Compact Track Loaders

Skid Steers with Tracks, CTLs Are One of the Most Popular Categories of Compact Equipment

Tackling tough terrain and giving extra power are what compact track loaders are all about. These compact loader/tool carriers are engineered just like your skid steers (including the same attachment plate) but with the added versatility of a dedicated track undercarriage. Rolling on rubber or steel tracks, compact track loaders can spearhead operations and navigate jobsites with extra flotation — especially in the wet weather months. A dedicated undercarriage also gives added tractive power (great in dozing operations), yet dispenses the weight of the entire machine through multiple track contact points for a lighter footprint. With extra power, lower ground pressure, heavier operating weight and added flotation and traction, the advantages of compact track loaders are growing on all types of professionals.

From Bobcat to Kubota, John Deere to JCB, Caterpillar to Case, manufacturers are producing or branding these dedicated track machines today. Large or small, vertical or radial lift, enclosed cab or just ROPS, basic or opulent, suspension or no suspension, low-cost or expensive — today’s market offers a wealth of choices for buyers. Overall, units range from 23 to 127 net hp and operating capacities from 700 to 3,500 lbs (remember, that’s operating capacity rated at 35 percent tipping load — not 50 percent like skid steers). Examples of some cool compact track loaders include:

Takeuchi’s TL Series Loaders | ASV’s RT and VT Loaders | Kubota’s SVL Loaders