For years, contractors have sung the praises of compact equipment. Simply put, skid-steer loaders and compact track loaders are, in the words of Gregg Zupancic, product marketing manager for John Deere Construction & Forestry, “affordable, simple to maintain, compact, transportable, versatile, and easy to operate.”
Impact track loaders and skid-steers allow operators to maneuver into smaller areas that larger machines can’t reach, adds Derek Taylor, district sales manager, Arizona, for United Rentals. Because of their smaller size, they can get closer to buildings, making them more suitable for tight job sites. “CTLs and skid-steers have a tight turning radius, which enables quicker turns.”
“As compact units, mini skid-steers offer superior maneuverability on job sites,” adds Chris Thompson, Ditch Witch product manager, compact equipment. Maneuverability is a major advantage because it allows these machines to work in spaces that traditional full-size skid-steers and track loaders cannot, such as residential neighborhoods, where they’re used to help frame houses and perform landscaping, and downtown/urban areas, as well as highway shoulders, to clear debris.
The compact size of CTLs and skid-steers allows them to maneuver easily in tight areas and accomplish tasks when space is at a premium, according to Jeff Jacobsmeyer, CE product manager, Kubota Construction, who says, “Kubota compact track loaders and skid-steers are sized to provide a high level of versatility while bringing excellent power and performance to the worksite.”
They can also go places more easily than their larger counterparts. These units can be transported from job site to job site with little difficulty, Thompson continues. “This makes mini skid-steers especially advantageous for renters, DIY operators, and landscapers who are often working in small, residential spaces, and/or consistently jumping from job to job.”
“They are lighter and smaller, which makes it easier to transport them to sites,” says Taylor. They don’t require a CDL to be moved to job sites, making transport faster, easier, and less costly.
Although Jason Boerger, marketing manager for Bobcat Company, believes that compact loaders are growing in both size and capability, he says they still need to fit the practical application of being a piece of compact equipment. “The purpose of a compact equipment is to be able to easily move it from job site to job site and move around and work in tight spaces where other larger machines may not be able to access.”
Jacobsmeyer says Kubota’s new SVL65-2 compact track loader is a smaller and lighter machine that enables easier transport for smaller truck-trailer configurations, yet maintains all benefits of the two larger models. It is positioned in a lighter ROC weight class than its predecessors and features an advanced multi-function hydraulic control valve, the popular slide-up overhead front door, and a new convenient on/off self-leveling function switch for the bucket.
With size goes weight. The lighter weight of compact equipment means it causes less damage. “Weight can cause damage,” affirms Chris Trampush, product manager, skid-steers and compact track loaders, JCB. Because compact equipment weighs less, he says it’s possible to run more small machines onsite than big machines.
While CTLs are better suited for multi-terrain use and wheeled skid-steers are mainly used in flat ground applications, both are “great machines for use with many different hydraulic attachments, and can perform many of the same operations,” claims Lee Padgett, product manager at Takeuchi, US.
Both provide a higher hydraulic flow rate that enables efficiency when using attachments, Taylor explains. In addition, they provide increased front view visibility since there isn’t a large front section—a safety benefit for those working in the vicinity of the equipment.
Visibility is definitely one of the advantages of compact equipment. Another is the ease of getting on and off, Thompson says. “In a mini skid-steer, operator visibility is not constricted as it can be when operating a machine with a cab. With an open operator platform, operators get a full 360-degree view of the job site.” He explains that many operators need to get on and off their machine multiple times throughout the day. The ease of simply hopping on and off the operator’s platform on a mini skid-steer is much easier than climbing in and out of the cab of a larger track loader machine.
Getting in and out of a JCB is made easier thanks to its side entry door. “You can get out with the bucket or arm in any position,” explains Trampush. It’s a safety and visibility bonus. He contends that JCB offers the best visibility in the industry, crediting the single arm (versus industry standard dual arms) for 60% better visibility. JCB makes the only one-arm skid-steers and CTLs in the industry, although they do manufacture single-boom machines for Volvo as well. The cab’s weight is offset from the chassis to accommodate a single arm on the right side, as opposed to the typical arrangement of dual arms to the left and right of the operator.
Limits
As versatile as they may be, compact machines cannot do everything. Due to the compact nature of a skid-steer or CTL, they cannot lift as much as a larger wheel loader, push as much as a larger dozer, trench as deep as a dedicated trenching machine, or mulch as fast as a dedicated mulching machine. “The advantages for the customer come in their compact nature and versatility, versus any other piece of equipment line in the world,” states Deere’s Zupancic.
Lifting limitations are perhaps the most often mentioned. “Loaders can lift a significant amount of weight, depending on their size,” says Bobcat’s Boerger. “That said, operators need to be aware of their machine’s rated operating capacity so they know what the machine can handle. Their compact size gives them many advantages, but rated operating capacity could be a limitation in certain situations, depending on the jobs or tasks being completed.”
The amount of weight they can lift without tipping is especially important when working on slopes, Trampush notes. “When you consider the grade of slopes, calculate the degrees across as well as up and down.”
“CTLs and skid-steers have limited lifting capacity,” concurs Taylor. “They are not a good fit for working on slopes due to potential tipping issues.”
However, Thompson counters, while mini skid-steers, depending on the unit, typically offer less speed and horsepower than full-size machines, new mini skid-steers being introduced to the market are offering more power than ever before in an effort to handle projects that were typically suited for traditional track loaders and larger skid-steers.
Nevertheless, depending on the application, a larger CTL will increase productivity on a job site since it can carry larger loads and operate larger attachments, says Debbie Townsley, product marketing manager, SSL and CTL, Case Construction Equipment.
“When a business owner is considering whether or not to purchase a larger CTL, they should determine the heaviest load that the machine will need to handle, and choose a machine that can handle that load efficiently based on rated operating capacity,” she says. “One practical limitation to look out for when you are looking at larger skid-steers and CTLs would be the trailer width. As machines increase in capacity, they also get wider to provide stability.”
Another limitation that can decide between a compact machine and a larger one is access. Depending on the specific needs of the job site, an operator may need to maneuver around buildings and other obstacles, so it is important for contractors to understand the needs of the job and to size a CTL accordingly. Compact machines are much more adept at maneuvering around buildings and in tight spaces than their larger counterparts.
Also to be considered is the CTL frame itself, as well as the ability to cool a high horsepower engine and hydraulic system. “With the general frame structure of a CTL, it would seem that anything above that 120 horsepower threshold would not be able to operate without some sort of external cooling,” speculates Townsley. “Keeping that hydraulic system cooled would become an engineering challenge.”
For the most part, Kubota’s Jacobsmeyer interjects, limitations are only tied to the machine’s rated operating capacity, which ensures the safety of the operators and/or bystanders. “The horsepower-to-weight ratio for all models for both the skid-steer and compact track loader has proven to be an efficient match for grading and loading projects for each model, based on their ROC. Many customers comment that the loaders are very agile in handling and performance when operated empty or fully loaded.”
Versatility
With more than 40 branded attachments for the Kubota, Jacobsmeyer believes there are very few limitations. “Grapples for cleanup, planers and road saws for asphalt, and heavy-duty rotary cutters are just some of the attachments available. With the current offering of Kubota attachments, the limitations are very few.”
Mini skid-steers have typically appealed to operators because of their unbeatable versatility, Ditch Witch’s Thompson says. “Adding to their versatility, the latest, more powerful models are now able to run full-size skid-steer attachments. The Ditch Witch SK 1550, for example, features low-, mid-, and high-flow hydraulic options to optimize attachment versatility. This unit accepts a broad range of attachments, from a larger bucket to an auger, vibratory plow, and microtrencher attachments for laying fiber-optic lines.”>
In the JCB factory, the word kaizen is used regularly. It means improvement, and improvement means versatility, Trampush says. “JCB has the only telescoping boom in a CTL.” Capable of reaching up to 8 feet, which is 60% more forward reach and 10% more lift height than previously, it can reach across a flatbed tractor-trailer for more efficient loading without the need for a ramp to load a high-sided truck.
Power
“We continue to see manufacturers offering higher horsepower machines,” observes Bobcat’s Boerger. Bobcat now offers the new T870 compact track loader that has 100 horsepower, which is an increase from the previous model of 92 horses. “This is in response to customers looking for more power in their machines, but still having the need to keep the same footprint of the machine.”
Similarly, power is increased in the JCB models but is kept at 74 hp to avoid requiring after-treatment for the engine, Trampush points out. The JCB machines offer standard flow hydraulics at 24 gallons per minute and high-flow hydraulics at 33 gallons per minute, which is where “everything in the market is now,” he says.
One of the most common mistakes that contractors make is buying a skid-steer without enough hydraulic power, Townsley states. “Having high flow and not needing it is better than not having high flow and needing it. Our skid-steer line has continually evolved to provide industry-leading breakout forces, improved torque, and hydraulic flow—all of which make them more appealing to end-users.”
By outfitting them with the right auxiliary hydraulic systems, skid-steer owners are able to capitalize on all the machines have to offer, achieve a favorable return on investment, and ultimately, add to the bottom line of their business. Townsley concludes, “If a contractor thinks they may be expanding their business, they should consider a high-flow system.”
There is an ever-increasing demand for greater horsepower and hydraulic flow on today’s track loaders, comments Takeuchi’s Padgett. “Our TL12R2 and TL12V2 have 111 hp and offer up to 40 gallons per minute of auxiliary hydraulic flow. This combination makes them very versatile for many different applications, from forestry to grading and dirt work.”
When it comes to mini skid-steers, Ditch Witch continues to push the limit on power in a compact size. The SK1550 is the newest, largest, and most powerful Ditch Witch mini skid-steer model. Thompson says customers like the added power and size without having to crawl in and out of a cab. The machine can handle larger and heavier loads, allowing it to complete tasks typically suited for traditional skid-steer loaders, such as tree handling and sod transfer.
Deere’s large frame G-series models (330G, 332G skid-steers and 331G and 333G CTLs) provide more lifting capability, pushing power, and stability for the customer, Zupancic says. The 330G and 331G models feature a 92 hp 3.1L engine and the 332G and 333G models have a 100 hp engine.
For some, however, power comes through fuel efficiency rather than engine size and horsepower. “The newer model engines don’t produce more horsepower but are more powerful and fuel-efficient. Equipment with newer Tier 4 diesel engines significantly reduce harmful emissions,” says United Rentals’ Taylor.
Technology
The industry is seeing more automation features designed into compact equipment. Zupancic lists current John Deere features:
John Deere’s Electro-Hydraulic Control system with proprietary software and programming.
- EH Boom Performance Package:
• Auto Bucket self-leveling
• Return to dig
• Return to carry
• Boom height kick out
- EH Joystick Performance:
• EH Switchable controls
• Creep-mode
• Boom/Bucket speed settings
• Adjustable propel
• Selectable Accelerator/Decelerator pedal settings
- On-Board Grade Indication—Readout within LCD monitor of the cab
- Other settings that are programmable or automatically function without additional operator input:
• Courtesy lighting shut-off timer, reversing fan intervals, auto-idle, engine anti-stall, auto-engine shut-down protection
- JDLink Ultimate features—geofencing, remote diagnostics
Similarly, Case’s EZ-EH controls allow operators to switch between personalized speed and control settings. They can program up to nine different presets and recall their favorite settings at the touch of a button.
Likewise, JCB offers its own version of a navigation tool available on all skid-steers and CTLs called LiveLink Lite. In addition to locating equipment, if the machine throws an error code, LiveLink relays the information back to the service department to diagnose. Trampush explains that JCB’s uptime center, a physical facility that tracks issues in real time on every machine, then traces error codes, determines what they are, and looks
for a solution.
Fleet management has become an integral part of equipment ownership. Takeuchi Fleet Management is standard equipment with two years of service provided on all new machines. “TFM is designed to remotely connect users to their Takeuchi machines,” elaborates Padgett. TFM provides alerts and machine information, including location, performance, and maintenance data, providing insights into where and how the excavator is being utilized.
“We are seeing telematics for maintenance and GPS becoming more standard in the equipment,” remarks Taylor. “Pilot controls are standard features, moving from the previous standard of foot pedals.”
The Ditch Witch mini skid-steer units are available with telematics technology now and the manufacturer is looking at other modern technologies to incorporate in future products, according to Thompson. “We are constantly looking at advancements in machine technology and modern solutions to incorporate in future products, and [seeing] where there are opportunities to push the envelope to bring greater value to our customers.”
Active power control is a machine control feature that helps maintain optimum engine speed for maximum power when under load. In Takeuchi track loaders, this feature can be turned on or off.
Manufacturers are always pushing the envelope of technological development, but, says Trampush, market demand is the driver. “If we identify a need for it, we’ll explore the capability.” JCB may have to start exploring Artificial Intelligence, based on an April Fools’ joke that took an unexpected turn. The company produced a parody video of AI machine control with the loader driving by itself. “It was a spoof, but the customers called about it; they want it.” He admits it’s not far from a remote-controlled machine that could provide increased safety and visibility, but at this time, it’s not in development.
