Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/285780
C ompared to skid steer loaders, compact track loaders cost more, have slower travel speeds, are better in soft underfoot conditions, and handle slopes better. Common knowledge. But if your as- sessment of the performance of CTLs and their potential for your business stops with the commonplace, you can't make the right decisions regard- ing their use. First, the cost factor. It's true that a CTL typically costs 30 percent more than a comparably-sized skid steer, which amounts to an upcharge of $10,000 to $15,000. But that CTL will offer performance advantages that increase productivity and may more than offset the initial cost over the service life of the machine. One of the challenges for contractors making the switch from skid steers to CTLs is to make accompanying changes in their business practices, according to Mike Fitzgerald, product specialist with Bob- cat. "Assess your work practices and procedures and related billing charges to maximize the advantages of a CTL," he says. "Faster production means you can move on to another job sooner and you'll be able to work on wet days when you otherwise could not." Lars Arnold, product manager with Volvo North America, says it's impor- tant to understand the difference in establishing rated operating capacity when calculating productivity. Skid steer loaders are rated at 50 percent of tipping load, whereas compact track loaders are rated at 35 percent. "The intent is to reflect the under- standing that CTLs are more likely to be operated on soft ground and on slopes, and the 35 percent figure is more realistic in these conditions," says Arnold. So if an skid steer and CTL both have tipping loads of 7,000 pounds, the skid steer will have an April 2014 | EquipmentWorld.com 36 machine matters | by Richard Ries GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR CTL Capitalizing on your CTL's advantages takes more than a superficial understanding of its unique characteristics.