I have never ran a tracked loader but I worked with a concrete contractor that often rented them and regular skid steers. He thought that the skid steer with the steel tracks like I have on my Cat 216 allowed him to push harder and dig deeper for exactly the same reasons that Highbeam is saying. They get down and bite better in the mud. The track systems float on top better.
I love my grouser brand tracks. I do take them off about July and put them back on in late September. They allow me to get on top of my manure piles and plow though dense brush and deep mud. I have about 750 hours on my skid steer with no problems at all in spite of the dirty, dusty, corrosive environment of my chicken farm. I wouldn’t want own a skid steer without them.
As far as disadvantages go they are loud especially in dry summer months. They take some more power. They have less traction than tires on concrete. They will ruin the edge of a concrete drive. I have heard they are harder on the wheel bearings although I haven’t had any problems yet. Cat does ask that chains tension be checked more often with over the tire tracks on.
Eric
