Skid steer or Dozer

[Mr. Hawk]

I have another post about me thinking about getting a D5 dozer I found for my 270 acres that’s mostly hilly timber, ridges and rocks. A buddy is suggesting I buy a skid steer instead. I’d like to be able to clear stuff and work on my miles of logging roads. Which would be best? I already has a tractor w/bucket with bushhog.

 

[Hunter 257W]

Yeah, I'd like to read thoughts on which is best myself. I need something that could clear small trees, say no more than 8" at the base and push back field edges. Also has to be on tracks because I have such a problem with wild pear trees with thorns. I no longer dare try to bush hog the things because of tire damage to my tractors. I think a small to medium bulldozer is what I need but maybe a skidsteer could work too. Don't have experience with them to know.

 

[Chaneylake]

I would go with a "mini excavator "

I maintain 2600 acres timber land and a little over 600 acres with a mini excavator

 

[Chaneylake]

I would go with a "mini excavator "

I maintain 2600 acres timber land and a little over 600 acres row crop with a mini excavator

Your first year or 2 might be difficult but after that it's a piece of cake

 

[Urban_Hunter]

Of the two, I would go with a skid steer. A dozer is great for making new roads, but a skid steer should be able to maintain what you have and also be a lot more versatile around the farm for other duties

 

[Planking]

It depends on how hilly, rocky and rough it is. I don't think my skid steer is the best tool around real steep and rocky terrain. Unlike a dozer or mini ex it will do very little going up a steep hill. I have some steep rocky woods i would like to clear out the logging roads on but its just beyond what it can do. I got it stuck and it was a nightmare to get it out. Farm and field work its hard to beat. I push over 8 inch trees with it and dig out much bigger ones. It will clear out smaller stuff fast but when it gets steep or big rocks are involved i would be on something else. You can fill the tires or buy the airless tires if you have tree thorns and prefer those over tracks.

 

[waynesworld]

I had 90 acres and tried using a skid steer first and did not work. Ended up being the death to the skid steer. They are great for what they are used for and may get one later but for going out and pushing trees the thorn bushes it is not heavy enough. I have seen the ones with the brush eater on front tear some stuff up but they looked expensive. The mini excavator may work but you have to go slow at the start. On a small piece of land i used a full size excavator. I love working with the big things pushing trees over gives you the tool time feeling.

 

[mike243]

I haven't used 1 of the larger skid steers with the tracks but the older 1's that had the tracks that wrapped around the tires went pretty dang good, a smaller high lift would be my pick, I like to be able to pickup a bucket of dirt/rocks and dump it some where and not have to push it.

 

[TRIGGER]

A skid steer is a whole lot more versatile. There are countless things that can be done with one but pushing over trees or cutting in roads are not things for a skid steer. It just all depends on what you are wanting/needing done. If I were just looking for a piece of equipment to help out around the farm it would be a New Holland track skid steer. I say New Holland because that’s what I own now and have owned other brands but the New Holland is just a tough reliable machine. (Mine runs every day as I use it for work). A dozier is great for doing a few things but you can rent (or buy) attachments For a skid steer that allow you to do so much more.

 

[bjohnson]

Pick the right tool for the job. A dozer will clear what you need quicker. The downside is once you're done clearing and maintaining your roads the dozer will sit until needed.

 

[jetwrnch]

Dozer because you already have a tractor with a bucket. I sold my Bobcat because of instability on hills.

 

[Stykbow]

My dad had a John Deere dozer about the size of the one your looking at and an excavator. He sold the dozer because the excavator would do pretty much anything the dozer would as far as clearing land. He also pointed out that you didn’t have to worry as much about limbs and tree tops falling on you because of how you pushed trees down with the bucket.


If you’re going to be stupid, you’d better be tough!

 

[TNTreeman]

Skid steer and dozer really are two seperate work horses. I love an excavator especially with a thumb. It all depends on what you want to do and terrain.

 

[waynesworld]

Just go big

 

[Grizzly Johnson]

I would go with the dozer.... proper maintaining and it will last you a long time.

As far as the skid steer goes, from personal experience at work..... if you have anything other than flat ground..... you will become efficient at putting the tracks back on or get tired of doing it and sell it. It doesn't take much on uneven or rocky ground, even turning on big enough stobbs can jump the tracks off. I have a system that I use and can get a track back on in 5-10 minutes depending on how far off it is.... If it's bad and all the way off, you have to jack up the machine, remove the cover and open the valve to let out the grease that adjusts the tension of the tracks. Then get the track back on and then put a tube of grease back in to tighten the track back up. It's a PITA and could take 30 minutes or so depending on how prepared you are for the instance.

Each machine has it's place in work environments.

 

[FTG-05]

I would go with the dozer.... proper maintaining and it will last you a long time.

As far as the skid steer goes, from personal experience at work..... if you have anything other than flat ground..... you will become efficient at putting the tracks back on or get tired of doing it and sell it. It doesn't take much on uneven or rocky ground, even turning on big enough stobbs can jump the tracks off. I have a system that I use and can get a track back on in 5-10 minutes depending on how far off it is.... If it's bad and all the way off, you have to jack up the machine, remove the cover and open the valve to let out the grease that adjusts the tension of the tracks. Then get the track back on and then put a tube of grease back in to tighten the track back up. It's a PITA and could take 30 minutes or so depending on how prepared you are for the instance.

Each machine has it's place in work environments.

I've helped put three tracks back on two different skid steers. Holy Mother Forking was that a massive PITA. Think trying to push a 500 lb wet noodle. :bash:

 

[SilverFox]

Still rather have the small excavator with a blade than either...