CUT vs Skid Steer

[oldpilgrim]

My brother had a skid steer for 20+ years. Wore it out and bought a tractor. He says he wished he gotten the tractor sooner...... More versatile for his needs.

 

[Piston]

I have a tractor but have a need for a skidsteer. I need to do some heavy lifting, and heavy dirt work, as well as heavy duty grapple work. Your describing pretty much the opposite, exactly what a tractor is great for.

For you, a tractor hands down.

 

[PJSprog]

There is definitely no shortage of diversity in this crowd.

I'm not likely to get a skid steer over a tractor, but it's certainly interesting to know that there are plenty of people who do.

 

[wolc123]

The CUT can do anything a skid steer can do, but the opposite is not true. For certain specialized tasks, as has been well covered in this thread, a skid steer vastly outperform a CUT. If and when you run into them, a skid steer rental is an option. For a homeowner looking to purchase a single piece of machinery, the numbers clearly show that the CUT is the way to go.

 

[Code54]

I personally would get the CUT as others have said if you really need to do a bunch of heavy dirt work just rent a skid steer for the day and knock it out.

 

[Sprinklerman]

I do residential irrigation and landscaping . I had a skid steer , it was great moving dirt and lifting pallets of sod . But I couldnt use it on established lawns. Attachments are expensive for skids . I would rent , but pick up and return sucked up time . I rented a tractor one day when my skid was down , I was hooked , I started picking up implements for my tractors from auctions and craigs list quite cheap . I could now bid jobs a bit cheaper since I didnt have to rent . I am getting jobs because I have tractors . Aeration alone paid for my new holland and the aerator in 2 seasons . if I need bigger or more powerfull i either call a friend with skids , or rent .

 

[MossRoad]

The CUT can do anything a skid steer can do,...

But you also need to consider how well each type of machine can to a task. Skid steers generally have much, much stronger hydraulics with much higher gallons per minute flow. They also generally have a much higher lift height than a CUT of similar size. Post hole diggers, jack hammers, trenchers, hoes, grapples, power brooms, etc... would work better on a skid steer.

Also, skid steers have power down ability on the FEL where all attachments are located. A CUT does not have power down capability on the 3pt hitch. So, for example, post holes are a breeze on a skid steer compared to a CUT.

 

[Piston]

Seems to be turning into a "which is better" thread. Let's remember the ops uses, light FEL work.

 

[merlynr]

I have 3 tractors and one ss and I use it a lot. I have 80 acres and my daughter and sil have 80 behind us and his driveway is 3/4 miles and the ss comes in real handy plus I can load round bales faster with the bobcat ss than a tractor. On that same note I would have a tractor over a ss if I had to choose one or the other.

 

[MossRoad]

Seems to be turning into a "which is better" thread. Let's remember the ops uses, light FEL work.

I agree that for the OP's usage, a CUT would be more useful. That's what's better. :laughing: