Track performance in snow

[Dunmovin]

Looking at a T190 but have been told that the standard rubber tracks don't perform well in snow. Wondering whether I should look into an S185 and perhaps add steel over tire tracks.
Have bush block with steep sections (mostly dry loose material not much mud) with the local Bobcat dealers recommends a tracked Bobcat only. Does anyone have experience or recommendations with tracked verses over tire tracks?

Dunmovin

 

[Keller]

Rubber tracks work great in the snow.


They fail in ice!

 

[Dunmovin]

Rubber tracks work great in the snow.

They fail in ice!

Appreciate that but then how do you solve the ice problem (Bobcat Dealer described them as a toboggan !). On a tired skid steer chains are the solution. What's the solution for tracker loaders?

Txs

Dunmovin

 

[Rustyiron]

Hey Dunmovin, what are, is bush blocks? I like my over the tire tracks for the mud and gen. dirt work, and tire chains for in the snow. The tracked machine may provide a little bit of float on the snow but for traction you can't beat tire chains. I'll take that one more step by saying that for the OTT is way better for traction in the woods and "greasy" mud, but they clearly loose to a track machine on flotation in the very deep goo! Way less $$ initally and in the long run too.

 

[Dunmovin]

Hey Dunmovin, what are, is bush blocks? I like my over the tire tracks for the mud and gen. dirt work, and tire chains for in the snow. The tracked machine may provide a little bit of float on the snow but for traction you can't beat tire chains. I'll take that one more step by saying that for the OTT is way better for traction in the woods and "greasy" mud, but they clearly loose to a track machine on flotation in the very deep goo! Way less $$ initally and in the long run too.

Rustyiron

You've confirmed by suspicions - I'm in the interior of southern BC, Canada and it's either snowing in winter or pretty dry in summer so mud is not a really issue. Ground tends to be dry loose material. For much of the year tires should work perfectly and i prefer the flexibility of chains winter and OTT if the conditions get really loose or muddy

Many thanks

Dunmovin

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Tracks are bad in snow. You need the ground pressure to get traction in snowly/icy conditions.

 

[schmism]

my friends t190 (standard sq pad tracks) that i drove this winter to do farm chores, absolutely SUCKED in the snow. even the smallest incline (like just a few inches over 8-10' pad in front of the garage) brought the machine to a stand still and had it sliding around uncontrollably.

and nothing to put chains on....

 

[Doc_Bob]

Tracks are bad in snow. You need the ground pressure to get traction in snowly/icy conditions.

So, I assume a skid steer with tires is better? I know nothing about the subject, so please don't take my questions as being rude. I am completely ignorant! Would a skid steer be a better choice for moving snow, etc that a tractor with R1?

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Yes. Wheeled skid loaders are about the best small machines for moving snow.

 

[Doc_Bob]

Yes. Wheeled skid loaders are about the best small machines for moving snow.

Thank you. And would chains on all 4 wheels help? Any problems with chains?
Bob

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

chains are good.. hard on asphalt... but good.

 

[Rustyiron]

chains are good.. hard on asphalt... but good.

Yes, REALY hard on it!

 

[Doc_Bob]

chains are good.. hard on asphalt... but good.

Just as I expected. I saw the damage chains can do on asphalt when I lived in Washington State.

All the ground I have to run on is dirt and or gravel. So chains should be okay?

Doc

 

[jobguy]

A Bobcat with steel tracks will out push, out work most anything else. I have owned two Bobcats with the Steel tracks, they bite into snow AND dirt to give amazing traction. They slip like ice-skates on ice and other hard surfaces though. They also will tear up a lawn a bit depending on how sharp you turn.

 

[Doc_Bob]

A Bobcat with steel tracks will out push, out work most anything else. I have owned two Bobcats with the Steel tracks, they bite into snow AND dirt to give amazing traction. They slip like ice-skates on ice and other hard surfaces though. They also will tear up a lawn a bit depending on how sharp you turn.

Great information. How easy/hard is it to mount the steel tracks and take them off?
Doc

 

[BarryinMN]

Caveat skidloaders are great for snow But they lack the reach of a tractor loader for piling high.

I usually run a wheeled skidloader for snow it's quicker & smaller than ag tractor with loader & blower.

 

[Johndeere3720]

I have used my Dad's John Deere CT322 (standard rubber tracks) to plow snow and had a very bad experience. I was plowing on our driveway (1/3 mile of incline and 20 feet of flat) and about slid down the hill. The only way to stop was tilt the bucket all the way forward and get a good bite at the ground. We used the John Deere 3720 with front chains only and plowed the whole driveway without slipping once and we even lost the chains on the right side! Tires are much better. :thumbsup: Sounds like what you need is an S185 with tire chains and possibly steel tracks.

 

[Doc_Bob]

Sounds like what you need is an S185 with tire chains and possibly steel tracks.

I do believe you are right.
Chains on all four wheels?
Doc

 

[tawilson]

If someone needed traction on ice, the Bobcat/Grouser steel ott tracks do have holes in them for optional spikes, probably like what you can add to snowmobile tracks.
Refreshed my mind and they are not like a snowmobile's.

 

[Doc_Bob]

If someone needed traction on ice, the Bobcat/Grouser steel ott tracks do have holes in them for optional spikes, probably like what you can add to snowmobile tracks.
Refreshed my mind and they are not like a snowmobile's.

They look like serious spikes. Imagine they would do quite a bit of harm to asphalt