Category Archives: Skid Steers

Which is better – CTL or Skid Steer?

CAT recently took on the question – CTL or Skid Steer? In their article, CAT says you’ll need to choose based upon your applications.

It’s a common compact loader debate. Several factors come into play when choosing the right loader for your applications … the terrain, ground speed, traction, load-handling capabilities and the list continues. After receiving a ton of helpful feedback from our followers on social media, we decided to share some “food for thought” for any of you who are still grappling with the decision between tracks or wheels.

From a birds-eye view, CAT says that Compact Track Loaders (CTLs) are usually going to be preferred thanks for more traction, less ground disturbance, better material retention, and enhanced lifting capabilities. However, they do note that asphalt and concrete applications might be better with wheeled machines such as skid steers, as these hard surfaces can cause wear on your tracks over time.

Also included are a number of quotes from various Caterpillar machine users giving their two cents on the debate.

To read the full article, visit Tracks vs. Wheels: Choosing the Right Compact Loader for Your Needs.

To Skid or Not To Skid

While compact track loaders (CTLs) have begun outselling skid steers in recent years, it doesn’t mean that the wheeled machines are going the way of the dinosaur. Skid steers still have several advantages over their CTL competitors, including speed, maneuverability, and performance on hard surfaces.

However, some operators may be unclear as to which machine is best suited for a specific job. Luckily, a new article posted on compactequip.com breaks down the differences between these two pieces of equipment, and outlines the kind of work that is ideal for each one.

The article compares price, maintenance, attachments, and traction, among other things. Head over to compactequip.com to read the full article.

Get Vulcanized

Vulcanization is the process by which rubber is strengthened an hardened using heat and sulfur. The resulting product is far better suited for heavy duty jobs that can take a toll on weaker materials.

Today, vulcanized tires are all the rage. They allow your tires to last longer and your machines to work harder. That’s why compactequip.com has published a new article on the best and most innovative new vulcanized solutions for your compact equipment. From CTLs and skid steers to wheel loaders and mini dumpers, they’ve got you covered.

Head over to compactequip.com to read the full article today.

The Most Bang for Your Bucket

Buckets may be the most common attachment for compact equipment like skid steers and CTLs, but as they say, variety is the spice of life. There are a large assortment of skid steer bucket types available, and rather than just sticking with the factory default, it’s worth looking through them to find the one that’s perfect for your project.

A recent article by compactequip.com provided an in-depth look at bucket types, giving compact equipment users the insight needed in order to find the perfect fit for any type of work. As Christopher Girodat, marketing manager for Bobcat Co. says, “When looking for a loader bucket there are some things to consider to make sure the bucket is a good fit.”

Head on over to compactequip.com to read the full article today!

ASV Goes Head-To-Head With Other Top Brands in New Video Series

According to compactequip.com, ASV Holdings Inc. has decided to test their mettle against other CTL and skid steer manufacturers in a new video series. Dubbed the ‘ASV Demo Challenge,’ the videos will focus on ASV machines and how they compare to other top brands in terms of stability, speed, traction, and overall performance in a wide array of operating conditions.

Buck Storlie, ASV testing and reliability leader, said the goal was to demonstrate that ASV machines are more productive and comfortable their competitors. “These videos prove it,” he said, “showing ASV outperforming competitor compact track loaders in task after task and giving our customers the information they need to make an informed decision when buying new equipment.”

To read the full article, visit compactequip.com or watch the video below.

John Deere Releases New Roll-Out Buckets

If the buckets for your skid steers, compact track loaders, or compact wheel loaders are just a little too small, John Deere might have something you’ll be interested in.

According to equipmentworld.com, three new roll-out buckets have been added to John Deere’s Worksite Pro attachment lineup. These new, larger buckets (model numbers RB72, RB84 and RB96) provide customers with several advantages, including:

An additional 34 inches of dump reach
A pivot near the cutting edge for the additional height
Hydraulics designed for higher lift to reach elevated truck beds
114 degrees of roll-out
John Deere’s Quik-Tatch system, which allows customers to add or remove the buckets in seconds

The new buckets are available in widths of 72, 84, and 96 inches. To read the full story, head to equpmentworld.com or johndeere.com.

Caterpillar Extends Warranty on Select Compact Equipment

According to equipmentworld.com, Caterpillar is extending their standard full-machine warranty from 1 year, unlimited hours, to 2 years or 2,000 hours on select new compact equipment. The affected equipment includes:

Skid steer loaders
Compact track loaders
Multi-terrain loaders
Compact excavators

This announcement by Caterpillar mirrors similar actions taken by Case Construction Equipment, who extended warranties on their skid steers and CTL’s this past November from 1 year, 1000 hours to 2 years, 2000 hours. John Deere also announced a similar warranty extension in 2016 on its compact track loaders, skid steer loaders, compact wheel loaders and compact excavators.

Cat’s extended warranty announcement did not mention compact wheel loaders, such as the 903C2, 906M, 907M, and 908M.

Bobcat Introduces New Pallet Fork Frame

According to an article from ForConstructionPros.com, Bobcat has released it’s new pallet fork frame for Bobcat skid steers and compact track loaders, as well as Toolcat unitlity work machines and the V519 VersaHANDLER.

The new pallet fork frame:

Can attach without the operator leaving the cab
Makes it easy to change from pallet forks to bale forks
It comes in three duty levels for different capacites
Features a walk-through front frame
Has improved visibility with open carriage design
A center guard is available on all three models
Reinforced brick-guard height extension available
Features multiple tine options

NEW Bobcat Pallet Fork Frame

Manufacturers Say Compact Track Loaders Are Eroding the Skid Steer Market

What do you prefer — a compact track loader or a skid steer loader? According to the Construction Equipment magazine article “Fine Young Cannibals: CTLs Eat at Skid Steer Share,” more and more North America contractors are choosing CTLs. In fact, John Deere Construction & Forestry Product Marketing Manager says the compact track loader market is up in North America by approximately 10 percent over the past 12 months. That’s significant growth!

Brent Coffey, Wacker Neuson’s product manager for loaders, believes skid steer loaders will always have a place in the market since they are still cheaper to buy and cost less to own.

You can read more about this compact equipment trend on Construction Equipment’s website.

So, which do you prefer? Let us know. And remember, we’re here to help with all of your tire, track and undercarriage needs.

Get more life from your skid steer loader tires

Our friends at Camso shared a helpful article about getting more life from your skid steer loader tires in this month’s issue of Compact Equipment magazine.

Mike Dembe, executive director product management of construction for North and Latin American at Camso, tells skid steer loader operators that getting the most for their tires starts with having the them properly mounted and balanced. Under or over inflated tires, unbalanced tires or misalignments can lead to premature wear.

The wheels should also be inspected before mounting the tires. You need to look for rust or cracking — these issues need to be repaired, or you should replace the wheels when replacing tires. Dembe says having a trained professional mount your tires is your best bet.

The article also outlines best operating practices. You want to always make sure your tires are properly inflated, avoid overloading your skid steer loader, watch your speed and avoid being too aggressive on turns when you don’t have to.

Those are our key takeaways, but you should read the article “Learn to Minimize Skid Steer Tire Wear” for yourself.

We are one of Camso’s largest North America’s distributors of skid steer loader tires. Give us a call at 877-336-6825 when you’re ready to replace the tires on your skid steer loader.