Should I get a skid steer or a tractor

Panzer6018 · Mar 22, 2021

Hello, I have around 34 acres that got burnt in a fire and so I do a lot of tree work and clearing. My old tractor had problems and we had to sell it and now I'm looking for something new to me. It was 23 hp. It was able to do most things I needed to but barely. I have run into a problem determining if I should get a skid steer or just a tractor but bigger. I ran into a bobcat 743 and I was wondering if they are reliable and if it could fit my application. Thanks

newbury · Mar 22, 2021

I was that way in 2009. I was about to get a skid steer. Eddie Walker recommended I go with a tractor. I"m glad he did. Skid steers are a little task specific.

Rustyiron · Mar 22, 2021

That's a good way to put it newbury

There is some "overlap" but I think that the tractor has the better skillset for your clean up. I have always had one of each, the tractor will get around better in the woods and has better visibility, at least while backing up. Digging, loading and grading the SS wins.

ning · Mar 22, 2021

Tractors are swiss army knives; skids are considerably more specialized.

A huge factor in this question will be the topography of your land. If it's completely flat and not particularly rocky, a skid may work very well for you. When I was asking similar questions a few years back, I saw the huge capabilities of the skid steers and was like "wow I want a skid" but then I realized that with my somewhat hilly land and large rocks sticking out of the ground, I'd have trouble doing things I need to do without getting hung up or tipping over.

Now a track steer... with high flow... wow. I want one. In addition to the tractor. But I don't have the projects that need me to actually own one, so I just occasionally rent one... or hire someone to do it right!

crashz · Mar 22, 2021

First - the 743s are a smaller skid steer, but very reliable, relatively easy to fix (for a SS) and parts are plentiful. I had a 753 and it was a work horse when I needed it. These models are really the icon of the old Bobcat skidsteers.

Problem was, it was never the right tool for me. The hills in NY were too steep and it was very unstable on a grade. It would easily get stuck and the biggest of all reasons: as a one man show, I routinely need to get out of the cab to hook something up. Not safe at all with a SS and the boom raised.

I traded it for my Kubota and couldn't be happier. And frankly my small tractor loader is at least 95% as strong and capable as the 753. Grading takes a little more finesse.

The best option though is to try them both out. Many tractor dealers sell both and offer both in a rental fleet. Then you 'll have a feel for what each can do and your learning curve.

Texasmark · Mar 22, 2021

In short, SS dig in the dirt or piles of "stuff". Tractors do it all.

Jchonline · Mar 22, 2021

Tractors do it all, but they wont be as good as a SS at moving dirt (which is what a SS is awesome at). Tractors arent as maneuverable/agile. Tractors are pullers, not really pushers. Very different machines to me.

That said if you have a ton of trees, a SS isnt going to be much help either unless you get a massive one (100HP or so) and have a forestry mulched. SS are not made for clearing land with trees. That is work for a large excavator. My advice since this is the only task you mentioned in your original post, is to hire it out or rent big iron and do it yourself if you are qualified.

Now if you have a bunch of other tasks we should know about please do share

buck12 · Mar 22, 2021

Two years ago I was looking at getting a tracked skid steer to go along with my 26 hp tractor. After talking to a friend that has operated equipment all his life and one time was a JD mechanic I decided just to get a bigger tractor.

His advice was that I needed to plan on plenty of high cost repairs if I bought a used tracked skid steer. He said there is a reason most operators lease not buy tracked skid steers.

Panzer6018 · Mar 22, 2021

Thank you guys. I am pretty much past the big trees and steep land now, more into smaller here and there stuff, and I like how many different attachments you can get for skidsteers.

Panzer6018 · Mar 22, 2021

Also do a lot of dirtbiek track building, which I'm guessing a ss is better for dirt work. I don't have lots of rocks around the property, I have pretty nice dirt here but I definitely have some slope here and there.