Thanks for all the feedback. For those wondering, this is a recreational cabin that we'll be putting up. With access in summer being expensive, there will be less use in summer than winter. A week or two in the summer and 10-15 weekends in the winter. Fuel will be sledded in during the winter and stored in 55 gallon drum(s). Thankfully our property is dryish, as it's on a rise above lake level. So I shouldn't have too much muck to deal with, but I am nonetheless convinced that tracks are the way to go.
I've been lax in my research though, had just assumed that my 3/4 ton truck could haul a trailer with a skid steer. Bad assumption. It's rated to tow a pukey 8650 lbs. I have never come near that before but a decent hauler trailer and track loader would be more like 10,000+ lbs. So I need to either hire out the transportation or come up with an alternative that allows me to tow with the rig I have. As much as I'd like one, a new truck isn't in the cards right now.
Your 3/4 ton truck can tow a 10,000 lb.+ trailer:
Assuming that your truck is a 4x4 (I assume it is, in AK), has a big engine, and a heavy duty transmission.
I have a 1997 K2500 4x4 (Suburban) with a 454 V-8. The 20 year old 3/4 ton Suburban is a bull!
I think my Suburban door sticker shows that it is rated for 8950 lbs, but I think that is a GVW limit for the vehicle, and is not a tow rating. My Ford 3400 TLB and trailer weigh exactly 12,000 lbs.
I recently towed that rig at highway speeds for over 600 miles with no problems.
I did add airbags to the Suburban (they are great) which allowed me to have 1200 lbs.+ tongue weight.
If you Google - tongue weight with bathroom scale - you will see how to calculate a reasonably accurate tongue weight reading.
The highest capacity frame mounted hitch that I could buy ("Curt" brand) for the K2500 was 12,000 lbs. (So I believe that 12,000 lbs. must be the max legal hitch/tow limit for that vehicle)
I also did use my 14,000 lb. rated Equal-i-zer weight distribution hitch.
My empty trailer weighs 3400 lbs., so I had a useful load of 8600 lbs, and I needed it all!
I think there are many skid steers available at 8600 lbs. or less.
You could also take the skid steer bucket off, and make a second trip to keep total weight down.
If you will tow through hilly country, you should consider installing an auxiliary transmission cooler.
You also should be certain that your trailer has 4 wheel electric brakes (in GOOD condition), and set the controller to cut in rather heavily at the beginning of the braking cycle.
DO NOT TAILGATE ANYONE!
If you do not already have one, buy a good quality equipment trailer ..... with 6000 lb. axles, or better yet,..... 7000 lb. axles.
