i think Now they are all Hydros with chain drive to the stub axles, hydro with a high load motor on each stub axle. Some have a similar set up to the chain drive but they have gears running to the stub axles instead . Chain and gear drive off the hydros is the most common but the older i think Bobcats, Mustangs and others used a Borg Warner that had 2 transmissions in one case. that had a sprocket on each side of it to run the wheels. It Ithink some 6x6 Like Max used them for a while. I think it had 2 speeds per side in each directon and it also had a fluid coupling on the torque. then somes used a multi disch clutch pack in each side in a gear box to provide a type of variable speed drive.
we have a gear driving skid steer, but it's one that was built in our shop by my father and grandfather.
basically uses an austin 1100 cc motor, 4 speed trans, 2 chev car axles, and drum brakes on each wheel. you simply lock the brakes on one side to steer.... works pretty well actually /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
Cool -- I never woulda thoughta building a skid. lol
Hydrostats are generally easier to operate. They react immediately to operator command, which makes it a welcome feature for grading or working in confined areas -- which is what skid steers were originally used for. Of course, with the behemoths like Gehl's 7810 and 7610 and Mustang's 2099 and 2199, "small spaces" no longer accept big machines. Who knows -- big loaders might go back to straight gears. Unlikely in that they wouldn't be nearly as manueverable, though.