Grading and Excavation Contractor | Small Loaders are Big on Work

When job-site access or working room is limited, it might be time to call in a small-space specialist: a skid-steer or a compact track loader. They can pay off in a big way when space is tight and time is short.

By Greg Northcutt

Performance Features
Comfort and Convenience Features
Durability
Serviceability
A Pair of Skid-Steer Loaders Handles the Grading Work
Compact Track Loader Keeps Working on Sandy Slopes
Skid-Steer and Compact Track Loaders Team Up to Tackle Various Soil and Slope Conditions

If you're still looking for a reason to buy a four-wheel skid-steer or a compact track loader, then you haven't talked with Morrie Krovitz of Rock River Landscaping in Roscoe, IL. He's used skid-steer loaders to move a lot of dirt since buying his first one 14 years ago. Even though he's bought five more since then, he figures he didn't pay a dime for any of them.

"They save me enough in labor costs that they run for free," he says. "I'd much rather use a skid-steer loader than labor. The skid-steer loader never suffers from a sore back, and it's always there first thing in the morning, ready to work.

"I can't imagine being efficient without it. It's much easier using a skid-steer loader in a tight area to get a correct grade than using a shovel and a hand rake. If you think you need a skid-steer, you probably do."

That kind of owner enthusiasm has been helping drive up the annual sales growth of these small loaders at rates of about 10-15% for the past few years. What's more, while experts doubt such growth rates can be sustained indefinitely, they still expect the trend to remain positive, at least as long as the construction market continues to be strong.

No wonder. Skid-steers and compact track loaders can work in areas where larger equipment can't maneuver easily and efficiently, if at all, or where tight quarters prohibit access by the bigger machines. The ability of these small loaders to turn quickly and completely around in their own length makes for fast, easy maneuvering in and among buildings, fences, and trees. That's becoming even more important as building sites shrink in size with continued development and redevelopment in metropolitan areas.

But size and agility are only part of the appeal of these machines. Thanks to the long and growing list of different types of attachments available, no other single piece of construction equipment can perform nearly as many different duties.

"Contractors are putting skid-steer loaders on almost every job site because they know they can use them," says Kim Robinson, sales and marketing vice president for Daewoo Heavy Industries America in Suwanee, GA.

Skid-steer and compact track machines aren't afraid of work either. "Because they provide a lot of power in a small package, skid-steer loaders are taking on such jobs as swimming pool excavating, truck loading, and finish grading," notes Louis Scheidt, a Caterpillar applications engineer. "These jobs traditionally have been handled by larger equipment, such as track-type tractors, loaders, and excavators."

The largest of Gehl's four 35-series skid-steer loaders, the model 6635 features an 80-hp engine, rated operating capacities of 2,350 or 2,650 lb., and ground speeds to 12.5 mph.

Kelly Moore, product manager with Gehl Company in West Bend, WI, calls skid-steer loaders "portable power units." That portability is a bonus. Unlike tractor-loader-backhoes and larger construction equipment, you can haul a skid-steer or a compact track loader on a smaller trailer behind a pickup truck.

Learning how to operate them is a relatively simple process, another advantage for time-pressed contractors.

The number of skid-steer manufacturers and the models they offer have never been greater. Even so, the market for these machines isn't saturated yet, at least compared to the auto industry, says Mike Fitzgerald, Bobcat product representative in Fargo, ND.

Bobcat offers the 73-hp 864 compact track loader with a rated operating capacity of 2,000 lb.

"We're still selling a large percentage of our machines to first-time skid-steer-loader buyers," he points out. "You won't find many 16-year-olds buying a $30,000 vehicle as their first car. Yet many skid-steer-loader buyers have never owned one of these machines before."

Current skid-steer owners are also fueling the demand by moving up to models with more capacity for work. "In the past, contractors tended to buy smaller models as a utility piece of equipment," Fitzgerald says. "Today they're buying larger machines and choosing from a variety of attachments and options to increase the usefulness of the machines and maximize their return on investment."

As demand for skid-steer loaders holds strong, the relatively small but fast-growing demand for compact track loaders is also gaining strength. Because they are designed specifically for tracks, compact track loaders perform differently than skid-steer loaders of comparable engine power equipped with over-the-tire tracks. The price and operating costs of a compact track loader, however, are typically higher than a comparably sized skid-steer loader. A few years ago you could count on one hand the number of manufacturers offering compact track loaders in the United States. Before long, you may need at least one more hand. Last year, Bobcat became the first skid-steer maker to introduce a compact track loader. Other manufacturers are likely to follow with their models, reports Rex Hayes, product sales manager for Takeuchi in Buford, GA.

Takeuchi's TL 150 compact loader is powered by a 101.5-hp engine and offers a rated operating capactiy of 2,470 lb. and a bucket breakout force of 8,692 lb.

"The market for compact track loaders is expected to grow very quickly. It's not a flash in the pan. Compared to skid-steer loaders, compact track loaders offer more traction, flotation, and stability. About half of our customers are supplementing their skid-steer loaders with a compact track loader to do more of the excavating work," he adds.

As skid-steer and compact track loaders take on more of the work at job sites, they're becoming more powerful, more comfortable, and more convenient to service and maintain. Depending on make and model, you can buy a new skid-steer loader with such features as:

a turbo-charged diesel engine for higher production when digging and loading;
high-flow hydraulics for improved operation of certain attachments, such as a planer or a trencher;
instruments, warning lights, and controls placed where they are easy to see and reach;
electronic monitoring of machine functions and diagnosis of problems;
precise, easy-to-operate pilot hydraulic joystick controls with few, if any, mechanical parts;
a two-speed transmission with a working speed and a faster roading gear to save travel time between work areas;
more room and better visibility for the operator;
an enclosed cab with sliding windows, a heater, an air conditioner, and sound-absorbing insulation;
lift cylinders that function as shock absorbers when traveling across the work site to cushion the ride for the operator and minimize bucket spills when crossing rough spots;
retractable seat belts that stay clean and easy to use;
a universal tool attachment and a fast hydraulic, hands-off attachment hookup;
extended service intervals (one manufacturer calls for 500 hours between engine oil changes, 1,000 hours between hydraulic oil changes, and 6,000 hours between coolant services).

"We sell very few baseline machines," Fitzgerald points out. "The many options and accessories available for today's skid-steer loaders allow you to match a machine to your individual needs for maximum use and versatility."

Performance Features

The Caterpillar 54-hp model 226 offers 3,620 lb. of breakout force and a 1,500-lb. rated operating capacity.

Horsepower rating by itself isn't an accurate measure of how well a skid-steer or compact track loader will handle grading and excavating work. Much more important is how efficiently and effectively this power is used to dig, cut, push, lift, and dump dirt.

Bucket breakout force, measured at the cutting edge of the bucket, indicates the power available to roll the bucket back after digging into the soil. It's not critical when digging into loose material, but it becomes much more important when excavating compacted ground. More breakout power means less time to fill a bucket and higher production.

Engine torque curves provide another measure of productivity. "If torque increases as rpm decreases when you're digging into a pile of dirt, the engine will recover back to operating speed more quickly for faster cycle times," explains Robinson.

Rated operating capacity indicates the ability of a loader to safely lift and carry material. It equals no more than half the weight of the load in a standard bucket that would cause the skid-steer loader to tip forward. For compact track loaders, the rated operating capacity is 35% of the tipping load.

"Rated operating capacity is affected by machine weight, wheelbase, and lift-arm design," Fitzgerald describes. "A heavier machine can lift and move a heavier load than a lighter machine. Longer-wheelbase skid-steer loaders tend to have higher-rated operating capacities. A vertical lift path keeps the load closer to the machine. So a loader with this lift pattern can lift more than an identical loader with a radius lift path. Also, a vertical lift path gives you more reach at maximum lift-arm height for loading into truck boxes."

A skid-steer loader with a conventional wheelbase is more maneuverable because it can turn in a shorter radius than a loader with a longer wheelbase. A longer wheelbase offers a smoother ride, however.

Tractive effort indicates how much wheel torque is transmitted to the ground, where the work is done. But, mentions Tom Banner, product information manager with Case Corporation in Racine, WI, tractive effort is affected by several factors.

"It's very dependent on wheel traction, which in turn depends on the size of the tire footprint, the type of tread, and the ground surface, whether loose or hard or smooth or rocky," he says. "A good skid-steer - loader operator starts to raise the bucket when it starts to break out the dirt. This puts more weight on the front tires for more traction. If your tires spin when breaking out, you have more tractive effort than you need."

"Heavier skid-steer loaders generally produce more tractive effort as long as adequate horsepower and axle torque are available," adds Scheidt. "Hydraulic cycle times impact productivity too. For most experienced operators, faster is better as long as it's controllable."

Tire design affects traction, flotation, and ride quality. The tires must withstand the wear and extra pressure on the sidewalls exerted every time a skid-steer loader turns. Tires with extra-wide tread can keep a skid-steer loader moving on softer ground. As with foam-filled tires, those with a soft fill eliminate flat tires. But unlike the hard ride of a foam-fill, the ride of a soft-fill is like that of a pneumatic tire. And soft-fills are retreadable. One manufacturer offers a tire that allows a skid-steer loader to continue operating for a time even when the tire is flat.

John Killilee of Sunbelt Rentals in Charlotte, NC, has been using Michelin's XZSL Stabil'X tires - the first tires made specifically for skid-steer loaders - for about a year on his company's rental machines. The steel-belted radials "are pretty much puncture-proof," he attests, a feature his customers also appreciate. "It's a lot smoother of a ride, and they don't have the downtime because they're not getting flat tires." He used to use foam-filled tires, which cost about $15 less per tire but lasted an average of only six months in the construction and demolition work where most of his customers use the machines. With special rubber compounds to resist cuts, the XZSL tires are showing little wear after the first year. "They're lightweight, so it's less wear and tear on the equipment, and they don't leave any black marks on the concrete, particularly on concrete driveways. I don't put foam-fill on anything anymore."

In addition to the normal working speeds, some skid-steer loaders offer a faster transport gear to save time when traveling between job sites.

Comfort and Convenience Features

The New Holland 42-hp LS160 provides 1,500 lb. of rated operating capacity and 3,712 lb. of bucket breakout force.

The Case 60-hp 1845C has a rated operating capacity of 1,750 lb. and 4,690 lb. of breakout force.

The four-model line of Daewoo skid-steer loaders includes the 1760XL, which has a 62.4-hp engine and a 1,700-lb rated oeprating capacity.

"Fine grading requires small changes to the bucket cutting edge," states Scheidt. "Low-effort controls can provide excellent control of the bucket. When coupled with a long wheelbase, it makes grading tasks much easier and more accurate."

All manufacturers offer skid-steer loaders with built-in float control. This allows the loader arms to move up and down when backgrading, permitting (for variety) the bucket or attachment to automatically follow the terrain. That can produce a nicer grade when grading dirt from roadside to curb and gutter, when working next to a house or other building, and when leveling for a foundation.

Among other features to check:

ease of entering and exiting the cab;
operator seat comfort (more and more models offer an optional fully adjustable suspension seat);
amount of interior room for the operator;
ease of reaching and operating the controls and seeing gauges and warning lamps;
visibility from the operator's seat, including views of the bucket when moving dirt and dumping and when using other attachments.

Durability

To minimize downtime, skid-steer and compact track loaders used for grading and excavating work should be engineered and built to withstand heavier duty, say the experts. Selecting durable components that require minimal maintenance and few adjustments can pay off with less downtime.

"Look for good protection of hydraulic hoses and cylinders, wiring, and grease fittings," Scheidt advises. "Don't forget the work tool. Buckets that have a formed back wrapper will load best. Full-length skid bars on the underneath side provide the additional floor rigidity and wear resistance needed for back dragging. Bolt-on cutting edges will protect the base edge and extend bucket life."

Serviceability

Proper, timely service keeps a machine operating at peak performance. Look for easy access to service and maintenance items like fluids, filters and grease fittings, the fuel injection pump, and hydrostatics. Pin joints that distribute lubrication around the entire pin rather than just on top will give superior service in tough applications, advises Scheidt.

A cab that is simple to raise and lower makes it easier and less time-consuming to reach the hydrostatic drive system for servicing.

Greg Northcutt is an editorial consultant to the International Erosion Control Association and a writer on construction issues.

A Pair of Skid-Steer Loaders Handles the Grading Work

When Morrie Krovitz of Rock River Landscaping in Roscoe, IL, bought his first skid-steer loader in 1986, it replaced a rubber-tired tractor. The increased maneuverability of the skid-steer loader made grading work much easier, he reports.

Krovitz still owns several tractors, which he uses for fine grading and seeding. But he now owns two skid-steer loaders. One, a 60-hp Case 1845, has a rated operating capacity of 1,750 lb. The other, a Case 90XT, is powered by an 85-hp engine and provides 2,450 lb. of rated operating capacity. It weighs 8,950 lb., about 2,800 lb. more than the smaller, older model.

Krovitz uses the smaller machine in tight places where he can't use the larger loader. That includes fence gates, which he says are rarely wider than 6 ft. The smaller model also has less impact on lawns.

The larger unit has a big edge when it comes to production, Krovitz notes. "It's a workhorse and can move dirt and grade open areas extremely well and do it faster than the smaller loader. The bigger loader also has a two-speed drive and saves time when working at different sites in a subdivision. Top speed is about 11 miles per hour, compared to 6 miles per hour for the smaller machine."

For tough grading work, Krovitz can equip his loaders with a smooth-edge bucket, which has a bolt-on tooth bar. He also has a combination bucket, which he uses with his larger loader for digging, leveling, grappling, and loading. That particular bucket adds to the loader's versatility. Recently, for example, in reshaping a ditch he wanted to remove sod to get to bare dirt. Wet conditions prevented him from operating the loader in the ditch bottom. So working from the top of the ditch slopes, he used the cutting edge of the bucket to undercut the sod and push it down and into a pile at the bottom of the ditch. Then using the bucket as a clamshell, he reached over the top of the pile and clamped onto the sections of sod, lifting them out and into a dump truck.

Similar to a growing number of contractors who do excavating work, Krovitz often uses his skid-steer loaders with a compact excavator. In his case, it's a 7,020-lb. machine with rubber tracks, which replaced a more expensive tractor-loader-backhoe. Sometimes the skid-steer loaders complement the work of the excavator. Other times the excavator's tracks allow him to use the machine in place of a loader in wet, muddy areas.

Compact Track Loader Keeps Working on Sandy Slopes

About three years ago, Steve Myers of Myers Excavating in Bridgeman, MI, replaced his 54-hp skid-steer loader (1,400-lb. rated operating capacity) with a compact track loader. For more than 20 years, he had used skid-steer loaders on projects ranging from basement and septic systems to water- and sewer-line repairs and small commercial jobs. Often work sites included sand dunes and beaches along the shore of Lake Michigan. Even steel tracks, however, which fit over the tires of the skid-steer loader, couldn't keep the machine from bogging down in the soft conditions.

"The steel tracks worked well in clay, but there was no flotation on sand," Myers recalls. "As long as the skid-steer loader was on level sand, the tracks worked. But on any kind of incline, the loader would spin itself down and get stuck."

Then he tried a 61-hp Takeuchi TL 26 compact track loader with rubber tracks and a 1,310-lb. rated operating capacity on a lakeshore job, carrying 300 yd.³ of dirt down a hill of sand.

"I could get down and back up the hill with no problem at all," he reports. He bought the compact track loader the next day.

"It's unbelievable," Myers remarks. "I can do 50% more work with the track loader in the same amount of time as the skid-steer loader."

Also, unlike the steel tracks of the skid-steer loader, the rubber tracks don't have to be removed for running on sensitive surfaces such as asphalt. The compact track loader is also saving his back. When he couldn't use his skid-steer loader, he had to do all the work by hand.

Myers notes that his compact track loader is more stable than his skid-steer loader when dumping into trucks. It also offers several advantages over his tractor-loader-backhoe.

"It's a real pain to maneuver the backhoe up a hill because rubber tires don't work in sand," he explains. "Visibility to the sides and back with the track loader is better for working in tight areas, and it's better when backfilling because I can see the bucket lip. Also, the track loader doesn't tear up yards like the backhoe does."

Myers estimates that he uses his tractor-loader-backhoe about 60% of the time, mainly for digging deep sewer lines and swimming pool holes. The rest of the time, the track loader goes to work.

Recently he upgraded to an improved version of his first compact track loader; it features more traction and smoother, easier-to-operate hydraulics.

He uses his compact track loader with several different attachments. They include a trencher for excavating water lines up to 4 in. wide and 4 ft. deep, a backhoe for digging as deep as 5 ft. in tight areas where he can't maneuver his tractor-loader-backhoe, a six-way dozer blade for final grading around houses where there's no room for a bulldozer, and a brush cutter for clearing trees up to 3 in. in diameter.

Myers' advice to skid-steer-loader owners thinking about switching to a compact track loader? "The sooner, the better. A compact track loader costs a little more money than a skid-steer loader, but the increased production more than makes up for the difference. I just love my track loader. I wish I would have had it 10 years ago."

Skid-Steer and Compact Track Loaders Team Up to Tackle Various Soil and Slope Conditions

Excavating contractor Mark Wangerin, another long-time skid-steer-loader owner, also owns a compact track loader, which he bought last year. He uses it, plus two skid-steer loaders and a compact excavator, in his business, Mark's Bobcat Service in Prior Lake, MN. He uses the equipment for such work as digging holes for deck footings and fence posts, excavating for house basements and additions, and finish grading.

His smallest skid-steer loader, a 43.5-hp Bobcat 753 with a 1,350-lb. rated operating capacity, is reserved for working in tight quarters, such as between buildings or under house decks, where it can dig out for hot tubs or remove decorative rock for a remodeled landscape. His largest skid-steer loader, a Bobcat 863, is powered by a 73-hp diesel engine and offers a rated operating capacity of 1,900 lb. It's used for about everything else unless conditions are really soft or sandy. With this larger machine, he's taking on larger and more diverse types of projects and finishing more quickly.

Wangerin calls his compact track loader, a 73-hp Bobcat 864 with a 2,000-lb. rated operating capacity, his "sweetheart." "It's a do-all machine. We use it more and more because it does so much more on slopes and soft ground. It's not too big and allows us to do a wide variety of work for more income."

Tools for the loaders include several different sizes and styles of buckets, an auger with 12-, 18-, and 24-in.-diameter bits, a hydraulic breaker, and a sweeper.

Wangerin bought his 7,020-lb. Bobcat 331 compact excavator four years ago. He frequently pairs it with one of his loaders for digging foundations and frost footings, installing water and utility lines, and completing lakeshore restoration projects. For example, if he's excavating a basement where working room is limited, he'll use the excavator to dig and have a loader haul the spoil away and load it into a truck. Other times, the two machines may work independently of each other on the same site.

"Buying the excavator was one of my better decisions," he believes. "Between that and our compact track loader, we take on some pretty big jobs."

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