Skid Steer vs. Crawler (was Re: [AT] Deere Model 350 Questions

[Mike Sloane]

Cecil's comments are pretty much correct. One thing you need to realize 
is that until the last 5 or so years, the situation with skid steer 
attachments was a lot like the situation before the tractor three-point 
hitch became "universal" - every manufacturer had their own ("quick 
attach") attachment system. So if you buy a used skid steer and think 
you might want to add different attachments, be sure that it has a 
"universal" mount system. Most dealers can supply adapters to bring 
older machines up to current "standard", but the price will range from 
$500-1000. The Good News is that there is only one size of universal 
mount. Also, most of the newer machines have auxiliary high volume 
hydraulic ports, which you need for the equivalent of a tractor 
mechanical PTO. Another piece of Good News is that you can buy adapters 
for your tractor's front end loader so that you can mount skid steer 
attachments to your tractor. As Cecil also mentioned, there are hundreds 
of different attachments for skid steers - rock pickers, rotary mowers, 
power rakes, tree spades, tree cutters, pallet forks, bale spears, 
backhoes, snow blades and snow "pushers", nursery forks, and many other 
items I have forgotten. Both skid steers and crawlers require a fair 
amount of skill to use well, and for grading a lane, the crawler is 
probably marginally better. Figure on $10,000-20,000 for a used late 
model skid steer in good condition. Good brands include (but are not 
limited to): Bobcat, John Deere, New Holland, Case IH, Gehl, 
Caterpillar. (I used to sell New Holland equipment.)

On the down side of skid steers vs. crawlers are several items: 1. tire 
wear - operating on anything but soft ground, about 1000 hours is all 
you will get out of them, and they are expensive (about $1000/set), 2. 
flats - crawlers don't get them, skid steers do, 3. both tear up a lawn, 
but I think skid steers do it worse, 4. skid steers do poorly in soft 
wet ground compared to tracked vehicles, but you can buy tracks for skid 
steers (about $3500/set), 5. noise - the engine in a skid steer is right 
behind you and runs wide open when working, 6. visibility - you are in 
an enclosed safety cage/cabin where visibility is quite limited, except 
for straight ahead, as opposed to up in the seat of a crawler, 7. 
maintenance - the compact nature of a skid steer means that everything 
is crammed in pretty tight and everything is hydraulic with lots of 
hoses, pumps, and valves, but you don't need 20 ton jacks or 2" wrenches 
to work on them, 8. ride - with the wheels very close together and no 
suspension, you get bounced around a lot; also true of a crawler, but a 
skid steer can travel a lot faster and bounce you around more, 9. 
stability - with a low center of gravity, they are pretty hard to tip, 
(going down hill with a full load in the bucket can have the back wheels 
off the ground), but you have to be absolutely certain that you don't 
make any turns with the loaded bucket raised, 10 theft - while 
relatively rare, the skid steer is an attractive target for thieves, and 
they can be started and removed in a matter of minutes (all the keys for 
each brand are the same).

Those negatives aside, I agree that the skid steer is a lot more 
versatile than a crawler and easier to store (but watch the weight - 
they are heavier than they look and can exceed the load rating of a 
trailer, even though there is plenty of room). I sold a number of them, 
new and used, before I retired, and I never had a customer complain or 
say that he wished he had gotten a crawler instead.

Mike

Cecil E Monson wrote:


> 
>     I have mixed feelings about recommending the 450 size crawler to anyone
> who just needs a crawler on the place. They require quite a bit of 
> maintenance
> and excell more at grading and leveling, IMHO, than in digging rocks. 
> They are
> also slow, hot and noisy like any other crawler.
> 
>     If I were to make a recommendation for the best all around machine to
> have on the place, and if I could have one and only one and that was it, 
> I would
> hands down choose a diesel engined skid steer with front accessory 
> capability.
> You can get quick disconnect buckets of several sizes, a post hole digger,
> cranes long and large enough to put up 40 foot trusses on 12 foot high 
> walls,
> backhoes, grader blades and just about anything else you can think of 
> and all
> this stuff can be put on and taken off by one person. Since I got my 
> skidsteer,
> the crawlers have sat around and had it easy I can tell you that. 
> Skidsteers
> are quick and easy to use and are fast. They store in a garage or barn 
> and you
> don't have to worry about the grousers. They do tear up lawns unless you 
> turn
> carefully but the marks don't go as deep as the grousers do.
> 
>     Just as with buying any tractor, you should drive and use any skidsteer
> you are thinking of buying before you make the deal. I would recommend 
> renting
> one to see what you think before you get serious. Most dealers that sell 
> this
> type of equipment will either rent to you or bring one out for you to 
> use at no
> charge hoping for a sale.
> 
> Cecil
> 

-- 
Mike Sloane
Allamuchy NJ
Email: (msloane at att.net)
Website: <http://www.geocities.com/mikesloane>
Tractor images: <www.fotki.com/mikesloane>
Work: none - retired

If you want total security, go to prison. There you're fed, clothed,
given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking... is freedom.
-Dwight D. Eisenhower, U.S. general and 34th president (1890-1969)