Tractor Skidsteer Question

I'm sure this question has been asked before, but I don't know the answer. So, which is more stable when loading trucks or trailers in the field, with the bucket full and in the air? A small skidsteer or a small tractor? I know what a small skidsteer is like, but have no clue about a small tractor, 25-40 hp. range.

These new sub compacts look like they'd be a little tippy as narrow as they are. A true utility farm tractor is fairly stable.

I have a cut 28 hp with a loader 4x4 weighted tires on rear. I have run a bobcat 763 and feel they are about even. the tractor turns better but the skid steer is a little more stable side to side.

All I can comment is that a skidsteer gives one heck of a ride when crossing a field. Even small tractors I have used are much easier on the operator out in a field.

If you are loading trucks there are several things to consider. How much room do you have? What type of ground are you on? How big are the trucks? If you have room to back the tractor without steering to "lock" before moving forward it is much easier. If you can raise the load halfway to dumping height before changing directions and reach max height as you get to the truck then you don't have to stop 'til you get there.If you don't have much room then the skid steer works better. If the ground is soft or wet the tractor won't tear it up like the skid steer will. There are too many variables to make a judgment, most loaders can load a dump truck from one side, Most skid steers don't have enough horizontal reach to push the load to the other side. Just my opinion based on 60 years experience. Sam.

you can not beat a skid steer with tracks., and for safety also. many people have been killed and crippled from the bale rolling on top of them from loading high with a tractor without protection. and i know a tractor will not keep up to me using a tracked kobota skid steer. way faster and smoother. better hydraulics too.

I would say that a skid steer is safer just because your in an enclosed cab. In the operators seat it is pretty hard to be hurt. A tractor would have the advantage of reach. That is handy if your wanting to load from one side. Also a tractor rides better if you have to haul bales very far.

We had two semi tractors and trailers we hauled hay on. I preferred using a skid steer IF the skid steer had some size to it. You can position the load so much easier. If your a little out of square you can "twist" while your right by the trailer. Where you have to steer into the lad as your coming in with a loader tractor. In confined areas the skid steer really shines. The cycle time is much faster.

A small tractor as you described with a FEL will not have the lift capacity of a skid steer, because of the geometry of the loader, and compared to the higher hyd pressure used in a skid steer loader with the boom arms mounted at the rear.
Loren

Thank you and everyone else that replied! I have a small Bobcat skidsteer with about a 800 lb. lift, but I have been thinking of replacing it with a JD 3 or 4 series tractor with a loader. I have heard these tractors are very light in the back end w/o ballast, and can also be tipsy. Just not sure if more tipsy than a skidsteer with a short wheel base.

Not too sure what a 3 or 4 series John Deere is, but i think any tractor with a loader should have loaded rear wheels.

These are the newer JD compact tractors that are in the 30-40 hp. range with a hydro transmission.

Spudm: Neither the small 800 lbs. skid steer or a 3 or 4 series Compact tractor is the right or safe equipment to handle hay with. At least not the bales we do. 1500-2000 LBS. round bales and 800-1000 lbs. large square bales.

Also a Smaller compact tractor does not have a wide enough wheel tread to really be safe on any type of grade handling a bale on a loader. To even lift a bale with a compact tractor your going to need rear ballast.

Some thing to consider. You can buy utility tractors with the same horse power as a compact. The utility tractor is usually not much difference in price. Example: JD 4520 is rated at 53 HP and the JD 5210 is the same. The JD 5210 is about a 1000 lbs. heavier when comparing shipping weights. Then when you compare loader lift capacities the JD 5210 with a 540 loader has a rated lift capacity that is 1200 lbs. higher than the JD 4520 and loader.

I DO NOT recommend compact tractors for handling round bales of hay. They are not designed for that. They are designed to do the job of larger garden tractors not smaller farm tractors. I only have had a single customer seriously hurt while using equipment I sold to him. This fellow was killed moving dirt on a hill side with a compact tractor and loader. He had his seat belt on and had the roll guard up. He rolled the tractor on the up hill side of a tree that went in front of the roll guard. He was crushed by the tree. IF he had been in a skid steer he would more than likely have not been hurt.

Truthfully compact tractors with loaders scare the heck out of me when you add in the fact most of the operators do not have much experience operating equipment. They buy a house with a big yard or a smaller acreage and then go buy a compact tractor with a loader. It is kind of like handing a kid a loaded gun and telling him to go play with it.

Get a big enough tractor or get a skidsteer. Or payloader.
Now that I'm hauling distillers I see guys using something like a 6130 with the shuttle shift, and a stack of weights on each rear tire,and they are twice the loader tractor of a 4430 or 50. Watched a guy a couple days ago pull the top row of bales off a flatbed semi 2 at a time.