Tractor or Skid Steer - An age old debate

[TriCountyLawn]

I know the answer is BOTH, however im looking in the 13k -19k. Now this price range doesnt get ya as much skid steer as tractor however I know that with a skid steer I can do enough work to make the payment in that price range. Ive seen some T190's w/ 1700 -2300 hrs that have seemed like a tight machine. Also have seen some nice S175's but I would think tracks would be the way to go.

More or less I want to be able to grab logs and throw them into a 14' dump trailer. This will also give me the option to mill some of these red oaks that ive been cutting up. Or at least get the wood to my shop where I would rather be cuttin and splittin anyways.

What do ya guys think. Im going to drive myself nuts thinking this one over.

 

[hydro2]

I have a John Deere 240 and 300 acres. I use the skidloader to maintain my roads, but I don't often use it for cutting firewood. I would like to have a tractor to drag logs, but not enough that I would sell my skidloader. I can do too much dirt work with it. I may be wrong and perhaps a 4 wheel drive tractor would do dirt work and do it fast. I just think a tractor would be great for pulling a wood trailer and skidding logs.

 

[grandpatractor]

It all depends on how you log. My opinion, rubber track would get tore up logging. We use a 260 deere with a grapple and steel tracks. The tracks will chew up and break most of the 3" and under sticks. I like the skid steer because then the logs stay cleaner that dragging on the ground. I log with my bro's and we use the 260 to pick up and drag trees out of other brush when needed. Or to pick up and hold the tree in the air while another cuts it up. A tractor will work better for dragging out longer logs tho. We cut most of our logs into 14 footers.

 

[hydro2]

I have steel tracks for mine. I do use it, but find it a pain to load and tie down and I don't like towing my trailer in the winter. The snow and ice rip the elec. brake wires loose on my trailer. If I had a 20 some hp tractor, I could haul it on my smaller trailer. I usually take it to my property (3 miles from home) a few weekends in the Fall and skid load to the access roads. If I could leave it on my prop. I would use it much more. If I would leave it, the kids on 4 wheelers would destroy it for sure.

 

[grandpatractor]

I have steel tracks for mine. I do use it, but find it a pain to load and tie down and I don't like towing my trailer in the winter. The snow and ice rip the elec. brake wires loose on my trailer. If I had a 20 some hp tractor, I could haul it on my smaller trailer. I usually take it to my property (3 miles from home) a few weekends in the Fall and skid load to the access roads. If I could leave it on my prop. I would use it much more. If I would leave it, the kids on 4 wheelers would destroy it for sure.

What brand of tracks do you have?

 

[hydro2]

Loegering I really like them. They make a big big difference. I sometimes run chains if it is not too wet when using it to log.

 

[gink595]

I'd go with Skidsteer and grapple bucket, I agree with grandpatractor, the logs stay cleaner and you don't have to move out of your seat to "hook" them up. Plus you can rent or buy anything imaginable, attachment wise if you ever want to do something other than logging with the SS. Plus the speed and agility of the SS, you can get a lot of work done fast.

 

[kruege84]

I'd go with Skidsteer and grapple bucket, I agree with grandpatractor, the logs stay cleaner and you don't have to move out of your seat to "hook" them up. Plus you can rent or buy anything imaginable, attachment wise if you ever want to do something other than logging with the SS. Plus the speed and agility of the SS, you can get a lot of work done fast.

You forgot the part about them being more fun too!!

 

[gink595]

You forgot the part about them being more fun too!!

Your right!! I figured that was a given One thing more, buy a SS with the suspension seat, or buy a kidney belt!!

 

[czar800]

Get Both!!

That's tough If I only had to pick one I would really look at what type of other work it would be doing. Do you have a need for a PTO or drive it far, You can put a grapple on a front loader... To me it all what type of work you need to do.

 

[gink595]

Now this price range doesnt get ya as much skid steer as tractor however I know that with a skid steer I can do enough work to make the payment in that price range. Ive seen some T190's w/ 1700 -2300 hrs that have seemed like a tight machine. Also have seen some nice S175's but I would think tracks would be the way to go.

I think you could find a real nice Skid for your projected $$ range. I bought mine a 773 Bobcat with 860hrs on it for around 14,500. That included a enclosed cab with heat no air and overall really clean machine. A guy down the raod from me has a S175 (773 brother, new model name) w/ 175 hrs for 17,000. czar has a point also with a grapple on the tractor, but you can also get a 3pt. attachment with a hydrallic motor driven PTO shaft, so......

 

[sawinredneck]

This is like splitting hairs!! The SS is going to be faster and more compact, but a lot less stable. I wouldn't reccomend the rubber tracks for logging, they tear rather easy, and are VERY expensive to replace. If you can figure out how to jack it up and have another means of lifting the tracks you can do it a home, BUT.................
SS's are a LOT heavier as well. I am parial to Bobcats, as I used to work on them, but I think if I were to buy new I would go with the New Holland L120, they are selling them new around here for $24k.

Now a Compact Utility tractor (CUT) on the other hand, is larger and not as manuverable, but they are a lot easier to drive now days. Look at a hydro unit, it's a matter of choosing a gear then rocking the pedal foreward or backwards to move it. The implements will be less than half price for a CUT and three point setups are sold EVERYWHERE!!! Price a brushhog for a CUT then call around for one for a skidsteer! And with the prices of some of these new CUT's, you can get a lot for you're money, which means more implements/versatility. And you can easily get a grappe bucket for the CUT to do the same thing.

Which is better? I have no idea, for what you want I think a CUT is the way to go, you don't have the lift capacity of the SS, but a lot less weight to haul around.
The SS will be a LOT faster and more manuverable, but at the cost of stablity and loss of vision.
As for cost, you get a lot more bang for buck from a CUT, but a very fast, compact and agile workhorse from a SS. But if you are not going to be working in confined areas, the comactness of the SS really isn't needed.
I've tried to highlight the good and bad of both, I hope tha helps a bit.

 

[TriCountyLawn]

Im starting to lean towards an S175 and getting some tracks for it so that I would have the option of using it for snow removal however, then I would need to look into somthing that is 2 speed (for snowplowing). Also I really want something with joystick controlls (ala cat,asv) I dont know what year bobcat started using them in there machines. Im really leaning against the tractor at this point.



I just want to spend alot less time getting the wood on sites. And it seems like a skid steer is the way to do that with the lift cap. I would rather have a tractor for grading,mowing and that stuff. And I really like the roomy cab of tractor.

 

[sawinredneck]

If you want something that is "like" Cat or ASV, get the Cat or ASV, I think the Bobcat joystick controls SUCK!

 

[gink595]

If you want something that is "like" Cat or ASV, get the Cat or ASV, I think the Bobcat joystick controls SUCK!

I think all joysticks suck, foot pedals baby!!!

 

[gink595]

With all my sarcasim I forgot to post what I intended, I think the joysticks arrived in the Bobcats in 01, 02.

 

[HEAVY FUEL]

You mean we don't have a poll for this????????????:jawdrop:

 

[Garfield]

Bobcat issues

I had an 1840 Case and had no work done on it but changing the oil etc. I got a T190 and spent a few thousand dollars over the course of a year. I sold it. My brother got an 873 and spent money hand over fist. I replaced the T190 with an 1845C Case and have fixed nothing. Be sure and run a track machine if you are going to get one. They are rough and will not plow snow nearly as well as any wheel machine. As far as two speed goes it'd be nice but most people out there plowing get along fine without it. Based on my experience I would recommend a used Wheel machine, anything but bobcat......whatever dealer is nearby and decent. As a side note the Bobcat dealer was truly excellent. To me it is great marketing. The Apple computer was better than the IBM and VHS is better than VCR....and the rest is history.

 

[chrispy6822]

VHS is better than VCR....

Think you meant Beta was better then VHS.

 

[gink595]

I had an 1840 Case and had no work done on it but changing the oil etc. I got a T190 and spent a few thousand dollars over the course of a year. I sold it. My brother got an 873 and spent money hand over fist. I replaced the T190 with an 1845C Case and have fixed nothing. Be sure and run a track machine if you are going to get one. They are rough and will not plow snow nearly as well as any wheel machine. As far as two speed goes it'd be nice but most people out there plowing get along fine without it. Based on my experience I would recommend a used Wheel machine, anything but bobcat......whatever dealer is nearby and decent. As a side note the Bobcat dealer was truly excellent. To me it is great marketing. The Apple computer was better than the IBM and VHS is better than VCR....and the rest is history.

What kind of problems did you have with your BCat's? Were they new machines or one's that had had the weenie stuck to em? I think alot of machines in general get bad rep's due to people buying well used equipment and then they are the ones having to foot the bill because the machine has a few thousand hours on it and never maintainenced? I'm not saying that in your case but just curious to the circumstances you had?