Skid Steers! Who has one? Who uses them regular? Things to consider?

[Slippy]

Been looking at a used D4 online.
I was looking at a heavier tractor and skid steers but I think I need a small dozer.

There are some pretty good "dozer blades" out there for skid steers, that's my plan.

Yesterday I was fixing some erosion on one of my roads and damn near rolled the tractor.

That was the final straw. I ain't getting dead due to my tractors center of gravity!

[T-Man 1066]

Been looking at a used D4 online.
I was looking at a heavier tractor and skid steers but I think I need a small dozer.

Bad thing with crawlers is the expense of undercarriage repairs. Especially CAT. Dozers are commercial machines, usually meaning by the time a company is done using it for profit, then sell it to a start-up company or three, then usually to a farmer or a landowner, they are usually pretty worn out. If you are just using it for personal use, 30 hrs a year or so, probably fine. My 420C is fairly rough undercarriage, but tracks do stay on, extension springs are fine, and stretch / sag isn't real bad. Bad thing with crawlers and skid steers, if they break down, usually no towing back to the shop. My 420 is a 5 speed manual transmission, not hydrostatic, and in neutral still takes quite a bit to tow it. Only about #8K.

[T-Man 1066]

There are some pretty good "dozer blades" out there for skid steers, that's my plan.

Yesterday I was fixing some erosion on one of my roads and damn near rolled the tractor.

That was the final straw. I ain't getting dead due to my tractors center of gravity!

Never been a fan of dozer blades for skiddies, seems like too much lateral articulation with the short wheelbase, and the blade another wheelbase length out there if you want to level ground. Yea they can move dirt, bout need a motor grader if you want to easily level ground.

I got my eye on a Austin-Westin grader, been sitting for a couple 20 years, probably need it like an extra hole in my head...

[Box of frogs]

There are some pretty good "dozer blades" out there for skid steers, that's my plan.

Yesterday I was fixing some erosion on one of my roads and damn near rolled the tractor.

That was the final straw. I ain't getting dead due to my tractors center of gravity!

Slippy are your tires fluid filled?
That will counteract the height and lower that center of gravity.
Here in the south you don’t have big freeze problems, so you could use water or a mix of water and windshield washer fluid.

[T-Man 1066]

Slippy are your tires fluid filled?
That will counteract the height and lower that center of gravity.
Here in the south you don’t have big freeze problems, so you could use water or a mix of water and windshield washer fluid.

Original tires on my Hydra-Mac were foam filled. Insanely heavy. No freezing.

[Sparkyprep]

I don't own one, but I do have a lot of experience operating one. Stay away from JCB. Kubota makes a good one, as does Deere. Bobcat is the OG, and still a good option. Dozer blades don't work well on skid steers, on account of their very short wheelbase, and bounciness. If you have money to burn- look for a forestry mulcher set-up. Front mounted mulcher, extra hydraulic cooling systems on the roof, and fully-enclosed safety cab. Those things are beasts, and will mow ANYTHING.

[Slippy]

Slippy are your tires fluid filled?
That will counteract the height and lower that center of gravity.
Here in the south you don’t have big freeze problems, so you could use water or a mix of water and windshield washer fluid.

Yes, I have water+anti-freeze in my tractor tires and that helps a lot.

I just got myself in a bad situation on a hill. Operator Error but I got lucky.

[Slippy]

Slippy are your tires fluid filled?
That will counteract the height and lower that center of gravity.
Here in the south you don’t have big freeze problems, so you could use water or a mix of water and windshield washer fluid.

Yes, I have water+anti-freeze in my tractor tires and that helps a lot.

I just got myself in a bad situation on a hill. Operator Error but I got lucky.

[Chiefster23]

Did you fluid fill the front tires too?

[Slippy]

Did you fluid fill the front tires too?

No fluid in front tires, but I have a weight on the front of the tractor plus front end loader.