New 17" all season tracks for my mustang are $3000, should last at least 1500 hrs. Tires are $250-300 for comparable machine. Might last as long but probably not. To me maintenance cost are a bit higher, but productivity is a lot higher, especially with bush work
Skid Steer - Tracks or Wheels?
- Thread starter Hilbilly
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The decision has been made and I ended up with a 1999 Bobcat 763 with pretty bald tires. Even with the bald tires it's not as bad as I expected but can definitely see where tracks would be much better. There were a few times today, in the bush, that I struggled to get through a small dip or over some roots and I'm positive that with OTT's or a CTL it would have been a non issue.
If I find this was the wrong choice I can either add some OTT's, get new tires or sell this and spend more money for a CTL. I'm still trying to figure out if this is what I really want.
I just about flipped the thing over backwards today. I've had it up on 2 wheels many times but this time I was climbing something a little too steep and had the bucket up a little too far and hit a bump. I could feel it starting to go over and pulled back on the motion levers to save myself. I now travel with the bucket lower.
If I find this was the wrong choice I can either add some OTT's, get new tires or sell this and spend more money for a CTL. I'm still trying to figure out if this is what I really want.
I just about flipped the thing over backwards today. I've had it up on 2 wheels many times but this time I was climbing something a little too steep and had the bucket up a little too far and hit a bump. I could feel it starting to go over and pulled back on the motion levers to save myself. I now travel with the bucket lower.
ovrszd
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You'll have a few of those OMG moments until you get used to it.
I think you'll really enjoy using it once you get accustomed to everything. Then as your technical skills get better you'll figure out whether you need tracks or not.
Congrats on the purchase. Course, no pictures, no purchase.
I think you'll really enjoy using it once you get accustomed to everything. Then as your technical skills get better you'll figure out whether you need tracks or not.
Congrats on the purchase. Course, no pictures, no purchase.
Rustyiron
Super Member
Happy day!
Look onto a good heavy tooth bar or a tooth bucket, you'll wonder why they even make smooth buckets.
Look onto a good heavy tooth bar or a tooth bucket, you'll wonder why they even make smooth buckets.
ovrszd
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Good looking Cat Hillbilly. Congrats.
Good advice. I bought a used 6' toothed LowPro Bobcat bucket to make my Grapple with. I paid $600 for it. I rarely use my Kubota smooth bucket.
ovrszd
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I don't know if you have brush/trees to deal with, but if you do, here's another build project. Very, very handy on a SS. You can see what you are doing so much better than on a tractor FEL.
Sprinklerman
Platinum Member
I had a bobcat 753 , wheeled , it worked , but I didnt like it . I used my buddies tracked bobcat , night and day difference . I wanted one , But couldnt justify the price . Sold the 753 and bought a New Holland tractor . I have put more hours on the tractor in 4 months than I did on the bobcat in 3 years .
Verticaltrx
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Looks like a good choice. I've run many 753's and 763's back in the day and they are solid machines. For what you are doing the 763 is a much better choice than a 753. The 753 with its super short wheelbase is mainly intended for hard surface/flat ground work. I have a Case 1845C and use it for everything from heavy excavating to finish grading, loading logs onto trucks and the sawmill, moving pallets of stuff, drilling post holes, cutting in and building roads, clearing land etc. I'm sure the tracked machines are more capable, but I can get an awful lot of work done with my wheeled skid steer.
A few tips:
Get new tires, the deeper the tread the better if your are mostly in soft stuff (it will make a big difference in pushing power and not getting stuck)
Get a low-profile excavating bucket with teeth or tooth bar for your current bucket, it'll turn it into a real digging and dirt moving machine
Bobcats have a little different weight bias than other machines which makes them light on the front end. If you don't already have them get the weights that go on the front axle, maybe even fluid fill the tires. This will help going up hills and with digging. That was my one gripe with Bobcat machines was the light front end.
If you are cautions you can navigate some pretty steep grades with a skid steer, keep the heavy end up hill when going up or down (this could be the back or front depending on if you are loaded or empty). Most skid steers I've run are pretty stable on side hills.
Don't get over-the-tire tracks unless you really need them. They are hard on the drivetrain and take a bit of power to run. If you need them only use them when you need them and you'll prolong the life of your machine.
Good luck and action pics are always welcome.
A few tips:
Get new tires, the deeper the tread the better if your are mostly in soft stuff (it will make a big difference in pushing power and not getting stuck)
Get a low-profile excavating bucket with teeth or tooth bar for your current bucket, it'll turn it into a real digging and dirt moving machine
Bobcats have a little different weight bias than other machines which makes them light on the front end. If you don't already have them get the weights that go on the front axle, maybe even fluid fill the tires. This will help going up hills and with digging. That was my one gripe with Bobcat machines was the light front end.
If you are cautions you can navigate some pretty steep grades with a skid steer, keep the heavy end up hill when going up or down (this could be the back or front depending on if you are loaded or empty). Most skid steers I've run are pretty stable on side hills.
Don't get over-the-tire tracks unless you really need them. They are hard on the drivetrain and take a bit of power to run. If you need them only use them when you need them and you'll prolong the life of your machine.
Good luck and action pics are always welcome.
ovrszd
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Very good points. That's how I was with my Brother's Bobcat T300. Loved that machine for specific tasks. In those situations it would outwork 3 tractors. When he sold his equipment it brought $26,000. No way I could justify that cost for the small number of hours I'd use it per year. Wish I could, but can't
Fastowl
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I have an S650 with about 750 hours on it. Got it new a few years ago with foam filled tires. The extra weight in the tires helps out on the balancing a bit as well as lift limit. I run it in the Texas Hill country over rocky terrain and lots of pokey stuff like mesquite that are tough on tires with air. Anyway I figure I have about another 250-350 hours at least before I replace the tires. When I checked at the dealer it was going to set me back about $2k for replacements that are foam filled. A bit of a rougher ride with the tires set up this way but necessary in the field. I had thought about the track types but couldn't justify the cost for my use. If you start having a number of flats out in the field you may want to consider getting them filled. I had been contemplating going with solid tires when I replace the current set as I heard they last a bit longer then regular and better ride than foam filled but my dealer cautioned that they can be very tough on parts of the drive assembly and although they like the business of repairing the machines he told me a few months ago that he couldn't recommend them, but YMMV.
Lots of great info and thanks. I too find the machine a little unbalanced going up hill forwards but don't relish the thought of going up backwards because of the lack of visibility. I prefer my tractor for going up and down hills but it's not the right machine in the bush. The SS is more stable on side hills though. My SS doesn't have wheel weights and I will look into those. I also got a quote from a local after market dealer for a set of 4 tires for $750 C. I doubt they are very good quality and before I buy I will check with others on this forum to see if they've had any experience with those brands.
nch209
Bronze Member
Great info. Hope to save enough for a skid steer in about a year! They are so handy!
Verticaltrx
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I have Samson brand tires on my Case, they were about $800 for 12-16.5 (which are larger than what your machine uses). They were what I could afford at the time and have been doing well for the past year/200hrs. As for the weights, you'll need to get them from the Bobcat dealer. They aren't wheel weights, but weights that clip around the front axle tubes next to the body of the machine.
