Equipment World Digital Magazine
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Coffey says some attachments still work best on a compact track loader, especially those requiring a heavy machine with superior stability, such as tree spades. Cost control "Anything done on wheels is more easily done on tracks," says Storlie. That comment from ASV's testing and reliability leader, is no surprise; ASV has a long, proud history with compact track loaders. But it's not just machine ability that matters to customers; it's also profitability. "If the same job can be done by either a CTL or skid steer in the same amount of time," Storlie explains, "the skid steer will be cheaper." When comparing track and a wheel machines with similar engine and hydraulic specs, the CTL will cost up to 20 percent more. Skid steers also use less fuel and require significantly less maintenance. Radial- lift skid steers, with their simpler lift mechanisms, maximize the differen- tial in both initial and ongoing costs. "Compact track loaders, on average, cost 5 to 10 percent more to operate and maintain," says Scotese. A key component in the O&O cost difference is the expense of main- taining an undercarriage and replac- ing tracks. "Tracks remain highly engineered," says Chang, "while skid steer tires have almost become commoditized and have a well-estab- lished supply chain." Because of their lighter weight, skid steers can reduce transport costs, says Scotese. The required rat- ings of the trailers and tow vehicles used for transport may be lower, and the combined rating may make a CDL unnecessary. Peterson says, though, that as skid steers get larger and more expensive, the difference in initial investment between the biggest skid steer mod- els and some compact track loaders is decreasing. Narrowing the gap Even in areas where CTLs have clear advantages, owners of skid steers can take steps to narrow the per- formance gap. Over-the-tire tracks (OTTs) can provide many of the benefits of a dedicated track machine and can yield lower ground pressure for a skid steer than a comparable CTL, says Dahl. That's because the skid steer weighs less than the CTL. The weight difference is enough that the ground-pressure advantage January 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com 32 machine matters | continued Whether investing in a CTL or skid steer loader, the customer's first choice is likely to be between vertical and radial lift. "Cus- tomers looking for consistent lift capacity and reach from bot- tom to top are buying vertical lift machines," says Brian Rabe with Manitou. "Those with applications emphasizing mid-level reach and high durability are buying radial lift machines. Gehl and Mustang models show a 50/50 split in sales." Traditionally, radial machines were considered better diggers and pushers, while vertical lift machines were considered bet- ter at lift-and-carry operations, explains Jorge De Hoyos with Kubota. But as vertical lift engineering advances, the distinction is less clear. "Kubota's vertical-linkage design tucks in at the rear and sides of the machine when retracted, allowing these models to push and dig more like radial machines," he says. Kevin Scotese of Volvo says vertical lift machines cost about 5 percent more initially than radial lift machines, and operating costs are less than 1 percent higher. He says the split for Volvo sales is about 70 percent vertical and 30 percent radial. Vertical vs. radial review The Wacker Neuson SW17 is powered by a Kohler engine rat- ed at 74 horsepower. Its operating weight of 6,245 pounds makes it the second-smallest model in the company's lineup. The radial lift machine has a hinge pin height of 118.1 inches and a dump reach of 34.1 inches. The S165R-1 is the smallest of three radial-lift skid steers offered by Yanmar. The naturally-aspirated Yanmar engine is rated at 68.4 net horsepower. Maximum travel speed is 6.8 mph. Hydraulic pressure is 3,000 psi. and flow is 18.9 gpm.