Mini skid steers tracks versus wheels

climbhightree said:
Here is a video I made doing a 180 degree turn on grass with a tracked mini


Can someone make something similar with a wheeled unit for comparison?

"Kiss My Axe"
Associate degree in forestry from PSU Mont Alto
Certified Arborist
Owner/operator of Climb High Tree Service established in 2002
www.climbhightree.com
https://m.facebook.com/ClimbHighTreeService
https://www.youtube.com/user/climbhightree
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Click to expand...

Nice..I'll tell you the ditch witch sk650 we rented did quite a bit more damage then that...like scalping with huge clumps of turf.
I got to destroy some ones lawn on purpose cause they were doing a big landscape job and it did not matter, so I let er have it.

On that vermeer, if you press one track lever forward and the not other...does the one not powered still move?

There are several variables to consider with regards to this topic...grass type, soil type, moisture, load on machine and size of lugs on track.

I'll work on getting a vid, might take some time. Still have not figured out how to get photos on a post. In a few weeks we are probably going to have both the wheeled 900t and the sk650. Ill try and get some comparison vids.
 
frashdog said:
Nice..I'll tell you the ditch witch sk650 we rented did quite a bit more damage then that...like scalping with huge clumps of turf.
I got to destroy some ones lawn on purpose cause they were doing a big landscape job and it did not matter, so I let er have it.

On that vermeer, if you press one track lever forward and the not other...does the one not powered still move?

There are several variables to consider with regards to this topic...grass type, soil type, moisture, load on machine and size of lugs on track.

I'll work on getting a vid, might take some time. Still have not figured out how to get photos on a post. In a few weeks we are probably going to have both the wheeled 900t and the sk650. Ill try and get some comparison vids.
Click to expand...

Vermeer uses a single joystick control system.

f454afec4fe44f44c472680de1f874a8.jpg


So really the only time the tracks aren't both moving, in the same direction, is when doing a spin turn...holding joystick at 90 degrees. On a spin turn they rotate in opposite directions.

Part of the reason I made the video is to test a theory I had, about the damage to the grass. Most times it appeared to me that the tracks would take off the blades of grass, but would leave the roots intact. So I wanted to see how/if the grass would grow back on it's own with just watering.

My next set of tracks I plan on trying out a different type, that is supposedly more turf friendly. Not smooth...I haven't been able to find them yet for my machine.

Definitely soil condition, grass thickness a type etc, all play into the amount of damage.

"Kiss My Axe"
Associate degree in forestry from PSU Mont Alto
Certified Arborist
Owner/operator of Climb High Tree Service established in 2002
www.climbhightree.com
https://m.facebook.com/ClimbHighTreeService
https://www.youtube.com/user/climbhightree
https://www.youtube.com/user/2treekiller2
 
frashdog said:
Nice..I'll tell you the ditch witch sk650 we rented did quite a bit more damage then that...like scalping with huge clumps of turf.
Click to expand...

I'd have to reluctantly agree. To me, that's the only drawback to the sk650. We are still on the factory tracks and they are no joke (as far as lug size). I think a full speed 180 degree turn with tracks spinning in opposite directions would have just destroyed that grass.

But, like climbhigh, we just use plywood. And new tracks will likely be those Diamondback Prowlers.
 
Bucknut said:
I'd have to reluctantly agree. To me, that's the only drawback to the sk650. We are still on the factory tracks and they are no joke (as far as lug size). I think a full speed 180 degree turn with tracks spinning in opposite directions would have just destroyed that grass.

But, like climbhigh, we just use plywood. And new tracks will likely be those Diamondback Prowlers.
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Besides the grapple control being off to the right requiring switching of hands when attacking...and that crazy under frame action, we ripped off one of the track motor guards after I kept getting getting hung up on stuff for some reason. Gotta say the sk650 is bad ass when it comes to pushing. It is a bigger machine and weigh 1000lbs more then my 900t, has round 6 more hp (diesel at that). I would like to try some other tracked jobbers. Probably will try the toro 525 as the rental shop has one. I have been enlightened as to when tracks prevail, for us that's about 5% of the time.

The thing with plywood is you put that down where you know you will take multiple turns, at a corner or in front of the chipper. What I see my guys do all the time (even guys who think they are operators) is come into a big grab with out a plan and end up fighting the piece as they spin tires across the lawn, tracks would leave a mark. I kick my guys off all my equipment all the time, they don't take offense. Hey, At least they show up, work all day and have a good attitude.
 
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And another thing...I've never been tossed off my wheeled bouncy machine. That tracked machine gave me spinal adjustments daily when driving over stuff to the point I was tossed off more then once and over, thankfully only once over, where my belt caught some controls and kept me from flipping completely over the front. Good wtf laugh.
 
frashdog said:
What I see my guys do all the time (even guys who think they are operators) is come into a big grab with out a plan and end up fighting the piece as they spin tires across the lawn, tracks would leave a mark. I kick my guys off all my equipment all the time, they don't take offense. Hey, At least they show up, work all day and have a good attitude.
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I hear that...I cringe when my employee gets on the mini. One, he isn't used to it. Two, he does what you said some. Three, doesn't keep loads low and tight...or see when to let the load flow with the mini vs locking it in.

"Kiss My Axe"
Associate degree in forestry from PSU Mont Alto
Certified Arborist
Owner/operator of Climb High Tree Service established in 2002
www.climbhightree.com
https://m.facebook.com/ClimbHighTreeService
https://www.youtube.com/user/climbhightree
https://www.youtube.com/user/2treekiller2
 
climbhightree said:
I hear that...I cringe when my employee gets on the mini. One, he isn't used to it. Two, he does what you said some. Three, doesn't keep loads low and tight...or see when to let the load flow with the mini vs locking it in.

"Kiss My Axe"
Associate degree in forestry from PSU Mont Alto
Certified Arborist
Owner/operator of Climb High Tree Service established in 2002
www.climbhightree.com
https://m.facebook.com/ClimbHighTreeService
https://www.youtube.com/user/climbhightree
https://www.youtube.com/user/2treekiller2
Click to expand...

Low and tight! Why is that so hard to figure out, let alone remember.
 
climbhightree said:
Here is a video I made doing a 180 degree turn on grass with a tracked mini


Can someone make something similar with a wheeled unit for comparison?

"Kiss My Axe"
Associate degree in forestry from PSU Mont Alto
Certified Arborist
Owner/operator of Climb High Tree Service established in 2002
www.climbhightree.com
https://m.facebook.com/ClimbHighTreeService
https://www.youtube.com/user/climbhightree
https://www.youtube.com/user/2treekiller2
Click to expand...
Here is the Thomas 25g on dry lawn and by no means is it great grass. Hope this works....

Guess not. Stay tuned as I attempt to get the video up.
 
flyingsquirrel25 said:
Here is the Thomas 25g on dry lawn and by no means is it great grass. Hope this works....

Guess not. Stay tuned as I attempt to get the video up.
Click to expand...
What I do with videos, is just upload it to youtube. Then just post the url link here.

"Kiss My Axe"
Associate degree in forestry from PSU Mont Alto
Certified Arborist
Owner/operator of Climb High Tree Service established in 2002
www.climbhightree.com
https://m.facebook.com/ClimbHighTreeService
https://www.youtube.com/user/climbhightree
https://www.youtube.com/user/2treekiller2
 
ran a Vermeer mini track with the grapple on lawn and it was pretty good but mostly straight shot to and from. Ran a carlton wheeled stump grinder and it was lawn friendly as well....but a track full size skidsteer is the only way to go when working on lawn versus a wheeled skidsteer IMO.... just fluff the lawn with a leaf blower after no ruts! as for turning on lawns an articulated loader is definitely better. They all have their advantages and disadvantages.
 
flyingsquirrel25 said:
OK for real this time

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ecb0AfT55-g

Kind of...
This is with the gound dry. All I had time fore
Here is the picture after raked out.
View attachment 33145
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Looks pretty similar to the Vermeer on dry, maybe yours is slightly better in the long run. As previously stated, I can see how tires would do slightly less damage than tracks on straight runs, and sweeping turns. I just don't think tracks are all that bad if your careful.

The one of the times I used a wheeled unit (and dual sticks for the tracks), I was really annoyed how surface roots threw me all over the place. I was fairly new to mini skids back then.

I did a job today that I feel would have been a nightmare with a wheeled unit.


"Kiss My Axe"
Associate degree in forestry from PSU Mont Alto
Certified Arborist
Owner/operator of Climb High Tree Service established in 2002
www.climbhightree.com
https://m.facebook.com/ClimbHighTreeService
https://www.youtube.com/user/climbhightree
https://www.youtube.com/user/2treekiller2
 
You said it...if you are careful...you do not have to be careful with wheels any where near tracks.

Dude tracks throw the rider around way more then wheels when going over rocks, roots, curbs and dips. Wheels are like suspension, tracks are like no suspension. Yea you bounce around more on wheels, but you do not get tossed around like tracks.
 
frashdog said:
You said it...if you are careful...you do not have to be careful with wheels any where near tracks.

Dude tracks throw the rider around way more then wheels when going over rocks, roots, curbs and dips. Wheels are like suspension, tracks are like no suspension. Yea you bounce around more on wheels, but you do not get tossed around like tracks.
Click to expand...
I think the issue may have been the dual sticks, and poor stability grips...it was a toro wheeled unit. So I would bump the controls (sometimes one harder then the other) when the tires hit something. I felt it was hard to work both stivks, plus the hydraulics, and hold on to something solid all at the same tome, without bumping the controls

Yes you feel the ground more on tracks, so there is jarring...but I feel your not bouncing around.

I guess I'm debating the term of careful then. I just picture my employee doing about the same amount of damage with a wheeled vs tracked. With either you do hard turns, even small ones, there will be damage...it the nature of something going 2 directions at once.


"Kiss My Axe"
Associate degree in forestry from PSU Mont Alto
Certified Arborist
Owner/operator of Climb High Tree Service established in 2002
www.climbhightree.com
https://m.facebook.com/ClimbHighTreeService
https://www.youtube.com/user/climbhightree
https://www.youtube.com/user/2treekiller2
 
That one is 1900lbs tipping, the TSL210 has double that but it's 66" wide and not a mini. The TSL210 is 48" wide fwiw.


A lot of the "tippyness" you see is the suspension, although it's obvious one of the pieces was lifting the rear of the tracks. The tracks are suspended on torsion bars front and rear. It does wonders for the ride, but the trade off is the machine feels entirely different than any loader I've been on aside from Bobcat's Toolcats.

It's pretty common to add 500lbs of counterweight to the loader, after using it yesterday I'm looking into that. It lifts well, and it's super fast, but it has more power than it has backside for... An easy "fix" that would make it an even better lifter. My guess is 500lbs at the back of the machine would increase the tipping capacity by ~750+lbs (haven't actually measured).

Another benefit is it lifts higher than any other mini skid, and it has 11" wide tracks.
 
You can see the torsion bar's pivots at the front and back in this picture. The front is between behind the idler and the rear is in front of the back idler.

image.webp
 
Lumberjack said:
You can see the torsion bar's pivots at the front and back in this picture. The front is between behind the idler and the rear is in front of the back idler.

View attachment 33203
Click to expand...
What it the height and length of the machine?

"Kiss My Axe"
Associate degree in forestry from PSU Mont Alto
Certified Arborist
Owner/operator of Climb High Tree Service established in 2002
www.climbhightree.com
https://m.facebook.com/ClimbHighTreeService
https://www.youtube.com/user/climbhightree
https://www.youtube.com/user/2treekiller2
 
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