Tractor vs. Skid steer vs. Dozer

[ferrari99]

I am not looking to buy a tractor but I think this is an interesting comparison for discussion. , If you wanted a 4in1 bucket, slasher, rotovator and post hole digger. And you wanted to be able to clear trees/brush up to 8" round in reasonable rough and rocky country. What would you get, Tractor (with a loader and three point linkage), Skid steer, Dozer (with a loader and three point linkage).

 

[TSO]

Trac-loader. That's what I'd get if I didn't need the rear pto shaft for anything... that, and if I was wealthy enough to afford the higher priced skid steer implements.

Or .... a strong compact tractor with good hydraulics.

 

[firetuck]

In my experience in farming and excavating there isn't a 'one-size (or type) fits-all' machine for what you want to do.
Clearing, especially in trees/brush, rough and rocky terrain, is dozer work. A tracked SS might be able to work it out in time but a dozer is the machine. You have to remember they're slow to move over any distance and require trucking any time there's a road. I can't go next-door to plow the neighbors snow with a dozer.
Tractors are slow and ungainly when compared to dozers or skid steers. They take a LOT more room to maneuver and just aren't as 'quick' to operate. With the sole exception of ground-engaging (plowing, harrowing, tilling) equipment, the SS will not only outperform the tractor, it has more attachments that it will work with.
For most all other work and to offer the versatility you're looking for with other attachments, the skid steer is the way to go.
My dozer's gone, my tractor's gone but my skid steer is ready to do more at the turn of a key.

 

[ferrari99]

What about machine and implement cost? And SS ground clearance and traction?

 

[Xfaxman]

I am not looking to buy a tractor but I think this is an interesting comparison for discussion. , If you wanted a 4in1 bucket, slasher, rotovator and post hole digger. And you wanted to be able to clear trees/brush up to 8" round in reasonable rough and rocky country. What would you get, Tractor (with a loader and three point linkage), Skid steer, Dozer (with a loader and three point linkage).

This compact telehandler will do it all. It does cost more, but it's worth it. :thumbsup:

It is only 6' wide, 6.5' high, 13' long, very stable on side hills and "unstuckable".

Click for more pictures: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/buying-pricing-comparisons/296853-dozer-skid-steer.html

 

[newbury]

I am not looking to buy a tractor but I think this is an interesting comparison for discussion. , If you wanted a 4in1 bucket, slasher, rotovator and post hole digger. And you wanted to be able to clear trees/brush up to 8" round in reasonable rough and rocky country. What would you get, Tractor (with a loader and three point linkage), Skid steer, Dozer (with a loader and three point linkage).

For those LIMITED tasks a SS would be best. A tractor is just an engine on wheels (usually), ready to take on most any task with the appropriate attachment. Because of it's relatively long history there are more attachments generally available.

 

[firetuck]

What about machine and implement cost? And SS ground clearance and traction?

You get what you pay for and have to be willing to pay for what you want. As for the SS versus tractor cost, you have to look at what you're getting. A relatively small SS (new) will probably cost more than a somewhat comparable tractor. A 60-75 hp SS will probably cost more than a 40-50 hp tractor.
A tractor will probably have greater ground clearance but, if you're steeple-chasing with it, or mud-bogging, you're using the wrong equipment for the wrong thing anyway.
Implements cost will be fairly comparable since the attachment of them is the key difference - three-point versus loader-quick-mount. And consider that all of the SS implements attach up front so you don't have the chiropractor bill to add into the mix. Some of the key reasons I got rid of my Beaver included: I was tired of turning around to plow snow; the snow blade had a 12" moldboard and couldn't push a lot of snow; the blade would only lift a couple of feet - stacking was not really possible; the loader was agonizingly slow (by comparison), had a bucket well narrower than the wheel-width, the bucket wouldn't hold enough snow (I considered building a larger bucket but the loader arms wouldn't have liked that); took a lot of room to turn around; had long cycle times (slow to stop, shift, reverse, stop, shift), along with a wide sweep of the front end to accommodate the turning - and a wide sweep pushing either forward or reverse; it couldn't 'dig itself out' if I got it stuck (the bucket didn't have enough range-of-motion, relative to the need - to push/pull me around)...and I could go on.
I'm obviously sold on the SS.
BTW, more on ground clearance. Unless you're working in pure, bottomless mud, or on top of non-supporting snow, ground clearance is not a big problem. Either can get stuck. Tracks can make a difference on 'floating' either.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

You get what you pay for and have to be willing to pay for what you want. As for the SS versus tractor cost, you have to look at what you're getting. A relatively small SS (new) will probably cost more than a somewhat comparable tractor. A 60-75 hp SS will probably cost more than a 40-50 hp tractor.
A tractor will probably have greater ground clearance but, if you're steeple-chasing with it, or mud-bogging, you're using the wrong equipment for the wrong thing anyway.
Implements cost will be fairly comparable since the attachment of them is the key difference - three-point versus loader-quick-mount. And consider that all of the SS implements attach up front so you don't have the chiropractor bill to add into the mix. Some of the key reasons I got rid of my Beaver included: I was tired of turning around to plow snow; the snow blade had a 12" moldboard and couldn't push a lot of snow; the blade would only lift a couple of feet - stacking was not really possible; the loader was agonizingly slow (by comparison), had a bucket well narrower than the wheel-width, the bucket wouldn't hold enough snow (I considered building a larger bucket but the loader arms wouldn't have liked that); took a lot of room to turn around; had long cycle times (slow to stop, shift, reverse, stop, shift), along with a wide sweep of the front end to accommodate the turning - and a wide sweep pushing either forward or reverse; it couldn't 'dig itself out' if I got it stuck (the bucket didn't have enough range-of-motion, relative to the need - to push/pull me around)...and I could go on.
I'm obviously sold on the SS.
BTW, more on ground clearance. Unless you're working in pure, bottomless mud, or on top of non-supporting snow, ground clearance is not a big problem. Either can get stuck. Tracks can make a difference on 'floating' either.

Sounds like you had the wrong tractor? A HST is very compareable to a SS in moving ability lacing turning radius. Most tractors with a loader have the option to come from the factory with a SSQA and renders the bucket size a moot point as you can run anything that will fit on the QA meaning they will use the same attachments that a SS will. The major downside I see to a tractor though is the lack of visibility to the implement that you are using. (post hole auger comes to mind quickly) The 3 point hitch on a tractor is a pulling mechanism and not a pushing mechanism. Also, for the compareable HP you get a much heavier machine with a tractor than a SS. I do agree about the cycle times though! A machine that is purpose built with an attachment is going to work much better than one that is bolted/pinned on.

Basically a tractor is purpose built for farming but can accept a variety of attachments to make it useful for other tasks instead of having dedicated machines. If you do enough of anytype of work, it soon is justifiable to buy a single piece of equipment that excels at that certain job.

 

[ferrari99]

I wrote a list of what I thought were the goods and bads of dozers, bobcats and tractors, so here it is. I have any additions or criticisms please reply.

 

[paulharvey]

I wrote a list of what I thought were the goods and bads of dozers, bobcats and tractors, so here it is. I have any additions or criticisms please reply.
<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=347579"/>

I would change dozer to single purpose; they grade and push dirt, they do also pull, but thats it.

Visibility? Skid steer and tractor seem reversed... skid steer has good visibility forward where you are working, tractor has poor forward visibility.

I would add road ability; dozer is not road able, skid steer is poor, tractor is medium to good (most run 12-18 mph)