Skid Steer - Tracks or Wheels?

[Verticaltrx]

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.

 

[ovrszd]

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 .

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]

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.

 

[Hilbilly]

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.

View attachment 420031View attachment 420032View attachment 420033

I LIKE that. :thumbsup: I've often wanted something like that. Copied that pic into a folder for future projects.

 

[Hilbilly]

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.

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]

Great info. Hope to save enough for a skid steer in about a year! They are so handy!

 

[Verticaltrx]

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.

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.