IS IT FAIR TO COMPARE A TRACTOR VS A SKID STEER? 🤔
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 พ.ย. 2021
- We've been using our John Deere 333G skidsteer a lot lately, but most of you know us as a tractor channel. Heck, it's in our name. So we thought we'd give you and overview comparison between skidsteers and tractors. Both have their strengths, both have their weaknesses. We cover the biggies in today's video.
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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!
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’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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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. 🇦🇺👌👍
Great comparison of the two! Awesome background with Fall colors on full display!
You help answer so many questions that I don't even think about!
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.
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.
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.
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
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)
Me "I want a Skid Steer."
My wallet "🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣"
My wife "🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣"
Most wives: 🔫
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.
Perfect timing. Enjoying the channel. Tks for sharing..
Do I own or plan on buying a skidder or tractor? No but I watched the whole video
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.
Excellent comparison - Thanks.
Very good and informative video. He covered a ton of different angles.
Very well done, great info, answered lots of questions I had on this vary subject
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.
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. 👍
Awesome video.... I really appreciate the time and effort that you put into this. Great job! :)
Excellent comparison Courtney.
You give a lot of information to chew on.
Excellent comparison thank you 😊
Nice comparison
I have a skid steer ordered to complement my tractor
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.
Skids steers are good for establishing a property and tractors are better at maintaining the property.
You are excellent at making these videos bud!
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.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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
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 .
To answer your question, "is it fair"? the answer is no. The JD skid steer is a beast as skid steers go. This tractor is not a beast. Had you compared a 50-65 HP skid steer to the Deere, it would have been a more equitable comparison. 100 HP skid steers are not cheap and neither are high horsepower tractors.
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 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.
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.
I was hoping for a video like this !!!! So great !👍👌
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.
Such quality videos man thank you.
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.
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.
We already know you're partial toward the tractor. Otherwise, you'd be known as "Good Works Skid Steer." LOL.
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! Loved the comparison, personally I split the 2 and got a Ventrac 4500. Love it!
Can’t go wrong with a VENTRAC! 😉
I have a Cat 259 D3 skid steer and a JD 50G excavator. You can do multi-point turns so as to not tear up grass, but it's a pain. The skid steer is useful for digging and tearing stuff up like pavement. Great for demo and construction. Otherwise I'd rather have a tractor, because I also need to cut and bale hay. Snow plowing is faster on a tractor, grading is easier with a rear blade on a tractor without having to back drag with a skid steer bucket (dozer blades cause hoopties and grader blades are expensive and awkward), and excavators aren't used very often so best to rent those. If building a new home, buy a skid steer then trade it in for a tractor after your home is built. Also, with a tractor, you can have a buddy seat, so your wife, kid, or dog can ride along.
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.
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
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.
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.
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 .
Excellent video!!!
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.
I've got both. I used the skid steer 80-90% of the time.
Fantastic video!
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!
How do you put the bucket in float mode on the 333? Great video!
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.
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.
thank you very good explanation
Thank you!
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.
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.
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?
Great helpful info. My son has 42 rolling hills acres on the Calif. coast full of Coyote brush. I ended up going with an M7060 Kubota ( 72 hp, 65 to the PTO) with 3rd function. 2 reasons, price and as you said mowing and typical farming is easier with tractor. My question is putting a mulcher on the PTO end of the tractor. I was considering a mulcher with PTO power pack on he back for hi flow ability but as you said too much money, however at the loader end it very easy to work. What you opinion of a Baumlight mulcher on the PTO end?
Thanks for your feed back,
Rob
Team tractor due to versatility (PTO and 3pt hitch) and cost. Also the skid steer will tear up any surface you drive on. Cheers!
Thank you for the video
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.
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).
Great video
Cool video, didn't know half of that. 🌴
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!
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.
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
Great info.
Man that’s a lot of great info, I have always wanted a skid steer but can not afford ty for the info
Make it your goal bud !!!!! Or maybe Buy and older one my favourite is the John Deere 60 look it up it’s so great 😂
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
As somebody with both amd others I prefer the skid 100%
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
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. :)
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.