Track vs Wheel Skid Steer: Which One Save You the Most Trouble?

Compared with large construction equipment, skid steer loaders are smaller in size, more flexible and have stronger adaptability. There are two types of travel methods for a skid steer loader: wheeled and tracked. Today, Isabel, an engineer from YUFAN, will show you the difference between track vs wheel skid steer.

Track vs Wheel: Key Differences

The following chart lists their obvious differences. These differences are also for both mini skid steer and large skid steer, including both diesel and electric skid steer versions.

When Tracks Are Worth It

1. Often operate in muddy environments
If the area where you are located has more humid days than dry days, or the construction surface is often in a muddy state. Use tracks instead of wheels. Because it has better grip and can easily traverse various complex terrains. It won’t get stuck in mud or sand easily.

2. Need to work immediately and cannot wait for the ground to dry
Sometimes when the work is not urgent, you may wait for the damp ground to dry before construction. However, if the work needs to be continuous, a tracked skid steer loader is a reliable choice.

3. The ground is too soft
If your land is so soft that trucks cannot drive, then you need a crawler.

4. Pursue smoothness and comfort
Crawler operation is much smoother and will never have a tire blowout. Tire-type is prone to jolting and shaking.

5. The working scenarios are mainly in the wild and unpaved roads
According to the data of YUFAN’s customers over the past 20 years, on unpaved roads (such as dirt roads, mud roads, gravel roads, grasslands, farmlands, etc.), crawlers have far exceeded the wheeled types at all important indicators.

6. Pay more attention to long-term usage cost
If you need to frequently deal with complex road conditions, even if the initial investment is large, crawler-type is more cost-effective. Because it is more durable and has better passability, which can reduce maintenance frequency and extend service life.

When Wheels Are the Smarter Choice

1. Rainy days are not frequent and the work is not urgent.
You can wait until the ground dries completely before working. A wheeled skid steer is sufficient.

2. Mainly operate on hard surfaces.
Wheeled skid steers are more suitable for flat or relatively level hard ground, paved roads, and gravel roads. They move fast, operate conveniently, and are particularly suitable for driving on concrete or asphalt roads.

3. Budget is limited and cost-effectiveness is pursued.
Wheeled machines usually have a lower purchase cost.

4. Worried about the damage caused by the tracks to the ground.
When the tracks turn, especially in emergency turns, they may tear up the turf and damage the road. Wheeled skid steer loaders cause less damage to the turf when turning (especially when making large turns).

5. Consider the flexibility of adding tracks later.
You can buy a wheeled skid steer loader first. Later if you really need tracks, you can install bolt-on tracks (over-mounted tracks).

6. Road construction on flat surfaces or garbage removal work.
You can choose the wheeled model. Its purchase cost is often lower, and the daily maintenance is relatively simpler.

Pros and Cons of Track vs Wheeled Skid Steer

Tracked Skid Steer Loader

Advantages

▪️Good passability in muddy ground: Low ground pressure, evenly distributes the body’s weight, less prone to getting stuck, suitable for muddy and soft ground.

▪️Performance: Strong off-road capabilities, large climbing ability.

▪️Smooth operation: More stable and less bumpy compared to wheeled skid steers.

▪️No tire blowout problem: No risk of tires burst.

▪️Good stability: Especially on slopes or uneven ground.

▪️Easy to transfer: More popular in the second-hand market.

Disadvantages

▪️Turning damages the ground: Sharp turns can tear grass or damage the road surface.

▪️High purchase cost: Generally more expensive than the wheeled skid steer.

▪️Expensive for track replacement: Replacing a set of tracks is much more expensive than replacing tires.

▪️Prone to damage in rocky terrain: In areas with many rocks, the tracks may be cut or fall off.

Wheeled Skid Steer Loader

Advantages

▪️Performance: High maneuverability

▪️Low purchase cost: Cheaper compared to crawler models under the same conditions. The cost of tires is much lower than that of tracks

▪️More friendly to grassland/paved surfaces: Less destructive during turns compared to tracks (especially when making large turns on hard ground or grass)

▪️Suitable for hard surfaces: such as gravel, asphalt, cement, and snow removal (with anti-skid chains)

▪️Can be later equipped with tracks: There is a track-over-tire solution, which can be added when needed.

Disadvantages

▪️Prone to getting stuck: Easily trapped in mud or soft soil.

▪️Bumpy ride: Poor driving experience, especially when empty or on hard ground.

▪️Tires may burst/leak air: Tire punctures need to be dealt with (some people choose foam filling to solve the problem).

▪️Relatively difficult to resell second-hand: Market demand is not as high as that for crawler models.

Suggestions When Choosing Tracked vs Wheeled Skid Steer

Some buyers tend to focus excessively on a single parameter while neglecting the overall applicability. Or blindly following the trend and choosing so-called POPULAR models without fully considering the actual needs of their own. The correct approach should be:

1. Based on one’s own business requirements, conduct a detailed functional assessment before making a decision.

2. Don’t merely rely on online reviews or recommendations from friends. Instead, conduct an on-site inspection and test drive to obtain first-hand information.

3. Before purchasing, make sure to be well-prepared and have sufficient funds to avoid project stagnation due to lack of funds.

4. If you are really unsure which model to buy, YUFAN suggest rent a machine for a period for trial use. In this way, you will be more clear what is actually you want.

For example, a customer at YUFAN who had a horse farm was unsure which machine could be used for cleaning stables and transporting fodder. We recommended that the customer rent first. Finally, the customer came to us and ordered two wheeled skid steer loaders.

We hope the above information can help you better understand and select the equipment that suits you.

Recommended Machines

YUFAN has a client from Ghana. This client has a palm oil factory, which requires a machine to operate in the muddy forest area. Wheeled equipment gets stuck immediately upon entering. The glass door gets damaged by branches. The client suffers greatly in the high temperature.

We recommended the TS125 tracked skid steer loader to them.

Why choose tracked? Forest and muddy land, loose soil, steep slopes – tracked skid steer loader has a large contact area. It is stable and doesn’t sink. It isn’t prone to getting stuck, and branches can’t get stuck.

Why choose TS125? The forestry work is diverse, requiring various auxiliary tools such as plow machines and brush-cutting machines. TS125 comes with a large amounts of skid steer attachments, flow hydraulic system and pilot control, making the operation smooth.

Get Your Custom Quote

The customer’s feedback after using it was very good: no more sinking, higher efficiency, more comfortable, won’t be bitten by mosquitoes and less worry.

YUFAN TS125 is equipped with a Weichai WP4.1 large-displacement 4-cylinder diesel engine with a rated power of 103kW and a rotational speed of 2300 r/min. The powerful power configuration, outstanding design advantages, and excellent working capabilities make TS125 capable of real combat across different levels.

If you are interested in YUFAN machines or want to inquire about other types of  loaders, please click below to contact us quickly!