Skid steer tracks make a skid loader maneuverable and versatile, letting it travel where regular wheeled skid loaders cannot. By far, tracked machines offer superior grip in almost every situation. A tracked skid loader will almost never get stuck, even in the thickest, messiest mud. Fairly simple physics says, "more surface area = more grip = less down-time." The tracked skid loader may have more moving parts and require more maintenance overall, but when it comes to productive performance, the tracks win. Or do they? It was the classic, wheeled skid loader that started the whole thing, after all. And there are good reasons for that. The four-wheel configuration creates the perfect mechanism for making the zero-radius turns that the skid loader is famous for. And that means it can easily get into and out of tight spots, anywhere on a construction or landscape site. Speaking of construction sites (with their nails, screws, and other sharp flotsam and jetsam, it became apparent quite early on in the development of the skid loader that airless tires were an absolute necessity. Wheels and tires are also, in many ways, universal, and as such, are universally easy to maintain. If there is damage to a skid loader tire or wheel, almost anyone who has had a flat in their car or truck instantly knows what to do. Dedicated machines with skid steer tracks, on the other hand, have a complicated set of guide wheels, tensioners and other bits and bobs. Those tank-like skid steer tracks might be too much for the average skid loader operator. And that could lead to costly professional repairs and maintenance, or worse: on-line, on the fly technical school. The wheeled skid loader, believe it or not, can even go a few places skid steer tracks cannot. For instance, the wheeled deal can roll into interior construction spaces, carrying its load of plant material or decorative stones for a Koi pond. And the operator can turn the skid loader without risking damage to the floor. Wherever a skid loader is driven, wheels are just plain easier on the surface than regular skid steer tracks. Another huge reason tracked skid loaders are not necessarily the best option is that the four-wheeled skid loader can also BE a tracked skid loader. With the steel or vinyl skid steer tracks that are available these days, a skid loader with the traditional four-wheel setup can be given a new lease on life — well, mud. Or snow. Or sand. With optional skid steer tracks, any skid loader becomes a tiny tank, ready to do battle with the elements. And the process of installing the add-on skid steer tracks to a skid loader takes less than twenty minutes. If the weather changes, and a skid loader operator thinks that getting stuck in the deep mud might be a possibility, skid steer tracks are always an option. In this case, the skid loader with four wheels is really two machines, so it is definitely worth considering the wheeled machine. Add-on skid steer tracks are available in heavy duty steel for the most demanding conditions, or durable rubber, where grip is a major concern, but tearing up the surface is not an option (such as on a wet residential lawn or golf course). Options. That seems to be the key. The amazing skid loader is really all about having options. The machine with dedicated skid steer tracks is appealing and flawless in its performance, for sure. It is an elite machine for tough work. But the wheeled skid loader with a set or two of optional skid steer tracks is just… better.
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