Skid steer or compact tractor?

[Ashful]

The main advantage of the tractor is relatively low cost of acquisition.

You sure you don’t have that backwards? Last I looked, a brand new bobcat with a 2000 lb. lift capacity was $20k - $30k, depending on options. A John Deere compact utility tractor with a loader having that lift capacity is $25k - $35k, depending on options, and closer to the high end of that range if you option it out with all the hydraulics. In fact, to get below $30k, you’re looking at the ”3E-series”, the “E” being for “Economy”, a stripped-down version of the 3-series where the loader isn’t even removable.

There are cheaper Indian and Korean alternatives to John Deere, but then I’d not choose Bobcat as the skid steer comparison, either.

Perhaps when you get farther from that 2000 lb. sweet spot I was shopping, the price relationship changes, but that’s outside what most wood-burning landowners would be shopping.

The used market for tractors is likely better than skid steers, though. You can pick up barely used tractors of that class for $10k off new prices, but used skid steers at that discount level tend to be completely beaten to death.

 

[blades]

ashfull i do not know how long ago you looked at ss pricing but they have basicly gone the same way as pckup trucks pricing wise on both new and used. and the compact tractor used market pricing is insane might as well buy new and get a warranty. Now add in the tier 4 epa requirements and anything tier3 or less is bringing even higher pricing. Maybe PA is different than here in WI but that is what I see.

 

[Ashful]

I just bought a new compact (Deere 3033R) last month, so that pricing is fresh. I think it was $32k with the loader and options I added, before I added any implements. The skid steer pricing I quoted is admittedly a little older, but not more than a few years, I quickly decided a new tractor was my better option.

Yeah... Tier 4. Folks complain about every new change, but I have to admit I’m loving the Tier 4. The exhaust smells like roses, compared to my old machine. That old Yanmar diesel would choke me out while hooking up or removing the loader, the hydraulic ports were next to exhaust.

 

[bholler]

I just bought a new compact (Deere 3033R) last month, so that pricing is fresh. I think it was $32k with the loader and options I added, before I added any implements. The skid steer pricing I quoted is admittedly a little older, but not more than a few years, I quickly decided a new tractor was my better option.

Yeah... Tier 4. Folks complain about every new change, but I have to admit I’m loving the Tier 4. The exhaust smells like roses, compared to my old machine. That old Yanmar diesel would choke me out while hooking up or removing the loader, the hydraulic ports were next to exhaust.

Yes but that green paint adds allot of cost over equally capable machines from lots of other companies. And as mentioned if you are looking at used there is no comparison tractors at least here are much cheaper.

I also know lots of homeowner woodburners with compact tractors and very few of them have one near a 2k lift capacity.

 

[Medic21]

Could you elaborate on this? I’ve never seen anyone pull a plow, disc, middle buster, or aerator with a skid steer.

Our Amish around here do it all the time. Ive plumbed up a bunch of rear hydraulics to run implements and the pull a pony motor to run a bailer or any other PTO attachment. It doesn’t have a steering wheel so the church allows it lol.

 

[Medic21]

Depending on the condition of the skid loader I would buy a tractor and refurbish the skid loader. There are things a skid loader is required for and things a tractor will be better for. It’s not really fair comparing between the two. I have an 863 Bobcat and still want a tractor.

 

[SpaceBus]

My DK4710SE-HST with KL5520 loader are rated at 2,470 lbs and the three point is rated at 2,700. Sure, it's not a JD, but I'm not beholden to green paint. I've put the loader to the test and I can pick up 3' granite boulders with the 600 lb grapple attached and the stump grinder hitched up. I'd love a skid steer, but the tractor is more flexible for me as a landowner. With forestry chains on the back I haven't gotten stuck. Admittedly a CTL would be a better tool for getting boulders moved and roads roughed in, but my tractor can do a lot of stuff the skid steer can't. If you have only the budget for one tool and attachments a 40-60 HP compact tractor is a good jack of all trades.

I'd rather get a used mini ex than a CTL to compliment my tractor.

My large Boulder pile has over a dozen in it now, but this is the most recent pic on my phone.

 

[Ashful]

Yes but that green paint adds allot of cost over equally capable machines...

I’ve heard that myth, and looked into it myself. It is completely false, the supposedly “equally capable machines” are anything but equal machines. No need to go into it here, there’s entire genre of youTube devoted to this. The bottom line is that you get what you pay for, it’s just that many aren’t willing to pay for some of the many conveniences built into these more expensive machines.

Whenever one brand costs a premium over the rest, there’s nearly always a reason for it, and also nearly always as many willing to compromise to save some cost. The free market just won’t allow one brand to charge a premium over the rest for very long, without a justification for it. That’s fine, choose your level of pain, whether it‘s in the wallet, usage, dealer support and parts availability, or resale value. That’s why they make more than one color.

edit: in fairness to bholler, he said “equally capable” machines. There are machines with similar lift capacity, etc. that cost less than a Deere. It’s more often things like parts availability or dealer support a decade after purchase, ergonomics, or the availability of accessories and implements, that creates the higher cost of one brand, versus another. Every part ever required to repair my prior 34-year old Deere was available, usually in stock at my local dealer, or could be shipped in within 48 hours. Good luck getting support on a 2019 Kioti in 2053!

 

[bholler]

I’ve heard that myth, and looked into it myself. It is completely false, the supposedly “equally capable machines” are anything but equal machines. No need to go into it here, there’s entire genre of youTube devoted to this. The bottom line is that you get what you pay for, it’s just that many aren’t willing to pay for some of the many conveniences built into these more expensive machines.

Whenever one brand costs a premium over the rest, there’s nearly always a reason for it, and also nearly always as many willing to compromise to save some cost. The free market just won’t allow one brand to charge a premium over the rest for very long, without a justification for it. That’s fine, choose your level of pain, whether it‘s in the wallet, usage, dealer support and parts availability, or resale value. That’s why they make more than one color.

edit: in fairness to bholler, he said “equally capable” machines. There are machines with similar lift capacity, etc. that cost less than a Deere. It’s more often things like parts availability or dealer support a decade after purchase, ergonomics, or the availability of accessories and implements, that creates the higher cost of one brand, versus another. Every part ever required to repair my prior 34-year old Deere was available, usually in stock at my local dealer, or could be shipped in within 48 hours. Good luck getting support on a 2019 Kioti in 2053!

There are also tons of people who agree with my veiwpoint. Yes jd has some advantages especially in ergonomics. But you can get equally capable yanmar Mahindra or kyoti tractors that work very well and have good support for allot less. And infact many of the JD company's are either made by yanmar or use lots of yanmar parts. Kubota makes good tractors as well but they have become almost as over priced as jd in my opinion.

 

[Ashful]

There are also tons of people who agree with my veiwpoint. Yes jd has some advantages especially in ergonomics. But you can get equally capable yanmar Mahindra or kyoti tractors that work very well and have good support for allot less. And infact many of the JD company's are either made by yanmar or use lots of yanmar parts. Kubota makes good tractors as well but they have become almost as over priced as jd in my opinion.

Not sure you saw my last edit, but I don’t completely disagree with you. But for me, there are only two brands I would even consider, Kubota and Deere.

You call them over-priced, I call them adequately supported. I see too many stories of other brands not having parts available to make a critical repair two decades after manufacture, to even consider them a serious option.

When I eventually sell my Deere, my total out of pocket cost will likely have been no more, or perhaps only very little more, than any other machine of similar capacity. In the meantime, I had the pleasure of using the best machine in its class, rather than hating myself for compromising on something less. The only difference is the amount of cash I put on hold, in the interim.

Bringing it back to skid steers, I’d not be buying any new to the US market Asian compromise. You nearly always get what you pay, in the end, even if the benefit is not immediately obvious.

 

[bholler]

Not sure you saw my last edit, but I don’t completely disagree with you. But for me, there are only two brands I would even consider, Kubota and Deere.

You call them over-priced, I call them adequately supported. I see too many stories of other brands not having parts available to make a critical repair two decades after manufacture, to even consider them a serious option.

When I eventually sell my Deere, my total out of pocket cost will likely have been no more, or perhaps only very little more, than any other machine of similar capacity. In the meantime, I had the pleasure of using the best machine in its class, rather than hating myself for compromising on something less. The only difference is the amount of cash I put on hold, in the interim.

Bringing it back to skid steers, I’d not be buying any new to the US market Asian compromise. You nearly always get what you pay, in the end, even if the benefit is not immediately obvious.

You do realize the drive line of your JD is yanmar don't you.

Kyoti has been in business since 1947 and sold here since 93 so fairly new here but they have been around a long time

Mahindra made its first tractor in 63 been selling them here since 94 and has been the largest volume tractor manufacturer since 2010. I really doubt they are going anywhere any time soon.

Yanmar has been in business since 1912 sold here since 77 been making John deer compact tractors since 81 so not a new comer at all.

I have no problem with you preferring John deer. I just don't see that the benifits outweigh the costs

 

[Ashful]

You do realize the drive line of your JD is yanmar don't you.

Yes, of course. In fact, the Yanmar/Deere thing goes back farther than the date you quote, my 1978 Deere 750 was also a Yanmar-powered machine. No issues there, nor with Kubota, they’ve got a support network nearly equal to Deere.

We’ll just have to disagree on Kyoti and Mahindra, I wouldn’t be spending my money on either here in the US, but to each their own. They’re both lesser options, if only due to dealer and parts support, with a net cost of ownership likely no better than Deere or Kubota after eventual resale.

BTW... I’m not a “Deere fan”, I’m just a fan of having a local dealer that always has the parts I need in stock, or can get them in two days on the rare occasion they don’t. For me, in this neighborhood, that means Deere. If I lived closer to where I grew up, it’d be Kubota, as they’re the biggest dealer in that town.

 

[SpaceBus]

Ashful is right about parts. Kioti tractors have exploded in popularity. It took me weeks to get a second remote valve for my tractor. I'm not sure if this was due to my local dealer, the supply chain, or just too much demand. JD dealers are probably easier to deal with since JD is "local" and can keep a great deal of oversight on things. Kioti obviously is not the same way. Their US headquarters in NC seems to be running the show, but JD is just better at it. Some JD ergonomics are nice, but for the most part it's just proprietary stuff. If JD tractors were more universal I would like them more, but being forced to go to the JD dealer for most things kills it for me. That being said, a local JD dealer would have had my money, but locally I have Kioti.

I have many complaints about my dealer, but that has nothing to do with Kioti as a company.

 

[SidecarFlip]

I have both (skid steer and tractors) but I farm so they are necessary. No compact tractors though, my tractors are full size front wheel assist as is my ski (bobcat) loader. Only thing (small) here is the lawnmower, a 60" zero turn.

 

[SpaceBus]

I have both (skid steer and tractors) but I farm so they are necessary. No compact tractors though, my tractors are full size front wheel assist as is my ski (bobcat) loader. Only thing (small) here is the lawnmower, a 60" zero turn.

You have some pretty agile three cylinder machines as well

 

[SidecarFlip]

You have some pretty agile three cylinder machines as well

Not me. Unless you refer to the Bobcat which has a Kubota 3 cylinder diesel. My tractors are both inline 4's, turbocharged

 

[SpaceBus]

Not me. Unless you refer to the Bobcat which has a Kubota 3 cylinder diesel. My tractors are both inline 4's, turbocharged

I meant the motorcycles. The link next to your username leads to a Triumph aftermarket parts store.

 

[SidecarFlip]

I meant the motorcycles. The link next to your username leads to a Triumph aftermarket parts store.

My .com site. Yes, one 3 cylinder and a couple twins and a single cylinder too. All sleeping right now...lol

 

[Grizzerbear]

I would keep the skid steer you have and buy a tractor. They are both great machines that have their places for usefulness. Comparing the two is like comparing apples to oranges.

 

[Gearhead660]

I would keep the skid steer you have and buy a tractor. They are both great machines that have their places for usefulness. Comparing the two is like comparing apples to oranges.

I would love to have both. If i didn't have to justify the need for both to the other resident of the house, there would be no questioning which to get.

 

[Grizzerbear]

I would love to have both. If i didn't have to justify the need for both to the other resident of the house, there would be no questioning which to get.

I hear ya. I dont have one either just a tractor. If i had to choose one between the other i would go with the tractor mainly because imo they are more versatile on job specific applications and as stated above....implements are much cheaper and easy to find, new or used. I think of tractors as the jack of all trades master of none and skid steers as exact opposite if that makes sense. If you do decide on getting a new tractor....as also stated above.....go as big as you can. You will thank yourself.

 

[velvetfoot]

New to the tractor thing, but it seems like front end loader attachments come in JD or Skid Steer flavors. So, you could switch off from machine to machine. If that'd even ever come up.

 

[Gearhead660]

I hear ya. I dont have one either just a tractor. If i had to choose one between the other i would go with the tractor mainly because imo they are more versatile on job specific applications and as stated above....implements are much cheaper and easy to find, new or used. I think of tractors as the jack of all trades master of none and skid steers as exact opposite if that makes sense. If you do decide on getting a new tractor....as also stated above.....go as big as you can. You will thank yourself.

I have been partial to skid steers since my stint as a landscaper. Can do a lot with that bucket. As I get older and acquire more dirt, starting to think a tractor would be better. Also as you stated, attachments are much cheaper for a 3 point. Not looking to get one of those oversized lawn tractors, 30-40hp range sounds adequate.

 

[Ashful]

... it seems like front end loader attachments come in JD or Skid Steer flavors.

This is correct. Buying new, it doesn't matter much which way you go, both are available in most cases. The used market is where prices and condition tend to diverge, with more competition and higher prices on the SSQA, and more of it beaten to death by landscapers versus more private owners on the JDQA.

 

[Kiotick4010]

As to cost, my CTL ran almost double what my CTL cost two years earlier.. the CTL is a mid sized machine, 74 ho and 8400 lbs . The CUT is a 40 hp Kioti, both with cabs, heat, and air.

Kioti is five minutes from my house, and sells a couple hundred tractors annually. Deere dealer is a half hour away, and a hole in the wall with one mechanic.

Kubota is two hours away.