Need advise

[bullwinkle]

I need some help choosing a new machine for general farm work. I currently have a Cat 226 skid loader with steel tracks and the BH30 backhoe attachment. It is a great machine and has been trouble free for 600 hours however i beleive there is a machine better suited to my use. I operate on hilly, rocky gound performing mostly road/trail work and pond /drainage repair. I understand the weight bias designed into skid loader machines but it is a handycap in hilly terrain. I have to fill the bucket anytime I want to travel up a hill. Backing up is not an option due to the length of the hills. I have noticed machines that have a longer wheelbase. How much difference does it make with a longer machine? Are there any machines that perform better on hills? Do the CTLs perform better? I watched an operator drive a large New Holland ctl up an incline forward that I dont think I could have backed up. I prefer tires and metal tracks do do working in creeks and being on rock all the time but would consider rubber tracks. Last night I was looking online at the Rayco crawler with loader. That seems to be a better design for what I want to use it for however there are very few choices with that type machine. I would like to have a small dozer but the weight is too great because I do move the machine several times a year. Size is not an issue because I do not run machine in cramped areas. I would also like a machine with a little more lift capacity. I am looking to buy late modle used. Thanks in advance for any thoughts from anyone with knowledge/experience in the matter.

 

[sdkubota]

Remember that skid steers are relatively stable on cross slopes with a low CG. Tractors on the other hand have their CG pretty high so are much less stable. I used to work in construction and to me it sounds like you currently have the best equipment for what you want to do. Loading up the bucket for counter weight doesn't seem like much of a problem to me. Dozers are slow and track maintenance is extremely expensive. They definately have an advantage in certain environments but skid steers are pretty nimble, versatile, and there are endless attachments.