Skidder or Tractor? If you could only have one.

[BackRoad]

Magic would be a mid-size tractor with high flow hydraulics at the front to enable use of skidsteer mulchers and mowers on the tractor.

 

[RayIN]

Skid steer will do everything a tractor will do. It just costs three or four times as much to do it.
Really though, there are things the skid steer is better suited for. But the ones that always say "you should get a skid steer" are either very well off and can afford the extra cost or they can't afford to pay attention and just want you to think they have all the answers.

I'd like to watch a skid-steer owner plow 30A with 3-pt hitch mounted 2-14's; my MF135 has no problem with that.

 

[hayden]

A skidsteer is a really good construction site machine. Quick, maneuverable, lots of loader capacity, lots of hydraulic capacity, and lot of different implements you can buy.

But off of a hard packed, level construction site, I think they kinda suck. They will rip up any soft or finished surface, have crappy ground clearance, and can't operate across any sort of rough terrain. You have great visibility of the bucket, but in all other directions it sucks. Plus getting in and out of it is problematic under various conditions. Yes, you can put a field mower on the front, but I think a 3PH field mower is better.

I manage a pretty big property and have a variety of equipment, but no desire at all for a skid steer. But if I were working on construction sites all the time, I'd probably want one.

 

[Sportsman762]

Looks like I underestimated my L218's capability.

"The New Holland L218 skid steer loader has a lift capacity of 1800 lbs (818 kg) at 50% tipping load. The tipping load for this model is 3600 lbs (1633 kg). It also has a lift height of 10 ft (3.05 meters)."
Then again, I also underestimated the tractor's.

"The Kubota M6040 tractor's loader can lift up to 2,640 lbs at full height with the lift arms at the pivot pin. At 24 inches forward from the pivot pin, the lift capacity is 3,307 lbs. The breakout force at ground level at the pivot pin is 4,310 lbs."

And if the numbers I found are correct, the tractor also beats the skid steer by six inches in lift height. No wonder I like my tractor.

The numbers depend on how you look at it. If your M6040 tractor is ballasted correctly it can lift 2,640 before the hydraulics prevent more lift. Your skidsteer's hydraulics can lift 3600 lbs, but it will tip on level ground. If your on uneven ground or try to turn it will tip with less. I used a 2000 lb cap skidsteer (4000 tip) to frequently unload 3850 lb pallets of cement at an old job. It could do it, but I had to unload from the downhill side (very minor slope) of the trailer or the skidsteer would tip. However if I tried to turn or stop to fast the skisteer would tip. With a tractor I could have driven without tipping if it was ballasted correctly. The skidsteer rated load is good for most situations on ground that is not terribly steep. Your skidsteer at rated load should be able to go everywhere your tractor at rated load can. This is what makes comparing skidsteer vs tractor loads so odd.

Another situation is when moving long loads (2000 lbs of 21' steel pipe) a tractor is more stable due to its ability to keep all 4 wheels on the ground. Skidsteers have a tendency to move abruptly when transitioning a bump at a diagonal as they weight transfers from the solidly mounted wheels. Had a few times the wheels on one side would tip up due to the teeter totter affect of a skidsteer. I would have to lower the boom quick until the pipes hit the ground to keep from going over, With a tractor I never had that issue.

Overall I prefer a tractor to a skidsteer for versatility. However both have their place. For most rural lifestyle folks a tractor is a more versatile option.

 

[CliffordK]

Magic would be a mid-size tractor with high flow hydraulics at the front to enable use of skidsteer mulchers and mowers on the tractor.

PTO hydraulic power units are available. Often married to things like mowers. But, one could get one, and convert it to rear ballast, and use front skidsteer implements.

Everything depends on one's needs. One of my quests is to mow blackberries that grow in places I don't like to drive my tractor. Thus I am starting to use tracked tractors.

I've hit as high as about a 45° slope. Not fun, but it works, and I'm not taking my Ford there. I'll have another one running shortly that is more dozer like with a more substantial cage.

 

[ptsg]

Magic would be a mid-size tractor with high flow hydraulics at the front to enable use of skidsteer mulchers and mowers on the tractor.

Or just buy a tractor with reversible operators platform and take full advantage of a mechanical PTO capable of delivering most of the HP out the engine, instead of going hydraulic, losing a bunch of performance due to inefficiencies and heat.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Thus I am starting to use tracked tractors.

Dang, you are running that machine with the tracks VERY tight. That's really hard on the undercarriage and robs power.

SR

 

[Mike_BS_WV]

After running a CUT for 20 years I have to agree with BackRoad on the ideal machine. It all depends on what work you need to do on a regular basis. (An occasional rental can be justified.) My NH TC35D didn't shine when I wanted more lift in the FEL, but those time were few and far between. Having the verticality of quick change plate on the FEL and decent hydraulics on the rear 3pt hitch did it for me though. (Also, extra hydraulic lines to the FEL when I needed to change over to an 3 in 1 bucket.)

 

[CoyPatton]

G'mornin.
I get asked when I will buy a skidder, usually by skidder folk. I say never and that I don't need one cuz of my tractor w/FEL and they look confused. Or wounded?
While I realize that seeing the cutting edge would be a huge advantage, I feel that a tractor is far better for rural living.
Your opinions??

In my opinion, it all depends in your needs, there are mini skid steers that have lift capacity that exceeds the lift capacity of most compact tractors and then full size skid steers will have capacity competing with fairly large tractors. Not to mention the tightness of the turning ability of any skid steer over any tractor (even with split brakes).
Personally, I own a compact tractor, which aligns closely with my needs, on the few occasions I need a skid steer (tractor just can’t do the job) ir the job is big enough that using the tractor just doesn’t make sense, then I rent. If I needed a skid steer on a regular basis, I might purchase one, would I keep a tractor also? For me probably—my tractor is mine (no payment) so buying more expensive implements (hydraulic powered) likely means financially I will keep the tractor.

 

[neilpaku]

THought a "skidder" was a logging machine (by definition) for dragging logs out of forrest.... Why would you need one for "ranch" work.... For any skidding work on my property my "tractor" does just fine....

That was my reaction too, having spent a lot of time on a skidder, in which it's usually not possible to see the cutting edge; just the rear of the blade. But.... a skidder is purpose-built for skidding logs so it would be ideal for the poster's scenario. But if he meant skidsteer, then the question would come into what the terrain was like, the size of the logs, etc. etc. A skidsteer would not be even in my top ten of choices for pulling logs out of a forest