Skid Steer vs. Tractor: Key Differences, which is better?

When it comes to a skid steer vs a tractor, there are some key differences that you need to be aware of before deciding which one is going to be the best fit for your farming and landscaping needs. 

Both types of machinery have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Therefore, knowing what some of them are going to help you make an informed decision when looking at picking up either one for yourself.

So let’s take a look at what makes Skid Steer different from a Tractor.

What Is A Skid Steer?

A skid steer loader has four wheels that give it greater maneuverability than tractors do.

They are used in industries like landscaping, agriculture, groundskeeping, and construction among others where they can make work easier with their ability to rotate 360 degrees in place. 

They are designed to perform quick lifts and can be used for digging in places like trenches. 

Their compact design allows them to fit in tighter spaces than other types of equipment, which is why they’re so popular with landscapers since they need access to small areas that tractors cannot reach easily. 

Skid steer loaders are great for lifting stones or pallets into place without trouble. Some attachments that you can get for these kinds of tools include forks, buckets, brooms, rakes among others, so there’s a lot of versatility when it comes to what you can do with this kind of tool.

What Is A Tractor?

Tractors have four tires instead of the skid steer loader’s four wheels, which gives it more stability. If you are working on an incline, this can make the difference between your tractor tipping over or staying put. 

They are used in many different industries as well, but they are especially helpful for tilling land since they have large wheels that work better with soil. 

They are ideal for any farmer who is looking to till their own fields or any landscaper who needs to do some digging and moving of many materials at once without having to worry about whether or not their machinery will be able to handle it.

Skid Steer vs Tractor: Key Differences

1. Horsepower:

Skid steers are powered by diesel engines that range from 13 hp to 60 hp and can be upgraded up to 220 hp or higher. 

Tractors typically have a large variety of horsepower options, but the most common is 96 hp and 126 hp. Without upgrades, tractors usually max out around 200 to 400 HP, depending on what attachments you plan on using.

2. Versatility:

Skid Steers come with 4-wheel drive as standard. They also feature dual drives that allow for free lift and steer capabilities as well as full power in reverse. 

Skid Steer loaders can function just like a tractor does, allowing for plowing and other earthmoving tasks such as grading, trenching, digging, and more.

Tractors are usually used for tasks such as pulling or pushing heavy machinery or equipment. They can also be used to transport materials across rough terrains with the use of tire chains or special tires that cater to off-road conditions. 

Tractor implements could include plows, rippers, seeders, mowers, chisel plows, spaders/cultivators (without tow), posthole diggers (without tow), lightweight scrapers (without tow), wheel hoes (except smooth steel wheels) snowblowers/snowplows (with optional blade), etc. 

Lastly, they are mostly used for transportation although certain tractor models come equipped with implements to make them versatile enough to do other jobs.

3. Task Functionality:

Skid Steers can be a key factor in a successful business’s productivity and efficiency. A skid steer loader is the best choice if you need a self-loading machine that can handle a wide range of tasks from snow removal, grading, loading and stacking material handling, digging postholes, and cleaning up around the job site. 

A skid steer loader also provides high performance when lifting or carrying materials which reduce your risk of injury by utilizing its unique design for optimal ergonomics. 

Skid steers lend themselves well to landscaping projects such as clearing brush, picking up debris from hard-to-reach areas, planting trees and shrubs, digging decorative ponds with a backhoe, and grading driveways and parking lots.

4. Mobility:

Skid steers are very mobile because of the compact design that allows them to get into places where traditional equipment cannot. 

The reason for this is the lack of a bulky hood in front obstructing movement, given by their extremely short wheelbase which at times can be as low as 23 inches long. 

It also provides high maneuverability with its lift arm being able to rotate 360 degrees, while the backhoe on a skid steer can reach a full 180 degrees. 

Skid Steers have different tire sizes ranging from 14-24 inch wheels depending on model and weight class. Tractor tires usually range from 20-30 inch diameter wheels or more depending on if you are looking for an off-road model.

5. Cost:

Both skid steers and tractors have a wide range of prices depending on the model, attachment, and brand. Skid steer loaders can cost as little as $3,000 to as much as $80,000+. 

In contrast, most tractor models start at about $16,000 and go up from there depending on the attachments that come with it or whether they are included in the price or not.

6. Weight:

Skid Steer Loaders weigh anywhere from 2200 lbs to 3600 lbs with a full tank of fuel. This makes them very easy to transport compared to a tractor which is usually 5000+ lbs with no implements.

7. Display and Alert Board:

Skid Steer Loaders, unlike tractors, have a simple control system with an LCD display that can manage most of the loader’s functions. 

The LCD screen displays information such as RPM, fuel level, coolant temperature, operating hours, and more. Some skid steers also come with an alert board to notify operators of problems via LED lights or flashing indicators.

Tractors are equipped with a multi-functional display/operator interface which is usually located in the middle of the dashboard on models from 2008 onwards. 

It shows live data from many engine components including turbocharger pressure, engine oil temperature, engine revolutions per minute (rpm), transmission fluid temperature, etc. 

Unlike skid steers, the dashboard also shows information such as the transmission gear selector, high beam indicator, turn signal switch settings, etc.

8. Regeneration:

Skid Steer Loaders are equipped with regenerative braking which allows them to save fuel by turning kinetic energy into electricity. 

The tractor’s engine turns a generator, creating electricity that is channeled back through the electric motors on each track sprocket causing drag and slowing down vehicle speed without applying the service brakes until it is required again. 

Tractors do not have this feature because they are meant for off-road applications where regenerative braking may not be needed or would just wear out the brake pads faster than normal.

9. Attachments:

Both Skid Steers and Tractors are versatile pieces of equipment that can be outfitted with a variety of attachments for different applications. 

Skid Steers have fewer available attachments compared to tractors, given the lack of service brake they cannot use most Forestry-class implements designed for tractors, however, skid steers are still able to make do with some picks and hydraulic hammers.

Despite this, Skid Steer Loaders can utilize more than 30 other types of implements including backhoes, wheel loaders, pallet forks & grapple forks, post hole diggers, broom attachments, etc. 

Tractor implements vary greatly depending on the model but may include backhoes or bucket loaders that attach to the three-point hitch system just like skid steer implements. 

Tractor implements can range from simple backhoes to full-size forestry mulchers that are designed for heavy-duty jobs such as clearing brush, logging, and intensive land maintenance. 

Skid Steer Loaders can also be controlled remotely using an accessory remote control unit known as the “Scoop Mate” which is available with most models.

Skid Steer vs. Tractor: Key Similarities

1). Both can move the earth. The purpose for which they were designed remains very similar: Power Take-Off or “P” shafts allow these machines to transfer energy from an engine to a hydraulic pump that powers the attachments on the front end. 

In tractors, this allows for mechanical movement of its wheels through a secondary linkage system. 

In skid-steer loaders, these same shafts allow for the up/down motion of a bucket or pallet forks while digging and lifting loads powerfully and precisely in a 360-degree range.

2). Both can dig. in a manner of speaking. Skid steers are designed with specific features to make them more effective at digging holes in the earth using augers and buckets which have been scientifically designed to best maximize such efforts. 

Tractors can be equipped with ripper systems that loosen the soil around plants but they do not perform the same way as skid steers which have been specially designed for such earth-moving efforts.

3). Both can lift and move pallets

4). Any work done by one is doable with the other: This is a key similarity between skid steer loaders and tractors in that whether it be digging or raking, chopping, mowing lawns, or plowing driveways and sidewalks, both machines will get the job down easily and efficiently.

5). Tractors and Skid Steer Loaders, with rubber tracks, both require special consideration when performing jobs on surfaces with sensitive components:

While these machines are powerful enough to perform just about any task they were originally intended to accomplish (such as rough terrains), rubber tracks allow for them to perform with greater precision. 

Rubber tracks are also an important addition for machines that will be working on surfaces where the machine’s weight, lateral movements, or torsional flexing could damage asphalt or concrete pavers.

Skid Steer or Tractor: Which is Better?

Both Skid Steers and Tractors have a wide variety of attachments that allow them to perform different tasks around the farm or job site. 

It all comes down to your individual needs when choosing between these two versatile pieces of equipment that do everything machines with their unique benefits and limitations in capability.

Conclusion

The conclusion is that if you are doing strictly landscaping, the skid steer will be the smarter choice because of its superior mobility. 

However, if you are planning to do any farm work or possible construction in the future, the tractor will be the better option for its extra horsepower and improved labor-usefulness.