“That being said we have seen more and more CTLs being used in snow removal,” he says. Their tires may also hold up better to wear than the tracks on CTLs. He notes that SSLs are often faster, less expensive, and lighter weight than CTLs. When asked which machine he recommends most highly for snow removal, Ryan says in general, he believes the SSL is the better machine for snow removal, as many of its attributes provide superior performance. “This configuration excels in moving heavier snow from long-run situations, however it is most often the slowest of the three methods for snow removal,” he says. Lastly Ryan says the final common snow removal application is with a snow blower attachment. Brooms work well in light snow and long-run applications because they continuously move snow without the need for all the forward/reverse cycles that pushing snow requires,” he adds. “A second common snow application is to sweep the snow using a broom attachment. But he adds, “ can’t be used to lift, carry, or dump the snow, so they require enough space to pile the snow on-site.”
Ryan says this large-area-clearing ability leads to loaders with snow pusher attachments commonly being used to clear parking lots. Snow pushers are wider and taller than a bucket, so they are capable of clearing more area quickly.” “This is done using a plow blade, a larger snow push or most often, a bucket. “The first and most common method is to push or scrape to clear the snow,” he explains. Wacker Neuson product manager, skid steer and compact track loaders, Nathan Ryan says loaders are usually equipped in three different ways when used for snow removal. The long undercarriage of a CTL gives this platform an advantage in stability when performing tasks like loading or stockpiling the snow.” In fact, the CTL platform has its other advantages in snow clearing and removal applications. He also says, “Equipping your CTLs with a bar-style tread pattern allows the track to grip the snow much better than the traditional block-style tread, and delivers great stopping, turning, and pushing performance. This tread pattern can grip and bite the snow, allowing the operator to push and turn with a rubber track machine, much like a SSL.” “While the lower ground pressure is normally thought of as a negative in this application, this objection is overcome by equipping the CTL with rubber tracks that have a bar-style tread.
“A CTL also delivers lower ground pressure, due to the long rubber belt,” he says. In contrast, the travel speeds on compact track loaders (CTLs) are slightly slower than that of a comparably sized SSL.”Ĭoleman goes on to explain how CTLs differ from SSLs for snow removal. “With SSL tires, the contact area of the tire is small, so they transmit high ground pressure that delivers a good grip for moving snow. “Skid steer loaders (SSLs) have been used in snow clearing and removal applications due to their fast travel speeds, which allow them to quickly traverse the area they are working in or move from one location to another,” Caterpillar product specialist Kevin Coleman says. Skid steer loaders and compact track loaders both offer excellent snow removal capabilities, but experts cite various considerations for choosing the best equipment for your needs. Skid steers have wheels and tires, while compact track loaders operate via high-floatation rubber tracks. Where these machines differ, however, is primarily in the way they traverse ground.
They can also both be outfitted with various attachments, such as buckets, brooms, pushers, and plow blades. When choosing between a skid steer loader (SSL) or compact track loader (CTL) for your snow removal projects, it is important to first understand what the machines do and how they differ.īoth skid steers and CTLs are compact pieces of equipment that can turn on a dime and maneuver in tight spaces. Both skid steer loaders and compact track loaders offer the ability to move large amounts of snow at a time.