Tracks versus wheels for snow work?

[bauertree]

I'm looking to upgrade my skid steer to handle the snow better. I'm in the mountains of Southern Oregon. Running a 763 now with chains when it snows. It works ok this way but I'm being told tracks work better in the snow. I've also been told the wheels /chains work better than standard tracks. Keep on mind I'm not talking inches here, we get feet. 3.5' on the ground now. I had to deal with over 5' in the past. And its steep driveways. I have a blow and a blower but don't have the blower set up yet. I friend who runs a rental business told me everyone prefers to run an ASV in the snow. Even guys who have other machines come rent the ASV specifically to plow with. Give the width and traction style of the ASV I can see that.
So what's your personal experience?

 

[mrbb]

IMO< tires with chains will out do 99% of tracks 99% of the time!
Unless you add chains or carbide studs to the tracks!
most all tracks are not made for snow9ASV does actually have the best snow tracks I know of)

But tracks by design give more flotation and less ground pressure
which more or less give you less weight on the ground at your contact points!

add in any hard compacted snow or ice, and well, rubber tracks will not grip as well as good chains over tires!
this is why when folks buy special snow tires for skid steers there not as wide as basic dirt tires
the reason is, you get more weight on the tires contact patch!
and next there made of much softer rubber, that has way more snipes to grip ice and snow!

most all tracks are mode to handle dirt mostly, with a few that are made to work OK in snow
as the softer the rubber the better they work in snow, but the faster they wear when using in dirt work!
true die hards that make a lot of money in winter time plowing snow, and do dirt work in summer time, tent to sway tracks for snow work , using tracks made more for snow
and then swap bad to basic tracks for dirt work


things to consider too, though is over all weight of the machine
as this can vary a lot from machine to machine,
even wheel base can make a different in how well or not it does in snow!

But from my experience, tires with chains, do the best, all the more so if on compacted hard packed snow, and or any ice is involved!

I would maybe think best setup might be dedicated snow tires with chains on them!

also keep in mind chains come in many different styles from basic to pretty aggressive models
so, using the right chain for your conditions, can make it work best


NOW if you took good snow rated rubber tracks and added chains or a lot of carbide studs, they might be best, but I think costs wise, unless you making money plowing snow, I don;t think its a worth while deal, and chains and studs can also do damage to surfaces, costing you $$ to repair damages, this applies to both tires and tracks with chains and studs though!
steel tracks work pretty good in snow, but get them on ice on a hill, and you will soon learn how gravity works! HAHA! and some pucker factor pending how step a hill your on or was on !

or thats my experience here!

 

[brdgbldr]

I have a neighbor that thought tracks would be best for snow until he found out that the tracks act like snow sleds on any incline as he was taking out a couple hundred feet of his fence.

I had steel over the tire tracks on one skid and they were ok on flat areas with snow but as soon as I would hit any ice they acted like ice skates. I got real good at doing triple axles with those.

Now I just use tire chains. They work the best for snow and ice as they dig in better then tracks, are repairable and I just leave them on year round.

I too am in Oregon…Zigzag. We don't get the feet of snow that we used to 30 years ago. In fact it's getting to the point that I'm thinking of selling my skid because it's been two tears since I've really used it. Just doesn't snow much and all of the heavy work around my small property is done.

 

[bauertree]

You have an 05 A300? How many hours?

 

[brdgbldr]

If I remember correctly it's not quite 2800. I haven't had it overly long. But as soon as I got it I rebuilt the steering cylinders and had a Bobcat tech come up with the computer to realign the steering. Changed all the fluids etc. had to remove the ac belt because the compressor started leaking but I don't need ac anyway.

I'd have to ask the boss, i.e. the wife, if I could sell it. She's wishy washy with it. She likes to use it when I tell her she needs to get rid of things she doesn't use since I don't use it much. But when I mention selling it she says I can't until she retires so I can plow in the winter for her to get to work.

 

[pwhite42]

I'm running snow tires on my Kubota SSV65. I didn't put the chains on this year as I just got a new asphalt driveway. My first pass is downhill, so if I have trouble I just go back up the cleared pass and start down again. When I bought it the the dealer who likes tracks told me in my situation tires were better. The driveway is 800 feet long with about an 80 foot rise. The picture shows it with the chains I used the 1st year.

 

[ulster63]

I've a T190 and wishing had tires. I've put studs in the tracks and it has been an improvement. Stick with chains and tires for snow

 

[lmcl123]

I've used chains on my bobcats for over 20 years. I tried steel over the tire tracks for about 2 hours of those 20 years. Don't like the tracks for snow removal. when I get get turned a little sideways on an incline, I go for a sled ride. On really hard pack almost icy conditions I spin out a lot more. My neighbor who knows a lot more than I do about this stuff has a rubber tracked Cat skid steer. He thinks mine does a better job than his.

 

[spitzair]

Years ago we were working on a movie job and I had our 873 and another fellow had a brand new Cat tracked skidsteer, can't remember the model but it was maybe a tad bigger than the 873. One night we got a very healthy dumping of heavy wet coastal snow and the next morning he was going to show me how awesome his machine was at plowing snow. It went great for him until he got outside of his machine's footprint where there was no snow on the ground from where his machine was sitting, after that he barely made any progress. There was a driveway about 300 feet long with maybe a 50 foot rise and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't even begin to climb it. He then had the bright idea of driving up across the snow and plowing down but lucky for him he just spun at the bottom. My 873 on the other hand did great, even plowing up the hill with just tires, and they weren't even in great shape at that… needless to say I didn't have to listen to his bragging for a few hours. I wonder how a tracked skidsteer with metal tracks would do as my 977H crawler loader did pretty good too, but that's 40some thousand pounds of might for traction…

 

[Topper1]

We generally get fluffy snow and tons of sub zero temps.
I'm 50/50 tires vs tracks depending on situation.
Case 450 series III (10,000 lbs) with studded Toyo M55s grips to no end on packed snow & ice.
ASV RT75 Max with 20" snow tracks will out push on fresh or crunchy snow where mobility and floatation can be manipulated. I can literally climb & park top of a drift or push pile that I can't even stand on.
Comes down to the situation as to which is most usable for your conditions at hand.

 

[Landenh18]

I've a T190 and wishing had tires. I've put studs in the tracks and it has been an improvement. Stick with chains and tires for snow

You should check out Chains for Tracks. They are %100 better than studs in the snow and ice. You aren't drilling into your tracks with studs and they bolt on in about 15 minutes.

 

[Landenh18]

I have a neighbor that thought tracks would be best for snow until he found out that the tracks act like snow sleds on any incline as he was taking out a couple hundred feet of his fence.

I had steel over the tire tracks on one skid and they were ok on flat areas with snow but as soon as I would hit any ice they acted like ice skates. I got real good at doing triple axles with those.

Now I just use tire chains. They work the best for snow and ice as they dig in better then tracks, are repairable and I just leave them on year round.

I too am in Oregon…Zigzag. We don't get the feet of snow that we used to 30 years ago. In fact it's getting to the point that I'm thinking of selling my skid because it's been two tears since I've really used it. Just doesn't snow much and all of the heavy work around my small property is done.

You and your neighbor should check out Chains for Tracks. They are an absolute game changer when it comes to traction on the snow and ice with a tracked machine.

 

[Landenh18]

I've used chains on my bobcats for over 20 years. I tried steel over the tire tracks for about 2 hours of those 20 years. Don't like the tracks for snow removal. when I get get turned a little sideways on an incline, I go for a sled ride. On really hard pack almost icy conditions I spin out a lot more. My neighbor who knows a lot more than I do about this stuff has a rubber tracked Cat skid steer. He thinks mine does a better job than his.

You should checkout Chains for Tracks. You wont have any issues with traction or sliding around in the snow or ice when you have those on your machine. They are a game changer!

 

[Landenh18]

Years ago we were working on a movie job and I had our 873 and another fellow had a brand new Cat tracked skidsteer, can't remember the model but it was maybe a tad bigger than the 873. One night we got a very healthy dumping of heavy wet coastal snow and the next morning he was going to show me how awesome his machine was at plowing snow. It went great for him until he got outside of his machine's footprint where there was no snow on the ground from where his machine was sitting, after that he barely made any progress. There was a driveway about 300 feet long with maybe a 50 foot rise and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't even begin to climb it. He then had the bright idea of driving up across the snow and plowing down but lucky for him he just spun at the bottom. My 873 on the other hand did great, even plowing up the hill with just tires, and they weren't even in great shape at that… needless to say I didn't have to listen to his bragging for a few hours. I wonder how a tracked skidsteer with metal tracks would do as my 977H crawler loader did pretty good too, but that's 40some thousand pounds of might for traction…

He just needs Chains for Tracks and he wouldn't have those issues in the snow and ice. They honestly are probably better than a wheeled loader with chains.

 

[Hawkerpilot05]

I use chains on our LS 190B with a blower. Work great. I would recommend the 2 link chains versus the 4 link. The 2 link has the chain cross the tire after every 2 links versus 4. The 4 link chain tends to get the chain that crosses over to wedge between to tire knobs.

 

[st0ck1ng]

Unless you want to drop $1,200+, build your own chains for your tracks.

Chain:
less than $50
- Harbor Freight
less than $60
- Lowes
- Home Depot

Grade 8 bolts/nuts/washers
~$150

Quick example: NOT MY CHANNEL

Jump to ~11:03

DISCLAIMER: You are responsible for what you do with your equipment.

All in minus your time: less than $200