What's the advantage or disadvantage of a skid over a tractor

[Jamming]

For the average home owner, why buy a skid steer, when a tractor seems so much more capable for everything, operated a buddy's bobcat and the question came to mind. No traction, no power, seemed to tip easy. Wtf.

 

[pjbci]

You forgot to mention zero visibility and hard to get on and off of. Give me a tractor any day. I dont understand the fascination with the skid steers either.

 

[Gene :^)]

I would pick my 4wd NT254 tractor over a skid steer for home use any day, every day. Too many times to count, I had to pull my neighbor's skid steer out of stuck. Anything slippery other than level and once you skid to steer, you keep on skidding into the ditch. Or you just back into it the ditch since you can't see.

Gene :^)

 

[shortthrow50]

There are certain situtations where a skid steer would be a better tool for jobs such as tight places where you need a tight turning radius. Alot of things come to mind. Yeah sure tractors are more pleasant but in some situations they can be a real drag. However, like you mentioned, the average home owner wouldnt need to get in and out of stall areas to do clean up and etc.

 

[Wnc3]

A track skid steer has been a game changer.
But for a home owner, if you can't have both, get a tractor.

 

[nwngunner]

While i am not the average home owner, i would have to say i will get more use out of a tracked skid loader once i have when then i do my tractor. Right now i cant clean my barns out because i cant get a tractor turned around inside. Also my tractors sink in the mud. I do not have a concrete feed lot for my cattle. So in the fall and spring i am dealing with mud. Alot of times even as mucky as it gets, i can almost walk across the top of the mud. Now i am 350pounds, most of these skid loaders have a ground pressure of 3.5psi.

Also i wouldnt say they dont have traction. I was pushing a junk pile farther down into a ditch that my 806 wouldnt move. The tracked skid loader i had would push and push and push. Also i feel they have more control in them. Yes they have their negatives, they beat the crap out of you in rough ground. They are not as stable, but unless if your going up a really steep hill your not going to dump it. As said above the tracked ones are a game changer.

For your average home owner use, get your self a good 4x4 tractor with a fel and have fun.

 

[EddieWalker]

The skid steer will easily out load a compact tractor. It's lift capabilities and speed of operation make it ideal for what it does. It's turning radious makes it good for working in tight spots, or cleaning out barns. Being able to change the bucket to another attachment adds to it's apeal. It's greater hydraulic pressure allows it to do things that a compact tractor isn't capable of. Like running a large hydraulic auger in rocky conditions.

I've used both and each has it's place. The biggest negative to the skid steer on a farm is the lack of a PTO and 3 pt hitch. Of course, the skid steer makes up for that, but it's going to cost you more then what it's worth.

Rumor has it that the compact wheel loader is giving the skid steer a run for it's money and replacing them in many applications. Better ride and more power.

Eddie

 

[AKfish]

Rumor has it that the compact wheel loader is giving the skid steer a run for it's money and replacing them in many applications. Better ride and more power.

Eddie

Not to get off track here... but, what make/model of compact wheel loader would that be Eddie?

AKfish

 

[bcp]

An article:

Compact Wheel Loader - RitchieWiki

Looks interesting.

Bruce

 

[20 20]

have owned both wheeled ss and tractor. Comparing a tracked ss to a compact tractor is no where near the same. They all have their place, get what best suits your needs.