Compact Track Loader, whos the best?

[LouNY]

For skidsteers JCB for ease of entering and exiting. Or any articulated unit with a side entry. Those front opening units that are difficult to get in and turned around are for the young, than getting trapped inside if or when it has an issue and the implement is keeping the door from opening.

 

[Spanner]

Also consider access to the powertrain for servicing, filters, oil drain etc.
Some have hatches, doors, removeable plates etc.
I've seen some where you have to roll the cab to get to the engine. One even required manual removal of a part of the front windscreen, large retaining bolts and an obscurely located hydraulic jacking fixture.
Time is money in the commercial world.
Not so much an issue for the private user.

 

[4570Man]

Also consider access to the powertrain for servicing, filters, oil drain etc.
Some have hatches, doors, removeable plates etc.
I've seen some where you have to roll the cab to get to the engine. One even required manual removal of a part of the front windscreen, large retaining bolts and an obscurely located hydraulic jacking fixture.
Time is money in the commercial world.
Not so much an issue for the private user.

You’re going to have to flip the cab on pretty much every skid steer. Mine has enough slack in the wires to lift it without unhooking anything besides the retaining bolts. It takes 2 minutes or less.

 

[Camofurever1]

I have 2 Cat dozers and I’ve had a Cat excavator before and a Cat loader but this machine flat out sucked and so did the 259 cat I ran. I wouldn’t trade my SVL90 that cost considerably less straight up for that machine. View attachment 4323567

Why does your 289D3 suck for you? I have one and have only replaced the tracks on it. No other issues.

 

[4570Man]

Why does your 289D3 suck for you? I have one and have only replaced the tracks on it. No other issues.

I don’t own a Cat skid steer at all and it will probably stay that way. The visibility out both ends is terrible and they don’t steer smooth either. The electric controls do not work as well as the hydraulic over hydraulic controls most other machines have. I ran another one today and it was the same issue as the other cats I’ve ran. I think this was a 255.

 

[Camofurever1]

I don’t own a Cat skid steer at all and it will probably stay that way. The visibility out both ends is terrible and they don’t steer smooth either. The electric controls do not work as well as the hydraulic over hydraulic controls most other machines have. I ran another one today and it was the same issue as the other cats I’ve ran. I think this was a 255.View attachment 4327297View attachment 4327298

The 255 is one of the new models. I know the cab design is new on that series. They made it so you could open you cab door without the arms being all the way down, which may have inset the cabin door some. My 289 has the frameless lexan door, which gives you a good view forwards. But your arms have to be all the way down or all the way up to get the door open to the cab. Turning is very dependent on the type of track you are running, how heavy your attachment or load is and what type of material you are trying to turn on.

 

[paulsharvey]

Visibility sucks on all of them. Honestly, its a basic feature id them all. Some are worse than others, but none are good. Thats actually why I wondered if a skip loader/industrial grade tractor might be a good option

 

[tulenutn2o]

Yes, visibility is not the greatest and certainly not as good as a tractor but a skid loader can do far more work at a much faster rate without stressing the machine like a tractor. That is why, I was thinking of buying a new cab tractor, but I settled on a used compact track loader with cab, heat, a/c plus several other options. Tractor has its place….construction projects and heavy duty excavating, isn’t one of them. Look for a low hour, pre emissions unit and you can’t go wrong.

 

[paulsharvey]

Yes, visibility is not the greatest and certainly not as good as a tractor but a skid loader can do far more work at a much faster rate without stressing the machine like a tractor. That is why, I was thinking of buying a new cab tractor, but I settled on a used compact track loader with cab, heat, a/c plus several other options. Tractor has its place….construction projects and heavy duty excavating, isn’t one of them. Look for a low hour, pre emissions unit and you can’t go wrong.

Industrial Grade Tractor, sometimes called a skip loader, like a JD-210LE, is not the same thing. They absolutely are capable of doing work, roughly comparable to a CTL. Some things they do better, some things they do worse, but similar weight and power; less destructive, but also way less options of attachments. They also cost as much as a CTL, if not more.

 

[Notforhire]

I bought my L47 as a Tractor Loader (skip loader) then ended up adding the backhoe later. It is a lot heavier built than the L4701 it's based on. For a small tractor it can do quite a bit. Because it has a rear PTO and a 3 PH I can do mowing etc with it too.
I've owned and operated skid steers and because of neck/back injuries I have a real hard time with visibility. (Cameras really help now.)
A real skip loader was just too big for my needs and just can't fit into the places I need to go. A 210LE will lift carry probably three times what the L47 can and the price is reflected in that. I can trailer the L47 with my pickup. I'm not equipped to move a 210. There is no free lunch. I'm not in business and spending more time than I would with a larger machine isn't an issue.
A big downside to the Kubota is the lack of a factory cab. I had a Curtis installed. Heat but no AC.
There are downsides to everything. If I had unlimited funds I'd have a CTL and a full size backhoe, but until that happens the L47 will have to do.