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Great compare and contrast. "Time is money" is why Tractor sales are always booming whilst skid-steer sakes remain "stuck in the mud"(so to speak.) To actually manufacture a tractor is far far *far* less of an expense than to build out a skid steer so you will have far greater number of tractors, parts, dealers, dealer support etc etc than could ever be possible in the skid steer market...which remarkably there is a "skid steer" market but that mainly has to with as you show perfectly here in the logging business (ironically with wheels not tracks.) The other huge advantage of a tractor is actual maintenance...meaning "next time pop the hood on the two machines first" when showing off the two vehicles. In a tractor *as the mechanic* i can get all around the vehicle to work on that. With a skid steer I'm going to need a lift which as you well note adds to the *AWESOME* capital expense of buying, owning and operating a skid steer (of to the Bank again!) whereas a tractor i can simply use cash plus money earned from operation to pay for everything. Tractor Companies have moved to include "track conversions" as attachments now as well so in theory you can now have the best of both Worlds with your Tractor. Winner:. *THE TRACTOR* move along..
I’ve had tractors for years and bought my first skid loader a few months ago. I will never be without a skid loader. They are so useful. If I could only have one it would be a skid loader over a tractor.
@@vr4junkie385 It really depends on what you do most of the time. But overall for any kind of loader work a skid is the way to go. Buckets, grapple, forks etc with a mid size skid you’ll have 3 times the lift capacity of a typical mid size 40-50hp tractor. My 63hp 9000lb skid will lift 6000lbs. Much more stable with a load too, especially on uneven grades. Never get stuck with tracks. The zero turn radius is a plus too. You can actually see the bucket edge in a skid, lot better visibility of the attachment. It’ll be way faster and easier doing loader work with a skid loader. But, if you’re just maintaining your largely developed land, I think a tractor is the smarter option. Even if you are developing your land you can do it with a tractor, it’ll just be slower. Skid steer attachments cost twice as much if not more than the same for a tractor. The skid will cost 2-3 times as much to buy, compared to a tractor, and twice as much to fix. Tractors are much more friendly to the ground too, they don’t tear up like a skid loader does. For big mowers or bush hogs, batwing types tractor with pto is better. If you bought raw land and you’re building a homestead or something, you can’t beat a skid and a mini. But they’re expensive. A tractor with a backhoe will do basically everything they can, just slower. Except maybe the liff capacity.
If you’re a land owner, most guys on the tractor forums recommend renting a skid steer/mini ex once or twice a year to knock out the heavy work and buying a tractor for day to day maintenance.
Im a land owner, and I followed that advice from the tractor forums and it was BAD advice, Tractors are not good for getting work done in a timely manner. Renting a skid steer at current rates is peeing into the wind. I struggled with my tractor for over a year trying to get things done. About the only thing it was useful for was mowing and maintaining my road. Sure it was helpful for other tasks but it just did not excell at them, In rain or mud no go on steep slopes no go, any digging forget it. I Sold it, Bought a tracked skid steer and 0 regrets, Brush hog, and just about any other task i could think of. my opinion is a tractor is better than nothing, and as you said good for day to day light maintenance, but to get actual work done no
Both have their place. For excavation, forestry work and rough mowing. A skid steer with alway come out on top. Mowing a 15 ft. swath across a pasture, planting and making hay is the tractor’s domain.
I have rented skid steers and dearly love them, also used a tractor could make a case those could be rented also. But cost of the two units makes it easier for tractor ownership. Tractors and attachments have come a long way in recent years for small land owners. So rent SS and own tractor is my preference. Great video and all points made are good.
you sold me when you talked about tearing up the yard/orchard/field/ditch with the tracks/wheels of a skidsteer. Borrowed a friends to move some dirt from one point to another and didn't like what it did to my yard. Thank you! I needed something to counteract my sons steadfastness on a skid steer. I'm like you my I guess my heart will always lean towards a tractor.
One thing that I always have to keep in mind is the swing of things- gotta be super attentive to what’s near the front bucket on a tractor when using a rear attachment, or what the rear attachment might be trying to swing into when turning. So easy to hit things when there is so much overhang in the front and often rear of your tractor at the same time.
Just bought a few acres of land which I now need to clear out and this has made it clear that I should rent the SS to do the rough work, clear it all out, and then just purchase a tractor to keep up with the maintenance afterwards. Thank you!
A few acres.... I would never have a Tractor of less than 40 HP... These little ones look great on paper but they just don't have the grunt. My view is that 45-55hp is what you need for 5-50 acres... A general rule of thumb is 50hp as a base - then above 25acres - take your acreage and add 30. That is the HP you want. Above 300 acres you want the big kit. Small hobby farms, homesteads, sub 10 acres - go for ride on mowers and a skid steer - Or if you really want a tractor buy a 45-55hp
Oddly it was cheaper for me to buy a skid steer. With these crazy times it's worth more now than when I bought it...still can't sell it and get a tractor with a loader. Used tractors have gotten crazy expensive. It gets around better in the forest. In jeffco mo we have more forest then fields. You made all great points!
Solid coverage of the key differences between the two machines!! You covered the item of better ground pressure (lower psi) with the skid steer track loader (CTL). But the tracks are very important in muddy conditions so you don't get stuck like a wheel tractor can. Now you can still get a CTL stuck just as you can with a dozer but the CTL is superior in this situation versus a wheel tractor. The other item is gradeability on steep slopes where the CTL will run rings around a wheel tractor. But each unit has their place and I have both. For mowing a wheel tractor is superior and doesn't tear things up as you noted. Anyway, thanks for the fair and balanced look at both units!! As other commenters have noted that if they don't have a CTL they will rent one when needed which can also work out. Glad I have both a skid steer and a wheel tractor although both are much smaller than your units.
I personally have both a skidsteer and a tractor ( coincidentally my tractor is a Deere 4720 ) and although my skidsteer is rated at 65hp, I do find for digging and lifting heavy things I prefer the skidsteer. The weight always makes it feel safer. One thing you didn’t talk about at all is that the skidsteer is much more durable if you are digging or pushing, especially if you have to turn while doing so. The loader arms on a tractor are pretty easy to bend if you have a load to one side as the compact nature and overall sturdier construction of a skidsteer will let you turn under heavy load without worrying about damage to the loader arms. Definitely the tractor takes the win in ease of entering and exiting and has more operator comfort on long days in the cab. One other thing I wanted to add is even though the skidsteer is ( mine anyways ) is only 2000lbs heavier then the tractor - the foot print you mentioned is huge. I have a tire machine and run OTT tracks to get more traction and a bit more floatation, but it will still tear up a lawn much worse then a tractor - I have heard that turf tires will make a big difference but haven’t had a chance to run a set on my machine.
Thank you for making a detailed video I can use as a reference instead of trying to explain this myself. Around my property I have no need for a tractor, the skid steers and zero turn mower handles it all. Some of my friends get it all done with just a tractor. Older people mostly prefer a tractor for comfort and utility.
I have owned and used both, went back and forth on them and finally got one of each lol. They both have their advantages so i need both. My construction sights i only use the skidloader, my foodplots i use my tractor. My go to though if the situation allows the use of either is the skidsteer, i prefer to run attachments looking forward instead of looking backwards.
Given the particular circumstances that I have watched you working in, without a doubt, I would choose the skid steer. Up front it is more money but also worth more/saleable when I was done using it. Equipment that is underpowered, for the most part, is not worth owning! Cost of overall ownership/ease of use would drive my choice. Excellent review! Thank you.
It's not really more $ when apples to apples comparison - this video compares a massive skid steer and a tiny tractor. You can get a brand new skid steer for $45k with 2,000 lb lift capacity, loaded with features.
As someone who spends alot of time in skid steers, telehandlers and tractors I think you've covered off on all the bases. For a homestead small holding buy the tractor and rent the skid steer, skid steers are brilliant machines and versatility is great. But the old tractor can just do so much more and generally alot more cost effectively, time wise it might take a while more. If you're trying to compare a tractor versus a skid steer to run say a rotary mower the skid steer while generally run at about 35 - 45% less than the engine horsepower and the tractor while run between 10% - 15% less than the engine horsepower. It's an interesting comparison and I've been asked that question alot. Great video as normal. 🇦🇺👌👍
I think that most tractors also have a lot more ground clearance. If I could get a skid steer light enough to float across the lake to my property I'm pretty sure it wouldn't make it very far before it was hung up. Great video and start to my morning.
Ran my 2021 220G through some heavy mud this year, wheeled but didn't have to assist with the bucket much at all. Also got an old late 40's 3010 and ive had that one stuck close to the top of the rear wheels lol. Figured i would need at least a set of tracks to throw over the tires or at very least chains on the 220, but haven't had the need to do it yet. Haven't run into any traction issues operating a blower (72B), but could always go with the stud kit on a winter set if it gets to the point she started to struggle. From what several reviewers have suggested the tires do better on sheer ice than tracks to begin with.
I have no need for a skid steer or anything bigger than my 1025R but I enjoyed watching your comparison. Also I noticed the trees in your area are definitely starting to change. Great colors. Thanks for sharing.
I currently run an MX5400 in my land services business everyday. The versatility and cost of the tractor won me over. I am glad I went with the tractor first but I can see a skid steer in my future as well
@@trevorrowe6231 By auto load do you mean those bale trailers that can load themselves? We don't use them either. With the 12mph speed I get all the close bales 1 at a time, but load the farther ones on the racks or trailers and haul back to the yard. I've helped our neighbor who uses telehandlers and semi trailers, and that's the way to go! (if you can afford it)
Super video. Great job! In response to the question posed in the title of the video, an emphatic “NO” is the answer. A tracked loader certainly can’t compete with the tractor, that is fundamentally designed for pulling implements across reasonably uniform grades. Conversely, a tractor cannot under any circumstance, compete with a tracked loader that is exclusively designed for forward facing, high-capacity mechanical implements and high-functioning hydraulic implements. I have to add that tracked loaders are superb in the snow (ASV’s snowmobile-inspired design reigns supreme), and the ‘fun factor’ for middle-aged man children such as myself eclipses the snow experience in a tractor.
One small correction for ROC on SSL vs. CTL. Deere skid steers use 50% of tipping load for ROC. Compact track loaders use 35% of tipping load for ROC. That 333G may have an ROC of 3700lb, but it has no problems lifting an 8500lb Jersey barrier.
I used to operate a 333G at a log home builder and I never did find out what it’s limit was. It would literally lift anything anytime without question. Including the owners F350.
I am on my second 333g, I had a bobcat t770, it was very smooth but can not compare to the 333g in tractive power, or lifting power. Nothing breaks out of a pile like the Deere. I am a home builder and use it for Excavating and moving lumber around the job site. It will lift any lumber load off the delivery truck.
I wish I found this channel sooner. Tractors are old school and always slowly upgrade where does are to of the line. I tried to buy a Datsun skid steer it is 60 years old and AMAZING
I ran heavy equipment for 30 years. A tractor cannot even come close to the durability, efficiency or capacity of heavy equipment. But, for a home owner a tractor is a wonderful option. Also having an old backhoe is very handy.
I replaced my old 6600 Ford tractor with a Kubota 3901 last year. I wouldn't have gotten such a small tractor if I didn't already have a Bobcat T650 and a New Holland 675E. I did get a shock when I expected to use the skid steer attachments on the tractor and found it it wouldn't even lift them empty. So far I've only bought a different set of forks. The 6' heavy duty Bush Hog brush cutter and Rhino TM 84 work good on the Kubota though and I actually enjoy operating it.
Hi, Good Works Tractors. We have a Cat 299D2 skid steer, almost the same size and weight as your JD 333G. I made brackets to mount mirrors on the outside of the loader arms for more rearward visibility. The idea was born when we had to cover leech field lines with rock and we could not turn after dumping a bucket but had to reverse all the way back out along 200 feet of leech pipe to get the next bucket of rock. Works well when the bucket is down fairly low but not when it is up high and is a good additional aid to the reversing camera as it gives better detail at the sides. Just my 0.02. You have a wonderful day. Best wishes. Deas Plant.
One thing I would add is how weight is distributed with a load. I backfill swimming pools. I like the "reach" my tractor has vs a skidsteer. I feel much safer with the weight 6 plus feet away from the edge of the hole while I dump dirt. A skid will out dig me, but I bought my tractor new for what a well used skid goes for .
Speaking of a skid steer and tracks vs tires on a lawn. I was having a conversation with a guy who rented a CTL and it lead to tracks vs tires. I said it was more beneficial that he had tracks because he was driving it across his lawn and he then went on to say that tracks would do more damage to a lawn than tires. Metal tracks probably but rubber, NO! Tracks create an increase in square inches to support the weight of the machine vs tires where the weight is focused on a much smaller contact patch increasing psi on the ground. He continued to argue with me and I just let him think that he won. I've used both tracks and tires on lawn and I know there's more damage with tires.
yeah the compaction is far greater with a tractor. The skid steer leaves skid marks every time you steer. It will scrape off the top of the ground when it is turning, especially with tight turns.
Skidsteer: can move more material, can flow higher gpm, higher operating pressure-more lift capability, higher operator comfort due to a 40+hr use, glad you covered the stability of the 333g Tractor: lighter farm use, blow a tire its only one- not a 2k track, repairs at dealer usually cost less on labor charge between ag vs construction, dont have to clean tracks Great coverage! Need to do the compact wheel loaders next!
If money wasn’t an issue, for sure I’d have both. I’m new to heavy equipment of any kind and bought my first compact tractor a few years ago. It’s been a great learning experience and once done paying it off, would definitely be interested in getting a skid steer. Great great video on comparing both, though I think you were more biased towards the skid steer. Though not as powerful as the skid steer the biggest advantage for the tractor has got to be the PTO and overall cost of getting implements. But as you mentioned time and time again you need to be very clear as to what you want to do. Getting a tractor or skid steer can’t be an impulse buy.
I was trying to decide between a Cab Tractor, or a Skidsteer. I was clearing timber on my 6 acre property. Dealership convinced me that my tractor could do the job, but it would take a little longer. I bought a 37HP MF tractor, with maybe 1400lb lifting capacity, with a grapple. In hind sight, I would have finished the entire project in a few months with a skidsteer it took me two years with a tractor. Simply put, when lifting logs, doing timber clearing... a skid steer is what you want. Now.... for grading the tractor did way better with a box scraper on the back.
Skid steers are awesome, but fill a special niche. A tractor is like a Chevy or Ford truck. Just versatile in many many areas. Who wouldn’t want a skid steer?!? But not having eithe I’ll be buying a tractor first.
Thanks for post this. I'm still a few years away from having to make this decision and it already keeps me up at night 😅! If money was no object I suppose I'd get the skid steer - or both! But, as a land owner, not really a "farmer" or row-cropper, having all the business in the back of the machine is almost a negative. The versatility of a tractor is a huge plus in it's favor, but trying to manage wooded areas with those squishy tires is just asking to blow one. Skid steers, I'd imagine suck up more fuel, have higher repair costs with inexplicably expensive hoses, and more costly attachments. If all you needed was a bucket I suppose a skid steer was good. But money is a real concern when you start adding the bells.. Honestly I still can't decide...
I have both for construction or digging skid all the way. That includes heavy mulching as long as it's not soft the skid gets stuck really easy they will sink. Pulled mine out of the bush almost as many times as drove out it's wet out there. Tractor for pretty much anything else. Get one with the front mount blower turning sucks while you're blowing but you don't slide as much, and in the bush I can get out all most all the time. Might just be me though.
Great video!! Lots of good info! Have tractor at home and heavy equipment at work. We had a gentleman I work with mowing with our 333g and he managed to role it on its lid. They are very safe but anything can happen.
Love a lot of the comparison, I've got 4052 r and an SVL 75 which were similar in price. Nicer part about the Kubota cab is the door moves vertically in the cab so you can get out regardless of loader height. Skid steers and tractors at this size though are meant for very different purposes. One is more small farm and the other is much more industrial. One of the big reasons skid steers and their attachments are heavier and more expensive. So its a good comparison for people who are not versed in equipment but they are radically different machines and the two displayed here are completely different beasts. That skid steer is more comparable to a max 5 series or a low 6 series
Agreed. We run a 5 series on our 400 acres and I'm really considering a 333G. Mostly for road/culvert maintenance moving huge Live Oaks that love to fall in the direction of every fence I put up. Plus, CTLs are much easier to maneuver in tight places like in the woods.
Good video . In my case I have 4 equipments . I have compact track loader , excavator , utility tractor with loader and articulated wheel loader . All are Kubota brand .
The lines have gotten really blurry between these two pieces of equipment, but I agree for most people they should invest into a tractor if they own a big piece of property. A tractor is meant for agricultural use, to care for property… For mowing grass and Tilling fields, and things like that. It’s great for pushing things around and I put a set of forks on to pick stuff up. Super versatile and hard to top for the price. We are very glad to have a midsize tractor. One thing, I would encourage most people to never buy a tractor without a cab, I think you would regret it. There are exceptions, but most people I know that have bought a tractor with a cab wish they did not do it. Now on the other hand with a skid steer there are all sorts of things you can do, and we actually own two of them, much older bobcat units from the 80s that we bought and fixed up… They are not these newer units that can run the big mulcher heads and such, but I’ve still been very useful for moving material and doing dirt work on the property. They do a lot of things more efficiently than the tractor, they move into a lot of places better than a tractor because they’re smaller and more nimble… And because we were able to pick these up cheap because they were old and needed some repairs, then it was a good investment. We don’t haul them all over the place so we didn’t have to invest into a trailer… And we don’t have an army full of attachments that we bought for them, just a bucket and a set of forks and for one of them an auger, but they are well worth having around for their utility. The front end loader on the 900 series can pick up easily what the tractors front end loader can handle and more. I guess what I’m saying is they make a good combination for what we do. It would sure be nice to be able to afford to trade these older units on a fancy new skid steer, but we’ve never been able to justify the cost being as we’re not using them to make profit but just to keep up the land. But they sure are nice to have around.
You need both really....I use my NH T4.65 for PTO tasks, towing, 3pt work etc, then the skidster for unloading pallets (with forks) - loading material to low trailers. I am considering buying a Telehandler that can tow - the Telehandler can be a platform, fork loader / dump loader, Bale loader, towing - some even come with PTO. But my Skid Loader has a Post auger etc so I will never part with it. The key to a small farm / hobby farm sub 50acres - is a newer cab tractor, an old non-cab tractor (like a MF135 or older) - then a Skidsteer, a Telehandler and a backhoe (although you can get away without a backhoe and borrow or hire one for jobs).
I don't own either because my property is pretty small. But I have rented. A couple of differences I've seen that really weren't covered in the video: - Ride. Skid steers, with their short "wheelbase", can be an uncomfortable ride on rough ground. I find myself more fatigued at the end of a long session on rough terrain because my core muscles are constantly engaged. That was especially true with older Bobcats' foot controls. Tractors are a lot smoother and a lot more relaxed experience. - Maneuverability. Let's face it. Tractors kind of stink at getting into tight spots, turning around, etc. "Give me 40 acres, and I'll turn this rig around..." - Access. A skid steer just seems like it will go places that a tractor won't. That shorter overall length and tight turning radius really help. But a wheeled skid steer with its smaller tires and higher weight can also get stuck in places where a tractor might not. The low, flat belly on the skid steer will suck down tight to mud and make it hard to get out. (Don't ask me how I know that, okay?) - Ground clearance. Not much needs to be said here. - Learning curve. It's not bad, but it takes a little more to get to the point where it feels instinctive on a skid steer. I cut my teeth on the old Bobcats with separate controls for driving and attachment operations, and when everything moved to the dual joysticks, there was definitely an adjustment period. In a tractor, it's pretty much gas pedal and steering wheel. - Ground speed. I really don't have a comparison to make here since the machines would have to be of similar capabilities for that comparison to make sense. I've run excavators and compared to a skid steer they're agonizing slow even when you put them in "travel" mode, but I suspect the tractor would give the skid steer a run for its money. Groundspeed would make a difference if you're making multiple trips with a full bucket or grapple over any kind of distance. I had to use an excavator to move some huge stumps about 100 yards, and it felt like my beard grew during each trip. What he said about tearing up a lawn with a skid steer also applies to things like grading a driveway. You'll spend more time patching up the little gouges from tight turns with a skid steer, but at least you can MAKE those tight turns. For a small property like mine, a tracked skid steer makes the most sense.
Great video! We grew up running the big tractors on the family farm planting row crops. Never ran a skid steer on the farm though. Now I have a VENTRAC that I’ve been running here on The Lawn Care Life in Mowssouri TH-cam Channel and it’s an unbelievable machine! Lots of different attachments for it and it will never tear up the ground you are working on. And it will go places that you can’t take a skid steer and tractor. I would love to have a skid steer someday though just for the lifting and mulching capabilities. Great video! New Subscriber to the channel. 👍
In your discussion of “can you run a front end snowblower” on a tractor you failed to mention the obvious tractor mid mount PTO driven front end snowblowers. Plenty of power and not costly hydraulic solution.
The answer is to have both. I have an old 1982 Bobcat 743. I have owned it for 20 years and done lots of work on my suburban home and my hobby farm. I got a 4052R Cab JD 2017 in 2019. I like it for mowing fields, forklifts, etc.
I once thought a skid would have been a better purchase then my subcompact tractor. That was until I had a contractor come out to do some work for me and they brought a skid. That thing messed up my lawn, my gravel, my gravel road, and pretty much everything else it traversed over. As a homeowner with property, no thanks I'll keep my tractor. it may take me a bit longer to get somethings done but it 'Floats like a butterfly' in comparison. I agree with the other comments, own a tractor and rent a skid if you need to get a big job done fast.
Skid steers will definitely tear things up if the operator isn't VERY careful. On the other hand, I can drive our 7000 lb skid with a 2000+ lb log on the forks over the lawn without leaving a mark!
I love my skidsteer. Have 40 acres and use bobcat for road maintenance snow removal have a snow blower which is awesome. Also can dig small trenches. If I need another attachment i just rent it.
Living in southern Texas, I am perfectly happy with my tractor with mower and rear attachment mulcher. I bought out property in SC and the skid steer would make more sense to work with.
This video was perfect for me! Ironically, I've been looking at both Deere models for the past year. I'm on 10 acres + west of Boston, suburbs; agricultural area. I will be buying additional land, as well, in the very near future. Love land, lots of land. Love wildlife too. So, I own a x595. Great tractor, need more though.I will keep the x595. Winter storms come, I have to cut up down trees, drag them to the wood pile out in the woods. I currently have down trees laying in a river, the better part of 40' in length. I too, am a tractor guy. I've rented CAT skid steers from time to time; have to admit, I like a steering wheel. BUT, I don't see the 4720 coming in & out of the woods with trees in the grapple, nor do I picture the 4720 getting near the side of the river to drag those trees out with a grapple with out getting stuck in the Spring or Summer months? The 333G with the Forestry Package would be the better option. Attachments: bucket & grapple to start. I have both a blade & blower for my x595. Driveway is 500' +, 333G with a bucket would make short work out of the driveway I'm sure. It would also zip in & out of the woods & not hopefully get stuck at rivers edge yanking cut up tree sections out of the river. Now, I keep plugging for this; hoping a JD factory Gator 🐊 product manager gets wind of my idea. JD needs to come out with a Crocodile/"Croc"; big brother to the 🐊 Gator 🐊! It should be 30% larger. Handle attachments like blowers, blades, buckets & sweepers with ease. Like the Gator, Trax would be a readily available option. Yes, it would have to be hydraulic. It should directly compete with Bobcat's 5600/Toolcat. Looked at the Toolcat, read some of the reviews. A few mechanics gave their 2 cents worth, those reviews were; let's just say, less than flattering. In the end, if a JD Crocodile with Trax, and a 324G engine were to become available; it would be an absolutely perfect compromise between both the 333G & 4720 for me! I'd start off with a blower & grapple. Father used to say: "Gets colder every year"; he was right. My x595 doesn't have a cab, the Croc would. Blowing snow in a UTV would be ideal. Yes, I would get to keep my steering wheel! Ha!
With another year under your belt, and given recent issues you've had with leaking hoses, I'd love to see a followup video comparison, and curious if you still feel the same.
I have a small ASV RT40 (40 HP) tracked skid steer with a cab (but no AC). Only a 4' bucket, but for my use is fine. The left swinging door is a problem for some maneuvers. It will go Anywhere and lift anything I need. Luckily, the door is fairly easy to remove (5 minutes) for open cab access. Kubota makes a door on their Skid Steers which hinges Up for best access which is very interesting. I made a simple cover from a sheet 3/16 PVC ($35 for an 8 x 4' sheet from HDepot) that keeps rain/dirt out when parked that can be removed/installed in ~10 seconds. This gives me the best of door or no door.
I am glad you are least showed the JCB. Also VOLVO has come out with a side entrance Skid Steer. The side entrance does take away those issues you talked about in the JD. For service parts. Repair shop people you can no beat the JD network. In my area they a huge and close by.
Jcb 1cxt makes even more sense than a skid steer. You should really find out about them if you haven't. It's a skid steer sized backhoe that uses skid attachments up front and mini excavator on the back. It's got less front loader capacity than a standard skid but similar to 30-40hp tractors. And the door is side access like a tractor so no arms blocking you in. Huge plus is it's on tracks, weights 9600lbs, 49 HP with NO EMISSIONS AND EGR
if your looking to do more loader stuff then get a skid steer but if you want to pull a trailer or attachments like a woodchopper for your firewood or if you want to do more farming things then a tractor would be better for you but a tractor is all-around more useful also there are so many attachments for the tractor then skid steer
a little (2x series) tractor with a pull behind works great to smooth stuff out after the rough work is done with my skid steer, saves a lot of repairs on pushing the smaller implements past what they should be doing. very light and effective with a box blade to clean things up. As mentioned in the video, on grass the weight of a skid requires skilled operation not to tear up the turf.
I run a business doing gravel driveways, grading, drainage issues etc. I use a tractor because the cost/ability of a skid steer doesn't outweigh the cost/ability of a tractor if you know what you're doing. There are so many things a tractor can do that a skid steer cannot. Best bang for buck? Tractor hands down.
Im just in the planning stages of starting a similar business, do you use a hoe attachment on your 3pt for doing drainage or a trencher? Also if you take multiple attachments to jobsites on your trailer is it a pain to switch them out with tractor? I would imagine a skidsteer would be easier to pull up to trailer lift attachment to trailer deck to switch out? With a tractor the attachment for the 3pt would have to be low on the ground to hook up right?
I have owned both, a Case wheeled skidsteer and a Kioti tractor. The skidsteer was amazing during the construction of my home and I had a snowplow on the front of it, it worked very well but I found it just sat there after most of the big projects were done. Too expensive of a machine for me to justify keeping only for snow removal. Skid steers are very uncomfortable (bouncy) and I didn't care for being trapped in the cabin with a load or implement on the front. The small size for storage was kinda nice. I recently purchased my Kioti tractor with loader, its an all around great machine I can use to harrow fields and other 3 point attachments for small farm/ranch work and I have invested in a front mount snowblower for it. I use this thing year round now and is so very handy. It of course depends on your circumstances and type of property, but for me, if I could only have 1 unit long term, tractor for sure. If you can afford both - obviously even better.
It all depends on the work you are going to be doing. Had both, and Compact Track Loaders are where it's at for my property. If you have steep hills and challenging terrain you can't beat a CTL. If you are a row crop farmer you can't beat an ag tractor. There is some overlap but it all depends on the work you are doing. If you handle a lot of material forks/bucket mostly or need to dig and grade then a skid/ctl is the answer. If you are plowing, planting, and mowing fields a tractor is the better option. When I bought a tractor I did it on the assumption that it was more versatile but that's not entirely true. If you have specific jobs you need to do in most places you will have a hard time finding a place to rent tractor implements. Alternatively Skid implements are more robust and more expensive if you are buying them, but.... you can rent them super easy for whatever job you have instead of buying stuff you don't need long term. Loader operation on a skid is light years better than a tractor lift capacity and speed are so much better, super heavy material is better moved with tracks than tires.
An in between comparison would be a compact articulated tractor vs skidsteer vs conventional tractor. Articulated tractors are uncommon but are a middle ground
I love my 333G but thinking about selling and getting a large tractor. Here is my opinion per the difference in skid steer and tractor. One is for demolishing and constructing and the other is for upkeep. 😊.
I have tractor, skid, mini excavator, and dump truck. All have their uses, but the tractor is like a Swiss army knife. It can do 50 things but none perfectly.
Some advice to someone using a skid loader on their lawn. Don't pivot on the axles. Only turn when moving forward or backwards. Probably save ya from some wear and tear as well.
Apples and oranges comparison. Get what you need for the job you do most often. I'd hate to try mowing a field and wind rowing with skidsteer. But that would be fun to watch
This is an excellent video! As you stated, each situation different. I have 2 woodlots I manage & they are separated so I could by driving up to a 1/2 mile from one to another. After borrowing a skid steer a time or two, I wasn't comfortable making that trip to & from the woodlots back to my house. They were track machines, so maybe a wheeled machine would be better for travel. I just like sitting up higher on that trip with multiple travel speeds option of tractors & also almost always towing a trailer of some sort behind taking things or bringing back items so many of the trips. Just depends on your business.
Get in the soft ground with a wheeled skid steer and your stuck ,they also have terrible visability and are miserable to get in and out of and to do mechanical work on .Unless you are doing heavy dirt work i prefer a tractor!
One item that wasn’t brought up is center of gravity. I have owned tractors for years and rented lots of skid steers. Doing any work on even slight hillsides is much safer for a skid steer. I have a grapple on my tractor and yes it works great but lifting debris high can become unsafe quickly. I’d feel much better doing that work in a skid steer.
Our MK Martin hydraulic front blower with rear hydraulic power pack, 86 inch, hydraulic chute rotation and deflection was $Cdn 8650 when we bought it in 2015. Not cheap, but not nearly as expensive as you made them out to be.
@@GoodWorksTractors any particular reason the front mount blower package would have increased by a larger percentage than any other blowers? Seeing a decent used one for Cdn $5600 in a quick search.
The Manuverability of the skidsteer is far superior to that of a tractor. Turn around in place. CTL's have more pushing power in mud and sand. Nice thing about tractor: easier to climb into. Also dust is behind you when mowing, rather than clogging up your air filter on the skid steer. Bobcat has a remote control option so you can control it outside the machine.
I put about 400 hours a year on ctl's and about 400 hours a year on compact tractors as a landscaper. Comparing the two is like comparing a sledge hammer to a framing hammer. Their uses can have some overlap, but they each have drastic benefits depending on the situation.
I always thought using the JCB if you could afford it would be such a helpful tool almost like both a tractor and best skiddy you could imagine. But in the end it's all really about what you need in the end ! There is so many cool options and different things you can get for whatever machine you have and i think that is the coolest part
It all comes down to the right tool for the right job. If you have a wide range of tasks that you do infrequently the tractor could be the better way to go. If you are leveling driveways, loading dump trucks and grading lots, the skid steer might be the way to go. If one piece of equipment fit all needs for everyone there would not be the variety of equipment out there. Even within their own lines there is a large amount of difference. Different size tractors and skid loaders based on what you need them to do. A JD 9RX 640 would not be a good machine for mowing your lawn and JD 1025R would not be the right machine to plow massive wheat fields in Wyoming and Montana.
I use an ASV RT40 skid steer, Issue on this particular model is there is NO trailer hitch or integrated rear bumper, just beautiful thick fiberglass engine cover. Earlier versions of ASV had an integrated counter weight which served as a bumper with 2" receiver. One Mod I had to make. A light duty trailer hitch for pulling 400 pound (ish) stump grinder and shredder.
I found when I was developing my 30 acre property a skidsteer was the way to go after everything was done and I had to maintain the property a tractor work better because it didn't rip up the lawn.
Very interesting video. I own a compact Kubota tractor (b series) , done in last year 400h. Initialy I only wanted this machine for my own land, but ended up doing garden services - mainly I create new lawns. As You can imagine, very important thing is to have the ground leveled. Currently I am using box blade, rakes and also my bukcet in float mode. I think that this is where the skeed steer can be much more better? I saw bobcat with power-rake in front - did amazing job on leveling the big area of dirt almost instantly. There was also an implement with laser grading. I think that this is the main area, where skeed steer beats any tractor?
I've had a Deere 333D. Deere treated me so badly on warranty that I'll never purchase Deere equipment again. My grandfather and his brother in law started using Dereequipment in the 1930s. BIL always had one of the largest tractors Deere made up into the 1970s, son and grandson have continued to this day. My father worked for Deere as a zone rep in the 1950s. First cousin was manger of Deere south east parts warehouse in Chamblee GA when he retired. We've been all Deere for 3 generations. Zone rep for Deere refused to cover engine on the 333 when it was was completely worn out at 3000 hours. All service on it had been done by dealer on schedule. Dirt leak into intake killed it. It had several other problems which made it the only lemon piece of equipment I've ever owned and I'm 76. Replaced it with a Bobcat T870, no problems, and better performing all around. Within a year after the 333 debacle I purchased a Volvo 250 excavator, two Bobcat (Polaris) UTVs, and another T870. Had Deere treated me decently I'd not have looked anywhere else for the other equipment. Manager of the dealership where the 333 was purchased had been a Deere zone rep. Both he and my father knew that the Deere zone rep could have covered it and should have covered it. My guess is that he was trying to keep his warranty costs down so he could get promoted before his bad faith came back and bit someone else later. I've got an 844J loader which has been fine. From what I've heard the G model 333 is a good piece of equipment, but I'll never touch Deere again.
The trick to stop ripping up the lawn (or limit it) is when you turn, float the bucket on the ground and turn, it is a huge difference in the mess you make. And saves a hellovalotta time.
Excellent content. I love my tractor, bought one just a little bigger than I probably need most of the time. Have middle buster, tiller, finish mower, pallet forks and stump bucket for it. Also have a post hole digger but always use on my little tractor with positive down force. The cost of attachments seems pretty high with the skid steer. Also I think the transit speed would get old. Tractor will run up to 18mph which feels way too fast. Would like to see a small track-hoe in my future.
They both have their uses. One is always going to out perform the other depending on what the task is at hand. Very hard to compare the two with so many variables. And I too enjoy operating tractors. Always have and alway will.
Tractor, hands down. The skid steer is handy, and that mulcher is very impressive, but I still feel the versatility of the tractor makes it the superior choice. It also is highly dependent on the situation it is being used in. I agree with the others; own the tractor, rent the skid steer. :)
IDK. There is something classy about a green and yellow tractor (or orange if you have bad taste in tractors :) on the homestead. A skid steer makes your yard look like a construction zone. Only those "in the know" how ballin you are if you own a skid steer.
Bobcat HAD an awd model and turf tires thing looked like a beast! I watched a clip where it looked like they didn’t break a blade of grass. I believe it’s discontinued though so they must have had some issues for sure.
Its all going to depend on the work you need to do and what you want out of your land. I own 36 acres and manage it very well with a 25 HP subcompact with loader and backhoe. But I am mostly doing gravel road maintenance and food plots for wild game. I rent a skid steer to do anything that deals with land clearing (maybe once a year) new skid steer with two attachments was $165 k, my tractor new with attachments was $26k. I could buy a new tractor every 2 years and have a bumper to bumper warranty for 12 years for the same start cost! No new trailers, no new sheds to store it under, no new truck to pull it. Remember these when buying and put all the cost into storage, transporting, and service from the dealer. Skid steers are awesome machines but think about what your main needs are year to year before buying.
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Great compare and contrast. "Time is money" is why Tractor sales are always booming whilst skid-steer sakes remain "stuck in the mud"(so to speak.)
To actually manufacture a tractor is far far *far* less of an expense than to build out a skid steer so you will have far greater number of tractors, parts, dealers, dealer support etc etc than could ever be possible in the skid steer market...which remarkably there is a "skid steer" market but that mainly has to with as you show perfectly here in the logging business (ironically with wheels not tracks.)
The other huge advantage of a tractor is actual maintenance...meaning "next time pop the hood on the two machines first" when showing off the two vehicles.
In a tractor *as the mechanic* i can get all around the vehicle to work on that.
With a skid steer I'm going to need a lift which as you well note adds to the *AWESOME* capital expense of buying, owning and operating a skid steer (of to the Bank again!) whereas a tractor i can simply use cash plus money earned from operation to pay for everything.
Tractor Companies have moved to include "track conversions" as attachments now as well so in theory you can now have the best of both Worlds with your Tractor.
Winner:. *THE TRACTOR*
move along..
One neighbor has an excavator, skid steer and dump truck. Other neighbor has excavator and bulldozer. Tractor works for me with friendly neighbors.
This is the best setup I've heard of so far!
@@dfarmer_ as long as you're a good neighbor to me I'll let you borrow my stuff and I'll lend a hand.
I’ve had tractors for years and bought my first skid loader a few months ago. I will never be without a skid loader. They are so useful. If I could only have one it would be a skid loader over a tractor.
Why do you say that what's pros and cons
@@vr4junkie385 It really depends on what you do most of the time. But overall for any kind of loader work a skid is the way to go. Buckets, grapple, forks etc with a mid size skid you’ll have 3 times the lift capacity of a typical mid size 40-50hp tractor. My 63hp 9000lb skid will lift 6000lbs. Much more stable with a load too, especially on uneven grades. Never get stuck with tracks. The zero turn radius is a plus too. You can actually see the bucket edge in a skid, lot better visibility of the attachment. It’ll be way faster and easier doing loader work with a skid loader.
But, if you’re just maintaining your largely developed land, I think a tractor is the smarter option. Even if you are developing your land you can do it with a tractor, it’ll just be slower. Skid steer attachments cost twice as much if not more than the same for a tractor. The skid will cost 2-3 times as much to buy, compared to a tractor, and twice as much to fix. Tractors are much more friendly to the ground too, they don’t tear up like a skid loader does. For big mowers or bush hogs, batwing types tractor with pto is better.
If you bought raw land and you’re building a homestead or something, you can’t beat a skid and a mini. But they’re expensive. A tractor with a backhoe will do basically everything they can, just slower. Except maybe the liff capacity.
If you’re a land owner, most guys on the tractor forums recommend renting a skid steer/mini ex once or twice a year to knock out the heavy work and buying a tractor for day to day maintenance.
Im a land owner, and I followed that advice from the tractor forums and it was BAD advice, Tractors are not good for getting work done in a timely manner. Renting a skid steer at current rates is peeing into the wind. I struggled with my tractor for over a year trying to get things done. About the only thing it was useful for was mowing and maintaining my road. Sure it was helpful for other tasks but it just did not excell at them, In rain or mud no go on steep slopes no go, any digging forget it. I Sold it, Bought a tracked skid steer and 0 regrets, Brush hog, and just about any other task i could think of. my opinion is a tractor is better than nothing, and as you said good for day to day light maintenance, but to get actual work done no
Both have their place. For excavation, forestry work and rough mowing. A skid steer with alway come out on top. Mowing a 15 ft. swath across a pasture, planting and making hay is the tractor’s domain.
I have rented skid steers and dearly love them, also used a tractor could make a case those could be rented also. But cost of the two units makes it easier for tractor ownership. Tractors and attachments have come a long way in recent years for small land owners. So rent SS and own tractor is my preference. Great video and all points made are good.
One comment, watch a few of your videos. I would say your Presentation and communication skills are second to none!
Paul,
If he was good he would say it in less than 5 minutes instead of bloviating the obvious
you sold me when you talked about tearing up the yard/orchard/field/ditch with the tracks/wheels of a skidsteer. Borrowed a friends to move some dirt from one point to another and didn't like what it did to my yard. Thank you! I needed something to counteract my sons steadfastness on a skid steer. I'm like you my I guess my heart will always lean towards a tractor.
One thing that I always have to keep in mind is the swing of things- gotta be super attentive to what’s near the front bucket on a tractor when using a rear attachment, or what the rear attachment might be trying to swing into when turning. So easy to hit things when there is so much overhang in the front and often rear of your tractor at the same time.
Just bought a few acres of land which I now need to clear out and this has made it clear that I should rent the SS to do the rough work, clear it all out, and then just purchase a tractor to keep up with the maintenance afterwards. Thank you!
A few acres.... I would never have a Tractor of less than 40 HP... These little ones look great on paper but they just don't have the grunt. My view is that 45-55hp is what you need for 5-50 acres... A general rule of thumb is 50hp as a base - then above 25acres - take your acreage and add 30. That is the HP you want. Above 300 acres you want the big kit.
Small hobby farms, homesteads, sub 10 acres - go for ride on mowers and a skid steer - Or if you really want a tractor buy a 45-55hp
Oddly it was cheaper for me to buy a skid steer. With these crazy times it's worth more now than when I bought it...still can't sell it and get a tractor with a loader. Used tractors have gotten crazy expensive. It gets around better in the forest. In jeffco mo we have more forest then fields. You made all great points!
Solid coverage of the key differences between the two machines!! You covered the item of better ground pressure (lower psi) with the skid steer track loader (CTL). But the tracks are very important in muddy conditions so you don't get stuck like a wheel tractor can. Now you can still get a CTL stuck just as you can with a dozer but the CTL is superior in this situation versus a wheel tractor. The other item is gradeability on steep slopes where the CTL will run rings around a wheel tractor. But each unit has their place and I have both. For mowing a wheel tractor is superior and doesn't tear things up as you noted. Anyway, thanks for the fair and balanced look at both units!! As other commenters have noted that if they don't have a CTL they will rent one when needed which can also work out. Glad I have both a skid steer and a wheel tractor although both are much smaller than your units.
I personally have both a skidsteer and a tractor ( coincidentally my tractor is a Deere 4720 ) and although my skidsteer is rated at 65hp, I do find for digging and lifting heavy things I prefer the skidsteer. The weight always makes it feel safer. One thing you didn’t talk about at all is that the skidsteer is much more durable if you are digging or pushing, especially if you have to turn while doing so. The loader arms on a tractor are pretty easy to bend if you have a load to one side as the compact nature and overall sturdier construction of a skidsteer will let you turn under heavy load without worrying about damage to the loader arms. Definitely the tractor takes the win in ease of entering and exiting and has more operator comfort on long days in the cab. One other thing I wanted to add is even though the skidsteer is ( mine anyways ) is only 2000lbs heavier then the tractor - the foot print you mentioned is huge. I have a tire machine and run OTT tracks to get more traction and a bit more floatation, but it will still tear up a lawn much worse then a tractor - I have heard that turf tires will make a big difference but haven’t had a chance to run a set on my machine.
Thank you for making a detailed video I can use as a reference instead of trying to explain this myself. Around my property I have no need for a tractor, the skid steers and zero turn mower handles it all. Some of my friends get it all done with just a tractor. Older people mostly prefer a tractor for comfort and utility.
I have owned and used both, went back and forth on them and finally got one of each lol. They both have their advantages so i need both. My construction sights i only use the skidloader, my foodplots i use my tractor. My go to though if the situation allows the use of either is the skidsteer, i prefer to run attachments looking forward instead of looking backwards.
Given the particular circumstances that I have watched you working in, without a doubt, I would choose the skid steer. Up front it is more money but also worth more/saleable when I was done using it. Equipment that is underpowered, for the most part, is not worth owning! Cost of overall ownership/ease of use would drive my choice. Excellent review! Thank you.
It's not really more $ when apples to apples comparison - this video compares a massive skid steer and a tiny tractor. You can get a brand new skid steer for $45k with 2,000 lb lift capacity, loaded with features.
As someone who spends alot of time in skid steers, telehandlers and tractors I think you've covered off on all the bases. For a homestead small holding buy the tractor and rent the skid steer, skid steers are brilliant machines and versatility is great. But the old tractor can just do so much more and generally alot more cost effectively, time wise it might take a while more. If you're trying to compare a tractor versus a skid steer to run say a rotary mower the skid steer while generally run at about 35 - 45% less than the engine horsepower and the tractor while run between 10% - 15% less than the engine horsepower. It's an interesting comparison and I've been asked that question alot. Great video as normal. 🇦🇺👌👍
I think that most tractors also have a lot more ground clearance. If I could get a skid steer light enough to float across the lake to my property I'm pretty sure it wouldn't make it very far before it was hung up. Great video and start to my morning.
Ran my 2021 220G through some heavy mud this year, wheeled but didn't have to assist with the bucket much at all. Also got an old late 40's 3010 and ive had that one stuck close to the top of the rear wheels lol. Figured i would need at least a set of tracks to throw over the tires or at very least chains on the 220, but haven't had the need to do it yet. Haven't run into any traction issues operating a blower (72B), but could always go with the stud kit on a winter set if it gets to the point she started to struggle. From what several reviewers have suggested the tires do better on sheer ice than tracks to begin with.
I have no need for a skid steer or anything bigger than my 1025R but I enjoyed watching your comparison. Also I noticed the trees in your area are definitely starting to change. Great colors. Thanks for sharing.
I currently run an MX5400 in my land services business everyday. The versatility and cost of the tractor won me over. I am glad I went with the tractor first but I can see a skid steer in my future as well
As a farmer I’m team tractor you can use them in the fields easily and you get a three point and drawbar
Strong case for Team Tractor!
As a farmer also, with fields multiple miles away, I can just drive the tractor down the road no problem, skid steer not so much.
When excluding field work, our skid steer gets far more usage than our 5 tractors. Far handier in most circumstances and at 12mph, not terrible for
@@dfarmer_ I am a cattle farmer with no auto load wagons so I don’t think a skid steer will get the same job done.
@@trevorrowe6231 By auto load do you mean those bale trailers that can load themselves? We don't use them either. With the 12mph speed I get all the close bales 1 at a time, but load the farther ones on the racks or trailers and haul back to the yard. I've helped our neighbor who uses telehandlers and semi trailers, and that's the way to go! (if you can afford it)
Nice comparison
I have a skid steer ordered to complement my tractor
Super video. Great job! In response to the question posed in the title of the video, an emphatic “NO” is the answer. A tracked loader certainly can’t compete with the tractor, that is fundamentally designed for pulling implements across reasonably uniform grades. Conversely, a tractor cannot under any circumstance, compete with a tracked loader that is exclusively designed for forward facing, high-capacity mechanical implements and high-functioning hydraulic implements. I have to add that tracked loaders are superb in the snow (ASV’s snowmobile-inspired design reigns supreme), and the ‘fun factor’ for middle-aged man children such as myself eclipses the snow experience in a tractor.
One small correction for ROC on SSL vs. CTL. Deere skid steers use 50% of tipping load for ROC. Compact track loaders use 35% of tipping load for ROC. That 333G may have an ROC of 3700lb, but it has no problems lifting an 8500lb Jersey barrier.
333g tipping weight is over 10k i think
I used to operate a 333G at a log home builder and I never did find out what it’s limit was. It would literally lift anything anytime without question. Including the owners F350.
I am on my second 333g, I had a bobcat t770, it was very smooth but can not compare to the 333g in tractive power, or lifting power. Nothing breaks out of a pile like the Deere. I am a home builder and use it for Excavating and moving lumber around the job site.
It will lift any lumber load off the delivery truck.
I wish I found this channel sooner. Tractors are old school and always slowly upgrade where does are to of the line. I tried to buy a Datsun skid steer it is 60 years old and AMAZING
Great comparison of the two! Awesome background with Fall colors on full display!
I ran heavy equipment for 30 years. A tractor cannot even come close to the durability, efficiency or capacity of heavy equipment. But, for a home owner a tractor is a wonderful option. Also having an old backhoe is very handy.
while heavy equipment with 15-20K hours on them is common, the service bills that it takes to get them there are MASSIVE.
I replaced my old 6600 Ford tractor with a Kubota 3901 last year. I wouldn't have gotten such a small tractor if I didn't already have a Bobcat T650 and a New Holland 675E. I did get a shock when I expected to use the skid steer attachments on the tractor and found it it wouldn't even lift them empty. So far I've only bought a different set of forks. The 6' heavy duty Bush Hog brush cutter and Rhino TM 84 work good on the Kubota though and I actually enjoy operating it.
Hi, Good Works Tractors.
We have a Cat 299D2 skid steer, almost the same size and weight as your JD 333G. I made brackets to mount mirrors on the outside of the loader arms for more rearward visibility. The idea was born when we had to cover leech field lines with rock and we could not turn after dumping a bucket but had to reverse all the way back out along 200 feet of leech pipe to get the next bucket of rock.
Works well when the bucket is down fairly low but not when it is up high and is a good additional aid to the reversing camera as it gives better detail at the sides.
Just my 0.02.
You have a wonderful day. Best wishes. Deas Plant.
Me "I want a Skid Steer."
My wallet "🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣"
My wife "🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣"
Most wives: 🔫
You help answer so many questions that I don't even think about!
One thing I would add is how weight is distributed with a load. I backfill swimming pools. I like the "reach" my tractor has vs a skidsteer. I feel much safer with the weight 6 plus feet away from the edge of the hole while I dump dirt.
A skid will out dig me, but I bought my tractor new for what a well used skid goes for .
Speaking of a skid steer and tracks vs tires on a lawn. I was having a conversation with a guy who rented a CTL and it lead to tracks vs tires. I said it was more beneficial that he had tracks because he was driving it across his lawn and he then went on to say that tracks would do more damage to a lawn than tires. Metal tracks probably but rubber, NO! Tracks create an increase in square inches to support the weight of the machine vs tires where the weight is focused on a much smaller contact patch increasing psi on the ground. He continued to argue with me and I just let him think that he won. I've used both tracks and tires on lawn and I know there's more damage with tires.
yeah the compaction is far greater with a tractor. The skid steer leaves skid marks every time you steer. It will scrape off the top of the ground when it is turning, especially with tight turns.
Skidsteer: can move more material, can flow higher gpm, higher operating pressure-more lift capability, higher operator comfort due to a 40+hr use, glad you covered the stability of the 333g
Tractor: lighter farm use, blow a tire its only one- not a 2k track, repairs at dealer usually cost less on labor charge between ag vs construction, dont have to clean tracks
Great coverage! Need to do the compact wheel loaders next!
Wheeled loader would be useless on a farm.
If money wasn’t an issue, for sure I’d have both. I’m new to heavy equipment of any kind and bought my first compact tractor a few years ago. It’s been a great learning experience and once done paying it off, would definitely be interested in getting a skid steer. Great great video on comparing both, though I think you were more biased towards the skid steer. Though not as powerful as the skid steer the biggest advantage for the tractor has got to be the PTO and overall cost of getting implements. But as you mentioned time and time again you need to be very clear as to what you want to do. Getting a tractor or skid steer can’t be an impulse buy.
I was trying to decide between a Cab Tractor, or a Skidsteer. I was clearing timber on my 6 acre property. Dealership convinced me that my tractor could do the job, but it would take a little longer. I bought a 37HP MF tractor, with maybe 1400lb lifting capacity, with a grapple. In hind sight, I would have finished the entire project in a few months with a skidsteer it took me two years with a tractor. Simply put, when lifting logs, doing timber clearing... a skid steer is what you want. Now.... for grading the tractor did way better with a box scraper on the back.
Skid steers are awesome, but fill a special niche. A tractor is like a Chevy or Ford truck. Just versatile in many many areas. Who wouldn’t want a skid steer?!? But not having eithe I’ll be buying a tractor first.
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Thanks for post this. I'm still a few years away from having to make this decision and it already keeps me up at night 😅! If money was no object I suppose I'd get the skid steer - or both! But, as a land owner, not really a "farmer" or row-cropper, having all the business in the back of the machine is almost a negative. The versatility of a tractor is a huge plus in it's favor, but trying to manage wooded areas with those squishy tires is just asking to blow one. Skid steers, I'd imagine suck up more fuel, have higher repair costs with inexplicably expensive hoses, and more costly attachments. If all you needed was a bucket I suppose a skid steer was good. But money is a real concern when you start adding the bells.. Honestly I still can't decide...
I have both for construction or digging skid all the way. That includes heavy mulching as long as it's not soft the skid gets stuck really easy they will sink. Pulled mine out of the bush almost as many times as drove out it's wet out there. Tractor for pretty much anything else. Get one with the front mount blower turning sucks while you're blowing but you don't slide as much, and in the bush I can get out all most all the time. Might just be me though.
I've got both. I used the skid steer 80-90% of the time.
Great video!! Lots of good info! Have tractor at home and heavy equipment at work. We had a gentleman I work with mowing with our 333g and he managed to role it on its lid. They are very safe but anything can happen.
Love a lot of the comparison, I've got 4052 r and an SVL 75 which were similar in price. Nicer part about the Kubota cab is the door moves vertically in the cab so you can get out regardless of loader height. Skid steers and tractors at this size though are meant for very different purposes. One is more small farm and the other is much more industrial. One of the big reasons skid steers and their attachments are heavier and more expensive. So its a good comparison for people who are not versed in equipment but they are radically different machines and the two displayed here are completely different beasts. That skid steer is more comparable to a max 5 series or a low 6 series
Do not get put of a skidsteer if the arms are up and un supported I've seen it go real bad
Agreed. We run a 5 series on our 400 acres and I'm really considering a 333G. Mostly for road/culvert maintenance moving huge Live Oaks that love to fall in the direction of every fence I put up. Plus, CTLs are much easier to maneuver in tight places like in the woods.
Good video . In my case I have 4 equipments . I have compact track loader , excavator , utility tractor with loader and articulated wheel loader . All are Kubota brand .
The lines have gotten really blurry between these two pieces of equipment, but I agree for most people they should invest into a tractor if they own a big piece of property. A tractor is meant for agricultural use, to care for property… For mowing grass and Tilling fields, and things like that. It’s great for pushing things around and I put a set of forks on to pick stuff up. Super versatile and hard to top for the price. We are very glad to have a midsize tractor.
One thing, I would encourage most people to never buy a tractor without a cab, I think you would regret it. There are exceptions, but most people I know that have bought a tractor with a cab wish they did not do it.
Now on the other hand with a skid steer there are all sorts of things you can do, and we actually own two of them, much older bobcat units from the 80s that we bought and fixed up… They are not these newer units that can run the big mulcher heads and such, but I’ve still been very useful for moving material and doing dirt work on the property. They do a lot of things more efficiently than the tractor, they move into a lot of places better than a tractor because they’re smaller and more nimble… And because we were able to pick these up cheap because they were old and needed some repairs, then it was a good investment. We don’t haul them all over the place so we didn’t have to invest into a trailer… And we don’t have an army full of attachments that we bought for them, just a bucket and a set of forks and for one of them an auger, but they are well worth having around for their utility. The front end loader on the 900 series can pick up easily what the tractors front end loader can handle and more.
I guess what I’m saying is they make a good combination for what we do. It would sure be nice to be able to afford to trade these older units on a fancy new skid steer, but we’ve never been able to justify the cost being as we’re not using them to make profit but just to keep up the land. But they sure are nice to have around.
Skids steers are good for establishing a property and tractors are better at maintaining the property.
You need both really....I use my NH T4.65 for PTO tasks, towing, 3pt work etc, then the skidster for unloading pallets (with forks) - loading material to low trailers. I am considering buying a Telehandler that can tow - the Telehandler can be a platform, fork loader / dump loader, Bale loader, towing - some even come with PTO. But my Skid Loader has a Post auger etc so I will never part with it. The key to a small farm / hobby farm sub 50acres - is a newer cab tractor, an old non-cab tractor (like a MF135 or older) - then a Skidsteer, a Telehandler and a backhoe (although you can get away without a backhoe and borrow or hire one for jobs).
Do I own or plan on buying a skidder or tractor? No but I watched the whole video
I don't own either because my property is pretty small. But I have rented. A couple of differences I've seen that really weren't covered in the video:
- Ride. Skid steers, with their short "wheelbase", can be an uncomfortable ride on rough ground. I find myself more fatigued at the end of a long session on rough terrain because my core muscles are constantly engaged. That was especially true with older Bobcats' foot controls. Tractors are a lot smoother and a lot more relaxed experience.
- Maneuverability. Let's face it. Tractors kind of stink at getting into tight spots, turning around, etc. "Give me 40 acres, and I'll turn this rig around..."
- Access. A skid steer just seems like it will go places that a tractor won't. That shorter overall length and tight turning radius really help. But a wheeled skid steer with its smaller tires and higher weight can also get stuck in places where a tractor might not. The low, flat belly on the skid steer will suck down tight to mud and make it hard to get out. (Don't ask me how I know that, okay?)
- Ground clearance. Not much needs to be said here.
- Learning curve. It's not bad, but it takes a little more to get to the point where it feels instinctive on a skid steer. I cut my teeth on the old Bobcats with separate controls for driving and attachment operations, and when everything moved to the dual joysticks, there was definitely an adjustment period. In a tractor, it's pretty much gas pedal and steering wheel.
- Ground speed. I really don't have a comparison to make here since the machines would have to be of similar capabilities for that comparison to make sense. I've run excavators and compared to a skid steer they're agonizing slow even when you put them in "travel" mode, but I suspect the tractor would give the skid steer a run for its money. Groundspeed would make a difference if you're making multiple trips with a full bucket or grapple over any kind of distance. I had to use an excavator to move some huge stumps about 100 yards, and it felt like my beard grew during each trip.
What he said about tearing up a lawn with a skid steer also applies to things like grading a driveway. You'll spend more time patching up the little gouges from tight turns with a skid steer, but at least you can MAKE those tight turns. For a small property like mine, a tracked skid steer makes the most sense.
Great video, very informative, good honest appraisals. Glad I check in from time to time!
Great video sir. I think you hit the nail on the head with this video. Very detail oriented, you touched on a lot of key points.
Great video! We grew up running the big tractors on the family farm planting row crops. Never ran a skid steer on the farm though. Now I have a VENTRAC that I’ve been running here on The Lawn Care Life in Mowssouri TH-cam Channel and it’s an unbelievable machine! Lots of different attachments for it and it will never tear up the ground you are working on. And it will go places that you can’t take a skid steer and tractor. I would love to have a skid steer someday though just for the lifting and mulching capabilities. Great video! New Subscriber to the channel. 👍
Great video! Loved the comparison, personally I split the 2 and got a Ventrac 4500. Love it!
Can’t go wrong with a VENTRAC! 😉
Very good and informative video. He covered a ton of different angles.
Perfect timing. Enjoying the channel. Tks for sharing..
You are excellent at making these videos bud!
Very well done, great info, answered lots of questions I had on this vary subject
In your discussion of “can you run a front end snowblower” on a tractor you failed to mention the obvious tractor mid mount PTO driven front end snowblowers. Plenty of power and not costly hydraulic solution.
The answer is to have both. I have an old 1982 Bobcat 743. I have owned it for 20 years and done lots of work on my suburban home and my hobby farm. I got a 4052R Cab JD 2017 in 2019. I like it for mowing fields, forklifts, etc.
I actually went for all 3. I bought a 3901 Kubota last year and also have a Bobcat T650 and a New Holland 675E.
I once thought a skid would have been a better purchase then my subcompact tractor. That was until I had a contractor come out to do some work for me and they brought a skid. That thing messed up my lawn, my gravel, my gravel road, and pretty much everything else it traversed over. As a homeowner with property, no thanks I'll keep my tractor. it may take me a bit longer to get somethings done but it 'Floats like a butterfly' in comparison. I agree with the other comments, own a tractor and rent a skid if you need to get a big job done fast.
Skid steers will definitely tear things up if the operator isn't VERY careful. On the other hand, I can drive our 7000 lb skid with a 2000+ lb log on the forks over the lawn without leaving a mark!
Excellent comparison Courtney.
You give a lot of information to chew on.
I love my skidsteer. Have 40 acres and use bobcat for road maintenance snow removal have a snow blower which is awesome. Also can dig small trenches. If I need another attachment i just rent it.
Living in southern Texas, I am perfectly happy with my tractor with mower and rear attachment mulcher. I bought out property in SC and the skid steer would make more sense to work with.
This video was perfect for me! Ironically, I've been looking at both Deere models for the past year. I'm on 10 acres + west of Boston, suburbs; agricultural area. I will be buying additional land, as well, in the very near future. Love land, lots of land. Love wildlife too. So, I own a x595. Great tractor, need more though.I will keep the x595. Winter storms come, I have to cut up down trees, drag them to the wood pile out in the woods. I currently have down trees laying in a river, the better part of 40' in length. I too, am a tractor guy. I've rented CAT skid steers from time to time; have to admit, I like a steering wheel. BUT, I don't see the 4720 coming in & out of the woods with trees in the grapple, nor do I picture the 4720 getting near the side of the river to drag those trees out with a grapple with out getting stuck in the Spring or Summer months? The 333G with the Forestry Package would be the better option. Attachments: bucket & grapple to start. I have both a blade & blower for my x595. Driveway is 500' +, 333G with a bucket would make short work out of the driveway I'm sure. It would also zip in & out of the woods & not hopefully get stuck at rivers edge yanking cut up tree sections out of the river.
Now, I keep plugging for this; hoping a JD factory Gator 🐊 product manager gets wind of my idea. JD needs to come out with a Crocodile/"Croc"; big brother to the 🐊 Gator 🐊! It should be 30% larger. Handle attachments like blowers, blades, buckets & sweepers with ease. Like the Gator, Trax would be a readily available option. Yes, it would have to be hydraulic. It should directly compete with Bobcat's 5600/Toolcat. Looked at the Toolcat, read some of the reviews. A few mechanics gave their 2 cents worth, those reviews were; let's just say, less than flattering. In the end, if a JD Crocodile with Trax, and a 324G engine were to become available; it would be an absolutely perfect compromise between both the 333G & 4720 for me! I'd start off with a blower & grapple. Father used to say: "Gets colder every year"; he was right. My x595 doesn't have a cab, the Croc would. Blowing snow in a UTV would be ideal. Yes, I would get to keep my steering wheel! Ha!
Excellent comparison - Thanks.
With another year under your belt, and given recent issues you've had with leaking hoses, I'd love to see a followup video comparison, and curious if you still feel the same.
I have a small ASV RT40 (40 HP) tracked skid steer with a cab (but no AC). Only a 4' bucket, but for my use is fine. The left swinging door is a problem for some maneuvers. It will go Anywhere and lift anything I need. Luckily, the door is fairly easy to remove (5 minutes) for open cab access. Kubota makes a door on their Skid Steers which hinges Up for best access which is very interesting. I made a simple cover from a sheet 3/16 PVC ($35 for an 8 x 4' sheet from HDepot) that keeps rain/dirt out when parked that can be removed/installed in ~10 seconds. This gives me the best of door or no door.
The ASV RT40 weighs 4300Lbs which is perfect for your typical dual axle landscape trailer.
I am glad you are least showed the JCB. Also VOLVO has come out with a side entrance Skid Steer. The side entrance does take away those issues you talked about in the JD. For service parts. Repair shop people you can no beat the JD network. In my area they a huge and close by.
Jcb 1cxt makes even more sense than a skid steer. You should really find out about them if you haven't. It's a skid steer sized backhoe that uses skid attachments up front and mini excavator on the back. It's got less front loader capacity than a standard skid but similar to 30-40hp tractors. And the door is side access like a tractor so no arms blocking you in. Huge plus is it's on tracks, weights 9600lbs, 49 HP with NO EMISSIONS AND EGR
Excellent comparison thank you 😊
if your looking to do more loader stuff then get a skid steer but if you want to pull a trailer or attachments like a woodchopper for your firewood or if you want to do more farming things then a tractor would be better for you but a tractor is all-around more useful also there are so many attachments for the tractor then skid steer
a little (2x series) tractor with a pull behind works great to smooth stuff out after the rough work is done with my skid steer, saves a lot of repairs on pushing the smaller implements past what they should be doing. very light and effective with a box blade to clean things up. As mentioned in the video, on grass the weight of a skid requires skilled operation not to tear up the turf.
What do you think is the best machine for forestry work? Can you toe a trailer to a skid steer to move logs around?
Maybe a subject for a video..
I was researching this a couple days ago. Strange you post a video today and I have watched many of your videos in the past few weeks.
We already know you're partial toward the tractor. Otherwise, you'd be known as "Good Works Skid Steer." LOL.
I run a business doing gravel driveways, grading, drainage issues etc. I use a tractor because the cost/ability of a skid steer doesn't outweigh the cost/ability of a tractor if you know what you're doing. There are so many things a tractor can do that a skid steer cannot. Best bang for buck? Tractor hands down.
Im just in the planning stages of starting a similar business, do you use a hoe attachment on your 3pt for doing drainage or a trencher? Also if you take multiple attachments to jobsites on your trailer is it a pain to switch them out with tractor? I would imagine a skidsteer would be easier to pull up to trailer lift attachment to trailer deck to switch out? With a tractor the attachment for the 3pt would have to be low on the ground to hook up right?
I have owned both, a Case wheeled skidsteer and a Kioti tractor. The skidsteer was amazing during the construction of my home and I had a snowplow on the front of it, it worked very well but I found it just sat there after most of the big projects were done. Too expensive of a machine for me to justify keeping only for snow removal. Skid steers are very uncomfortable (bouncy) and I didn't care for being trapped in the cabin with a load or implement on the front. The small size for storage was kinda nice. I recently purchased my Kioti tractor with loader, its an all around great machine I can use to harrow fields and other 3 point attachments for small farm/ranch work and I have invested in a front mount snowblower for it. I use this thing year round now and is so very handy. It of course depends on your circumstances and type of property, but for me, if I could only have 1 unit long term, tractor for sure. If you can afford both - obviously even better.
It all depends on the work you are going to be doing. Had both, and Compact Track Loaders are where it's at for my property. If you have steep hills and challenging terrain you can't beat a CTL. If you are a row crop farmer you can't beat an ag tractor. There is some overlap but it all depends on the work you are doing. If you handle a lot of material forks/bucket mostly or need to dig and grade then a skid/ctl is the answer. If you are plowing, planting, and mowing fields a tractor is the better option.
When I bought a tractor I did it on the assumption that it was more versatile but that's not entirely true. If you have specific jobs you need to do in most places you will have a hard time finding a place to rent tractor implements. Alternatively Skid implements are more robust and more expensive if you are buying them, but.... you can rent them super easy for whatever job you have instead of buying stuff you don't need long term. Loader operation on a skid is light years better than a tractor lift capacity and speed are so much better, super heavy material is better moved with tracks than tires.
An in between comparison would be a compact articulated tractor vs skidsteer vs conventional tractor. Articulated tractors are uncommon but are a middle ground
I love my 333G but thinking about selling and getting a large tractor. Here is my opinion per the difference in skid steer and tractor. One is for demolishing and constructing and the other is for upkeep. 😊.
I have tractor, skid, mini excavator, and dump truck.
All have their uses, but the tractor is like a Swiss army knife. It can do 50 things but none perfectly.
The skid is unmatched in any dexterous situation with crazy power (ie. sorting logs). Owners will make due well with either. Good video!
Okay.. maybe matched by a Mini-ex. Ahh, the rabbit hole that is equipment.
Some advice to someone using a skid loader on their lawn. Don't pivot on the axles. Only turn when moving forward or backwards. Probably save ya from some wear and tear as well.
Apples and oranges comparison. Get what you need for the job you do most often. I'd hate to try mowing a field and wind rowing with skidsteer. But that would be fun to watch
This is an excellent video! As you stated, each situation different. I have 2 woodlots I manage & they are separated so I could by driving up to a 1/2 mile from one to another. After borrowing a skid steer a time or two, I wasn't comfortable making that trip to & from the woodlots back to my house. They were track machines, so maybe a wheeled machine would be better for travel. I just like sitting up higher on that trip with multiple travel speeds option of tractors & also almost always towing a trailer of some sort behind taking things or bringing back items so many of the trips. Just depends on your business.
Get in the soft ground with a wheeled skid steer and your stuck ,they also have terrible visability and are miserable to get in and out of and to do mechanical work on .Unless you are doing heavy dirt work i prefer a tractor!
One item that wasn’t brought up is center of gravity. I have owned tractors for years and rented lots of skid steers. Doing any work on even slight hillsides is much safer for a skid steer. I have a grapple on my tractor and yes it works great but lifting debris high can become unsafe quickly. I’d feel much better doing that work in a skid steer.
Our MK Martin hydraulic front blower with rear hydraulic power pack, 86 inch, hydraulic chute rotation and deflection was $Cdn 8650 when we bought it in 2015. Not cheap, but not nearly as expensive as you made them out to be.
5 years of normal price increases and then one year of insane price increases will do that. Maybe you've been living under a rock though. 😂
@@GoodWorksTractors any particular reason the front mount blower package would have increased by a larger percentage than any other blowers? Seeing a decent used one for Cdn $5600 in a quick search.
The Manuverability of the skidsteer is far superior to that of a tractor. Turn around in place. CTL's have more pushing power in mud and sand. Nice thing about tractor: easier to climb into. Also dust is behind you when mowing, rather than clogging up your air filter on the skid steer. Bobcat has a remote control option so you can control it outside the machine.
I put about 400 hours a year on ctl's and about 400 hours a year on compact tractors as a landscaper. Comparing the two is like comparing a sledge hammer to a framing hammer. Their uses can have some overlap, but they each have drastic benefits depending on the situation.
Agreed. Just making a video for the folks that constantly ask me about it 🤷♂️
@@GoodWorksTractors sure thing, I wouldnt expect an unexperienced person to know that.
I always thought using the JCB if you could afford it would be such a helpful tool almost like both a tractor and best skiddy you could imagine. But in the end it's all really about what you need in the end ! There is so many cool options and different things you can get for whatever machine you have and i think that is the coolest part
How do you put the bucket in float mode on the 333? Great video!
It all comes down to the right tool for the right job. If you have a wide range of tasks that you do infrequently the tractor could be the better way to go. If you are leveling driveways, loading dump trucks and grading lots, the skid steer might be the way to go. If one piece of equipment fit all needs for everyone there would not be the variety of equipment out there. Even within their own lines there is a large amount of difference. Different size tractors and skid loaders based on what you need them to do. A JD 9RX 640 would not be a good machine for mowing your lawn and JD 1025R would not be the right machine to plow massive wheat fields in Wyoming and Montana.
I use an ASV RT40 skid steer, Issue on this particular model is there is NO trailer hitch or integrated rear bumper, just beautiful thick fiberglass engine cover. Earlier versions of ASV had an integrated counter weight which served as a bumper with 2" receiver. One Mod I had to make. A light duty trailer hitch for pulling 400 pound (ish) stump grinder and shredder.
My name is Steve and i support this video.
I bought a 40 hp skidsteer for 20 grand. It's super handy and comfortable
I found when I was developing my 30 acre property a skidsteer was the way to go after everything was done and I had to maintain the property a tractor work better because it didn't rip up the lawn.
Very interesting video. I own a compact Kubota tractor (b series) , done in last year 400h. Initialy I only wanted this machine for my own land, but ended up doing garden services - mainly I create new lawns. As You can imagine, very important thing is to have the ground leveled. Currently I am using box blade, rakes and also my bukcet in float mode. I think that this is where the skeed steer can be much more better? I saw bobcat with power-rake in front - did amazing job on leveling the big area of dirt almost instantly. There was also an implement with laser grading. I think that this is the main area, where skeed steer beats any tractor?
why do you keep saying "skeed"?
I've had a Deere 333D. Deere treated me so badly on warranty that I'll never purchase Deere equipment again. My grandfather and his brother in law started using Dereequipment in the 1930s. BIL always had one of the largest tractors Deere made up into the 1970s, son and grandson have continued to this day. My father worked for Deere as a zone rep in the 1950s. First cousin was manger of Deere south east parts warehouse in Chamblee GA when he retired. We've been all Deere for 3 generations. Zone rep for Deere refused to cover engine on the 333 when it was was completely worn out at 3000 hours. All service on it had been done by dealer on schedule. Dirt leak into intake killed it. It had several other problems which made it the only lemon piece of equipment I've ever owned and I'm 76. Replaced it with a Bobcat T870, no problems, and better performing all around. Within a year after the 333 debacle I purchased a Volvo 250 excavator, two Bobcat (Polaris) UTVs, and another T870. Had Deere treated me decently I'd not have looked anywhere else for the other equipment. Manager of the dealership where the 333 was purchased had been a Deere zone rep. Both he and my father knew that the Deere zone rep could have covered it and should have covered it. My guess is that he was trying to keep his warranty costs down so he could get promoted before his bad faith came back and bit someone else later.
I've got an 844J loader which has been fine. From what I've heard the G model 333 is a good piece of equipment, but I'll never touch Deere again.
The trick to stop ripping up the lawn (or limit it) is when you turn, float the bucket on the ground and turn, it is a huge difference in the mess you make. And saves a hellovalotta time.
Excellent content. I love my tractor, bought one just a little bigger than I probably need most of the time. Have middle buster, tiller, finish mower, pallet forks and stump bucket for it. Also have a post hole digger but always use on my little tractor with positive down force. The cost of attachments seems pretty high with the skid steer. Also I think the transit speed would get old. Tractor will run up to 18mph which feels way too fast. Would like to see a small track-hoe in my future.
They both have their uses. One is always going to out perform the other depending on what the task is at hand. Very hard to compare the two with so many variables. And I too enjoy operating tractors. Always have and alway will.
Tractor, hands down. The skid steer is handy, and that mulcher is very impressive, but I still feel the versatility of the tractor makes it the superior choice. It also is highly dependent on the situation it is being used in. I agree with the others; own the tractor, rent the skid steer. :)
IDK. There is something classy about a green and yellow tractor (or orange if you have bad taste in tractors :) on the homestead. A skid steer makes your yard look like a construction zone. Only those "in the know" how ballin you are if you own a skid steer.
Bobcat HAD an awd model and turf tires thing looked like a beast! I watched a clip where it looked like they didn’t break a blade of grass. I believe it’s discontinued though so they must have had some issues for sure.
No bad taste if you have yellow tractor. Orange tractor are amazing.
Its all going to depend on the work you need to do and what you want out of your land. I own 36 acres and manage it very well with a 25 HP subcompact with loader and backhoe. But I am mostly doing gravel road maintenance and food plots for wild game. I rent a skid steer to do anything that deals with land clearing (maybe once a year)
new skid steer with two attachments was $165 k, my tractor new with attachments was $26k. I could buy a new tractor every 2 years and have a bumper to bumper warranty for 12 years for the same start cost! No new trailers, no new sheds to store it under, no new truck to pull it. Remember these when buying and put all the cost into storage, transporting, and service from the dealer. Skid steers are awesome machines but think about what your main needs are year to year before buying.