Joe P it all depends what you will be doing with the loader tracks or wheels I have a s 650 bobcat now my 5th loader I have owned I run wheels due to the snow removal duties at my place ( Steep drive to a major road ) I run tire chains for snow tracks and steep hills with ice and snow do not mix for soft ground I have run the chains on all 4 tires and have made out fine ( Lot clearing work) I run the severe duty tread tires they work really good for my usage and work well with chains , track machines are awsome for soft ground you can drive over ground you cannot walk over the trade off is $$$$ maintenance costs ,the machine is heavier to haul, as to the tracks doing more damage to the site it depends on the operator I would not be without my loader !! JB
I agree completely with JB, that it depends on your soils and use. (Wheeled or tracks) I moved from the mid Atlantic region and over the tire tracks were required for most anything in the (clay-ish) dirt. Here in Maine and my gravelly soils they're sitting on a pallet and tires are just fine. Then there's the winter snow plowing where the tire chains get put to use. I've read in several trade magazines where you can attribute $7-$12/hour to your operating costs for a CTL (rubber track) machine depending on the operator, conditions and use. For raw ground digging, rut making, hell raising traction, I don't think you can beat steel over the tire tracks. Flotation is an all together different discussion. To the OP, buy as big and powerful as you can afford. Big, heavy and powerful go a long way especially when you get some "seat time" and understand the weight tranfer while digging and loading.
Hi Guys - thanks for the replies. Been down south in Missouri for the past week or so. So wheel machines are better in the snow? That kinda surprises me. Lots to think about. But I agree, bigger is ALWAYS better...
Better mainly because you can use tire chains, but yes tires are marginally better than tracks (without chains). In my estimation because of the highly increased ground pressure of the tires. I got a buddy heading to MO for some duck hunting.
