Tires or treads on rocks?

[ashannon]

I'm starting the search for a skid steer to use on our ranch. It's very rocky and it's tough to find part of it that's flat. Is it best to get one with tires or the treads?

 

[bobbie-g]

I have two wheeled machines and a T180 tracked machine. The tracked machine gives far superior traction over the wheeled machines, hands down. The T180 will maintain traction on dirt or soil to the point that it stalls the engine when trying to back up a steep slope. Wheeled machines just spin. I put 300 hrs on the T180 and am selling it. I occasionally run on rocks and have to be very careful with the T180 so as to not derail a track. Same problem with side slopes. Anything over 20 degrees and I start to derail. Much of what I do is mowing on slopes, and I greatly prefer the wheeled machines. Wanna buy my T180? ---Bobbie G in southern Colorado.

 

[RonAus]

I have two wheeled machines and a T180 tracked machine. The tracked machine gives far superior traction over the wheeled machines, hands down. The T180 will maintain traction on dirt or soil to the point that it stalls the engine when trying to back up a steep slope. Wheeled machines just spin. I put 300 hrs on the T180 and am selling it. I occasionally run on rocks and have to be very careful with the T180 so as to not derail a track. Same problem with side slopes. Anything over 20 degrees and I start to derail. Much of what I do is mowing on slopes, and I greatly prefer the wheeled machines. Wanna buy my T180? ---Bobbie G in southern Colorado.

So there is your answer, wheels. Mind you if your place is that rocky, what are you going to do with it lol

 

[lesgawlik]

So there is your answer, wheels. Mind you if your place is that rocky, what are you going to do with it lol

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but you bobbie-g you throw tracks even with the tensioners pumped up? I've thrown a track only once, and that when there was some slack in the track. I try to avoid side slopes, but I guess I get to 20* on occasions.

 

[skidsteer.ca]

Wheels with over the tire tracks.
Steel trck will last much longer in the rocks then rubber ones and will give you most of the advantage of a rubber track loaders stability and traction in a more durable and lower maintenance machine.
Skidsteer.ca