Track Loader For Residential Use - Am I Insane?

[marks]

Kudos, you've generated a tremendous amount of thought and insight on this topic, it seems that many of us have toyed with this idea. Such was my situation several years ago, I assessed the Bobcats and then the tracked machines - they just seemed so cool. However my pragmatic side came into play, what will meet my needs and how do the numbers crunch?

Our home's oak studded hillsides encompass seven acres, and a friend who owns and operates many pieces of heavy equipment, reviewed the situation and recommended a 30hp JD. The numbers also supported his suggestion. Considering the difference in purchase price and maintenance expenses, and then factoring in a rate of return for that difference over the expected life, and after adding the terminal value, it clearly made sense to buy the JD and rent/hire the other equipment as needed.

Hope this provides another perspective.

 

[_RaT_]

Robert, I have been fooling around with the Bobcat track loader T-190 and would really enjoy owning a T-140 (or competitor equivalent like those that Gold Country sells) After using a track loader (T-190), I am convinced that there is no compact tractor (not even my Kubota L3830 HST or my old Kubota L48) that can come close to matching the track loaders speed and to a lesser extent, it's versatility. The real asset is the stability and the pure pushing, dozer like ability of the track loader. They all load high enough (Bobcat brand) to fill a dump truck, they run forever with very little maintenance and the list of attachments is huge. All are built substantially beefier then any compact including the TLB's from Kubota and Deere. I'm with you. After owning compacts for years and doing very well with them, I find the track loaders to be the ultimate, compact dirt moving machine.