Over the tire tracks question

[sgf]

It seems like the last few years all it does at our small farm is rain, which leads to mud. I bought my Lx665 because I wanted the maneuverability of a skid steer to work my dirt road and to do general around the hobby farm chores. Because of the mud there are a lot of occasions when I want to use it but can't. All my use is on dirt/mud. Admittedly the foam filled tires are very worn. I have had to pull the skid steer out with a tractor on five occasions, which is a pain. I have been trying to find a local source that could recap the tires with a more aggressive tread, for mud. I would prefer that to tracks if it would do the job. The other day I happened across an ad for over the tire tracks for $695.00 I'm sure with shipping it will push or cross the $1000.00 mark. I have read that these tracks are a pain and come off etc. Other owners say they work great, so like with most things opinions seem to vary. I'd like to get opinions from folks who have these tracks. I am not looking to damage my machine or spend money to increase aggravation or get stuck as often as I am now. I bought it with the current worn tires so maybe good deep tread tires are the solution, opinions?

 

[jilbre]

My 565 came with tracks as part of the deal and I deal with silage bags on dirt that become a mess in excessive rain or when you get spring thaw action going on and it becomes like quicksand. I only put the tracks on when I absolutely need them and I don't try to see how fast I can spin the skldr around when I have them on. What I have found is on skid loaders your tires are always doing some sort of spinning and the worst your tread the worst the spinning. All this spinning is tearing up the ground and making the problem worse as far as mud goes. When you put on tracks the ground dries out faster because you haven't tore it up with tires and you don't sink in plus it isn't rutted. NH skid loaders are low enough to the ground that once you sink in a little you start bottoming out and your done. I helped a contractor that got the cheap tracks - look like log chain and have flat slats- and those were terrible regardless of the price. It seems like you can get used ones for $1000-$1200 and those have replacement parts. I have the loegering (spell?) tracks and have no complaints. You can get pretty fast putting them on. Now so you know I have a post asking about axle problems and though I am sure the tracks don't help that I really don't think they are THE problem You will need better tires for the tracks to grab but I don't think you will be sorry if you get them - I just wouldn't leave them long any longer than you have to

 

[jerry]

My 565 came with tracks as part of the deal and I deal with silage bags on dirt that become a mess in excessive rain or when you get spring thaw action going on and it becomes like quicksand. I only put the tracks on when I absolutely need them and I don't try to see how fast I can spin the skldr around when I have them on. What I have found is on skid loaders your tires are always doing some sort of spinning and the worst your tread the worst the spinning. All this spinning is tearing up the ground and making the problem worse as far as mud goes. When you put on tracks the ground dries out faster because you haven't tore it up with tires and you don't sink in plus it isn't rutted. NH skid loaders are low enough to the ground that once you sink in a little you start bottoming out and your done. I helped a contractor that got the cheap tracks - look like log chain and have flat slats- and those were terrible regardless of the price. It seems like you can get used ones for $1000-$1200 and those have replacement parts. I have the loegering (spell?) tracks and have no complaints. You can get pretty fast putting them on. Now so you know I have a post asking about axle problems and though I am sure the tracks don't help that I really don't think they are THE problem You will need better tires for the tracks to grab but I don't think you will be sorry if you get them - I just wouldn't leave them long any longer than you have to

On the tracks plus site it says I would have to have wheel spacers for my 665. Do you have them on your 565? I think they are about 300 per set on ebay or 400 from tracks plus.

 

[jilbre]

On the tracks plus site it says I would have to have wheel spacers for my 665. Do you have them on your 565? I think they are about 300 per set on ebay or 400 from tracks plus.

Yes you need the spacers. I kind of like them because you can grease the axles with the tires on and maybe more importantly it is easier to keep stuff from wrapping on the axles since you can see the axles and can get to them if you get something on them.