Compact track loaders
, or CTLs, are one of the lowest operating cost equipment options. They
have become increasingly popular in recent years, surpassing sales of
compact wheel loaders
. Despite the boom in popularity, contractors should consider their
intended application before choosing between tracks or tires. Let’s take a
look at some of the differences between track loaders vs. wheel loaders and
why your business would benefit from one over another.
COMPACT WHEEL LOADERS
For applications on hard, smooth surfaces like concrete, wheel loaders are
the better choice. Four tires offer better traction on hard surfaces and
handle curbs and other road obstacles with ease. They cause less damage to
grass and dirt than tracks but don’t perform well in muddy conditions. For
contractors who do the majority of their work in existing developments with
roadways, a wheeled loader works best.
Another point to note, compact wheel loaders are less expensive than their
tracked counterparts, and replacement tires are significantly cheaper than
replacement tracks.
COMPACT TRACK LOADERS
CTLs are ideal for suboptimal ground or soil conditions. With tracks, the
weight of the machine is spread over more area, creating lower ground
pressure that prevents sinking even on wet soil. Tracked loaders easily
cross over narrow trenches and climb over logs or other obstacles. In wet
or rough conditions, CTLs dig more easily, push with more power, and
perform better. For contractors who primarily work on new construction
projects, a CTL is your best bet.
Upgrading from a canopy to a cab allows operators to work in just about any
site or weather conditions. “Cabbed CTLs are becoming increasingly popular
due to their Swiss army knife-like capabilities,” said Matt Wolf, Equipment
Territory Manager for Papé Machinery Construction & Forestry. “An owner
can use it on multiple site applications. This versatility allows the owner
to recoup their purchase quickly while building a more diverse book of
business opportunities.”
While CTLs are typically more expensive than a comparable wheel loader,
they are a worthwhile investment if you are regularly up against rough
conditions. Replacement tracks are costly, but with proper
track maintenance
and care, they shouldn’t need to be replaced often.
Over The Tire Rubber Tracks
If you are still stuck on the tracks vs. wheels decision,
over the tire rubber tracks
, give you the best of both worlds. This
product
is a removable track option that can be added to a wheel loader as needed
so you can use the equipment for all applications. Having the option of
both tracks and wheels is an optimal solution for contractors who want the
flexibility to take on road projects as well as projects in dirt or mud
without having to incur the expense of owning two machines.
Over the tire rubber tracks will offer increased stability, flotation, and
traction in wet conditions, but they do have some limitations. They will
not perform as well as a CTL for grading tasks, so if that is your primary
goal, it would be better to go with a CTL and
rent a wheel loader
for the occasional road project.
Stop by your
nearest Papé Machinery Construction and Forestry location
in Washington, Oregon, California, or Nevada to see our compact wheel
loaders and compact track loaders for sale
