Comparison compact tractor versus skid loader

[horbaczewski]

I'm trying to determine whether I should be buying a skid loader or compact tractor.

My chores will be light tilling of about ten acres.
Moving hay for a few sheep, goats etc.
Grading and re-grading about 500 feet of driveway
moving tree stumpa and clearing brush
snow removal
general small farm chores

All these things to be done on very hilly land in SW Wisconsin

Ive been looking at the 33 hp fwd from the usual suspects.
any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[thcri]

I think the majority of the above could be done with either. But I personnally think you would like the tractor better and believe it to be more universal. Some of the items you may run into may require a PTO. Now I haven't been around any skid steers for a while but I don't think they have a PTO. Usually they run everythingn off hydraulics.

murph

 

[MrJoe]

I recently visited a small horse farm here in Ct. that just sold their Kubota for a skid steer, better utility. The "very hilly" part of your post could make conventional tractor use a bit dicey. Don't give up on the skid steer idea, the attachments available are amazing /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I have operated several on job sites, those things can do unbelievable work. You could also rent one for a week or month, that would be hard to do with a tractor. With the roll cages they have, the operator is almost invunerable /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif Skid steers can spin in their own space, are compact and there is plenty of used equipment available for them. They also have different steering and drive systems, talk to a dealer or rental service.

 

[RedRocker]

ASV makes a pretty nice skid steer with rubber tracks. The big drawback I've found is the cost of the attachments.

 

[gray]

My 2 cents.

I had an occasion to do some small farm and yard work on a skid steer and a tractor last summer in Wisconsin. I got the skid steer stuck 2 times in areas where I could run a 4 wheel drive with ease. In fact I used the truck to pull the skid steer out once and the tractor the second time. No, it was not due to foolish actions just bad clearances and damp ground vegitation. The tractor was then used for the rest of the work and it never suffered from any traction issue. I liked the turning and power of the skid steer but so what. If you can't do the work it is no good to me.

Given my experiences this is my take.

Skid steer for good ground and heavy lifting tight spots.
Tractor for most all around ground work.
Track loader for sloppy ground tight spots and heavy lifting.

I priced a few attachments and the tractor ones are far less. The tractor also had a BH on it with a Loader at the same time which is very nice compared to the skid steer.

 

[aondre]

I have both and if I had to choose one for around the house/farm I would choose the utility tractor. I think they are a little more versitile and the cost of ownership after attachments makes it less expensive. Also, my skidsteers do not perform that well in our Wisconsin snow and ice.

The only condition would be that the tractor have at least 35 HP.