours. i got $12950 for it 4 years ago. i replaced it with a john deere 318d. i think the 260 was a better unit for me. i dont think i would trust that hour meter to be true. i hope it treats you well.

That’s had the updated hour meter/gauge cluster put in it. They had problems with the old clusters so they updated them along with new wiring harness. It doesn’t keep existing hours it resets back to zero. You can also tell by the John Deere emblem on the gauge cluster that’s the new style logo they didn’t have that one in 99.

Here is my point if you have concrete and level ground they are great you have neither so around the house you will be fine other than that you have to be careful it just doesn't go up hills I have a track machine we run on 55 degree hills mowing cutting roads and clearing trees it really just comes down to what you need it for

Let me start with you got a fair deal in my opinion. I am sure it doesn't have 200hrs on it. The dashboards are in those skidsteers had many problems when they first came out so I'm sure it has been changed maybe more than once. I bought a Deere 260 with full cab, forks, snow blade and bucket 7 yrs ago with 250 hrs on the meter. The owner was extremely honest and had kept all the records of the multiple hour meter changes and told me the real hours were 1500 hrs. I knew they had problems with the dashboards burning out so I also knew that the hours wouldn't be correct anyway but at least he was honest. Good luck I have had little trouble with mine you should as well.

I have it’s little brother the 240 it’s been a good machine I picked it up for $3,500 because the auxiliary hydraulics we’re stuck in because the linkage was broke so I took a bar and manually closed the valve been using it for about 4 years now

Looks like a good machine at a good price, as someone else commented, I would do a full service on it just to be safe

If the hours are accurate, that is a smoking deal. Looking forward to videos involving machine.

Looks like a really good deal to me. I spotted an Ford F series truck in the driveway, Josh...

I just paid 13000 for a 2001 240 that is showing 1800 hours. This was the second owner, so hours aren't verified, but looking at the machine it looks to be about right.

That looks like a great buy Josh, nice machine, congratz ! In the market for a used one myself, hope I can find as good of a deal. .

Try not to use the headlights or replace with LEDs. Series 1 skidsteer are known for wiring issues. The cluster was probably replaced explains the low hours.

Nice investment, Josh. That will be my next big expenditure here at Cedar Falls Farm. I'm going slow in the process. Retired from the grind last year to enjoy farm life. Good luck up there. Enjoy the videos.

You sure got a smoking deal and a really nice piece of equipment. Some of the comments say that due to tire and bucket wear there is more than 200 hours on your machine. Well, harsh conditions will wear tires and a metal bucket out very quickly. In the area I live now the soil is sand. And the farmers here have to replace disc blades every season. I wore the blades on my hand post hole digger paper thin( in less than 20 years) and had to buy a new one . I also wore through the bucket on my loader and my box scraper. On the dairy growing up we had clay ground and it was much more forgiving. I only remember replacing disc blades on one of the discs from the time I was 4 until I was mid 20s when I moved to my own little ranch. So working conditions have a lot to do with wear also, not just hours. Have fun with your new toy. I would love a skid steer myself but here in California they are more than double that cost or a rusted pile of junk with a million hours and don't run.

Nice Machine. definitely a great deal. always liked those John Deere scissor lift machines because you have a better forward reaching position when loading full size dump trucks. Don't know if the tires on it are foam filled, but that's a sure way to avoid flats. If they are foamed tires, then you should be able to get a set of retreaded tires from a dealer near you, just take the wheels and tires off of yours, send them to the dealer, and they will have a set ready. and the nice thing is there are lots of different tread patterns that they can retread with

We have a JD 8875 skid steer and use the heck out of it!! I can't imagine life on the farm without it! Good price on yours!

Buy yourself a set of over the wheel tracks n you’ll be one happy man. Very nice unit.

Nice....tracks are the way to go for sure. Just by looking at it on video it’s not been beat on. Great score!

Looks like a great buy for you Josh. There are older machines w low hours out there. I looked for 5 years before I found the right one. Toys are nice, had to sell a few over the years as well. Good luck with the new Skid steer!

I sold my 2011 super low mileage Camaro SS to get my 2010 JD 318D and pretty happy about it so far. I never drove the Camaro and it just cost me money and took up room in the tractor bay of the shop. Way too pretty to drive on dirt/gravel roads here in Montana. I got the skid steer for snow removal mostly after getting snowed in for two weeks in Feb. of 2019. The hours on my machine was much higher at 3,700 and it needed two new tires but at $120 apiece not bad. I also got a set of chains for the rear tires that should take care of any traction issues. It came with a 72 inch bucket and an almost new plow blade that runs about 5k so happy there. Paid an additional 2k to have a JD mechanic come out and give it the once over adjusting the steering linkages, repairing the aux control which did not work, broken wire, and checking it out over all. I replaced all the fluids, filters and cleaned it all out under the operators station and engine compartment. So far no leaks! yippee Grease the livin day lights out of it, make sure to purge all grease fittings well, grease is cheap. Do all of your preoperational checks, oil, coolant and hydraulic fluid every time you use it and it should last you for many years. I think you did pretty good on it but I just can’t believe the hours.

1999 with 200hrs tires should be virtually brand new maybe just dry rot but it looks like a solid machine maybe had meter replaced, but overall nice machine and congrats on the purchase and the way you take care of equipment that thing will last a lifetime.

a friend of mine has an older bobcat from the 80s with a 4 cyl. mitsubishi gas engine it has the same control setup as your john deere. he said he would let me learn how to operate it sometime, so i can't wait for that

That is a fantastic machine for the price. Glad you got it with the grapple bucket, you'll get tons of use out of it. Hope it wasn't stolen... (fingers crossed)

Great deal

Nice! We’re hoping to add a skid steer to our place eventually. Just a tip for tires. Find a mom and pop retreader in your area, if you can. My husband owns a retread plant here. In addition to big truck tires we retread a lot of skid steer tires for our customers. It’s a huge savings, and if you use a reputable company they’ll last just as long as a brand new tire. You can also choose your tread that works best, whether it’s a turf tire, or a lug.

Hour meters can be unplugged and/or replaced, not sure I would trust the 200 hours but still think its in great shape regardless.

Wow, good find. I'm looking for a bargain like that myself. I find them but would have to go to Timbuktu to get them...I have watched your channel for quite some time. I just sold my cows [getting too old] and want to do nothing but hay. The money is in small bails, so a skid steer would be the optimal machine for gathering bales...