Heavy Equipment Comparison Tracked vs Wheeled Skid Steer.

Tracked or Wheeled skid loader. Which is better? We cover a variety of options and discuss the pro's and cons of each. Tires, dedicated tracks, steel tracks or over the tire rubber tracks. Learn it all.

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[adrenalineonline]

Thank you for your knowledge. I now know that the wheeled version is what I require for grading my driveway.

[cg]

Thanks for a no BS video and for talking about price points. Great video!

[artk]

Great advise. Thank You. I bought a set of steel tracks (over tire) and had great luck with them. They were about half the price of rubber over tire tracks. You have to get them very tight because they loosen up and start smacking you machine. When you hear that you have to stop and tighten it again. After once or twice it's good to go and you don't have to tighten it again unless you remove/replace. Caution, they are hard to load on a deck over trailer. tends to slide and could be dangerous. I load in a dump trailer so never had any trouble.

Also the tires can spin inside the tracks, but that usually means they are a little loose. Or you might be asking it to do too much. Try a different angle or take less of a bite.

In all, I'm very happy with the steel tracks I bought 2 years ago.

[joeianazone]

Love ur videos!! Very informative and helped me get started about 5 years ago. The only thing I wanted to add to ur video is that tracks do not cost $2000 per side. Last winter before my original tracks wore out I wanted to buy a more universal rubber track for my 2012 T-190, I need to buy studs for the original tracks that are terrible on ice. But with studs I could push more snow then a wheel machine. Now my new camoso tracks on sale for $815 each side, out perform my original tracks with studs. No studs needed for the new tracks and no scratch marks left behind. From running equivalent machines both wheeled and tracked, new tracks on a CTL make a world of a difference. For an all season machine, for me at least, the T-190 is the perfect choice!! I don't like the original "C" pattern tracks but once replaced it turns that machine into a true powerhouse!! But I love ur videos please keep posting! And please don't take this comment badly, it's just what I wanted to add. Thank u and again!! Ur awesome!!

[adzythepwcblokeinaustralia]

Spot on correct in your views, I had a 743 that I had steel tracks for working in sand. The tracks worked very well but it was really tough on the machine and the sand wears out the tracks fast . Tyres are cheap and I replace them every 12 mths if required. My S130 has never had tracks put on it as I avoid it and use a T190 if its soft or sandy or muddy . Use the right machine and save

[adzythepwcblokeinaustralia]

You speak wisdom my friend, after 28yrs being a self employed bobcat operator your experience mirrors mine in what works best .

[daviddean]

$900/EA for rubber tracks for my ASV that will last 1100-1300 hours depending... How LONG DO YOUR TRIES LAST?? and how much will you spend getting unstuck?

[thomasshirley]

Excllent advice i agree 100% i bought a case wheel skid steer a couple years ago thank you so much for the tips. God Bless you

[Dirtbug]

What skid steer to buy??? which ever one has the best product support locally. The best machine is the one you can pay for and maintain. I live and work in central Oregon...Lava rock everywhere 18inch average depth of soil. Bobcat and Cat is popular in this area. Im a Bobcat fan although I have 1999 daewoo 601 and Bobcat S205. Daewoo is an odd duck but the most easy simple machine to work on. I only use "tires". Our material is mostly sandy loam w/no clay or solid lava rock humps. Nice to work in even when wet. The ground here "chews" up Tracks and Tires evenly but it seems Tracked skid steers are becoming more the norm with "younger" excavators. I will only buy wheeled skid steers...old fashion. We try to use skid steers only in hauled in dirt or gravel...try to keep them off rocky ground..which we have a lot of. I have been in excavation business in this area for 30 yrs, still a small company, easier for me. The bottom line...each "good operator" develops their own Technic on how to use each piece of equipment correctly w/out destroying it in their local conditions.

[Goatguy]

It’s so weird watching your old videos

[stoneyaragon]

Question, which is better for the woods. What does more damage to the ground turning, tracks or tires. Do some work in hayfield where the hay has just been cut. Hope you can help thanks.

[irisgg]

love watching the shows the information. i dont wanna sound rude i kinda already knew this but there was way more stuff i needed to know and man appreciate youre videos keep them coming!

[timhagan]

Well put, we use a T190 track model for grading and most landscape jobs.  Wheels for demo and the hardscape areas.
Thanks for the Video!

[Jimo]

i like wheeled ones because i get the 2" thick tread and you can drive those on pavement in the hot summer and still get them to last for 5 years with commercial use. They last another year after the tread is all the way down

[davidrehaluk]

We always spray driveways with water and we have sheets of puckboard for wet yards we would tear up the lawn with tracks. But we have rented a track machine to drive on the beach

[nushg]

Stan, I want to say thank you for the honest, excellent knowledge you have given to us as a new business just starting up with heavy machinery. I have a new S570 seeking rubber OTT tracks. Any particular set you recommend for working on lawns? Thx

[richardcrouse]

Thanks for your videos, I've learned alot! Want to get done with the railroad and work for myself. Right now I clean a couple Walmart parking lots!

[Oldbutschooled]

Just curious, what brand and model of mini ex would you recommend ?

[JoshuaZiesmer]

all of the tracked loaders I've used had a higher tipping limit, and generally more stable, but also noticeably wider than their wheeled siblings.

[jamespayne]

I'm approaching 4k hours on ctl's, mostly Takeuchi, 300+ on Bobcat and while I've run the skid steer loaders some, you couldn't run fast enough to sell me one. If I need wheels, it needs to steer conventionally or by pivot like some small articulated loaders. If I have to work on asphalt much, I prefer a ton. Off-road, give me the tracks every time. As far as throwing tracks, I adjust tension for conditions, haven't lost one yet. As far as wear, not all tracks are created equal. Best replacements I've seen yet come from our local Komatsu dealer. Liked them so good, put a set on my Cat 304cr.